My Girlfriend's Brother

Chapter 3

Reece and Noah were both sitting on his bed, under the covers and were currently watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Well, that was . . . That was a sentence Noah never thought he’d ever say in his life. Like, ever. To say that Reece kind of scared him would be an understatement. No, that would be the understatement of the century. That boy made him want to piss himself every time he went within five feet of him and to think that they were sharing the same bed right now.

Honestly, sometimes, Noah amazed himself at how well he hid it too. He could sass him and still almost piss his pants. But, he knew for a fact, that almost everyone was scared of him, so at least he wasn't alone in that category.

Reece’s phone went off and Noah jumped ten feet in the air. Reece, burst out laughing and he scowled at him, trying to ignore the heat rising in his cheeks.

"Chill, Noah, it's my phone."

"I know it's your phone. Answer your phone," he grumbled out and he sighed, rolling his eyes as he checked the caller ID. He frowned as he answered it.

"What?" he said, annoyed. Wow, did he not know what hello was? Who answered the phone with an angry 'what?' "Are you okay? . . ." He glared at the TV. "f**k you . . . I am babysitting my sister's boyfriend. Yes, that one."

Why did he say that one, so weirdly? Gasp, was Kiera cheating on him? Noah laughed at his own thoughts. Kiera could never cheat on him.

Noah glared at him and Reece flipped the younger boy off. Part of him wanted to tell Reece to shove that finger where the sun didn't shine, but then there was a chance that he'd murder him and Keira wasn't there to tell him to knock it off, so he stayed silent.

"Well, then you should've started with that then! . . . I don't care if that's not how you start a conversation! Give me ten minutes, I'm coming."

Wait, what?

He hung up and turned to face Noah, the light of the TV hitting his face at odd angles giving him some weird shadows.

"I need to go for a bit. Lock the door," he said as he stood up. He slipped his shoes on and Noah followed him downstairs and to the door.

Noah was trying to think of a way to ask Reece to stay, but he kept failing to come up with a decent reason. Noah swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to ignore how his whole body was trembling. The thought of being in this house, alone and in weather like that, didn’t sit right with him. Reece turned around giving him one last smile before he left. Noah blinked a few times as the realisation dawned on him. He locked the door.

It was okay. He was okay. The first thing he did was turn on the light in the small foyer. Thunder erupted, causing Noah to let out a slight squeal, jumped and he knocked a vase that was beside the door onto the floor where it shattered. Oh, if his mother realised that she would kill him.

He was fine. He could do that. He went into the kitchen, turning the lights on as he went. He turned the central heating off too. He had only put it on because he didn’t want Reece to be too cold. He grabbed the brush and walked back over to the shattered vase. First, he picked up the larger pieces. When thunder was heard, Noah held onto the glass piece too tight and it broke his skin. He stared at the blood a little. Oh. He sighed as he put it in the bin and swept up the smaller pieces and dropped them in the trash.

He looked back down at his bloody hand and rolled his eyes.

He could do this.

He could prepare the house.

It was just a thunderstorm.

He just had to keep repeating this to himself.

He put music on to try and drown the thunderstorm out and began to wipe down the surfaces. After that, he put the laundry on and reorganised the living room a bit.

But halfway through cleaning the room, after he had organised it, the music was no longer drowning the rain out and with the thunder and the lightning, he came to a horrid realisation that he couldn’t do this.

His lower lip began to tremble and he could feel himself beginning to shake. Thunder echoed throughout the house and a scream ripped through Noah’s throat as tears gathered in his eyes.

He couldn’t do it.

Ignoring the way his whole body was yelling at him to stop, he dropped the brush and darted up the stairs and into his room. He curled into a ball in the corner of his room and rocked himself back and forth. He was fine. He was fine.

He tried to ignore it, but he couldn’t.

Please. He was fine. He hid his face in between his legs as he muttered to himself that he was fine. He could do it. Tears continued streaming down his face as he continued rocking himself, trying to calm himself down.

