You can't fall for your best friend's brother. You can't fall for your best friend's brother. You can't fall for your best friend's brother. You can't fall for your best friend's brother...

Megan had been repeating that sentence in her head for the past hour. She was face down on her bed, with My Chemical Romance blasting through her speakers to tune out anything going on in the outside world. She was a mess of emotions. Confused. Disappointed. Sad.

Yeah, a lot of them were negative.

She growled and sat up, grabbing her pillow and throwing it at the wall as if someone she hated was there. Why was she thinking about this? It's not like she held any kind of romantic attraction to Gladion Aether, right?

Ba-Dump...

Her eyes widened and she gripped her shirt. Anytime anything to do with that boy came into mind her chest got all fluttery.

You can't fall for your best friend's brother.

She reached up and gripped the large strand of hair over her eye. It was too late. She found out too late.

She had already fallen too deep...

---

It had been a day since the night out, and soon the gang was back to their original sleeping routines and back to giving their normal effort during class. The only thing that wasn't back to normal was the fact that Megan and Gladion were avoiding one another again... just like they had the day Gladion broke up with Natalie.

And when they were around each other, they'd get all depressed and stare down at the dirt like it was the most interesting thing in the galaxy.

It was weird. And it had to stop.

"Gladion?"

Said boy tensed at his name being called, by none other than his sister's happy go lucky friend. He let out a sigh and turned, raising an eyebrow at the tanned male.

"What do you need, pineapple?"

Hau's nose scrunched up in an instant "Pineapple? Why pineapple?"

Gladion shrugged "Cuz you remind me of one?"

"You mean like how you remind me of--"

"Finished that sentence and I will cut you like a pineapple."

Hau shut his mouth instantly, allowing Gladion to repeat his first question "What do you need?"

"Oh, right..." the boy rubbed the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable "About you and Megan."

His face fell at the mention of the girl. He averted his gaze, trying to keep his voice flat.

"What about us?"

"You two seem distant."

Gladion chewed his lip "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Gladion," Hau sighed, trying not to sound exasperated "You can't stay near each other without becoming embodiments of a rain cloud and... stuff."

"We can too."

"No you can't. Everyone has seen the shift in your relationship... honestly, it's kinda painful to watch. You have to talk it out."

Gladion was starting to get annoyed. He was talking like he knew what was going on. He couldn't of known.

"There's nothing to talk out."

"Frenchfry--"

"Don't call me that."

"And yet you let Megan call you that."

Gladion growled. Why hadn't he just walked away yet? It was probably because he knew Hau would follow.

"I know what happened in the car."

The blonde instantly tensed, eyes going wide as saucers as he stared at Hau "Wh-what?!"

"I was awake... I saw you kiss..." he stuffed his hands into his pockets "I know there's something going on between you two."

Okay now that last statement irritated him.

Gladion took a step forward so their chests almost touched, glaring down at the other who was a couple inches shorter than him. He grabbed his shirt and yanked him up.

"You know nothing about us. Don't even try to say you do."

And then he backed off, turning on his heel to walk away. Only to stop as Hau called to him again.

"You know if you don't act, she may be taken by someone else!"

...

Shut up...

---

Gladion had locked himself in the bathroom. He had to find a quiet place to think, which didn't require a reservation, and this was the only place he could think of. He sat on the closed toilet seat, his head in his hands, his eyes directly focused on his red trainers as he kept thinking about what Hau said.

If you don't act, she may be taken by someone else.

"I already know that, idiot..." He muttered, jaw tightening "But I can't..."

If only Hau knew his situation. If only Hau knew the battle he was having in his head. If only Hau knew, that it was basically forbidden for him to act.

It hurt him. He had just gotten his heart mended, only to practically have it broken again. And he hadn't even acted yet! He had come to terms with the fact he had feelings for Megan Artemus, and the reason was because he knew he couldn't have her. Pretty messed up if you ask me.

...

Then again... It's not like he'd lost her completely. They were still friends. It's not like they were forbidden from being around each other.

But still. He may have confused her from what happened in the car.

He stood. He had to talk to her, he had to apologize for the kiss.

---

"Hey."

Megan almost dropped her water bottle, which was open so it could've been a nasty spill (pun intended). She turned around with wide eyes as the boy she wanted to avoid for now stood there with his eyes casted downwards.

"Uhm..." She gulped. She really didn't want to talk right now, but by his expression it didn't seem like she would have a choice... damn it.

"Look," Gladion began, finally looking up at her "I'm apologize for my actions in the car. It was wrong for me to kiss you, especially when I thought you were asleep and even more so without your consent. I shouldn't have forced that on you and..." his voice broke slightly. Obviously he felt really bad for his actions "And I'm so sorry..."

Megan's chest stung. His guilt stung. The way his voice cracked stung. She wasn't mad, not in the slightest. But he didn't know that.

She would have to let him know.

She placed her bottle on the ground and stepped towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck for a hug. He was caught off guard by this and tensed up. She was so close...

"I forgive you..." She whispered.

His eyes widened "J-Just like that?"

She let out a small sigh, which he felt against his shoulder.

