Chapter 2

Standing in front of me was none other than my brother and his best friend. I was hoping to not run into them until later but it seemed someone hated me above. Don't get me wrong I love my brother but Andrew is another story ... well I actually love him too. I guess one thing I should tell you is that I am secretly in love with my brothers best friend. Yep you heard that right. By secretly I mean only Mia knows and no one else, not even Amelia knows.  

Falling in love with your brothers best friend is honestly the worst thing that can ever happen. Yes a part of it is if my brother found out he would be pissed. But the other part is having to see him every single day and each day falling harder. It is knowing that he will never know how you feel and won't reciprocate the same feelings.  

The moment I stopped thinking of Andrew as just a friend was the beginning of Sophomore year in High School. He had spent a 3 months away with his family in Europe exploring and I hadn't seen him at all. I was going to go over there the day he got back but since his plane got delayed he didn't get in till late, then the next day my mom dragged me out to the city. The first time I saw him was the moment I stepped out of my parents car on Monday two days after he got back. He was standing at the front of the school surrounded by everyone. The instant my eyes spotted him through the crowd my jaw flew open.  

His skin was tan from being in Europe, his dark brown hair was slightly long hanging in his eyes making him reach up and move it every few minutes. His baby cheeks had slimmed down and was now sculpted with high cheek bones and the start of a defining jaw line. His body looked leaner like he worked out a lot this summer, and he had grown quite a few inches towering over most of the guys. Everything about him screamed HOT. He wasn't the same boy I saw at the beginning of summer, instead he was a mini version of a greek god. I knew when he got older he would look better and better. Kind of like Brad Pitt.    

After that moment at school everything started to change. With Andrew being the hottest guy at school, along with my brother, he became the sex god of High School. Girls threw themselves at him and guys wanted to be him. He had everything; the popularity, the looks, girls, money, and even the smarts. Basically a triple threat. As Andrew moved up in the chain that is high school I stayed near the bottom not totally invisible but close. Everyone knew me because of my family as well as Cris and Andrew.    

At school he didn't ignore me like I thought he would. He always made sure I was involved and that no one was bugging me. It was the small things like that or when I saw him help under class men pick up their books when they were tripped, bring my mom flowers on certain occasions, even those moments when he'd come into the kitchen early in the morning and talk to me, that made me fall for him harder as the days passed. He doesn't know that those moments when he would invite me to play video games with him and Cris were some of the best times I've had.  

The only person I ever told was Mia because I can't keep anything from her. She knew the moment I liked Andrew before I did. Like a true friend she never told a soul and stayed by my side when I had to see him with different girls and when he got his first serious girlfriend. If it wasn't for her I would have probably been in a pit of depression thinking about Andrew never being with me.  

"Did I kill her?" His voice broke through my trance. I blinked clearing my vision to see him standing in front of me and feeling him poke my forehead.  

"Andrew cut it out." I whined swiping his hand away. I ignored the tingly feeling I got up my arm when I touched him. I was really good at hiding and storing my feelings away when it came to him. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked grabbing a fry and eating it. I stopped feeling conscious eating around Andrew when we were kids. Having him always at my house the feeling faded quickly.  

"Eating what does it look like?" Cris butted in. I rolled my eyes and looked down at my plate just in time to see Andrew reaching for a few fries.  

"No! Get your own!" I yelled going to smack his hand but he retracted it too fast.  

"Damn woman it is just food." He said around the food in his mouth. On any other guy it would be disgusting but on him it wasn't.  

"Food is precious." I said in a low voice putting my arms around my plate. Both him and my brother rolled their eyes at me use to my protection of food. Don't mess with a girls food!  

"Okay I am going to go order. What do you want Andy?" Cris asked. As Andrew talked to my brother I took that moment to look him over.  

Today he was wearing a tight dark blue shirt that made his eyes look blue and his arms bigger. He had on a pair of light blue jeans that hung low on his hips and had a few rips on the knees. His brown hair was cut short and quiffed in the front. Everything about him was sexy. He turned away from my bother with a heart stopping grin. I don't think he realized what his smile did to girls...wait let me rephrase that, he knows what it does he just doesn't know what it does to me.    

