FORBIDDEN TIES {My brother's best friend}

Chapter 4

                       ~SELENA~

  Seated awkwardly in the passenger seat, my hands rested uneasily in my lap as I stole a glance at Cyrus, his attention focused on the road ahead.

This was my chance, my opportunity to engage in conversation with my crush without the looming presence of my brothers. Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I finally spoke up.

"Can you turn the music on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my heart pounding with nervous energy. I couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension as I awaited his response. What if he refused? What if he thought I was being intrusive?

To my surprise, he simply murmured, "Okay." Relief flooded through me as he reached for the radio controls, a small glimmer of hope flickering within me.

As the familiar melody of "Into You" by Ariana Grande filled the car, I felt a surge of emotions wash over me. The lyrics seemed to speak directly to my heart, echoing the sentiments I had long kept buried deep inside.

🎶 I'm so into you, I can barely breathe
You're the only one I need, come on, let's get out of here
I'm into you, I'm into you 🎶

My pulse quickened with each word, my gaze fixed on Cyrus, who remained focused on the road ahead. If only I could tell him how I felt, but it was so obvious that he doesn't like me at all and would rather just snub me when I tell him.

But as the chorus erupted, my excitement gave way to a sense of dread. Why did it have to be this song, of all songs, playing now? With each passing moment, my anxiety mounted, threatening to consume me entirely.

🎶 Into you, into you Get into you, get into you 🎶

  Feeling the tension in the air, I wrestled with the internal dilemma of whether to break the silence or maintain the uneasy quietness. After all, Cyrus was not just any guy—he was my brother's best friend, so striking up a conversation shouldn't be too out of place, right?

Summoning all the courage I could muster, I decided to take the plunge.

"I like this song, do you like it?" I asked, flashing him a tentative grin as I awaited his response. His gaze shifted to meet mine, and for a moment, I felt a rush of nerves coursing through me.

"No," he replied simply, his attention returning to the road as he maneuvered the car onto the next street.

"Why not? Ariana Grande is perfect," I persisted, trying to mask the blush creeping onto my cheeks.

"I don't like her," he stated bluntly, his words hanging in the air between us.

It may have been the longest sentence he had ever uttered to me, but the significance was not lost on me. He was actually engaging in conversation with me, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the prospect.

"She's cool though," I offered lamely, desperately trying to keep the conversation going.

"Mm," he hummed in response, and I turned my gaze towards the window, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks. Everything about him seemed perfect—the way he spoke, the way he moved—it was enough to make my head spin.

As I struggled to regain my composure, a sudden urge to know more about him washed over me.

"Who is your favorite then?" I ventured, hoping to learn more about his tastes.

"Giveon," he replied without hesitation, surprising me with his choice.

"Favorite song from him?" I pressed, eager to continue the conversation.

"Heartbreak Anniversary," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, inwardly marveling at the fact that he was actually engaging in conversation with me. Perhaps this ride wouldn't be as awkward as I had initially feared.