It was an unbearable hot Sunday afternoon, the sun was smiling brightly, too brightly if you ask me. Damn! its too hot.

I was in an orange tank top and brown shorts, my hair was tied in a ponytail, beads of sweat ran down my back due to my constant to and fro movement.
The moving van arrived minutes ago and we had already begun unloading the van.

It was a good thing Hugh showed up and lent a helping hand cause the boxes never seemed to end.

"You know," Laura began, she loosened her ponytail and tied it back up, making it tighter and casually leaned against the van.
"We could've just taken the boxes and sent it up the elevator"

This had to be the smartest thing she's said all day. Why didn't I think of that? it seems the sun had finally succeeded in scorching up my brain cells.

Hugh groaned in frustration beside me. I didn't blame him, at times I wonder how her brain actually works. She could've pointed this out sooner and saved us from the stress but no she did the opposite!

I cleared my throat "Um Laura did you just think of this?"

"Nope." She said popping the 'p'
"Its been in my head all along but I considered we could use the exercise"

"Think of it more like weight lifting," she added with a wink.

Hugh groaned in pain some more beside me and loudly slapped his forehead.

Weight lifting? Seriously? I'm starting to question our friendship.

I glared at her and angrily dropped the not-so-light box I was holding into her arms and stumped off towards the building, leaving her in a confused state.

~~~~~~~~~

The door bell rang and I gleefully went to answer it. I had sent Scott the address of our place in a text message a while ago. He said he'd be there soon, so naturally I expected it was him at the door.

It was around five in the evening and we had spent all day unpacking the boxes yet we were not close to done.

I opened the door and my gleeful smile instantly transformed into a disapproving frown.

"Hey."

"Hey." I found myself repeating.

What the hell was he doing here! Laura never mentioned inviting him. This is really awkward.
The last time I saw him my hands ached to slap him which I did.
Right now they're aching for one more slap.

The both of us said nothing but stared at each other. I looked at him with a very much confused expression but he looked at me knowingly.

"Um," I scratch the back of my neck, "what are you doing here?"

"To help my little sister pack into her new apartment?" he said, before casually slipping his hands into his jean pocket with a smirk playing on his lips.

We both knew he wasn't here for Laura but I said nothing, I just glared at him.

"Sean?" Laura called out from the kitchen. She walked towards us in slow cautious steps with a very confused look on her face.

She looked between the both of us, trying to access the situation then her eyes finally landed on him.

"I didn't know you were actually serious when you asked if you could help."

"Why would you think I was joking?"

"Hmm oh I don't know. You never help, ever!" She huffed.

"People change little one."

I coughed at his remark and Laura glared at him but he ruffled her hair playfully and let himself in.
Its funny how he calls her 'little one' and she calls me her 'little girl'. The cycle doesn't end.

Wait a minute! who do I get to call little?
Darn it!

I closed the door and trailed behind Laura who was following Sean behind, towards the living room.
He turned to face us, his eyes fixed on me and his devilishly sexy smirk still playing on his lips.

"So what can I help with?" He asked, breaking the formidable silence in the room.

"Nothing. We don't need help, we got Hugh," she replied, confidently.

And as if on cue Hugh appeared into the living room, looking very exhausted. He had been helping Laura unpack her stuffs in her room, a very stressful job if you ask me.

His face lit up a little the moment he saw Sean.

"Dude." he walked up to Sean and they did their bro handshake thingy.
I shook my head at them and Laura did the same.

"Well since you're here..." Laura drew, causing all heads turn to face her
"You could help Kat unload her books." Laura suggested.

"Yeah the shelf is too high for her." Hugh added.

"No its not!" I protested, "I don't need help!"

The thought of having Sean alone in the same room with me was both terrifying and exciting. Mostly the former.

"Darling," Laura put a hand on my shoulder and rubbed it gently, "we both know you do"

She was right but it didn't mean I couldn't keep denying it. For some stupid reason the shelf seemed to be above my reach, funny thing is that I'm really not that short!
I glared at her hand that was placed on my shoulder and she instinctively removed it.

"Fine." I found myself agreeing to their evil plot.

I walked out on them and headed straight to my room, muttering curse under my breath as I did.

