Inconvenient Attachment

Chapter 26

"Why the hell is my sister drinking alcohol, Rafe?" Topper and the rest of us are stood in a group at our reserved spot waiting for the movie to be set up.

"Shut up, Topper." I sigh irritably at my brothers constant need to embarrass me especially in front of his friends. Especially infront of Rafe.

"She's not a little kid anymore, man." Rafe shrugs alongside his explanation. Did he really just say that? What does he mean by me not being a little kid anymore? Does he no longer see me as his little sisters annoying best friend?  I can't stop myself from glancing up at Rafe who's stood towering beside me. He's already looking back down at me, the side of his mouth upturned into a smirk. I catch his secret wink before he looks back up at his friends. My stomach feels like a sea of skilfully trained dolphins flipping evocatively at Rafe's every command, or even just at the sight of him.

I can't stop the grin from spreading across my cheeks revealing my dimples. "What you so smiley about?" Sarah nudges me whispering in my ear.

I shake my head. "Nothing." The smile still remains.

"Vanessa?" A familiar voice comes from behind me.

I turn round to come face to face with "Luke, hi." I give him a friendly smile.

"I just thought I'd come say hi, me and my friends have just got here and then I saw you." His words come out awkward and nervous. I notice him glance behind me in between words. I glance behind me to see Rafe, Kelce, my brother and their friends all looking in our direction with silence.

"Just ignore them." I roll my eyes with irritation before grabbing Luke's arm and he lets me lead him off away from my brother and his friends. I put a fair distance between me and everyone before I stop and Luke stops in front of me. "Is that better?"

"Very much." He chuckles lightly, his cheeks turning rosy with embarrassment.

"Who's this?" One of my favourite familiar voices sounds behind me.

"JJ, this is Luke that I was telling you about! Luke this is JJ." JJ comes to stand beside me inspecting Luke by looking him up and down.

"Hello, Luke." JJ says sarcastically holding his hand out for Luke to shake. I kick his ankle warningly and he winces gritting his teeth. "Nice to meet you." He adds forcefully sounding much more friendly after my warning.

"Nice to meet you too, JJ." He shakes his hand with an uncomfortable expression. "I guess I'll catch you later tonight Vanessa, you seem pretty popular for the time being." He gives me a friendly smile before walking off as me and JJ watch him rejoin his group of friends who are all staring this way.

I snap my stare back to JJ. "What the hell is your problem, can I ask?" I jab him expectingly waiting for an answer.

A grin flashes across his face as he holds his chest where I poked pretending I hurt him but when he sees my serious expression he realises I'm not joking around and his expression follows suit. "I don't like the kid, there's just something off about him." he answers honestly.

My brows furrow in total confusion. "JJ, you don't even know the kid! That's your first time meeting him!"

He shakes his head in disagreement which causes my confusion to grow. "I've seen him at plenty of parties. He's a player, and definitely not good enough for you, V." His voice cracks, his eyes fixated on mine.

"Who isn't a player nowadays, JJ. Lucky for you, I'm not really interested in going on a date with him."

He looks surprised and... happy. "You're not?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm gonna message him tomorrow telling him I'm not interested in dating and tell him we can just be friends. Don't go telling anyone though, this stays between me and you, okay?" my eyes wide as I await his confirmation to keep all gossip between the two of us and no one else.