My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter Seventeen

I can honestly say that I woke up in a great mood this morning. Fergie called me and talked to me while I got ready for school. I still can't believe he likes me; I don't think I'll ever get used to saying that. I told him that I planned on talking to Tamara and Ethan today. There will be no more hiding out in the library to avoid my problems. Although, I have no problem doing that—Fergie suggests that I should work things out. He's already giving me great advice and I love it. I left out a piece of information about the whole thing. I failed to mention that Ethan told me he has feelings for me.

Part of me believes I shouldn't be keeping this away from Fergie, but the other half believes it isn't a big deal. If I'm not going to act on Ethan's feelings, then there should be no reason why I have to tell Fergie about it. If anything, it'll just cause a bunch of unnecessary drama that no one has time for. I plan on letting him down easy. I'll tell him that we're better off as friends, and hopefully that will be sufficient enough. I'd hate to break his heart, but it seems like it is the only way to go about things.

I also don't think it's a good idea to tell Tamara and Ethan about Fergie and I—at least not yet. That's what got us into this whole mess anyway. The less everyone knows the better. As long as I mend my broken relationships with my friends, all will be good. Even though it's only been two days, it feels like I haven't spoken to them in forever. I wanted to have every reason to be mad at Tamara and wait for her to apologize first, but I really want to be the bigger person. I miss being around her; I can care less if she is wrong or right—although, she is in the wrong. She is right about my crush, but she is in the wrong for telling business that is not hers to tell.

My stomach drops as soon as I enter the lunchroom. I had a class with Tamara before lunch, but we didn't speak to each other. I tried to rehearse what I wanted to say to her a million times in my head. More importantly, I rehearsed what I was going to say to Ethan. Of course, I'm not going to put his business out in the open in front of Tamara. I'll tell him that we can have a talk later. Let's hope he doesn't take this badly. My feet hesitantly drag me across the lunch room and to the table that I usually sit at. Neither Tamara or Ethan is here, so I wait patiently for them.

It doesn't take them long to come to the table. It's like I forgot what I rehearsed when I look at the two of them. They seem surprised to see me. If I was them I would be surprised too. I did ignore them for a couple of days.

"Hey, guys." I say with a small smile.

"And she speaks." Tamara rolls her eyes, sitting down across from me.

She's going to make being the bigger person hard. The way she acts is unbelievable. She can be a complete diva at times, and it is very annoying. It's taking everything in me not to snap on her. She was the one who started this mess anyway.

"Yeah to apologize, even though it should be you apologizing." I glare at her.

"Me?" She looks taken aback. "You're the one who likes Fergie and is too scared to tell him."

This must be extremely awkward for Ethan right now.

"If I did or didn't like Fergie, it's none of your business. And not your place to tell him." I snap.

"Why you getting so defensive. You must like him." She counters back.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you mind your own damn business. Always in the next, but never in your own." I cross my hands over my chest.

She makes it known that she finds Fergie highly attractive. I wouldn't be surprised if she was jealous because he likes me and not her. Boys are a constant reason for failures of friendships. I just hope it won't be the reason of ours because it's not looking too good right now.

"Whatever." She says.

I'm not apologizing to her ass.

She should be the one to apologize.

"Yeah, okay." I nod my head.

I stand up and collect my belongings. I don't want to be anywhere near Tamara and her drama. Maybe I should have apologized, but I wasn't going to let her talk to me any kind of way. I'm tired of letting her walk over me with her distasteful words.

"Where are you going?" Ethan asks.

"To the library." I tell him.

"I'll come with you." He says, standing up.

"Ethan, really?" Tamara's jaw drops.

"I'm not really hungry anyway." He shrugs his shoulders.

"Yeah, just go follow her around like a lost puppy. Like you always do." She scoffs, waving him off.

Ethan looks down at his shoes with a sad look on his face.

"Tamara!" I say in disbelief. "What is wrong with you?"

I cannot believe how ruthless she is being.

"And you're just gonna let him follow you around, knowing he likes you. But you're just gonna pretend to ignore it, right?" She claps her hands together. "Oh, don't act all innocent and surprised now. The tea is out of the bag."

"I think the term is the cat's out of the bag." Ethan points a finger in the air.

"Shut up, Ethan." She rolls her eyes.

"Okay Ethan, let's just go before we start arguing more. She clearly ain't got nothing better to do." I say and walk away.

"I guess what she said is kinda true." Ethan says after we leave the lunch room. "I do follow you around like a lost puppy and it's sad."

"Ethan." I sigh.

"No, she is right. And I'm just too stupid to see that you don't feel the same." He shakes his head. "Anybody with eyes can see that you like Fergie."

"I was gonna tell you that I think we should just be friends, but I think you're beating me to it." I chuckle.

"Only because I saw it coming." He says. "Just do whatever makes you happy, I'll be okay."

"I hate for it to be like this." I bow my head down.

"Me too, but I can't make you have feelings for me." He frowns.

"Just like I can't help who I have feelings for." I say.

"Let's just put this whole thing behind us." Ethan holds out his hand for me to shake.

"Deal." I shake his hand.

I feel a little bit relieved, but it does suck hurting his feelings. He is a great guy, but I have never seen him as anything more than a friend.