Against All Odds

Chapter 23

Eve

My best mate had texted me a little while ago, requesting we met up after my shift at the café.

Waiting outside, I find my mind wondering to the boy who lived next door. He intrigued me. At first I'd labeled him as a dick but now I'm getting to know him I'm realising there's a lot more to the guy than meets the eye. He's bound to have hostile shields up to protect himself from getting hurt, we all do to an extent. Ever since the shit went down with Mike and we opened up to him about Stan, Lucas seems to be more himself around me. I think he's beginning to trust me. The thought puts a small smile on my face.

"Hey Eve." AJ greets me, dragging me back to the real world and I hug him in response.

"Hi, what do you want to do?" I ask, wracking my brains for ideas. There's not much to do in this little town.

"Actually I just want to talk to you about...about something." AJ seems nervous as he spoke to me, jittering on the spot.

"Ok, shall we grab a coffee in Costa?"

Five minutes later and we're sat in Costa café, me with a mocha and AJ with his Americano.
I can sense something is up and I'm dying to know what it is.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" I question, after we'd had a short conversation about general things.

"Oh urm well I...I've just been thinking about us lately. You know, we've known each other for so long and...I mean...I don't want anything to change and you're my best friend but..." AJ stumbles over his words and I frown as he pauses as though not sure what to say. "It's hard to explain. I don't want to mess things up."

"What? Mess our friendship up? I'm pretty sure that's not possible."

"It is." He stares into his coffee cup and I'm struggling to grasp where this conversation is going.

"Alfie, you're like a brother to me. Nothing you say can change that." I reassure him but he doesn't look particularly reassured. "Just explain to me what's up."

There's a long silence. I'm not sure if he's going to speak. I'm a few seconds away from giving him another pep talk about opening up when five words escape his lips which take me by complete surprise.

"I think I like you." AJ admits. This time it's my turn to cause the awkward silence as my brain processes what he's insinuating. "It's only started recently but I get these feelings around you. It's fucking weird but I had to tell you just in case you felt the same way or...I don't know."

I swallow, my throat feeling dry. Never did I think I'd have to sit here and friend zone by best friend of eight years. Alfie James is such a big part of my life and has been for a long time but I've never looked at him that way and just the thought of it kind of creeped me out if I'm honest.

"I love you man, and I always will but as a brother." I meet his eyes and try to read them. He's clearly conflicted with emotions. Sad that I don't like him in that way, glad that I'm not pissed and he almost looks a tad relieved.
"Yeah that's cool, I expected that." He sighs, offering me a smile. "It's probably just a faze."

~~~

It's a week since AJ told me he'd developed feelings for me. His fears of things changing between us were a waste of energy. At the end of the day him and I will always be close, no matter what issues were going on between us. The group hadn't even noticed tensions and we were basically back to being best mates, thank god. He seems happy enough with that.

It's also been just over a week since Harvey and I admitted to Lucas about what Stan had done.

I've seen very little of him in this past week. He hung out with us as a group a few times and came over once through the window. I came into my room and there he was, lying on my floor, his hand nursing a cut lip and cheek. We spoke very little because he was in a sour mood and I didn't want to push him, but I allowed him the safety of my room until his Dads anger had subsided.

For some reason ever since we'd begun opening up to each other I'd had this urge to tell him my whole background. I trust him and want him to know more about me and my life.

Yet I'm afraid that if I reveal everything he'll think I'm complaining or attention seeking. He hasn't asked so why should I assume he's interested?

This afternoon a massive storm had began ober our little town. Weather warnings had been issued earlier that day and about half an hour ago the house lost electricity.

Our house is being battered by violent wind and rain.

Since the power cut out the thunder booms have become more menacing.

My little brother never liked storms. They scare him so much he just freezes and can't process properly. If Max were here Benji would feel safe. He'd be okay. But Max is visiting his mates for the weekend. It's just me here trying to keep him calm.

I've lit candles to give us a bit of light but nothings calming him down, his wails drowned out by the rain pelting against the windows relentlessly.

"Benji please, it's ok you're safe." I try and hug his small, shaking form but he pushes me away and, to my utter surprise, he runs to the front door. "Benji stop!"

To my horror he streaks out of the door and into the howling storm before I even have a chance to blink. I cuss like there's no tomorrow and swiftly follow him outside, feeling fear in the pit of my stomach. The weather's really bad. The trees constantly being blown around, bins and bags being thrown down the street and quickly whipped out of view. I'd promised Max I'd look after Benji. How could I have been idiot enough to let him run off in a storm this bad? Why didn't I lock the door?

"Benji!" I shout, over and over until my voice is hoarse but it's no use; my words are blown away so quickly I can barely hear them myself. The rain is so bad I'm already soaked to the skin, barely able to see a few feet in front of me. The rain isn't even consistent. The wind is so fierce it's as though it's hitting me from as many different directions as it possibly can. I can't hear anything but the battering rain. The coldness seeps into me as I continue my helpless search for my terrified little brother.

Again I call his name, teeth chattering loudly.

Where could he be? How could I have let this happen?

If anything happens to Benji I will never forgive myself.