My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 11

"Hey, Willow? Do you want to hear what Lady Boylen tweeted about you this morning?"
"I most certainly do not! I told you to stop following that page. What they are doing... it's just plain creepy." I shivered. Sage flashed me a clever smirk.
"Mmmmmm, you sure? I think you'd find it really interesting."
"No! Stop wasting your time with that and pay attention to other things," I huffed. Sage simply stood there. I let out a loud huff "Fine. What did she put?"
"It would seem that Lady Featherwine has elected to stay here in London for the foreseeable future. Why one would forgo Midgard in the glorious springtime is indeed a compelling query. One must wonder what is so attractive to keep her attention. However, if I were to hazard an innocent guess, it would involve a certain prince who is often seen with the young heiress. In fact, the two seem quite enamoured with one another, making sure to talk and visit at every gala. It is no wonder polite society keeps linking her name with his. They should be careful. People should think they're in love." Sage read. I rolled my eyes. I took Sage's phone and re-read the paragraph.
"How does she know of this?" I mumbled to myself. My sister shrugged, took her phone back and walked off. Lady Boylen complexes me. Perhaps I should spend my free time trying to figure out who my unknown stalker is.

True to my word, I travelled back to Midgard on Monday and was back the following, much to Thor's delight. Thor started really getting ready for tax season approaching, so he'd been preoccupied with that. I had just submitted my PhD application yesterday and made sure my dissertation was sent off. I had also asked my professor if I could do remote learning and it turns out that since I sent the dissertation in early and he had already graded it. I had earned a GPA of 3.5. The highest in his class. Though I was ecstatic, I was thoroughly mentally exhausted. Maybe it was a good idea that I decided to take some time off to let myself rest until we went to North Asgard. That was coming up soon. I was so incredibly excited! Loki and the others seemed excited too.

It was such a nice day out today, and we felt it was a shame to stay inside. Alder was back for the weekend and wanted to do something outside. Since Thor was too busy to join us, we went with our siblings for a picnic in a big park with a small green field. I invited Loki along, which he happily accepted. He, Sage, and I were sitting on a picnic blanket underneath a massive oak tree. Meanwhile, my other siblings were playing something called softball not too far from us. Naturally, Heath and Alder were really into it, while still keeping pace so the younger kids could join in.

Alder hit the ball with a bat, sending it flying into the distance. Wearing this gigantic grin, his head spun around to us.
"See that, Sage? That's how it's done!" Alder beamed. He did some stupid celebratory dance as he ran around the field.
"Yeah, whatever. I bet you at least one chore that I could have hit it further," she shouted back.
"Oh yeah?" His eyebrow raised playfully before holding the bat out "Batter up,"
"Oh, I am going to show you up," My sister got up to march over and snatch the bat from him.

While they were busy with that, I looked at Loki with a grin.
"Hmm, no one ate any of the food I made." I picked up a sandwich.
"Well you said so yourself: you can't cook," he smirked back at me. I laughed.
"I said I couldn't bake. But yeah, I can't cook. Maybe I should just buy sandwiches next time." I placed the sandwich down.
"Or I could make us something," Loki shrugged, a slight blush on his face.
"You?" I cocked my eyebrow as I titled my head.
"Do you not believe that I can cook?"
"It is not that... I just have some small reservations,"
"Like what?"
"Have you ever even turned on the stove before? I doubt you can cook any better than I can." He laughed too, giving his head a shake.
"You're probably right." Our eyes then met; this warm spring breeze rolling over us, brushing my hair out of my face. I knew I should have put my hair up today. Loki did. His black hair was in a half-up, half-down kind of do. Sort of what Thor does to his hair. And while he looked handsome with it up. I do prefer his hair down. I brought my knees up into my chest, hugging them in a relaxed fashion.
"So are you looking forward to our trip to North Asgard?"
"Oh yes. very excited," Loki grinned as he nodded.
"You know, I've never been to North Asgard, despite being in Asgard for most of my life," I admitted. I have always wanted to go but no one ever wanted to go with me.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm glad my first time will be with you."
"Really?" Loki asked again in a softer, shyer tone. I nodded. "At least I know I won't be bored." I looked over at my siblings "I'm really glad you're coming, Loki."
"Me too, Willow." We looked at each other and smiled.
"Hey, Loki! Are you coming up to bat or what?! It's your turn, you know!" Heath made us both flinch with his loud shouting. With a contented sigh and smile, Loki stood up. His eyes gazed down at me one last time.
"I better go and show them how this game is played." My lips smiled back up at him in a tender fashion.
"I'll be rooting for you," Still grinning, Loki went over to the imaginary base; my siblings were using napkins as markers on the ground. Alder handed him the bat, and everyone got into position. I rested my chin happily on my kneecaps.

Unsurprisingly, Loki hit the ball the first time Heath threw it at him. My siblings cheered all impressed. The first thing Loki did after hitting the ball was to look back my way.
"You see that, Willow?!" You could hear the exhilaration in his tone. It was sweet to see him this way. He was a grownup adult man, but glimmers of his inner child could be seen from time to time. My hands clasped together in a show of my own thrill for him.
"Uh-huh! Wouldn't miss it for the world!" We grinned at each other, forgetting that others were watching for a second. Sage's mischievous, knowing grin returned to her face.
"Fall in love with him again?!" She hollered out with such ease.
"Ye-! Hey, Sage!" I answered. Realizing what I almost just said, my cheeks turned a glowing red. It didn't help that Loki was still looking at me but so was everyone else. But the boys shrugged it off and continued on with the game. I stayed quiet the rest of the time, watching from the sidelines. If what I nearly said bothered him, Loki wasn't showing it. He was running about with my siblings, laughing and playing with them.
"I can't hit this stupid thing!" Oak yelled out. Loki ran over to him.
"Let me help," He helped Oak swing the bat and I couldn't stop myself from smiling. It took a few goes to get the hang of it but Oak finally hit the ball. Loki was smiling now too. One of those true smiles which come from deep down inside when you're really enjoying yourself. It made me so happy to see him interact and have such fun with my family. It was honestly like he was becoming one of us. We love having him around too; I certainly do. He's so easy to be around. so easy to like. My head tossed back, my eyes shutting as I breathed in the air. Maybe this was the right choice, after all. Maybe I was meant to stay in the Asgard a bit longer.