My Best Friend's Brother

Movie Night

In the driveway of the new Brooks residence, Justin and Sarah exchanges phone numbers and planned to hang out tomorrow night. I left Sarah on their front porch to walk over to my house.

Mom met me in the kitchen and gave me a hug, "Did you walk?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I just came over to grab a change of clothes. I was going to go over to Sarah's for a little while. Is that okay?"

She smiled, "of course, honey. Have fun."

She kissed my forehead and walked up the stairs to their bedroom. I grabbed some clean clothes out of the laundry room and threw them into my bag and walked back across to the Brooks.

"I'm ready if you are!" Sarah jumped into the passenger seat of my moms car. I didn't really like the thought of running off in her car.

"Can you ask Liam if he can pick us up, I feel bad taking my moms car."

She snarled her nose, "Do I have to? Where is your car?"

I nodded as I drove across to park in my driveway, "I told you, it's in the shop getting fixed. Can you just call him?"

She rolled her eyes, but called Liam. The phone call lasted maybe twenty seconds. She hung up and put her phone between her legs, "He is on the way."

After a few PostMalone songs, Liams Jeep turned into the end of my road and we jumped out to meet him at my mailbox.

"Get in losers."

The ride back to their house was filled with several awkward eye contact moments between Liam and I in the rear view mirror. Upon arrival, Sarah yelled that she had to pee and ran inside.

"I can carry that," Liam took my bag out of my hand, "How do you feel about scary movies?"

I laughed, "They are cool I guess."

Deep down I am terrified of scary movies, but if they made me seem cool then so be it.

"Sweet."

We walked into the house and he sat my bag at the bottom of the staircase, "I though you were going to spend time with your dad? How did you end up babysitting the Brooks brothers and my sister?"

I half smiled but didn't look up, "Turns out my dad had to leave early... I didn't get to see him before he left."

He gave me a sympathetic nod, "I'm sorry, but hey that means you can hang out here tonight."

I followed him into the kitchen as he grabbed a couple of bags of chips and a few jars of dips and salsas. He handed me some to carry into the living room behind him. Sarah joined us in the living room.

"I am the oldest so I get to make authoritative decisions around here. You two go change and we are going to watch some movies."

Sarah crosses her arms, "We have better things to do than to hang out with you."

He held up chips and a jar of salsa, "I provided snacks. Plus, I will let Amelia pick the movie. Call it chivalry."

Sarah looked at me for approval, "I think it might be fun. I haven't had a movie night in a long time."

Sarah sighed, "Fine. I'm going to change."

She stomped up the stairs huffing and puffing with each step.

Liam smiled, "Maybe you can even sit beside me."

I held up my finger, "Don't push it. She has the rule, remember?"

He smiled, "I remember."

I grabbed my bag and went upstairs to Sarah's room to change clothes.

Sarah interrogated me on why I was being so nice to her brother, I shrugged it off. I wasn't sure what was going on between us, but it was refreshing.

Back downstairs Liam and I sat on the couch, while Sarah sat by herself in the chair across the room. He scrolled through the movie selections and clicked on The Bride in Black, "You like scary movies right?"

I awkwardly fake smiled and nodded 'yes'.

He made the selection, turned the volume up, turned out all of the lights, and sat down even closer this time. Sarah paid no attention to how close we were sitting, or even when Liam tossed a blanket over both of us. She was captivated by the movie. Each scene freaked me out more and more.

The bride in black popped onto the screen and I jumped throwing my popcorn, and my arms over my face. I had buried myself behind Liam.

"I thought you liked scary movies?"

I felt my face blush, "I lied."

He laughed and held his hand over my eyes, "I got you, Em."

Sarah looked from across the room, "Gross, Liam, don't touch her. You know the rules."

Secretly, I had hoped he wouldn't care about the rules. I mean, weren't rules made to be broken?

He removed his hand from my eyes and pushed the blanket off of himself. Sarah seemed satisfied with his effort. His phone started buzzing and lighting up. He took a look at it and put it back under his leg. A few more times of buzzing before he became annoyed and tossed his phone across my lap onto the other side of the couch.

"Everything okay?" I whispered.

He gave a reassuring nod, "Don't worry about it."

Sarah's phone flashed light across her face every other minute as she snap chatted throughout the movie. I wasn't sure if it was with Jett or Justin, and I didn't really care. Just as I was observing everyone else on their phones, mine lit up.

A text message shown on my screen, the sender "Jackson Brooks"

I slid it open to read it.

"Hey, I probably surprised you today. It was nice getting to see you, and I look forward to hanging out more when we get moved in. I didn't like how things ended with us, and I really missed you...but I can see that you have moved on. I hope we can still be friends."

I was more agitated than upset as I read his message. Liam noticed I had been staring at my phone awhile, "What about you.. everything okay?"

I nodded, "Yeah, just Jackson."

He whispered back, "What does he want?"

I hid my phone laughing, "What are you like jealous or something?"

He grinned, "Maybe so," he took my phone from my hand and laid it on the table, and then pointed at Sarah who was now fast asleep in her chair before staring back into my eyes, "But he isn't the one sitting beside you right now." 

I could feel my cheeks blush. I knew he could barely see them from the room being masked in darkness, only light coming from the tv. 

"I'm not much of a bad guy," he ran his hand through his hair, "but I have always found myself breaking the rules."

I feel my heartbeat fasten as he leaned towards me. He inches closer and closer, slowly. I felt my eyes slowly close.

Sarah's phone started ringing and she jumped from her sleep. Liam jerked back as fast as he could and acted as normal as possible. I felt my chest beating, and I tried to look chill.

She answered it and I could tell she was talking to Justin Brooks.

She put the phone to her shoulder, "Are y'all up for some fun?"

Liam looked at me waiting for a response.

Sarah didn't wait for my answer, she agreed and hung up the phone, leaving me to wonder what exactly she just agreed to.