"Noah!" he snapped his head over to the shadow standing at the door. His eyes were blurry and he couldn’t see them properly, so he screamed.

“Noah!” they yelled again. They walked over and crouched in front of him.

They crouched down in front of him and as they reached their hand out, Noah screamed. “Don’t touch me!”

"Turn on the f*****g light, i***t," the shadow said, and somehow the light turned on. Noah blinked a couple of times as his eyes focused, he rubbed them a little to wipe the tears off his face to see both Reece and Clark dripping wet.

"What the f**k?" Clark muttered as he stared at Reece. "Hang on, Reece, isn't that your hoodie?"

Reece sighed as he turned to look at his best friend, he threw him his keys. “Take those and go.”

"You don't have to tell me twice," Clark muttered as he turned on his heel and walked out.

"You're okay. I think," Reece said as he eyed the trembling boy.

He had stayed where he was before. He eyed me and he took my hand. I let out a weird noise and he ran his free hand through his wet hair. "You're bleeding and I need to change clothes . . . Again."

Noah blinked a couple of times as he looked up at Reece. “How did you get in?” he rasped. He was sure he had locked the door.

"Clark picked the lock, he knows some weird s**t," he muttered. "I knew there'd be no way you would hear us knocking over this s**t f*****g storm. What we didn't expect was that you'd be huddled in a corner crying. f**k, when Kiera said you're scared of thunder I didn't think it was this bad."

"I'm not scared of thunder! I just don't . . . Like it," he snapped,

Reece sighed as he stood up, groaning a little. "Where's your first aid kit?"

"We don't have one."

"You don't have a first aid kit?"

"Well, I'm always at your house," Noah replied, uncurling a little.

"Well, he's not supposed to be here."

Noah and Reece’s heads snapped over in the direction of the door to see Colin standing there, an unlit flashlight in his hands. His blonde hair was sticking to his forehead and he crossed his arms over his chest.

Noah’s eyes widened. Oh no.

"Colin —" Noah began, but he put his finger up, quieting Noah.

"Noah, I know what you're going to say and I can't. She's my boss, I have to tell her. She said no one else was allowed and he's someone, alright," he said. His eyes landed on Reece, who was standing beside Noah.

He stood up, ignoring how his legs were trembling. Colin scanned Noah over and when he saw the blood on his hands he tensed. “You’re bleeding, Noah. Did he hurt you?”

“Of course not!” Noah said, shaking his head. “Sure, he’s annoying as hell but he’s never hurt me. I dropped a vase and I hurt myself while I was cleaning up.

"Okay, Mr Knightly, you need to leave," Colin said.

Reece had his back to Noah so he couldn’t see his facial expressions.

“I don’t think so,” Reece said. He turned around to face Noah and smiled. “I think I’ll stay with Noah.”

"I don't think that the Sheriff would like that," Colin said, keeping his voice neutral.

Noah eyed both of them and swallowed some spit. He did not like the vibe he was getting from them.

But Noah didn’t want to be alone, not in this weather. When thunder roared he jumped a little. Reece sighed a little as he glanced at Noah, took a step closer to him and placed a hand on the small of his back. “You’re okay.”

"Reece. You need to leave," Colin said, and Reece raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Now."

"No. I’m not leaving Noah alone in this weather.”

"Reece. Leave," Colin snapped, scowling at the boy.

"I think I'll stay," Reece said. Noah tensed as he felt Reece’s hand move on the small of his back. It took Noah a few seconds to realise he was drawing circles.

Noah focused on Colin, who was scowling at Reece. Colin eyed the duo and sighed. “Get away from Noah, Reece.”

When Reece didn’t move, Colin sighed and pulled his gun out, aiming it at Reece’s head.

“Colin!” Noah yelled. “What are you doing?”

"Shoot. I didn't do anything. Noah's a witness," Reece said, smiling. His hand on Noah’s back remained relaxed.