The door shut behind me as soon as I entered my room. Sean had been trailing right behind me and I didn't even notice. It was just the two of us now.

Ignoring his presence, I immediately began unpacking my books, selecting the ones that I'd place on the top shelf. My room was fairly large and painted violet, by the left hand side was an adjoining door to the bathroom and by the right I had a study table which was beside the bookshelf.

My king sized bed was at the centre of the room and right now, it was in a big mess with brown boxes scattered all over it and on the floor too.

"Where were you last night?" he asked, breaking the peaceful silence that had embraced the room. His tone had a tint of anger in them.

I still had my back faced to him as I continued unloading the books. He had no right to be angry with me, in fact it's meant to be the other way round.
So I resolved to answering his question with Silence.

"I remember that night clearly-" he paused briefly, "-the engagement party and I just want to say I'm really sorry" he sounded defeated in a way.

But I replied with More Silence...

"Okay I get why you're not talking to me."

Silence.

"Nice books you got here."
He was standing beside me and had one of my books in his hands.

Silence.

"You know, I find girls that love to read very sexy."

I stopped in my tracks. Was he implying that he finds me very sexy?
I thought he was here to apologise or was it to talk? not that it'll change anything anyways. I'm still not talking to him!

I shook my head and continued arranging the books in the middle layer of the shelf.
When I turned to get more books, my face came to face his broad chest which happened to be obstructing my way. Wow! they looked so strong, well built, really sexy...

Get a hold of yourself woman!

I looked up and saw him smirking at me. He was really close to me, too close to me for my own good. I could feel his hot breath fan the crook of my neck, sending a sweet tingly sensation down my spine. I wished I had worn something more covering, maybe a shirt with a collar rather than the tan top I was wearing.

I suddenly felt suffocated, yes! his presence was suffocating me! It managed to knock out all the air in my lungs that I need for survival.
And why do I feel all ticklish inside?
Oh my God, the butterflies! this jerk gave me butterflies.

He stretched out his left hand to drop something behind me, his eyes locked with mine the whole time. He leaned in a little like he was about to kiss me but then he suddenly backed away from me and his lips curled up to form a sweet, innocent smile.

He knew he still had an effect on me and was smiling in victory. I looked back and I realised that the whole fiasco he just pulled was all because he wanted to drop a book on the shelf behind me.
Argh! he didn't have to make dropping a book so very tempting.

Before any one of us could say anything, the door bell rang and I sighed loudly in relief. It just saved me from the awkwardness in the room.
Not sparing Sean another look, I sprouted out of the room and out to the front door.

I was greeted with Scott's presence the moment I opened the door. He was casually dressed in a shirt and faded jeans, his hair was in a cute messy state and he smiled brightly when he saw me.

I embraced him in a hug and we pulled apart when someone cleared their throat.
I looked back and saw Sean with crossed arms glaring at us. Well it looked more like he was glaring at Scott.

The awkward tension in the room was killing as we all stared at each other. Well Sean did more of glaring than actual staring. Oh yeah this should be the part where I do the introductions, right?

"Um Sean, this is Scott," I gestured my hand between the both, "Scott, this is Sean. Laura's elder brother."

Sean narrowed his eyes at me when I introduced him as Laura's elder brother.

"Oh. It's nice to meet you." Scott said as he stretched his hand forward for a handshake.

Sean looked at his hand disdainfully but still grabbed it and shook it rather much too tightly.
Could this get anymore awkward than it already is?

"You have a really firm grip." Scott said, wincing a little from the tight grip.

I cast Sean a glare and motioned my eyes towards their joined hands, signaling him to stop trying to squeeze all the life out of Scott's hands.

He reluctantly let go of his hand and grunted a few incoherent words under his breath. He didn't spare Scott another glance as he retreated back to my room.

If I could blame anyone for this awkwardness, there's only one person to blame... LAURETTA  JONES!

Lol... don't you just love Laura?

I think someone is a little jelly *cough* Sean *cough*

Anyways this is yet another chapter, hope you enjoyed it ;)

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