Code Name Shadow

Chapter 5

Brielle

I've been awake since I heard my brother unlock the front door. I heard the whole conversation they had about me, and now I feel like shit.

I know that none of it was my fault, and they're certainly not mad at me, but I feel bad that they feel so bad and helpless. This just sucks.

As soon as I hear Beck turn on football, I make my way out of my room to join them. I'm still not okay by any means, but I've gotten pretty good at faking it over the last year and I think seeing that I'm okay would really help them right now.

I walk out of my room, smirking when I realize Beck has his back to me. Cody makes eye contact with me from the couch opposite Beck where he's sitting, but I put a finger to my lips in a silent message to be quiet. He just smirks and goes back to watching the game.

I tiptoe back into my room and grab one of my throw pillows before slowly sneaking up behind him. I raise the pillow over my head and swing it down on him as hard as I can, eliciting a look of shock and loud "what the fuck!?" from him.

Cody howls with laughter from the other couch and Beck glares at him. "Seriously? Where was my warning dude?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cody replies with a shit eating grin on his face. Beck scoffs and goes back to watching the game as Cody shoots me a wink.

Deciding to test my luck I hit him again, but this time things do not go according to plan. Beck was ready for it, and he grabs my wrist as I swing my arms down before pulling me over the couch toward him. "Oh, I don't think so. Not this time" he says.

I let out a small scream as he pins me to the couch and starts hitting me with the same pillow that he's now stolen. I can hear Cody cracking up again as I struggle to get away from my brother, but it's no use. He's a lot stronger than me, and I don't stand a chance.

Just as I'm about to concede and allow it to happen, a look of shock crosses Beck's face. "What the- "

He's cut off by Cody hitting him across the face with the small pillow from the other couch. I laugh, watching as my brother loses his balance and falls back onto the couch. Him falling leaves me just enough room to get up and away from him, and Cody keeps one hand on the pillow while reaching one hand toward me to help me up.

"Come on Brielle, let's tag team him," Cody says. I can't help but laugh harder and grab another pillow to help.

"You traitor!" Beck yells as he looks up at Cody before we pelt him together.

I'm so happy in this moment. I can barely feel the pain in my foot, it's more of just a dull ache, and I'm having the time of my life. Right now, it doesn't feel like I'm pretending. Maybe I really will be okay here.

----------------------

"Here you go."

I turn where I'm sitting on the couch and see Beck holding a plate out for me. I smile at him as I take it before turning back around to the movie I was watching. Beck grabs his own plate from the kitchen and walks around the couch to sit next to me. "What're we watching?" he asks.

I smirk at him as I answer. "Harry Potter."

He groans and leans his head back against the couch. "Do you ever watch anything else? I swear to god, this is the only movie I've seen you watch in the last year."

I laugh and grab the pillow next to me. He puts his hands up to defend his face, and I adjust to hit him in the stomach. "It's the Prisoner of Azkaban, that's the best one. How am I meant to just pass right by it!"

He just shakes his head and starts eating his spaghetti. He always complains, but five minutes later he looks as if nothing could tear his attention from the screen.

We sit there for the next two hours, watching the movie and content in each other's company. Beck makes the occasional comment about the plot or the characters, but aside from that, we're just quiet.

The movie ends, and I look at the clock. 1am. Saying goodnight to Beck, I make my way to my room and flop down on my bed.

As much as stepping on that nail kind of ruined my afternoon, the day overall was actually pretty good. Spending time with Beck has been really nice, and Cody was really nice.

And hot.

God, I have to stop thinking about him like that. I'm sure he's going to be over here all the time based on how close he is with Beck, and if that's the case I have to pull myself together. He's a friend. His job is to watch over me when Beck can't. That's it.

Then why can't I get him out of my head?

I groan and put a pillow over my face as I try to block out the memory of him setting up the TV. If I'm being honest with myself, though, it's not just that he's hot. It's how he reacted to my panic attack.

He never pushed me, and he spoke so softly and calmly. I genuinely considered opening up more to him after that, parts of my past I've never considered telling anyone – not even my brother. I felt so comfortable talking to him, and I'm not sure why.

I throw my pillow off of me and lean over to turn off my lamp. This was only my first day here, I have plenty of time to figure everything out. There's no need to stress myself out so much now.

I roll onto my side and close my eyes, force myself to clear my head, and finally drift off to sleep.