It seemed Noah was more worried about this situation than Reece was. Noah stared at Colin, who was still pointing the gun at Reece.

“Colin, drop the gun. You’re overreacting,” Noah said, eyes wide.

“What the f**k do you think you’re doing?!”

All three heads in the room turned to see a soaking Cameron standing in the doorway soaking wet. “Out your f*****g gun down. Stop aiming it at my brother.”

"It's not aimed at Noah. It's aimed at Reece," Colin responded, fixing his aim a bit.

"Who is standing next to my brother," Cameron snapped. "Get the f**k out."

Colin lowered his gun slowly, and eyed the trio before his eyes landed on Noah.

Reece noticed and his right hand on Noah’s back haltered a little. Colin nodded a little before he turned around and walked out. A few moments later, over the thunder, they heard the dull thud of the door slamming shut.

Reece ignored Cameron and focused on Noah. "Well, that was an inconvenience. You okay?"

"I think so?" he mumbled, looking up at him. Noah turned around to look at his brother and Reece’s hand on his back had never felt more comfortable. "Cameron, what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here until next week."

"I came earlier. Dad's coming next week," he said, eyeing the duo. "So why is it here? Why are you grounded? And what the f**k?"

"I'm here because I'm babysitting his ass," Reece said, moving his hand away.

Noah’s mouth fell open as Reece began to strip.

"What are you doing?" he yelled, as he stared at the boy who rolled his eyes and continued to strip. He was now down to his underwear and had walked to Noah’s closet.

"I'm changing, in case you haven't realised, I'm wet.” Reece shrugged and Noah couldn’t help but eye his broad back and the tattoo that curved onto his lower back. So, the tattoo on his front curved onto his back.

Reece found a hoodie and slipped it on. He left the room, leaving both brothers alone. The atmosphere became awkward as they both forced a smile.

“Hi,” Noah said.

“Hi.”

“How have you been?” he asked.

“Fine. You?”

Noah’s smile wavered. “Fine.”

Reece came back into the room, with his pants on. “Well, this is awkward as shit.”

Noah rolled his eyes as he looked up at the older boy. “You’re not being very helpful, Reece. And pick up your clothes off the floor.”

Reece groaned but did pick up the clothes nonetheless.

"We got here as fast as we could! . . . And Cameron is here," Mitch yelled as he came into view. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Cameron, who also had his eyes glued on a now pale-looking Mitch."Oh and so is Reece. Is Clark going to pop out of somewhere?"

"Baby!" Kiera screamed as she ran into the room and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. “Are you okay?”

When Noah nodded, Kiera kissed him. Everyone looked away awkwardly.

“Get a room,” Mitch yelled, annoyed.

"We are in a room. It's y'all who need to go away," Kiera said as she moved away from him and held his hands.

"You all can't be here. I'm grounded," Noah said, looking at his friends.

"It's f*****g horrible outside unless you can magically teleport us anywhere, shut the f**k up," Mitch deadpanned. He was still standing in the doorway, beside Ell.

"Please, tell me Reece didn't leave," Kiera said as she eyed her brother, who flipped her off while smiling.

Noah looked at Reece, who looked at him with an eyebrow raised. Noah turned to look at Kiera and smiled. “No, he didn’t leave.”

Kiera looked at her brother with a smile on her face and gave him a firm nod. “You’ve done me proud for the first time in your life, brother-o. You have one favour due at any time.”

The Knightly’s did a thing where if one of them did something for the other and if they were desperate enough, they could call in a favour. And when a favour was called, they could not say no. It was what kept the two of them from killing one another as they grew up.

"Deal. Can I leave now?" he asked.

Kiera nodded before hugging her boyfriend again. Noah smiled as he kissed her head and the butterflies erupted in his stomach.

Reece looked over at Noah and Noah looked back at him. The two held eye contact for a few moments. Reece looked like he was going to say something but decided against it and turned on his heel, leaving the room.

