My Brothers Best Friend

Chapter 2: Parties and The Past

BRENTS POV

It was the last party of the summer. Or, the first party of the year. I’m not sure but since Hayes, Jordan, Eddie and I moved into this house sophomore year it’s been a prime location for parties. We’ve definitely been shut down a few times but the neighborhood is pretty forgiving of us and when we’re not partying we like to give back to our neighborhood, helping out whenever we can.

I moved the keg into the kitchen as Hayes barreled through the door. That guy has always been super energetic. He’s a ball of fun all the time. He is the life of the party but he’s also been there for me numerous times throughout the last 3 years.

He’s family. I’ve gone with him countless times back to his hometown. He comes from a great, tight knit family. I’m close with my parents but they had me when they were in their late 30’s. I don’t blame them for wanting to move south after their last kid was out of the house. Florida is nice but it’s not for me.

“Where’ve you been man? Thought you were gonna help us set up” I say punching him in the shoulder.

He punches me back, as I try to dodge him and go in for another punch. “Sorry bro, my sister moved in today” Hayes says.

My focus turns back to him. “Noah’s here? Is she coming tonight?” I ask setting out the other bottles of alcohol and cups.

Hayes stands there eating chips, not helping me a damn bit. “Dunno, she said she will probably stay in tonight” he says, his mouth full of chips. I chuckle and shake my head at him.

It finally started to get dark, the music was blaring, and tons of people were showing up. I walked through the sea of people glancing at everyone. There were so many people. At one point it was almost shoulder to shoulder.

I grabbed a beer and walked outside where the fire was starting to blaze. I started talking to my friend Sheila, she and I have the same major and we’ve had countless classes together. She was currently dating one of our roommates and rugby teammates, Eddie. I wasn’t sure where he was at the moment but if I had to guess it was I would say he was hold up in front of the tv, gaming. Sheila was telling me about her trip to Hawaii to visit her grandparents when I looked over the fire.

My eyes locked onto the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. Noah Jaxen.

Even from where I was standing I could see the flicker in those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Even when she did something as simple as blinking it was mesmerizing, watching her long thick eyelashes gracefully touch her cheeks for a split second.

Noah didn’t wear makeup often, but she didn’t need it. She was naturally breath taking. When I first met Noah she was 15. She was always a cute kid. Being Hayes little sister I’d gotten to know her and her siblings pretty well over the last 3 years. She was like family to me, or at least she was until Noah’s 17th birthday.

Hayes and I were late, having left straight from a rugby game and driving 15 miles over the speed limit just to make it back to his hometown at a decent time. I’ll never forget seeing her that night. Something had changed. She’d definitely grown up in more ways than one but it wasn’t just her body that had changed from a girl to a women. She radiated joy and confidence. She carried herself beautifully. Her smile could make anyone want to smile and her laugh is the most addicting sound in the world. I would do just about anything to hear that laugh.

I don’t think she has a mean bone in her body, she’s always thinking of others. She had an incredible sense of humor, easy to talk to and tons of fun to joke around with.

I still remember what she wore that night. She wore a blue sundress that came down to the middle of her thigh. The dress framed her waist perfectly and the neckline dipped between her suddenly present breasts. I had a hard time keeping my eyes off of her that night.

I made sure I was by her side all night. Not in a possessive way but I just wanted to talk to her, listen to her, and hear that sweet laugh of hers. In true Jaxen fashion there was a massive bonfire and tons of family and friends coming and going. Then her boyfriend showed up. I never liked that kid. He was arrogant and didn’t give two shits about Noah. We’d all been there for 5 hours and the time was nearing 11pm when this asshole showed up.

I remember the drive home being filled with lots of silence the next day. I couldn’t talk to Hayes about it and I sure as hell wasn’t going to act on anything. But I couldn’t get her out of my mind and while being 2 hours away and not seeing her everyday was good for me I knew she’d be at UNCC this year. I’d been dreading this day all summer. I had never planned to act on anything. How could I? Hayes was my best friend but I knew the moment I saw her I would be a goner.

As her gaze caught mine she smiled at me. The kind of smile that pushes her cheeks up and wrinkles her nose a bit. The second she looked my way I knew I was f****d.