RYAN’S POV

“Ryan it’s not what it looks li– “She began to say.

“Oh hey little bro,” Brad interrupted her, his tone tinged with that hint of unconscious condescension that I’d always disliked, “this beautiful lady right here came by to see you but I thought she was just another one of those girls that’ve been coming around recently. That not being the case however, we’ve just been getting to know each other a little better.”

He winked at her as I stared at them and I felt bitter jealousy brewing within me. My jaw tensed as Brad kept Ava in his arms, why wasn’t she trying to break free? Had she already fallen under his spell? He always was a master at talking to girls, or anyone in general, winning them over with his charm and wit. That’s the thing about Brad, he is such a likeable and charismatic guy, that even when he occasionally plays his tricks and games (of which I am usually the subject of), he manages to escape the heat.

He exudes a confidence that I know I lack and all his life it seems like everything seems to come so easily to him. He always seems to get what he wants and manages to maintain an air of humbleness. I respect him and he’s definitely the person I most look up to, but what am I supposed to do if he suddenly wants what I’ve been longing for for so long?

I know all too well that if I had to face my brother in a competition of any kind, Brad would win.

Whether it be school, girls, looks or love and adoration, he would come first.

And as always, I’m in second place.

I’m hating myself right now for feeling so petty and desperate and actually contemplating charging over and shoving Brad to the ground. If Ava knew what I was thinking right now I’m sure she’d hate me too.

Instead I walked over to them as calmly as I could and grasped my hand around his wrist tightly.
 “Let go of her Brad, you’re making her uncomfortable,” I said tensely, still trying to be polite for Ava’s sake.

“How am I making her uncomfortable, I’m just being friendly!” He protested.

“A little too friendly.” I muttered between clenched teeth.

“What, it’s not like she’s your girlfriend.”

My eyes shot to his with a death glare as he pulled the pin on that verbal grenade.

The atmosphere was taut with tension as my entire body stiffened, but even as Brad’s steel eyes challenged me to react, in my peripheral vision I could feel Ava watching me. And that put me in a position of weakness.

“Brad do you want to put the ice cream in the freezer? I think that would be a good idea don’t you agree?” I asked him casually as if nothing was wrong, though it was more of a command than a suggestion.

“Erm, yeah I’ll do that.“ He said, raising an eyebrow at me and stepping away from Ava, as if he understood the subliminal messaging in my nonchalant tone; that if he didn’t let go of her I would make him pay for it later.

I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Ever since he came back from college unexpectedly with medical issues that I never knew about before, he’s been acting differently, almost as if he doesn’t care about anything anymore. It worries me.

As long as I can remember, Brad has been groomed to take over the family business from our Father, being treated as an adult from young. To everyone else he was serious and mature for his age, more charming and intelligent than most adults. But when no one was looking, he was the cheekiest kid you ever met, convincing me to climb trees and sneak out to get ice-cream.

But that was just when we were kids. The older we got, the more responsibility was placed on Brad’s shoulders and the less time he had to waste playing around with his little brother.

Somewhere between school and learning the ropes at Dad’s office, Brad lost something of himself in trying to be the perfect son. But by then we didn’t see each other that often let alone talk to each other that much.

He used to have this spark in his eyes and this cocky half smile that showed the confidence I was jealous he had, and I lacked.

And I never had the chance to tell him, but I’ve always been worried about him.  Yes, things that were hard for others seemed to come so easily to him, but with the amount of pressure and expectation placed on him, there’s no way he couldn’t be affected in some way.

The smile he had plastered on his face at the airport the first time he was going to leave for Harvard, didn’t reach his eyes.  When we hugged goodbye it was like he was trying to tell me something but it was only a feeling.  I’d unconsciously reached my hand out after him as he turned to walk into the terminal and onto the plane, but at the time I had no idea why. I thought it might have been because the thought of him gone had finally sunk in. But actually it was the fact that I felt like instead of him leaving, I was the one abandoning him.

But this time when he came back home, it was like we were kids again. He was messing around with me when I was trying to do homework, played video games with me, even dragged me out over the secret wall to go to the cinema by skateboard, when we could have taken the front door and his car.
He had that spark back in his eyes and that cocky half smile on his face as he hung out with his little brother.

Except I kind of felt like I was the older brother now, with the way he was acting like a high schooler again.

“Hey Ava, what are you doing over here?” I asked as smoothly as I could.