"You girls coming to the game on Monday?" Andy asked grabbing a chair from the table over that just emptied and swung it around to sit on it facing backwards.  

"Of course it is your guys first game." I said. Ever since they both started football in middle school and into high school I never once missed a game unless I had to, I even went to last year's college games. The games that I couldn't go to the team would loose so after they lost 2 in a row when I was sick they all decided I was their good luck charm, basically forcing me to come. Not that I really minded, boys in football pants was a nice sight to look at for 2-3 hours.  

"Good we need to win our first game." Cris butted in as he came back to the table with his and Andy's food. So much for eating dinner in peace. I thought.  

"So you guys are starting? That's pretty cool." Amelia asked taking a sip of her weird tea.  

"We did really good last year that coach immediately let us on the team." Andy boasted. That is pretty cool. Last year they were the only freshman to start and now they didn't have to try out really meant the coach liked them.  

"Plus it helps us get the ladies." Cris said wiggling his eyebrows.  

"Ladies?" Mia snorted. "Us 'ladies' wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole."  

"You a lady?" Cris shot back. I grinned looking at the both of them. I know I shouldn't but I loved how Cris and Mia went at each other. It was just so entertaining. They really didn't mean most of what they say, Cris loves Mia like a sister so he wouldn't intentionally hurt her feelings.  

"No I'm an giraffe." She said sarcastically.  

"You couldn't be a giraffe because you're too short." I sat there watching them go back and forth while eating the rest of my hamburger.  

"Are you going stop them any time soon?" Andy's voice asked beside my ear. I suppressed a shiver from feeling his warm breath on my neck.  

"Nah they will stop eventually." I said. I grabbed my last fry and stared at it sadly.  

"You are so weird with food." Andy said shaking his head at me.  

"You don't even know the half of it. Last year someone knocked into her making her lunch fall to the ground and she went ballistic on the poor guy." Amy commented.  

"I did not!" I shot back giving her a death glare.  

"Oh yeah I heard about that." He said laughing.  

"Haha he already knew it!" I said smugly but than stopped. Wait that is not a good thing. "How did you hear about that? You weren't even there last year."  

"I have my sources." He made his voice low and mysterious.  

"So Car how was mom and dad?" Cris asked finally done bickering with Mia. I wanted to say 'don't call me that' but it would be no use. With a name like mine there were no good nicknames to be called so Car was what everyone called me.  

"Yeah thank you for coming over by the way." I glared at him. "Mom wouldn't let me go."  

"I knew not to come over. Mom would have latched onto me and never let me go. That was one of the reasons I was so happy I had to move onto campus early for football. Mom would have been a mess if both of us moved in on the same day." Cris said. "They dropped by our place but I pretended to not be home." He grinned over at me.  

"Yeah thanks for the help dear brother." I muttered sarcastically.  

"Wait until tonight when she calls you every hour until 9 when you 'should' be in bed." I know my mom means well but calling me every hour was too much.  

"So are we going to a party tonight?" Amy asked suddenly. "Some guy handed me a flyer earlier about some frat party, we should definitely go." Going to some party with a bunch of drunk college kids did not sound like my kind of fun. Instead I'd rather be at home watching reruns of shows while eating Nutella or cookie dough.  

"No." I said with two other voices. Looking to my right I saw both Andrew and my brother shaking their heads no. "Wait what?" I asked.  

"You are not going to a frat party." Cris said.  

"Excuse me?" I turned in my seat looking at my brother.  

"You. Are. Not. Going. To. A Party." He said slowly as if I was stupid.  

"We know what goes on at those kind of parties so you aren't going." Andy explained.  

"I am 18 years old for crying out loud! I can go to a party if I want to go." I bit out glaring at the two of them. If they think they were going to control my life here at college they are going to be mistaken. I put up with it in high school but now I am old enough to make my own decisions.  

"Carmer." Luke warned staring down at me.  

"I wasn't even thinking about going but now that you two said no I may just go."  

"Carmer is right you guys. She is a grown adult and can make her own decisions." Mia interjected for me. I sent her a grateful smile for backing me up. She knew how protective both Andy and Cris were of me.  

