Don't Look Back (Brandon Gross Love Story)

She's Back

Lana's POV
I awoke to the sound of light taps on the door, it slowly creaked open and I opened my eyes looking towards it from my bed. Ember walked into the room, and sat on my bed quietly, we had finally got everything unpacked in our two bedroom apartment and it looked dark outside.

"Hey hun, we have dinner plans with your brother, he will be here in two hours I'm starting the food now. Get up and around and come out when you're ready so we can talk before him and his 4 friends get here." She said while brushing my hair out of my face. God this girl was the greatest person ever.

"Is he upset? And I just wanna shower and then I'll throw on jeans and a hoodie. What time is it?" I spoke softly as I grabbed my best friends hand.

She smiled and began to speak "love no he isn't mad he is worried about you and your mental health right now. And it's 9." She said with a giggle.

"I slept all day?!" I said and we both started laughing as she nodded. I smiled as she got up saying she had to go check on the noodles. I quickly got myself out of bed and headed over to my closet grabbing my hair towel and body towel along with a pair of underwear ripped blue skinny jeans and a purple hoodie. I walked out of my room and down the hall a bit to enter our bathroom.
I sighed looking at my appearance, would Elton even recognize me? I had bruises all over my arms and some on my face that were finally starting to heal, I had lost most of my weight in the past 5 years and I just didn't look like me anymore. I shook all the thoughts away as I started the shower and went back to my room to grab my phone playing some music I jumped in under the hot water.

~~time skip brought to you by Uncle Elty~~

After about 45 minutes I wrapped myself in my towels and walked to my bedroom dirty clothes in hand. I threw the dirty clothes in the hamper and dried off throwing on the outfit I had laid on my bed. I paused the music blaring from my phone, and headed out of my bedroom and to our tiny kitchen and dinning room area.

"So when did you get in contact with Elton?" I asked softly as I sat at one of the chairs at our little table.

"I never stopped talking to your brother Lana, He didn't understand what happened when he left and 4 months later he couldn't get ahold of you. I grew up with you guys so you both are my family, I hated seeing you guys drift apart. Elton loves you okay? He isn't mad he just wants his baby sister back." Ember spoke so softly as she continued cutting veggies for the salads. "But on a brighter note, you have been keeping up to date on his social life right?" She asked and I nodded my head, I watched his youtube channel TFIL all the time or tried to. when everything got really bad I no longer could really use a phone.

"Yes, I used to when I could. " I said with a chuckle, at the moment I still had a lot to catch up on. "but anyways?"

"So the four friends coming over are the ones from the new recent videos over the past 2 or 3 years I believe, an-" As Ember was trying to finish her sentence there was a knock at the door. I could see Ember mentally curse at herself. "Watch the food and finish putting the potatoes in, I'll be right back." As she spoke I got up and walked overtaking the stuff from her and she headed to the front door I heard it open then quickly shut.

I got the potatoes in the pan to boil and finally figured out dinner, it was lasagna, mashed potatoes, gravy, and salads. I laughed to myself and was starting to question why it was taking them so long. I shrugged and scrolled through TikTok as I kept an eye on the food. After about five minutes I heard the door open again and I heard men and Ember laughing. I took a deep breath as I finally heard my brother enter the kitchen and he began to speak.

"Lana, my god I've fucking missed you these past 7 years." He said as he engulfed me in a big hug. I hugged him back tightly.

"I'm sorry bubs," I said as I could feel the tears threatening to pour out.

"Please don't apologize sis. I don't blame you. Not one bit. But I do have a couple of questions later on okay?" he spoke so softly as he was cupping both sides of my face. I nodded and smiled sadly at him. "Wanna meet some alright dudes?" He asked with a chuckle and I nodded. So we headed over to the 5 people in the living room one of them being Ember. "Alrighty boys, I'd like you to meet my sister. Lana these are my friends." Elton said and one stood up offering his hand as he began to speak.

"Hi I'm Corbin. It's nice to meet you" He said with a smile as we shook hands. He sat back down and the one to the left of him began to do the same, although this one was a bit taller.

"Hi I'm Corey, a pleasure to meet you" He said which made me giggle as Elton slapped him lightly.

"Hi I'm Evan" he spoke very fast and shyly. I smiled and shook his hand. As the last guy stood up Ember went to go get the food ready.

"I'm Brandon, they were all super boring introductions so its very nice to meet you." He said so proudly as he allowed me to place my hand in his, and kissed the top of it. I smiled a big smile.

"It's very lovely to meet all of you, thank you for introducing yourselfs." I said with a smile.

"Okay, now that intro's are over. Lana we all wanna talk to you about something while Evan goes and helps Ember get plates ready" Elton said as we both plopped down on the bean bag. "So I knew you used to watch the channel but we are still doing a lot of that stuff and um we were wondering if this following year, we could take you with us to see the world."

"Like do videos and stuff?" I asked softly and Elton nodded.

"But there's always a twist with it. We do a lot of Paranormal stuff, and your brother here just loves to bring spirit boards, ouija boards, and shit like that." Brandon said with a smile.

"I don't know how much Elton has said about me but that sounds super fun. I'm into all things spooky" I said making everyone laugh.

"Would you and Ember wanna join us? The next trip isn't for a month so you have time to start up social media's and get to know the guys" Elton spoke up and I nodded and looked towards the kitchen and heard Ember yell a yes. "Great now that, that is settled, let's introduce the new editions to our TFIL channel??" Elton asked and we all nodded. "Great Corbin let's go grab the camera and stuff for Evan while he is helping Ember. Brandon and Corey stay with Lana and talk with her" Corey and Brandon saluted Elton making me chuckle.

" So Lana what are you about? What's your story?" Corey asked and I looked at him confused thinking Elton would have probably told them right.

"Elton didn't tell you guys anything?" I asked and they both shook their heads no. "Well Elton left when I was about 16 and I went through a really bad depression until I met this guy. Everything was fine for 2 years and then we moved in with each other and it got very very toxic." I said looking down.

"Well hey you are very strong for getting yourself through and outta that situation. I'm not sure about Corey but I definitely understand what it's like I really do." Brandon said softly as I took a seat between the two of them on the couch. I'm not sure why but I had a feeling I was gonna become very close with all of these men. They all reminded me of Elton except Brandon he had something different about him.