My Boyfriend's Brother

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Jake or James?

"Daniella, I need to know," Jake started but kept his eyes on James. "Do you love me...Or him?"

Such a simple question. But not simple to answer.

"Neither of you." I said quietly. They both looked down at me and a mixture of hurt and confusion flashed on both of their faces.

"But Daniella-" Jake started.

"No Jake." I said. "The way you've been acting lately, Im not really sure how I feel about you." I turned to James. "And I dont even know you. I cant say I didn't feel something when we kissed cause I'd be lying. But I can't say I love you either. You need to realize that love takes time, it doesn't just come in and instant." I said before turning to Jake. "And you need to realize that love is fragile and everyday, your slowly breaking us down."

They didn't say anything, they just stood there, staring at me. I wanted to know what they were thinking, what was running through their minds as their eyes stared at me. Curiosity got the best of me, "Say something."

"What happens now?" James asked, his voice was hollow and showed no emotion, what so ever. That hurt me more than seeing him with a bloody nose.

"I dont know." I said quietly.

"I know," Jake said and walked up to James, holding the intense stare, their faces so close. James and Jake's hands by hung their sides, clenched into fists. I expected a fight, I expected Jake to punch James and then James would fight back. But it instead, Jake said "May the best man win." He took my hand and pulled me out the door. I looked over my shoulder at James. His never moved and his face sustained that intense stare, but I saw in his eyes that he was hurting. But this was't over. Neither of them are gonna go down without a fight.

I ripped my hand out of Jake's grip and walked to my car without looking back. I knew now that I had to keep my guard up. I didn't want one of them to pull me in with a stupid line. I didn't know what I want or who I want. I wasn't expecting something big and romantic. I just wanted to be happy.

'May the best man win.'

Jake's words kept repeating in my head. What was this? A competition? And I was the prize? No, I was much more than that. Im a person with actual feelings and I wasn't going to let myself get hurt.

If this was a competition, they were gonna have a struggle winning this prize.

When we got home, I didn't speak to Jake. I just went straight up to my room with him calling after me. I grabbed a blanket from one of the drawers on the dresser and got a pillow from the bed. Jake stood in the doorway, watching every move I made.

"Could you sleep on the sofa tonight? I need to clear my head." I asked and gave him the pillow and blanket.

"Sure sweetheart." He said sweetly and took the pillow and blanket from my hands.

"Hows your hand?" I asked when I saw the dried blood and the slight bruise that was forming on his knuckles. It must of him as much as it hurt James when he punched him.

"Fine. I'll just run it under a cold tap." He said.

"Okay." I knew I should be acting a little nicer to him, but why should I? What has he done to help the situation? He made things worse, he made things hard. His jealousy caused his brother to get hurt and caused the girl he was supposed to love rethink things. His done nothing but make things worse for either him, James or me. No matter what happens, someone's going to get hurt.

"Goodnight." He said sweetly before he planted a soft kiss on my forehead and walking away. I closed the door and leaned my back on it. This is the nicest his been in a while and I was liking it.

Wait, no. No, no, no. His only being nice because his scared Im gonna run off to James. I cant let myself get pulled in. I had to keep my guard up. I wasn't going to some stupid girl who falls over simple sweetness or a cute pick up line.

No, its gonna take a lot more than that. But I wonder who will be the first to figure it out.