Alex's picture >>>>>>>>>

"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." ~Dennis P. Kimbro

Partially edited

Chapter 2

Aria

He had been standing with his back facing me so he couldn't see me coming.

I blinked​. Once. Twice. What is he doing here? When did he come? Why did he come here instead of coming home? Why didn't he inform me? Is that why mom was acting cheerful today? Why didn't she tell me? Who's that beautiful girl next to him? I was brought out of my thoughts when he shouted, "Where is my sista?"

"Alex!" I make some sound which sounds like a cross of a squeal and a giggle.

Turning around, he squealed like a girl, "Aria!"

I giggled again, jumping into his now open arms. "Oh my gosh! When did you come? Why didn't tell me?" I pouted. "This morning, I came to surprise you. So, surprise!" He chuckled.

My step-brother, Alex, a.k.a Alexander Bronte, five years older to me, is the heir to The Bronte Enterprises. He left two years ago to Los Angeles to help dad with his work. Both of us used to share our secrets with each other. Others might tell that he has a cold heart, but I don't agree with them. He is a little overprotective with me, okay, he is a lot more overprotective than the Beast Master, he is the best brother anyone could have asked for. With blonde hair, green eyes and a perfect jaw line, he had many girls worshipping the ground he walks on. Unfortunately, he was a womanizer. Just as I was thinking this, I noticed​ a girl and whispered​ in Alex's ear, "Please tell me this is your girlfriend."

"Erm, yeah." he replied shyly, scratching the back of his head.

I widened my eyes in surprise. I've never seen him this shy before. "Finally!" I squealed like a kid during Christmas. Grinning widely, I looked at the girl. She smiled and said, "Hi, it's January."

I frowned at her in confusion. "Um, it isn't January now, it's March."

"No idiot, her name's January." He mused.

"Oh, sorry." I said, smiling sheepishly at January. "You should be." He said, earning a smack from me on the head.

We decided to go home since January, whom I started to call Ry, wanted to see Evelyn. We were walking towards my car when Alex cursed looking at the screen of his new iPhone, "Shit!"

"Language bro." I scolded​ him half-heartedly.

He ignored me and continued, "I have to pick my friends from the airport. You go ahead, I'll come."

"Wait, your friends came too?"

"I'll explain later. Bye!"

"You better."

⭐

Lee

Glancing once at my annoying friends, I continue to play the new addicting game in my mobile phone. I check the time again.

Will I meet her? Would she be angry with me for leaving? She would understand, wouldn't she?

Sighing loud enough for my friends to hear, I asked, "What's up guys?"

"Ceiling," Logan deadpanned. "Come to the point."

Groaning loudly, I stretched my sore limbs, "Fine. When will we reach?"

"Why, can't wait to take hot girls to bed?" Ethan asked, amused. I grinned. "It's not only that, I'm eager to visit Ohio after a long time." Chuckling, Ethan checked the time in his phone, "Ten more minutes left." I looked​ outside the window while the guys groaned​ and complained about the tiring ride.

Ten minutes later, we get off the plane and wait for Alex.

There was no sign of Alex even after half an hour. "He forgot about us again, right?" whined Hunter.

"Probably yes." Logan unlocked his phone to call Alex.

"I called him. He's on his way." Ethan informed us.

"What do you mean he's on his way?" I scoffed.

"Yeah man, he was with his sister."

"He has a sister?" Logan and I asked together. "Yes, and if you try to hit on her, I will kill you both." I raised my hands in surrender grinning while Logan asked, "Why, is she your girlfriend?"

"No way dude, she's practically like a sister to me!" Replied a frustrated Ethan. Logan burst out laughing looking at Ethan face which looked like he was constipated.

After waiting for fifteen more minutes Alex came. "Sorry guys."

"You should be," We all glared at him for forgetting about us. "Come on guys I'm meeting my sister after two whole years." Alex whined. There is almost no difference between Logan and Alex, I tell you.

"Guys, what's done is done. Stop wasting more time and let's go. I'm exhausted." I prove the point by yawning like I haven't slept since dinosaurs became extinct.

"Yeah guys. Listen to the 'genius'." Hunter said, quoting 'genius' in the air while I rolled my eyes.

⭐

Alex killed the engine of the car in the driveway of a huge house. We all got out of the car. With Alex leading us to the house, he called out, "Mom?" There was no reply. "Aria?" He called a little more loudly. "Coming!" A beautiful, soft and familiar voice replied.

Maybe it isn't her.

What if she is?

I don't think so. She's Alex's sister, and she didn't have an elder brother before I left, I scolded my conscience.

A beautiful girl, a couple of years younger than me, descended the stairs. She looked familiar with her twinkling grey eyes, heart-shaped face and hair the darkest shade of brown. Her eyes lit up looking at us-no, Ethan and ran towards him, "Ethan!" Ethan opened his arms for a hug and smiled the widest I've ever seen, "Hey Ar!"

Alex stood there fuming, I got a little frustrated and the others looked at them with their mouths open. "You know each other?" boomed Alex. Aria pulled away startled, realizing that there was an audience looking at them.

"Um, yeah?"

That sounded more like a question.

"Yeah." Logan replied.

Did I say that out loud?

"Yes, Lee." Hunter said, annoyed.

Oops!

"We both were friends in college. Nothing more." Ethan informed all of us. Aria cleared her throat. "Okay, um... hi everyone. I'm Aria, Alex's awesome little sister." Alex rolled his eyes with a smile while saying, "Yeah, yeah," He introduced us to Aria. "That's Logan Cunningham, Hu-"

"Hunter?" Aria looked at him with wide eyes.

"Hi." Hunter waved at her uncomfortably.

Something's wrong.

"You know each other?" Ethan looked at both of them. "Yeah. She's my ex." Hunter replied awkwardly.

Hunter is Aria's ex-boyfriend?

I realized that I had said it out loudly again when all heads snapped towards me. "Yeah." Hunter replied. There was tension in the room now after their confession. Ethan cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention. "Okay. This is Siddharth Mehta and this is Lee Asher."

"Ash?"

That sounded familiar. Is it her?

Told you so.

"Ria?" I asked to confirm myself that it is her. "Ash!" Aria squealed. "Hey Ria!" I chuckled. It was her!

"After a long time."

"After a long time." She nodded. Alex looked at us dumbfounded and downright pissed off. "Before you interrogate me, I'll tell you. Aria and I were best friends before when we were in school. Dad got transferred to L.A. and we had to move out."

"Oh."

"Yeah oh." Aria rolled her beautiful eyes. I loved her eyes. It reminded me of melting silver when she was happy, and the sky just before a storm when she was angry. Glad to know that some things never change.

All of us spent the rest of the day having fun teasing each other in the living room. After some time, Aria left quietly without informing anyone. I was the only one who found her sneaking out. Since I wanted to speak to her, I followed her to her room.

⭐

How was this chapter? So, yeah Ethan and Aria were friends during college. And Aria and Lee were best friends before. Let's see if they'll get to know each other more and become best friends again in the next chapter.

Please vote and comment if you liked the second chapter of TRT.

Love,
_born_sarcastic__

[Teaser: "Isn't he your mom's ex-husband?" He hissed angrily.]