My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 5: Maybe We Shouldn't

Billy Unger is the actor I chose to play Tommy.

Chapter 5: Maybe We Shouldn't

Carter
Next morning, Lindy called to tell me she couldn't give me a ride to school. Then Jonah called to say that he had told her about what's been going on between us. She didn't tell or scream like he thought she would. But she is very upset.

So for the time being, I'm going to have to find my own ride to school.

Aunt Hellen says she can take me but I'd have to leave now. And I haven't eaten breakfast yet. But if I want to get to school on time, I have to skip breakfast.

"So how come your friends aren't driving you?" she asks me once we're in the car.

I shrug. "They woke up late, I guess. I don't really know."

She nods. "Are you and her brother going out any time soon?"

I look at her. "Like, on a real date?" She nods. "I'm not exactly sure. Lindy won't take it too well."

She sighs. "Carter, you can't live your life making others happy. Not everyone will stay happy. There is always that one person who can't be satisfied."

I shake my head. "I don't want to talk about it."

She purses her lips but lets it go.

We arrive at the school with just five minutes until class starts. I was running down the hallway when I run straight into someone, making all of my stuff fall on the floor. But he grabs my arms and steadies me before I could fall.

"Ouch," I mutter, rubbing my head.

"Sorry," he says. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I say quietly, bending over to pick up my stuff. "I'll definitely be late now."

He chuckles. "Here, let me help."

He picks up three of my notebooks and hands them to me. "I'm Joe, by the way."

I look up at him. He was giving me a crooked smile. "Carter," I tell him.

Then he beams at me. "You must be the Carter that Jonah won't stop talking about.".

I shift on to my other foot. "I guess. Does he talk about me?"

He nods. "All the time. By the way, what happened at the dance?"

I blush a little. "I have to get to class," I mutter, walking past him.

He laughs behind me. "Nice meeting you."

I head into my first period right as the bell rings. I let out a sigh of relief and head over to my seat. Lindy was angrily writing down our quote of the day. She glares at me as I sit.

I give her a small smile. "Good morning."

"I have never been so mad," she tells me.

I sigh. "Lindy, it's not a big deal."

"It is too a big deal," she snaps. "I told you to stay away from him. He dumped Heather because of you. We were forced to listen to her during lunchtime. Why didn't you tell me?"

I don't say anything. I think the answer is pretty obvious.

"Answer me," she demands. "Why did you go behind my back and date my brother after I specifically told you to keep your distance from him?"

I look over at her. She's staring at me with angry eyes. "I just wanted to see if it would work out," I say. "I'm sorry I went behind your back but it's not like you can tell me who I can date."

I turn back to my notebook and ignore her for the rest of the class period.

Jonah
Lunch was quiet. I usually sit with my sister and her friends. Joe sits beside me and Lindy in front. Carter is usually beside her. But - thaks to Lindy - I haven't seen her at all today. She is making sure that we go nowhere near each other. Even if it's just to say hi. Which was impossible because we are forbidden to talk.

"Where's Carter?" Joe asks.

Lindy grips the cup tighter. "I don't know. "

Joe looks over at me. "Dude, I met her earlier today. She was trying to get to class in time."

I give him a warning look.

But he wasn't looking at me. "She's hot, dude. If you two weren't already a thing, I'd go after her myself."

Lindy's eyes brighten. "You like her?"

Joe shrugs. "I guess, I mean. I literally met her three hours ago. She seems nice."

"She is," Lindy says quickly.

I kick her from under the table nd she glares at me. This is usually the part where I lose. And she knows that.

"We're not dating," I say quietly.

Joe looks surprised. "Seriously? Do you mind?"

I shake my head. "Go for it."

He quickly gets up and goes across the cafeteria, where Carter was just now walking in with Tommy. I didn't een know they were friends. But Joe just walks up to her. They talk for a while and then her eyes harden. Lindy finger waves at her with a smirk on her face.

"What are you doing?" I hiss.

Lindy smiles. "I'm doing you two a little favor."

And with that, she gets up and walks away. I should probably talk to Carter now that both Joe and Lindy are gone. But I don't. She has every right to go out with Joe. But I really don't want her to. My heart breaks whenever Joe turned around and give me two thumbs up.

She said yes.

I don't know why I'm upset. She has every right to go out with whoever she wants. I hadn't even asked her out yet.

A few hours later, I was sitting outside on the soccer fields after practice waiting on Tommy so that we can go an extra hour, when Carter walks up to me. There were tearstains on her cheek but she wasn't crying - now, at least.

"What's wrong?" I ask, standing up.

She gives me an incredulous look. "You tell me, Jonah. You don't tell someone you want to date them, then three days later, set them up with someone else."

"Oh," I say flatly. "That."

She crosses her arms over her chest. "Is this what you want? For me to date your best friend?"

Of course not. "Carter, maybe we shouldn't--"

"What?" she demands. "Maybe we shouldn't what?"

I look down at my feet. "Hang out. Be friends or anything more than that," I say quietly. "You were friends with Lindy first and I shouldn't have gotten in the way."

I feel like I said the wrong thing. But its what Lindy wants and she's always wanted what's best for me.

Her eyes grow cold. "You're kidding," she says flatly.

I shake my head. "Nothing really happened. It was just a kiss. And I promise it won't happen again."

She looks like I just slapped her in the face. "Fine," she finally says after a while.

She walks away.

"What in the world just happened?" I mutter to myself.

"You're an idiot, that's what," Tommy says behind me.

HEY!!

SO WHAT DO YPU THINK? IS LINDY ACTUALLY DOING THEM A FAVOR OR SHPULD SHE MIND HER OWN BUSINESS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JOE? DO YOU THINJ HE'S A GOOD FRIEND? OR WHAT ABOUT HE CONVERSATION BETWEEN CARTER AND JONAH? DO YOU AGREE WITH TOMMY ABOUT JONAH BEING AN IDIOT?

PLEASE COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING!!

EARLY UPDATE: 12 VOTES, 9 COMMENTS (REMEMBER UPDATES ARE NOW THURSDAYS EARLY UPDATES ON MONDAYS

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!