"You guys can't stop her from going." Even Amy butted in. In your face Cristiano and Andrew ! I thought.  

Cris's grey eyes, the same as my mothers, glared at me. I know he was worried that I was going to get drunk and do something stupid with some random guy, but that was not me. I don't drink and I have enough common sense to not mess around with a college guy, especially a frat guy. They could have some kind of sexual disease from sleeping around so much.  

Tense silence surrounded all of us as Cris and I stared at one another. The longer Cris stared at me I could feel myself cracking. I didn't like confrontation or Cris's hard stare at me. It wasn't like I really wanted to go to a party anyways, I just got here a few hours ago.  

"Fine I won't go." I muttered tearing my blue eyes away from his grey ones.  

"Carmer!" Amy exclaimed.  

"Sorry I caved! Plus I don't really want to go anyways." I said grabbing my coffee. I needed to stand up against my brother and Andrew but tonight I wasn't in the mood.  

"Carmer we just don't want you to get hurt." Andy said quietly to me. I huffed sipping my drink.  

"We better get going. We are meeting some of the guys." Cris said standing up.  

"By that you mean going to go hook up with some girls before the party don't you?" Mia said staring at Cris. He sent her a goofy grin.  

"Of course."  

I rolled my eyes trying to block out the sudden hurt and jealous of Andy flirting with a random slutty girl and going to a party with her. A hand on my arm yanking me up had me yelping a second after I rolled my eyes. With a sharp tug I was yanked out of my seat and smushed against a hard chest.  

"It's great having you here Car." Cris whispered above me. I smiled bringing my arms up and wrapping them around his waist. I couldn't stay mad at him. He only was looking out for me.  

"I'm glad you're here with me too." I whispered back. After one last tight squeeze he let me go taking a step back. "I'll see you tomorrow, and don't forget about our ritual on Monday." He said smiling. I grinned wider I almost forgot about our ritual. Every year on the first day of school Cris and I would go out for ice cream and talk about our classes and random stuff after classes. I can't remember when it started but it has been going on ever since. "Have fun at the party. Call me if you need someone to pick you up." I said shooting both him and Andy a look. I do not want them driving while drinking.  

"I will." Cris nodded at me.  

"So Carmer...where's my hug?" Andy asked stepping towards me.  

"You don't get one."  

"Aww why not!" He whined almost like a three year old.  

"Because you smell." I made up. Before I could even open my mouth his arms shot out grabbing me and pulling my body against his.  

"Well now you smell." He shot at me rubbing his body against me.  

"Ewww Andy!" I yelled squirming in his grasp.  

"You're welcome." He said letting me go a minute later. With a smirk at me and a small wave to us three he turned and followed my brother out the door. Staring after them I could smell Andy's cologne on my shirt. Damn he smells good. I breathed in deeply loving whatever the kind he used.  

"So you really aren't going to the party?" Amy asked once I had sat back in my seat.  

"No. If I go my brother will kill me. Plus I don't really want to go anyways, I'm tired from moving." I shrugged.  

"Mia!" She turned to Mia giving her puppy dog eyes. "You are going though right?"  

"I don't know..." She trailed off. From the look on her face I knew she wanted to go.  

"You should go with Amy." I commented. I only slightly cared that she went without me. But it was true I was tired and partying is not really my thing.  

"But what about you?"  

"I'll be fine. I want to finish my painting anyways. You guys should totally go." Thinking about finishing my painting actually made me giddy. Yep I am officially an adult, I'm getting excited over something stupid.  

"So will you?" Amy asked or more like pleaded.  

"Sure why not." At her answer Amy grinned.  

"It is already almost 6 and the partying at 8 so we better go get ready." Amy said standing up. "How about I meet you at your guys place in a little bit?"  

"Sounds good." With that Amy nodded walking out of the cafe. Shaking my head I stood up as well grabbing my almost empty coffee cup. Following Mia we left the cute cafe and headed back to our place.  

*****  

About an hour and a half later I was laying on Mia's bed as she moved around her room grabbing everything she might need. Amy was going to be here any minute to pick her before they headed to the frat party.  

"Are you sure you don't want to go?" Mia asked for the 30th time in twenty minutes.  

