Best Friend's Brother: Chapter One

She's In Love With Someone Else

Alexa and I were sitting on the couch cuddling and watching tv like we usually do when she comes over. I have no clue what we are watching, but Alexa is intrigued, so I let it be.

A very unattractive lady came on the screen advertising something, and Alexa commented, "Look! It's Jessica!" she cackled, and I frowned.

"Alexa, knock it off," I said firmly, and she got quiet again.

The lady came on the screen once again a few minutes later, and Alexa made another comment, "I didn't know that Jessica was on tv! I thought tv was supposed to make you prettier, not uglier!" she cackled again, and I turned off the tv. I stood up and turned to Alexa.

"That is it, Alexa," a shocked look appeared on her face at the sound of her full name as I usually call her Lexi, "I can't take any more of your crap with my best friend. Either you need to leave, or you need to respect her. Just because she doesn't have the life you do doesn't mean you are any better than her. If you can't love my best friend, then you can't love me. I need you to leave because we are done," I stated.

"But you just said-"

"Alexa, leave. You have become toxic to me, and I won't deal with it any longer," Alexa had tears in her eyes as she stood up and walked to the door, slipping her shoes on and leaving.

I sat back down on the couch and put my head in my hands, sitting there for a few minutes before someone sat next to me.

"What did she do this time?" I heard Jessica's sweet and gentle voice ask.

"She was making snide comments about the girl on TV, she wasn't pretty, and Alexa was comparing you to her. I've had enough of it, so I cut it off with her. She has been doing that since we first got together, I thought she would take a hint when I stood up for you but she never did. I don't feel anything, not hurt, not pain, not freedom, literally nothing," I looked into her dazzling bright blue eyes, "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" she asked, completely clueless. I always loved that about her. How she could pick up on everything that you wouldn't make obvious but as soon as it's plain as day, she won't notice.

"Brush her off. I don't know how you do it, how you don't let her nasty comments get inside your head," I let out a sigh and looked at the ground. I don't even know why I got with Alexa in the first place. It was the biggest mistake of my life, almost as big as not realizing that I was still in love with Jessica.

"Comebacks," I saw Jessica shrug, and I looked at her with this dumb look on my face.

"What?" I asked in confusion. How can she keep all the toxicity and negativity out with just comebacks?

"Comebacks. Alexa says something, I counter it with a better comment. Then all I remember later is how I pulled an awesome comeback out of my butt," Jessica laughed, and it was the sweetest thing I had heard all day. I chuckled and saw Matt walking up behind her. My laughter died along with my heart as Matt wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She leaned her head on his arms and put her hands over his. Matt said something in the process, but I missed it because the sound of my heart shattering was louder than him.

I turned my gaze to the carpet as tears started drowning my eyes and dulling my vision. I waited too long, and I thought it was best to wait. Now Jessica is with my best friend, and nothing could hurt more than that. Maybe if I had a brother, it would hurt more, but Matt basically IS my brother because we are so close. I blinked back the tears threatening to fall and pulled myself together just in time to hear "who's he" come from Melody as she pointed at me.

Jessica looked at me, and I silently pleaded to be her dad, but I assumed Matt already claimed that position in her life, "He's..." Jessica was at a loss for words, so I finished for her.

"I'm Nathaniel," I said and scooted closer to Melody, and she reached her arms out to me. I pulled her onto my lap and hugged her, "What's your favorite game, Mel?"

"Um... Hide and Seek!" Melody exclaimed.

"Do you want to play?" I asked her.

"If you can catch me!" Melody giggled and hopped off my lap running around the couch. I ran after her and looked in the kitchen

"Hmm... Where did little Miss Melody go?" I said for her amusement. I heard her giggle from the couch and I leaned over her, "There she is!" I picked her up off the couch and tickled her as she squirmed in my arms. I set her down, and she ran back downstairs to play with Katie's toys.

Jessica and Matt were absorbed in their little world, not noticing that I was still there. I accepted that Jessica is with someone, although I wish it were me. I stood outside my mom's bedroom door and knocked. I heard a faint 'come in' and I opened the door, closing it behind me as I went to sit on her bed.

"Hi, honey," my mom greeted with a smile, but it faded almost immediately as she got closer and realized I wasn't okay, "Nathaniel, what happened?"

"She's in love with someone else, Mom... I was too late. She's with Matt. For once, Alexa was right about something about Jessica. That note was for Matt," My voice cracked and tears overloaded my eyes and fell freely down my face.

Mom tried to wipe them away, but as soon as she would, new ones would take the place of the ones that got wiped away. Finally, she gave up and pulled me to her chest in a comforting hug. I let it all out, all the pain, all the heartbreak, everything. Nothing like a mother can make you feel better.

"I told you, you loved her," my mom chuckled once I pulled away and wiped away the tears on my face. I smiled and let out a soft laugh.

"I didn't think it would hurt this much," I looked at my mom with my bloodshot eyes and drippy nose.

"Love is a stupid but beautiful thing hun, either it stings, or it flourishes. In your case, it stings, but sometimes that's how it's meant to be. You're going to be okay, Nathaniel. I promise you that."

"But when? That's the question. I'm never going to find another girl like her. She is so rare, no, she's legendary. So innocent yet so not, sweet but salty, witty but not egotistical. She's compassionate, loyal, and honest. She's so smart but doesn't like to prove she's smart to other people. She can learn anything in a matter of minutes, she remembers everything too. Her smile lights up the darkest room and the light in her eyes can warm even the coldest souls. Oh man, and her hugs, they are the best hugs to ever exist besides mom hugs. She's beautiful inside and out. I'll never find another girl like her," I explained and looked at the door seeing Katie standing there. My heart sank when I saw the guilty look on her face.

"I... I thought..." Katie's voice shook, "I just... I'm sorry I broke your heart."

Katie walked away, and it clicked in my mind. She got Matt and Jessica together, not knowing it was silently tearing me apart.