"You all can't be here. He's grounded," Cameron said. Taking his grey coat off.

"Well, we could say the same thing about you, but you don't see us bitchin', so you can also shut the f**k up," Mitch deadpanned as he glared at Cameron, who scowled at him.

"Good to see you too, Mitchel.”

"So what did you and Reece do?" Ell asked as she walked over and took a seat on Noah’s bed.

"We ate. Watched movies," Noah replied.

"Grounded means no one is allowed over," mum deadpanned and Noah felt himself freeze.

Oh, he was in so much trouble. He knew it.

He looked at his mother and when her eyes landed on her younger son, she glared. But as she looked around the room and her eyes landed on her oldest song, she smiled as she walked into the room. Huh, that was the first time she voluntarily stepped foot in his room. He wasn’t too sure about how to feel about that.

Noah didn’t know why he was so surprised. It was a known thing that she preferred Cameron over him. Maybe it was because Cameron got her features, they had the same dark brown hair and eyes. Or maybe she just liked Cameon more than him.

"Hey, Sheriff," Ell said as she smiled at Melinda.

Melinda forced a smile back at the tall girl. Ell saw through and rolled her eyes the moment Melinda looked away from her.

"Well," she said. "You should all probably go to sleep. The rain doesn't look like it's going to let out any time soon and you all have your exam tomorrow. I'll let your parents know."

Mitch, Ell and Keira all nodded as Cam and Melinda left the room.

Noah exhaled deeply, at least Reece wasn't there when she got back. Noah wasn’t sure why, but the two hated one another. Noah was fourteen and Reece was sixteen. That time frame seemed to be the time when things between them changed and soon after, she began hating all of Noah’s friends too.

Whenever Noah tried to ask Reece, he always got hit with the ‘mind your own business, Noah.’

"So," Mitch said, as he glared at his best friend. "When were you going to tell us Cameron was back?"

"Hmmm?" Kiera added as she crossed her asks over her chest, she was pouting which made her look adorable.

Ella raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, Noah. When were you?"

"It slipped my mind," Noah said. “I’d been busy trying to study and making study notes for everyone else and so much as going on that I completely forgot. I’m sorry.”

"Well," Mitch said as he eyed the bed and began taking his socks and shoes off. "Let's all go to sleep." He ran over to the bed, flopping down face first.

"I'm guessing we're all sharing my bed? You do realise I have a double bed and not a king?"

"Yes. It's going to be fun. Especially in the morning," Ell grumbled.

"Oh this is going to be hell," Mitch said as he began to jump on the bed like a three-year-old would.

"Shall we, darling?" Noah asked, smiling as he looked at his girlfriend. He stuck his hand out. She peeled her eyes away from Ell, who was glaring at Mitch.

Kiera smiled as she looked and Noah couldn’t help but notice the butterflies dancing in his stomach.She took his hand, giving it a little squeeze. "We shall, darling.”

The duo ran onto the bed, Ell yelling behind them as they all landed on one another. After, a couple minutes of trying, they all managed to make themselves comfortable.

"Goodnight, bitches," Kiera said. She was snuggled up beside Ell.

"G'night," Mitch said from beside me.

Noah stared up at his ceiling, knowing full well he probably wouldn’t be sleeping. "Night.”

And he was right. After an hour, everyone else had managed to fall asleep but him. He was very awake, the sound of the rain hitting the window seemed to soothe him, but then, when the thunder roared, it would jolt him awake once again.

Noah’s phone buzzed and he sighed as he picked it up, wincing at the bright light that hurt his eyes. The first thing he did was turn the brightness down as he frowned a little.

There was a message from an unknown number. He seemed to pale. Had Beau and Curtis managed to get a hold of his number?

Unknown:

you okay

Noah:

Who's this?

Unknown:

reece

you dumbass

you okay

Noah:

I'm fine.

Why?

Reece:

no reason

also thanks.

Noah:

For?