"Yeah I am sure, I'm fine staying here. You go and have fun. Today is probably the best day to go anyways. Tomorrow you aren't going to want to since class is the next day." She nodded. No one wanted to be hungover on their first day of college. "Just don't get too drunk and if you need anything call me okay." I said sitting up looking at her. "Watch your cup at all times. If some guy won't leave you alone knee him where the sun don't shine. And if anything else happens try to find my brother." I ranted.  

"Car this isn't my first party. Don't worry about me I'll be fine." She said. I couldn't help it she was like a sister to me and if anything would happen to her I'd die. "Okay how do I look" She turned around and struck a pose.  

Her carmel colored hair was curled in soft waves laying around her shoulders. She put enough makeup on to look like she had it but not enough to be over done. A dark strapless purple dress hugged her figure. A pair of killer high heels were on her feet making me wonder how she won't fall. All in all she looked gorgeous.  

"You look great Mia. The boys will definitely be on you tonight." I commented wiggling my eyebrows at her before laughing at myself.  

"You're so weird." She said but smiled with me. A knock on our front door echoed through the apartment making me get up. As Mia grabbed her bag and cellphone I went to the door and opened it to find Amy. I stood there shocked for a second before moving to the side to let her in.  

Amy wasn't dressed how she normally was. Instead of that the dress she wore went to her knees and didn't bare her breasts too much. Her make up was lighter like Mia's.  

"You look great Amy." I said finally. It was weird not seeing her in a slutty dress.  

"Thanks." She said smoothing out her dress. "You really aren't coming?" I mentally rolled my eyes.  

"Yeah but you guys have fun okay. Go meet a bunch of cute college guys." Just then Mia came out. Standing there next to both of my gorgeous friends I felt like a rat. In my worn out ripped jeans, and graphic t-shirt I felt ugly compared to them. They both look gorgeous in their dresses, hell they always looked gorgeous compared to me. I've always been considered the less pretty one of our group; I was the DUFF if you will.  

"Okay if you need anything just call me. Have fun." I said hugging both of them before they left. Closing the door I laid my back against it sighing. I looked around my new apartment the silence wrapping around me. The place was pretty empty making it seem even newer to me. Mia and I really needed to decorate this place soon.  

The longer I stared around the place I felt the pang of loneliness seep inside me. I missed my home and my family. We used to almost always have dinner together, talking about our day with one another, then we would sit down and watch some TV. It sounded boring but to me it was great. My parents and siblings were the greatest and always knew how to make me feel better. It was going to take a while to get use to being on my own and spending days not seeing either of my parents everyday. 

Instead of standing here the entire time I headed towards my bedroom. Grabbing my iPhone dock I set my phone in it before hitting play letting music echo around the room. With music playing through out my room I felt a little bit better. Knowing that Amy and Mia wouldn't be back for hours I grabbed my easel and my paints before settling in my chair.  

*****  

I let out a sigh as I finished the last of my drawing. I was going to work on my painting of my parents for their anniversary in a few months but for some reason I couldn't. I didn't feel like continuing it at the moment so I took out a blank sheet and just let my hand draw. Staring back at me was a set of eyes, something I haven't drawn in a long time. I had unconsciously made them a light blue mixed with green. Flecks of dark blue and green surrounded the pupil making them look realistic. The eyes looked so life like and I instantly knew who's eyes they were.  

The exact same pair of Andrew's eyes stared almost mockingly at me. All I could think about was him hooking up with some girl at a party. I knew he wasn't mine to have but the image was not something I wanted to see. My long time crush was as big as ever, which was pretty pathetic. Nothing could ever happen between us anyways especially with my kind of brother. If Cris knew that we were a thing he would flip, not that it would ever happen. Believe me I have thought of both situations enough to psych myself out of ever telling Andy. To him I will always be his best friend's sister who lived a few houses down from him. The girl who use to have acne and ugly braces.  

Heaving another sigh I closed my eyes bringing my hand to my neck, rolling it around in circles. I was stiff from sitting in the same spot for 2 hours. Glancing at the clock I saw it was almost 9. I didn't expect Mia back for another 3 to 4 hours if that. She may be a smart cookie and responsible but when a partying she never came home before midnight.  

