My Boy Best Friend

Chapter Four

Liam

I watched Jordan walk inside without a single glance back. By the look on her face, I couldn't grasp what she was thinking, I never really could. Jordan was always hard to read and that's one of the things that always pissed me off. And the thing is, that entire interaction with Trent, not once did she look at me. 

Did she do it on purpose? I wondered if she was purposefully ignoring me or if she just didn't care that I was there. Either way, the entire interaction had my gut churn in a way. Maybe I was just cringing?

"Well, that was...interesting", Sam pointed out once they all headed to my basement. 

"I think it went okay", Trent nodded, thinking back to the moment. 

"Which part?" Owen laughed.

"Okay, guys. Let's just talk about something else", Brandon ordered, sitting down on the couch.

"What? Like how Jordan looked at him like he was nuts?" Sam wrinkled a brow.

"She did not look at him like he was nuts", I reassured.

"Yeah, you'd know", Sam winked at me. 

Trent furrowed his eyebrows, glancing back and forth between Sam and I. "Wait, why would he know?"

Owen leaned forward. "Oh, you don't know the story? I guess that makes sense considering-"

Brandon smacked Owen on the back, desperately trying to get him to shut his mouth. "What he means is, no she wasn't looking at you a certain way. I happen to think she was flattered."

My hand clasped the back of my neck, moving my hand back and forth on it. A feeling of anxiety had flown in at the topic, and I didn't know how to handle it. 

"Yeah, wouldn't you agree, Liam?" Sam turned his body toward me, obviously trying to stir things up.

I nodded. "Sure." I felt Trent's eyes on me, and I already knew deep down he was suspicious as to whatever Owen mentioned earlier. Of course Owen couldn't keep his damn mouth shut. I cleared my throat, trying to take the pressure off of me. "So, what are you gonna do? Call her? Text her? Take her out?"

Trent thought for a moment. "Well, I guess I'll text her first before anything. We'll see if she even responds."

"Trust me, she's quite the woman", Owen nodded, smirking. 

"You are gross", Brandon said slowly to Owen. "We all know Jordan is just very set in her ways, nothing to worry about, Trent. Just know she's independent and won't take anyone's shit."

"My kind of girl", Sam responded. "Too bad you never let me go after her, Liam."

Trent sat up straighter. "What, why?"

I swallowed. "Uh-no, I mean...um", I stressed, feeling hot suddenly. "Listen, everyone is free to do whatever. It's nothing serious. Jordan is my neighbor and when we were younger she felt like a little sister to me, so of course I got protective."

"Now, he don't give a shit about her", Owen mocked, laughing. 

Brandon pursed his lips. "If I were to give you any advice, Trent, it would be to never ever listen to Sam and Owen. Understood?"

Sam and Owen looked at each other and shrugged confusingly. I buried my face in my hand, wanting everything in me to get out of there instantly. 

"Liam, is that why you said she was a nobody in the cafeteria?" Trent leaned his head forward to look at me better. "Because you guys aren't friends anymore?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but things happen, you know?" I let out a small laugh, covering any emotion I was portraying on my face.

Brandon eyed me, he knew what I meant with my words. 

Trent nodded, smiling in response.

I stood up. "Hey, I'm going to go get some drinks upstairs. Anyone want anything?"

When they all said "no" and shook their heads, I desperately climbed the stairs to the main floor. I flung my body through the deck door and sat down in a chair, overlooking the yard. I took a deep breath, trying to bring myself back to the present.

The afternoon sun beamed on my face, warming my skin and sending me back to reality. I couldn't help it, my face turned towards Jordan's window and my mind wandered. It was almost inevitable to wonder what she was doing, whether she was thinking about Trent, or if she happened to be thinking the same about me. It doesn't mean anything, I guess it's just habit from whenever we were younger. 

The door behind me opened, and out came Brandon taking the seat next to me. I should've known he knew better. He knows I wanted an escape. 

"I figured you'd be out here", Brandon looked around the yard, observing. 

"You know I can't stand those guys", I shook my head.

"Me neither", Brandon smiled. "But we can't avoid them either if they're our friends."

"Why do we call them that, again?" I glanced over at Brandon, squinting my eyes.

Brandon sighed. "I don't know, but if we don't take care of them then no one else will."

I laughed softly. "Yeah, yeah. You're right, I guess."

We sat in silence for a minute, just staring out at the distance, letting the sun warm us up, and taking in all the silence we could get.

Brandon was the first to break the silence. "If you don't want Trent to take her out, just tell me."

I shook my head. "I have absolutely no right to say anything."

Brandon leaned forward to meet my eyes. "You do, though. If it makes you uncomfortable, let me know. I won't give away the details to him or anything."

"It's not that, Brandon. I left her, remember? I ended that friendship. What an ass I'd be if I'm the one trying to control who she dates now?"

Brandon smiled. "Didn't you always? She'd have dated half the guys at our school by now if you hadn't controlled who she dated."

"That's because it was my job to protect her. Now", I shrugged. "I don't have that privilege anymore. I made my peace with saying goodbye to that."

Brandon swallowed, glancing back at the view and anchoring his eyes to it. After a few moments, he sat up and gestured me to do the same. "Come on. If we don't go back down now, they may destroy your basement. And they may destroy poor Trent."