Reece:

oh, you know what

you dumbshit

get the f**k to sleep

Noah:

Okay. Goodnight, Reece.

Reece:

night.

Noah saved his contact number. It was odd, he had known him for the majority of his life but had never gotten his phone number.

Noah inhaled gently as he cleared his throat. Mitch shifted a little beside him but remained asleep. Noah moved a little so he was on his back. He put his hands in the air and eyed Reece’s hoodie he was currently in. It was too big for him and the sleeves hung past his hands. He flapped them around a little following the wave of them with his eyes. He brought his hands down onto his chest and inhaled. The hoodie somehow still smelt like Reece.

Of roses and cigarettes.

Noah smiled at that, even though Mrs Knightly had given up with her obsession with gardening. He had always wondered who had kept them alive now that Mrs Knightly was fixated on knitting, and one day Noah had seen him one day, tending to the roses and he looked so peaceful. He had slipped away before Reece could have spotted him.

But for the first time, the smell of cigarettes seemed to calm him down more than stress him out.

Speaking of stress, if Cameron was back, that meant their dad would be back too. And soon.

Heaven knew Noah avoided this place like it was the plague. Not for the fact that they lived in front of a forest, okay, maybe that was part of it. But mostly because of the memories.

He didn't really have any good memories of this place. No matter how much he tried to make new ones that would overwrite the old ones. They would always find a way to creep out and destroy happy memory making time.

Noah was about to go on his phone and learn some science equations but his door creaked open and he snapped his eyes shut and went limp. He heard shuffling and then some low whispering. It was Cameron.

The bed shifted and someone got up, and from the lack of warmth from beside him, he knew Mitch had gone somewhere.

Mitch had to have been gone for ten minutes and Noah practiced on his phone, but he was too distracted and kept getting the answers wrong even when he knew them. He wanted to yell in frustration, but then that would wake the girls up.

His door reopened and he closed his eyes, turning his phone off. He heard some more hushed whispers before his door closed and Mitch went into bed once again.

He mumbled something to himself a couple of times before he drifted back to sleep.

Noah was confused.

What was going on between Mitch and Cameron?

He was pretty sure they both hated each other's guts. Ever since they were kids, dad and Cameron still lived with him. Cameron got on with Ell and Kiera but never with Mitch.

So what was up with the late night meeting between the two of them?

Were they hiding something?

He didn't think so. For as long as he could remember, when dad left with Cameron. Mitch had become distant. Anyone could see that Cameron had issues, not mommy or daddy issues. Well, not that Noah was aware of, but more like trust issues.

And he knew for a fact that Mitch wasn't exactly the most trustworthy person. Mitch — much like Clark — was also a shady person. Even if he was his best friend. Even if Noah trusted him, it didn't mean that Cameron did too.

Great, now he was curious. Whenever Noah got curious, there was always some sort of trouble lurking around the corner.

Always.

~*~

Sure, Noah was curious about what had happened between his best friend and his brother last night, but right now, he was more worried about how he had done in the exams they had just finished.

“So,” Kiera said. “I completely butchered that.”

“Oh, me too,” Noah said. And he did honestly feel like that, his mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of whatever the hell was going on between Mitch and Cameron and, for some odd reason, Reece kept popping up here and there. And he hadn't gotten much sleep and caffeine wasn't helping him.

Kiera scoffed. “Yeah, there’s no way you f****d up. You’re the smartest out of all of us. You probably aced it and are just trying to be nice.”

“No, I-”

“She has a point,” Ell interrupted. “You don’t have to be so nice about it, Noah. You can say you did well. We all know you’re smarter than us anyway.”

“But, I-”

“Yeah,” Mitch added. “You studied using your notes, we used our shitty ones. Just say you did well.”

Noah gave up trying to explain to his friends why he thought he had messed up. It seemed like they weren’t really paying attention.

They were allowed to leave the school once they had finished their exam and they had decided to stop by Starbucks to get coffee. This time, Noah had sworn he would help his friends study.

~*~