Taylor Swift's song 'Clean' played softly around my room. I closed my eyes slowly swaying my body to the music. I wasn't the greatest dancer but that didn't stop me. My talents stopped at Art and Photography. Hand me a camera or a notepad and I can immediately do something but anything else I sucked at.  

Needing to get out of my chair I stood up twisting my body hoping to relieve some of the knots. As the song changed from Taylor Swift to All Time Low I hit the volume button louder as I left my room. Walking to the kitchen I opened the fridge praying there was something inside it for me to eat. I let out a small squeal seeing that there was some food in the fridge. My parents or Mia's must have put some in there before leaving. Sending a silent thank you to them I reached in a grabbed some cookie dough. I knew this was my mothers and Aunts doing since they loved cookie dough just as must as Mia and I.  

In a way Mia and I were the exact replicas of our mothers. They were best friends since my mom moved to Itlay. They lived with one another because they both took care of Rose time to time, so me and Mia also I planned to live together. Mia was just like her mother Kiyara. Aunt Kay was out-going, spoke her mind, smart, and great at fashion. My mom, Danielle, was a bit shy, liked to be in the background, smart, and also a great cook. So really we were more alike our mothers than we want to admit.  

Deciding to watch some TV I went back to my room for my phone before flopping down on the couch. I was thankful our couch was comfy because I knew I would be sitting here a lot in the future. Scrolling through the shows I finally put it on replays of Modern Family digging into my tub of cookie dough. See Mace look what you are missing out on. I thought to myself. The only thing that would make this night better was if FRIENDS was on but Modern Family was just as good.  

After 1 episode my phone started ringing making me sigh. I knew who it was and have been waiting for it to come the last hour or so. Turning the volume on the TV down I grabbed my phone and swiped to answer.  

"Hi mom."  

"Hi honey! How are you? Is everything okay there? Have you seen Luke yet? Did you eat? Are you at the apartment and are the doors locked?" My mom immediately asked.  

"Mom everything is fine. It has only been a few hours since you left." I said biting a chocolate chip.  

"I know honey but I am just worried about you." She said softly.  

"I know. And to all your questions before yes. I ate with Cris and Andy, I am home and the doors are locked."  

"Good. I am glad you saw Cris and Andy. They are suppose to be watching out for you."  

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyways. I know it has only been 5 or so hours since I last saw my parents but I was already missing them. Hearing my mom's voice made me realize just how much I have.  

"What are you and dad doing?" I asked poking the cookie dough with my spoon.  

"We just finished a show on TV and are probably going to bed here in a little bit."  

"Oh yeah what show did you watch?"  

For the next hour I talked to my mom, my dad's voice in the background as well. She told me what happened in the TV show we use to watch together, and what they had for dinner. We mostly talked about random stuff but it made me feel better. Made me think I wasn't too much alone. I didn't know I would already be home sick after a few hours. The conversations slowly died away and I knew I had to hang up. They were probably going to bed early even though it was only 10 o'clock.  

"I better let you guys go. I love you and tell dad I love him too." I said feeling myself wanting to cry.  

"We love you too honey. Call us tomorrow okay? Sleep well and give Mia a hug from us." My mom said her voice wobbly. In the background I could hear my dad yelling 'I love you and goodnight'.  

"I will. Goodnight mom."  

"Goodnight baby. I love you." With that I hung up swallowing the lump in my throat and blinking back tears. I really shouldn't be this upset but I was. It was just an emotional day. I would be better tomorrow and as I started to get use to being here.  

Not in the mood for cookie dough any more I put the lid back on and went to put it in the fridge. I realized then that I still hadn't showered yet so instead of sulking on the couch I decided to go take a warm shower. Hopefully Mia would be back soon.  

25 minutes later I walked back into the living room dressed in a pair of comfy pj shorts, and a big t-shirt that use to belong to my brother. My dark brown hair was pulled back up into a messy bun. My feet clad in a pair of slippers I sat down on the couch, grabbing my fuzzy zebra blanket watching Modern Family. I slowly started to drift off to sleep, the TV fading in the background.