Finding You

Chapter 3 - The Boys Are Back

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I walk into the classroom, Rose following closely behind, and am immediately pulled into a spine-crushing bear hug.

"Mia! Come on, buddy, go ahead and hug me back, you know you missed us."

"Hey Zack," I choke out before hugging him back as well as I can with the way he's crushing me. Finally, he lets go, and I run a hand over my spine checking for damages. "God, I change my mind. I missed everyone but you."

"Ouch," he says, emphatically placing a hand over his heart. "Come on Mia, don't do me like that, I'm basically your brother. Show a little love."

Despite my mood, I can't help but crack a smile. "Alright fine, maybe I missed you a little," I admit.

"That's what I thought," he says before giving me a shove.

Zack is one of my oldest friends.

When I first enrolled in Northwest Academy at six years old, Zack was one of the first people I met. It was my first day in a new school, and everything was different. I was scared out of my mind and basically had a breakdown during math class. I could've gone on that way for the whole day, but Zack made me laugh at recess, and that was that. We've been friends ever since, and we've only gotten more familiar with each other over the years.

And before you start to get any ideas, no, we don't have any feelings for each other. Not even a little bit. It's not like that with us, and it never has been.

People always think that you can't be good friends with a guy without developing feelings. Well, trust me, it's possible. Zack is like the brother I never had. An annoying fraternal twin brother that I can't stand half of the time, but I tolerate him anyway.

Besides, I know way too much about him and his personal life to ever view him in a romantic light, and trust me, you don't want to know.

Anyway, as I look around the rest of the room, I see that most of the class is gathered around a group of guys from the basketball team listening to them tell "war" stories about their trip.

I catch a glimpse of Sean's familiar dark hair and immediately turn my back to the group.

Not yet.

I give Rose a look, and she shoots me a quick motion telling me to breathe. I smile at her letting her know that I'm okay.

Just as I turn back around, ready to face whatever comes, I see my other self-proclaimed "brother" Jay approaching us.

"Come on, Mia, Sean's not even looking at you, you don't have to hide behind Zack," he says, a smug smile on his face.

I gape at him. Is he trying to kill me?

"Be quiet, would you??" I say in a sort of whisper yell. "I don't want him to hear!"

"I'm sorry, are you talking back to me?" he says, hand over his heart like I've deeply offended his honor. "Whatever happened to respecting your elders?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm pretty sure you don't count as an elder."

He gives me a look. "How old am I again?"

"Well, seventeen but-"

"And how old are you?"

"....Sixteen, but-"

"Exactly, which makes me your elder, so you should really listen to me. Come on Mia, you know I only have your best interest at heart," he finishes, reaching out to pat the top of my head.

"Whatever," I mumble.

Despite my annoyance, his description of our relationship isn't exactly wrong.

Jay is to me, like an older brother. Not one of those super mean older brothers who's always pushing you down or making your life miserable, but also not  one of those super nice older brothers who gives you pep talks and always looks out for you.