“Is your brother always like this?” She asked, her face scrunched up in distaste.

“Not always,” I said, laughing to myself about the fact that Ava is probably the first girl to turn Brad down. No doubt his ego would be wounded.

I’m sure he meant no harm by playing around with Ava, there’s no way she would have taken his newfound immaturity lying down.

I guess I’m just still too sensitive about her.

I never told Brad clearly that I was in love with Ava.  
After the whole incident with him hacking into my phone I didn’t want to tell him anything else lest he turn it into emotional blackmail. (He also has a new bad habit of turning up in my room unexpected and unannounced so I’m going to have to start locking the door…)

Anyway, I lied to her in the library when I said that I didn’t love her anymore. 

I’m still in love with her.

And it hurt that she felt like she had to hide behind a bookshelf to avoid having to speak to me. I think she realised it later though, because she’s tried to talk to me a lot since. But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s because she’s trying to fix the cracks in our ‘friendship’, rather than trying to spend time with me because it’s what she really wants.

But every time she turns up like this, I can’t control the false hope that seeps back into my heart, drawing me back in and it really puts me on edge. Because I’m trying hard to move on.

AVA’S POV

“Anyway, was there something you needed from me?” He asked.

“Huh?” I said unintelligibly.

“Why did you come over? You could have called me or something.” He said

He sounded sort of irritated; Ryan has never been annoyed with me before, so was a little taken aback and I became flustered. Ugh! When will this ditz curse I’m under end!

“Oh um you see I couldn’t remember the name of Anastasia’s shop because it didn’t have a sign and uh I forgot where it was too and I was on my way there and you know you’re not allowed to call or text when driving so seeing as I was in the neighbourhood I thought I would just drop by and ask you in person since you’re the one that did …that favour which got me the dress in the first place.”

Oh my god, what was that retarded mess of words that just tumbled out? Since when do I ever ramble on like an airhead.

But he smiled at me, his adorable non-judgmental smile.

“I can take you there now if you want, it’ll only take 10 minutes to get there,” He offered

“Really?” I queried, surprised that he would actually do this for me. Maybe he’s moving on faster than I thought…

“Yeah it’s close by so-“

Just then his phone went off.

“Sorry,” he apologised to me as he answered the call. “Hello Ryan speaking,” His politeness was too cute, but he sounded mature and professional at the same time. He was like a business man in training.

‘There’s not a lot I wouldn’t give to see him in a suit again’I thought, as memories of how sensual he looked at the Winter Formal played over in my mind.

 “Oh hi Mom,” He said, turning around to focus on the conversation. “Today? Uhh, actually I’m just about to head out with a friend.” he said glancing at me briefly.

I couldn’t make out what his Mom was saying but from his facial expression, it didn’t look like he was too happy.

“Not even 10 minutes?” He pleaded softly as he stepped in my direction.

“Ryan what’s gotten into you? You never used to complain about coming to luncheons__” I heard the muffled voice of his mother over the phone.

“Just a second Ava,” he whispered to me covering the phone’s microphone as he walked into the kitchen, leaving me in the lounge area next to it.

But I could still pick up snippets of the conversation.

“Sorry Mom I’ll come, I’ll be there in 20 minutes,” I heard him say, “Yes ok I’ll wear the new Ralph Lauren shirt you bought me,”

“He hates that Ralph Lauren shirt by the way,” said Brad waltzing back into the room.

“Do you guys go to, um, ‘luncheons’ often?” I asked him.

“Ugh yeah, but it’s the worst in Spring because it’s debutante season.” He replied disgruntled, “Our Mom didn’t use to make Ryan go with her before because he was younger, but ever since I went off to college my little brother has been forced to take my place!” He laughed. Wow, when he smiled he really did look like Ryan.

“What exactly do you do at these things?” I inquired.

“Nothing really, it’s more like having to put up with all the highschool girls that want to be ‘launched into society’ vying for your attention in the hopes that you’ll accept their request to be their escort.”

What? No! Not more of this from girls that were actually on Ryan’s level; I can compete with the female population of our highschool but there’s no way I’m even in this kind of league.

“Melissa Proud? Yes I know her, I’ve been tutoring her after school.” Said Ryan from the kitchen.

My head snapped up at the sound of her name. Exactly like when Harry Potter said ‘Voldemort’ instead of ‘You know who’ and everyone stared at him like he killed someone.