"Gladion, I'm not even mad. Why would it be difficult to forgive something that doesn't anger me?"

That was true...

He smiled slightly, sort of relieved at how easy that was. He was afraid he had messed up, and she would hate him again. In fact he was so relieved he returned the embrace, but he hugged her tighter than she was hugging him.

"Sorry..." he mumbled against her shoulder.

"What for?"

"Honestly..." he chuckled "I don't know..."

Yes, this was a touching moment. Yes, they were talking again. Yes, they seemed to have come to terms with the situation. But honestly... the truth was that they were trying to push the fact they kissed each other out of their minds, by convincing themselves they were only friends.

The truth was that they didn't want to mess up what they had, with something that could be nothing but a one-sided fantasy.

The truth was... They couldn't bare heartbreak again, especially from someone they desperately didn't want to lose.

---

Megan was glad she and Gladion were talking again, and she was also glad the kiss didn't seem to create a void in their friendship.

So now, they were joking around while walking down the stairs, telling more tales about school and other weird occurrences.

"Wow," Megan giggled "Sounds to me that Natasha was hitting on the books before the boys."

"Okay, first off her name's Natalie--"

"Potayto potahto, Frenchfry."

"...And second off, she was a genius back in high school. She just went through some changes." Gladion clarified,

"What kind of changes? Boob enhancements?"

He gave the girl a hard stare. She held her hands up in surrender, muttering a quick 'damn' before deciding to change the subject "Soo, anyway. How's that routine of yours coming on? It's due tomorrow, you know."

"I know." Gladion shrugged "Actually Avory invited me over his after class so we can review it. Well... as long as we're quiet about it and don't disturb 'the girlfriend'."

Megan raised an eyebrow "Avory has a girlfriend?"

"Apparently."

"...Huh. So you heading there now then?"

"Yup. Unless you want to come, too? I'm sure Avory wouldn't mind if you watched us."

Megan blushed slightly, but instantly hid it by pretending to look out the window "Nah that's okay, I already made plans to hang out with Rose. We haven't spent much quality time together lately... Well, that was her complaint earlier anyways."

"You sure?"

Are you trying to make this impossible for me?!

"I'm sure." She responded a bit too quickly, cursing under her breath afterwards. Gladion stared at her for a moment, a tad disappointed at her answer, but nodded.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow?"

She turned her head to him again, now smiling "Yup! Care to give me a ride again?"

"No."

"Darn..."

They both chuckled, until Gladion stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Megan's torso. He rested his chin on top her shoulder, then jumped back once realising how stiff the girl had become "A-Ah, sorry..." He murmured bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck.

"N-No it's fine, I was just... surprised." She laughed, waving her hands around in dismissal.

He's seriously making getting over a crush harder than I want it to be!

"Well anyway," Megan coughed, turning on her heel and walking down the stairs "Bye!"

Gladion lifted his hand to wave, but paused when he realised she wouldn't be able to see as her back was turned. "Bye..." he murmured.

---

"Well, here we are." Avory mused, opening the door and gesturing to the inside of his apartment "please make yourself at home. Unless that means being loud, in that case please do not do that. The girlfriend hates loud."

Gladion chuckled, rolling his eyes "I'll keep that in mind."

The two boys entered the apartment and slipped off their shoes, before making their way over to the living area and collapsing onto the couch. They figured they'd have about fifteen minutes of unwinding, as today had dragged on a lot slower than usual.

"Hey, Avory."

"Hmm?"

"About your girlfriend. From what you've told me, you know about the kick offs and the alcohol and stuff, she sounds like a handful."

Avory laughed, running a hand through his hair "Oh believe me she is. She's some work, I'll tell you that."

"How do you cope?" Gladion frowned "From what I can tell, you guys couldn't be more different."

"Well..." The caramel haired boy thought for a moment, tryng to think of the right words to say "We are different, that's true. However, you don't have to be similar to have a healthy relationship. I guess... She just brings out the best in me, and I believe I bring out the best in her too. As long as we make each other happy, I don't think anything else matters. Does that make sense?"

Gladion's eyebrows had raised. He was surprised at his answer, yet happy he thought about relationships that way. He could learn a lot.

Suddenly the door opened, and a very groggy 'I'm home' rung through the house. Avory grinned and got up, heading towards the door "Speak of the devil, there she is now."

A scoff was heard from around the corner "Were you talking shit about me?"

"Nope. All good things, I swear." Avory chuckled.

A woman emerged from behind the wall and collapsed onto Avory, letting out an exhausted groan as she allowed him to hold her against him. He rolled his his and stood her upright, allowing Gladion to see her properly.

His mouth dropped open.

She looked so familiar, yet he had never met her before.

Her brown eyes and hair were the same colour as one person, while her face held so many similarities to another. She had an alcohol problem, and hardly anyone knows Avory's dating her...

He soon connected the dots, causing him to hold back a gasp. And without realising it, her name rolled off his tongue.

"Laura?"

She turned to him, eyebrow raised "Yeah? Who are you, some kind of Mcdonald's employee who takes his job too seriously?"

Same sarcastic sense of humour, too... No doubt about it, this was Luke and Megan's sister.

Well... Life's full of surprises.