(I will be using this gif religiously now.)
(Also not spell checked.)

When I wake up, the bed is empty. I sit up, the covers tumbling off of me, and I stare around the room.

I huff, wrapping my arms around my torso. I wonder how long I slept in. Jake should have awoken me.

I frown, standing. Picking up the phone, I glance at the time. Holy cow. 11:20.

  I throw off the covers, collecting my clothes up off the floor, going to Phoenix's room where my bags are. Pulling on fresh clothes, I get dressed, humming to myself.

   I haven't received any texts or missed calls, so I busy myself with making a small breakfast— baked oats with chocolate chips and strawberries.

As the steaming bowl comes out of the oven, I slide on an oven mitt, cursing as the heat burns through the cloth to my fingers.

I slam the bowl onto the counter, rushing to the sink to run cool water over my hand.

"Damn it." I curse, tilting my hand to look at the red mark. I'm already sore, I don't need this.

  I find a place mat, moving to sit on the deck with my breakfast, enjoying the afternoon breeze, wasting my day away on my phone.

Standing, I move back into the kitchen, groaning when I see all the dishes in the sink. I sigh, grabbing the sponge and starting to scrub.

  "Brooke!" Bradley yells from the front door, and I jump in surprise.

They aren't supposed to be home for another hour.

  "Yeah?" I say uncertainly, moving from where I was washing dishes, wiping off my hands with a towel.

My older brother comes around the corner, his face red, his nostrils flared in anger.

  "What the hell do you see in Hangman?" He snaps, grabbing my arms. "Go ahead: tell me."

  I stare at him, my mouth opening and closing.
Good Lord, Brooke, speak!
  "I- I don't know.... He's kind to me,  he has said he loves me—"

  "Fucking bullshit. He's an asshole, Brooke!" He exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. I let in a shaky breath.

   "He brought up Dad!" He says, pacing the room. "Our freaking Dad! It's not his fucking place to bring up him. And I almost beat his ass, but they held me back."

  I swallow.
  "I- I don't know, Bradley." I say nervously. "Is that why you are home early?" He gives me a mock smile.

  "No, I just wanted to come home and yell at you." He says sarcastically. He runs his fingers through his hair. "I can't believe you like him, Brooke. You're way out of his league. When he gets bored, he's just gonna leave you. I don't want my little sister broken, especially not by that douche bag."

I frown at his words, wrapping my arms around myself.
  "He wouldn't leave me, Bradley. You're not thinking straight." I say, trying to convince myself.

  My brother sighs, plopping down in a chair and running his fingers through his hair.
  "I know. I just hate him. He has no place to talk to me like that. To talk about dad like that."

   My frown deepens, and I sit down next to him, my stomach twisting.
"What did Maverick say?" I ask, and he groans, laying back and running his hands down his face.

"He just stood there, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. So much for father figure." He snaps.

"He's trying his best, Bradley. You haven't exactly given him a chance." I say.

We are both quiet, listening to the other aviator's engines as they pull up to the barracks

"Can't you just stay away from him?" He asks desperately, and I huff.

At that moment, Jake walks in, pausing as he sees us. He is out of uniform, in a white skin-tight shirt and jeans.

"Something wrong?" He asks, raising his eyebrows. He glances at me before his eyes meet my brother's.

  Bradley huffs, standing up and exiting the room.
  "He only thinks about himself." He snaps, sparing me a final glance before striding out of the kitchen, his bedroom door groaning on it's hinges as he slams it shut.

"What happened?" Jake asks, stepping towards me.

I back away from him, crossing my arms across my chest.
"What did you do, Jake?" I ask quietly. "What happened to making amends?"

Fanboy steps into the room, glancing between us, and Payback slams into the back of his friend, puffing in frustration.

Jake's eyes look hurt as he stares at me, pleading with me silently. I walk past him, grabbing my jacket before walking out of the house.

"Wait!" Phoenix says, jumping down the steps and following me. "I'll come with you. I need a break from this toxic masculinity."

  I nod, pulling on my brother's old flight jacket.
  "You're telling me." I say, sighing. She grins, bumping into my shoulder.

  "Let's go grab milkshakes. Have a girls night." She says, smiling.

  "Sure." I say, rubbing my eyes as Jake's hurt face flashes in my brain. "We need a break."

  "Aww, I want to come to girls night!" Coyote calls from his upstairs window, leaning forward to the point where it is unsafe.

  Phoenix just flicks him off as we climb into her car, making him laugh.

***

  "I just don't understand." I say, rubbing my eyes. Phoenix nods, the milkshake straw in her mouth.
"Why does he act so different to me? I think he is bi-polar."

  She shrugs, leaning forward.
  "People can change, I guess." She says slowly, stirring her drink with her straw. "I think he just genuinely likes you, so he doesn't act like a complete dickhead."

  "Yeah, but he acts like a jerk to everyone else." I say, grumbling as I take a sip of my shake. "Maybe he was an abused child."

  "Maybe." She says, shrugging again. "I'm hungry, do you want any fries?"

  I shrug.
  "I dunno."

  She leans forward.
  "Listen, does he treat you well?"

  "Yes, he does." I say.

  "Then work it out. If he cares about you, he will change. He might just need... help. Excuse me, can we get an order of fries?"
   The waiter, a tall, wide boy in his mid- twenties, nods, moving away from us towards the kitchen.

  "I'm tempted to flirt with him. Have some fun." Phoenix says, and I roll my eyes, taking another sip of my milkshake.

  "You, Nat, are crazy." I say.

   "Says the girl who's railing Hangman."

   "Hey—"

I wanted to post this so badddddd so I did. I ended it.

  Love you all!!

-❤️Kena