“Alright I’ll make sure she feels welcome. See you soon Mom,” He said, ending the call.

‘No Ryan, please. Do NOT make her feel welcome’ I pleaded in my mind. My face fell at the thought of Queen Bitch fawning all over him. Somehow she’d managed to get herself into Ryan’s league and I was a step down on the ladder. And I couldn’t do anything about it.

I watched Ryan walk over to where me and Brad were standing in the lounge area, and I almost couldn’t get myself together in time to look at him.

“Ava I’m really sorry but I’m not going to be able to take you to Ana’s shop,” he apologised, placing his hand on my shoulder remorsefully.

“It’s okay,” I told him, forcing myself look into his piercing blue eyes and smile, “I understand you’ve got things to do and I’m the one who should be sorry for dropping in unannounced.”

“I can tell you the address if you give me a secon–“

“I can take her.” Brad chimed in, interrupting Ryan.

We both stared at him sceptically for second, because we couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.

“What, can’t a guy do something nice for his little brother and said little brother’s special friend?”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea Brad?” Ryan asked, his voice suddenly quiet and terse.

“Yeah why not? I’m free all day and I’ve been so bored no thanks to you Mr Killjoy” Brad said smirking at his brother as he fell onto the nearest couch sighing dramatically.

“Doesn’t he have work to or something?” I asked Ryan innocuously.

“Actually, don’t you have to write that 2000 word essay you were complaining to me about before?” He asked Brad, folding his arms as he stepped in front of me.

“Maybe Ava can help me get started, seeing as the essay is for my psychology minor, she can be my muse.” Brad replied, winking at me.

This wasn’t going to work. Ryan couldn’t take me which was the whole reason why I’d come over, and I could tell Brad was stubborn as f*** and he wasn’t going to let this go.

“Look, ok Brad you can take me but I’m not going to be your ‘muse’ or whatever,” I told him. (Also given that historically, muses were almost always involved intimately with their artists; in this case a bullshit artist.)

“See? Chill out little bro, plus I haven’t seen Ana in ages,”

“Don’t try anything Brad.” Ryan said with a steely warning tone.

“Come on as if I would, have you even seen Ana’s fiancé?” Brad said getting up from his seat. “I tell you Ava, one wrong look at that guy and he would tear you apart!” He said as he slung his arm around my shoulders as if we were best friends.

“That’s not who I m– “

“Let’s go Ava, Ryan has about 15 minutes to get ready and he knows our mother hates tardiness.” He said, giving Ryan a knowing look.

Ryan glanced at the clock and I could see the exact moment that his mind went ‘Oh shit’

“I’ll see you next week at school,” He said, flashing me an apologetic look as he raced over to his room.

“Give me a sec to grab some stuff from my room, I’ll be right back” Brad said to me before making his way towards the stairs.

“I’ll wait for you near the door,” I told him.

The minute I was sure I was alone, I let out a huge breath. 1 brother stirred me up enough on his own, but 2 was exhausting!

Picking up my bag I began to walk towards the front door, past the lounge and kitchen area, and past Ryan’s room.

Just as I was passing by I noticed his door was slightly ajar. And it’s not like I could help seeing, it’s not spying if you didn’t mean to see anything!

He was facing the wall adjacent to the door where his desk and bookshelf were mounted against, so he couldn’t quite see me peering in.

I know I should have stopped, but the way the fabric of his t-shirt glided across his torso as he pulled it slowly over his head, his muscles flexing, my body quivering in response; I was frozen where I stood.

Then, I felt someone silently come up close behind me. It was Brad, and I prepared myself for the humiliation of being caught perving on his brother.

“You should see me without a shirt on,” He whispered seductively into my ear.

“Bye Ryan!” Brad shouted as he abruptly pulled the door shut before I even had time to react.

He opened the front door and gestured for me to exit first, “We’ve got a lot to talk about don’t we Babe?” He said with the biggest smirk on his face. At this point I wanted to slap the shit out of him, but he was in a position of strength, and I was in a position of extreme embarrassment.

Oh boy, this was going to be a long drive.

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Hey guys!! Please comment and vote if you like the story so far!
I'm super interested to know what you guys think, especially about Brad!

The next chapter might be a little slower in coming than this one because I'm starting my 2nd semester at uni and it's gonna be a little hectic in the first week. So I thank you in advance for being patient with me!

Cerise xx :)