─ brett ; academy

☆Chapter Six☆

{The Song of the Chapter: If Only - Dove Cameron}

             °•° Embarrassment °•°

At Gabriel's words, I jumped away from North in a flash, my cheeks feeling as red as fire. I cleared my throat and adverted my eyes from the two men standing in my bedroom. I suddenly felt self-conscious of the multiple stuffed animals on the chair beside my bed. Mr. Cuddle's eyes were certainly glaring judgement right through me as I threw a pillow over them. Sorry, I winced and lent back on my bed, suddenly grateful that I was able to pull my heavy duvets over my chilled legs. North slid his jacket down his (very) muscular arms, and I couldn't help but stare--don't judge me. I looked away with an even brighter blush on my cheeks before I started plucking stray threads off of my duvet. 

"Brett? Brett--are you okay?" Gabriel asked concerned. My head snapped up in his direction and I nodded once, "I'm fine. Just thinking." I smiled as I indulged in the softness of the pillow behind me. Gabriel shook his head in laughter before dropping the multiple shopping bags on my bed, before plopping down on the foot of my bed.

"Thanks," I mumbled with a small smile in his direction, "Now, let's get this all sorted through."

For the next five minutes, I folded my clothes neatly to place in the dresser. Jeans in one pile, shirts in another, and I hid any undergarments I purchased in a separate bag. Finally, I got to what I had been waiting for. The gorgeous neon orange boots.
Orange was my favorite color--aside from black (which was a shade) orange reminded me of all the times I spent helping my great-grandfather pick oranges in Florida. Dad's dad really had an infinity for growing things. (Which I certainly didn't inherit, I killed any plant my fingers touched.)
"Holy Fuck--unlike any of the hoes around here, you actually have an understanding of fashion!" Gabriel jested, grinning. "I'm so proud." He wiped a fake tear from his chiseled cheek bone. I laughed and shrugged, "My mom actually had the fashion sense in the family, I just wear anything black to be honest." I admitted, running a few of my fingers over the sleek fabric of the boots.

"Next thing I know; you'll be a mini-North--or even worse...a clone of Raven." Gabriel gasped in horror, "Don't you worry honey, I'll save you." 

"Who's Raven?" I piped up but my question went unheard. I shrugged and continued on to listen. 

"Shut the fuck up Gabe," North loudly stated with a raised dark brow, "Let her wear whatever the fuck she wants. We are not her keepers." He softened his words a he stole a look down at me. I flushed a bright pink as his dark eyes met mine. Keep it together, Brett. Don't be a fool.

"Fine," Gabriel huffed, pouting slightly as he grabbed the organized pile of clothing, before placing them in the dresser. "Thanks, but you didn't have to do that." I spoke, appreciation coating my words. Gabriel smiled, "No problem Sparky--"

"BRETT!?"

"Oh shit..." North muttered, my eyes widened in horror as Grandpa's voice became louder as he neared my bedroom door. "Hide!" I whispered/shouted as they stood in shock. I gestured for Gabriel to climb under my bed, I would have had North follow Gabriel but as big of a man as North was--he couldn't fit underneath my bed--maybe if I put my back into it and stuffed him underneath--maybe then he would fit. But at the moment neither my back nor ankle could take it. 
"Just a minute Gramps!" I yelled as the doorknob rattled. North shot a wink before he slipped out my bedroom window, laying his large body flat against the roofing. I winced as a loud noise sounded from outside, praying that it wasn't North's body hitting the cement.
With a final twist, Gramps entered the room, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's up Gramps?" I played it cool while an innocent smile rested across my lips. "Nothing, I just heard a man's voice up here and needed to check it out. Owen, Sean and the rest of the boys went home, saying that they were here to check on you."

"They did, and they told me to stay in bed and rest." I prayed Gramps would leave the room. What embarrassing shit would Gramps spill while North and Gabriel were here? "Gramps, I'm fine. I just feel tired is all. How about you go to bed? You look like you need the rest," I observed, looking closely at the dark circles underlining his eyes. Gramps nodded but looked over me once again before leaving my room, closing the door softly behind me. My ears tuned in to listen as his footsteps retreated back down the stairs to his bedroom on the first floor. My shoulders slumped in relief as I finally felt as if a weight lifted from my shoulder. Thank the good lord that Gramps didn't catch Gabriel and North. "Gabriel!" I whispered loudly, "He's gone to bed--you can come out now." 

"Thank fucking hell. I thought I was going to fucking suffocate down there. Why the hell is there so many stuffed Plushes under your bed?" His perfectly arched brow rose mockingly. My face reddened in anger, "For the record dickface--there are not plushes--they are fucking stuffed animals!" My voice rose, "Besides, my granny gave them to me before she passed away." My chin rose as I leveled his eyes with mine. His face fell almost instantly, "Sorry Sparky--I was just teasing." His threw his hands up in the air, the multiple rings on his fingers catching the light. I nodded before sending him a apologetic smile, "Sorry--touchy subject." I lent back onto my pillows before North knocked on the window with a scowl. 

"Shit, I forgot the window locked when you shut it," I winced as prayed North wasn't mad about the while fiasco. Gabriel trotted over to the widow and slid it up enough for the big bear of a man to climb through. I couldn't help but bite down on my dry bottom lip as his hands clenched on the window seal, causing the veins on his hands to become even more prominent than they already were. What made the action even more attractive was the tattoos were revealed as his long-sleeved black shirt moved slightly up his arms. My face continued to flush an even deeper shade of red as he pulled himself up to his 6-foot three height and stared down at me with hooded eyes. "Avoiding a bullet there huh, Little Bear?" 

Little Bear? I am most certainly not little! My taken-aback face must have made the two men in my room laugh but quieted down once I shushed them. I pulled the covers off of my legs, suddenly feeling overheated by the stares on my frame. "Where did Dr. Sean, Mr. Blackbourne and Luke go?" I asked as I fiddled with the casting over my ankle. North and Gabriel traded looks, "Doc sent me a text before they left, turns out that Dr. Roberts sent them a text that he was heading home," He started to explain before abruptly being cut off by Gabriel. 

"What he means to say is that the others didn't want to face the wrath of Dr. Roberts, so they fled, leaving us here. Little fuckers," Gabriel frowned while cursing his brothers for leaving him and North to face the overprotective beast alone.

"C'mon Gabe, let's get home to the rest of the guys, Brett looks exhausted." North spoke, not offering Gabriel a chance of a rebuttal before dragging him in the direction of the window. "Just what the fuck do you think you're doing!? I certainly not fucking jumping down to the ground. What do you want me to do? Fucking paralyze myself!?" He nervously chuckled while fighting against North's hold on him. North sighed, annoyed before letting the shaking man go. I giggled quietly as the two battled, before North ultimately backed down, agreeing to sneak out the front door. They gathered their things before wishing me good bye. I smiled and waved, feeling thankful that I met the two today. They were amusing to say the least. 

"Bye Sparky!" Gabriel smiled before patting my head. I giggled before waving goodbye, just as they filed outside into the hallway, North poked his head back in. My brows furrowed in confusion as he smirked, looking me up and down. "Goodnight, baby. See you soon," He winked, my entire body flushed as I gaped like a fish in his direction. My blood felt as it was rushing too fast through my veins, and my heart pumped so loudly I could hear it ten miles away. 

Dear good lord, what were they doing to me!? Before leaving my sight, North chuckled before ruffling his dark hair as he observed the downright embarrassing looks on my face. I nestled down under my covers faster than the speed of light to hide from him. How was I ever going to face him again? All I ever seemed to do was embarrass myself in front of my new found friends. I could only hope tomorrow was going to be one of my better days.