My Best Friend's Brother

Our House is Your House

I sigh, shoving my phone back into my pocket. My mom had just told me she wouldn't be home for two more days. And to make things worse, she told me that I would be staying with the Brooks'.

I sat in my house alone, waiting to hear from Liam or Sarah. After Liam dropped me off, I wasn't sure where his head was. Jett has pissed him off, and I am almost certain he wasn't really over the whole Justin and Sarah thing from last night. 

The whole house filled with the sound of the doorbell. I peeped through the curtain to see Mrs.Brooks standing on my front porch.

She already had her arms out for a hug when I opened the door. I hugged her back, but she just rocked back and forth suffocating me.

She finally let go and put her hands on my shoulders, "You are so grown up, Emilie. Do you have a bag packed?"

I smile and walked to the couch where my packed duffel bag lay. Mrs. Brooks offered to help clean the house before my mom came back, but my mom found comfort in mess.

"You will be staying in the guest room upstairs," Mrs.Brooks led the way up the stairs and to the left. We walked down a long hallway passing two bedrooms and a bathroom until we reached the last door of the hall, "Here we are!"

The guest room was very dull, all grey walls and a grey bedspread. No wall decorations, only a clock hung on the entranceway.

"Okay, take a minute to get settled in. I am going to start on some supper. Oh, and if you need anything," she stepped out into the hall and pointed, "The boys are just right here. Remember Emilie, our house is your house."

As if on que, Justin stepped out of his room and leaned against the doorframe, "It would be my pleasure to help you with absolutely anything." He smirked.

Mrs.Brooks ignored her sons charm most of the time. She walked past him and on down the staircase back to the kitchen.

"I heard you gave Sarah a personal tour."

He smirked again, "They are my specialty, you interested?"

I sighed, "I wasn't interested two years ago, I'm still not interested now."

Justin pushes himself off the doorframe and crossed his arms, "We could have been good, Em."

I roll my eyes and walk past him, just to be blocked off again by none other than Jackson.

"Guests are not welcome here, so don't be inviting anyone."

I looked at Justin, "Does that rule go for you too?"

He mocked a facial expression of stupidity, "That's why windows were invented."

"Your window is on the second floor?"

He held his hand up, and walked into his room, returning with a rope ladder, "I have my ways."

Jackson rolled his eyes, "Em, come with me. I will show you the rest of the house."

I followed Jackson throughout the house until we walked onto the back porch. He kept walking past the garden fence to the pool house.

Opening the door, "And this is the pool house.... also known as the place where my parents hide the alcohol."

He grinned and pulled me by the hand around the bar in the corner. There were shelves full of liquor.

He picked up a bottle, "I'm sure you could use a drink."

I took the bottle and turned it up, not even asking for a glass. I took a big chug and felt the sting and burn as it went down. I sighed, handing him the bottle back.

"Do you want to talk?"

I sat down on the bar stool and put my face in my hands. I took a few deep breaths before breaking down. Jackson put his arm around my shoulder and held me as I cried.

"I'm really sorry, Em."

I struggled to breath, and my body began to shake. My chest burned. Jackson spun my bar stool around to face him, and he wiped a tear from my cheek.

We didn't speak, he just wiped each tell that fell from my eyes. It was peaceful and comforting in a way. We haven't been on a good page lately, but he was still there for me when I needed him the most.

I pick my eyes up from the ground, and raise them level to Jackson's. Before I can blink, his lips are touching mine. Softly, he kisses me.

"What was that?" I pull my fingers to my lips, I had finally stopped crying.

He ran his hands through his hair, "I'm sorry, I just-"

"We broke up... awhile ago..."

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Em. I shouldn't have-"

"No. You shouldn't have, but you did."

I stand up to walk back to the house, but he grabs my wrist, "Emilie, please talk to me."

I pull my wrist away, "You don't seem to want to talk..."

"Why did you break up with me?" He had hurt in his eyes, and I felt guilty.

I started to chew on the inside of my lip, "I was scared."

His hurt turned into confusion, "Scared? Of what?"

I sat back down on the bar stool, "I was scared of trying to make things work with so many things working against us. I figured if I ended it then, atleast we wouldn't end it full of hatred for each other. If I had moved and we had stayed together, we would have had so many arguments and issues...I was trying to save us."

"You left without saying goodbye."

Guilt grew in my chest, "I'm sorry."

"I loved you, Emilie...," he grabbed my hand in his, "I still love you."

A lump formed in my throat, just as I am about to speak. My phone rings.

Liam calling....