The Boy Next Door

Chapter 4 | Does He Like Me?

Chapter 4: Does He Like Me?

"Umm. Well, are you going out with Ryan?" Alec asked, clenching and un-clenching his fists again and again.

"No, why? I mean, yeah we're going to the aquarium together. But it's not like we're dating or anything. Just friends." I replied, which made his shoulders drop and sigh, forming a smile on his face. "Thank god..." Alec murmured softly to himself so that I don't hear it. But I heard it and smirked. "Jealous?" He looked back up quickly to study my face. He sighed and looked back down, smiling when he noticed I was joking.

I sighed as I thought back to what happened yesterday. "He said 'Thank God' when I said I wasn't going out with Ryan. And he also seemed like he was surprised and... Serious even, when I asked if he was jealous although it was a joke. What could that mean?" I asked into the phone. Ellen giggled.

"Well, it sure seems like my brother has a little crush on you!" She said. I gasped.

"I don't think he has a crush on me. I mean, I-I..." I stuttered, obviously very surprised that Ellen was telling me that he liked me! "He's a bad boy and a player. He would never like a girl. He only uses them, then later crumples their heart up and throw them into the trash!" I reason. Yes. That seems like a good reason. Of course he wouldn't crush on a girl like me. I nodded, smiled, and patted myself on the back mentally for coming up with such a good reason. "Hahahahaha! Sorry that my brother's like that. Whatever, you'll figure sooner or later. And sorry, I have a date with Brian today, so I need to get ready. I'll call you and tell you how AMAZING he was after." Ellen told me. "Alright. Have fun, bye." I reply. "Bye!" She says, hanging up.

I sigh and toss my phone onto my bed, then going face-down on the bed myself.

I suddenly heard loud voices coming from the living room. "Hmm, I wonder who's here." I wonder and quickly got up from the bed. I rushed down the stairs, and saw the back of a woman and Mom talking with her.

"Oh hello, Brianna. I'm Mary, your new neighbor. I'm sure you've already met Alec?" The lady says, coming over to hug me. She is the woman I saw with Alec in the first day he got here.

"Hello, my name is Brianna. Yes, I've already become...friends? Yeah, friends with Alec." I replied. I felt a light tap on my shoulder and turned around. Alec's broad chest was right in front of me. I jumped back a little, almost bumping into Mary because I was so surprised. "Hey," Alec says, coming up to hug me. I stiffened at the contact but hugged him back because his mother was right in front of us. I pulled back immediately. I'm sorry, Alec. But I can't fall for you. Although, I felt some butterflies in my stomach. I'd never felt like this before, and was confused.

What did these feelings mean?

"Alec and his family are staying over for dinner, honey." Mom said, and the rest of Alec's family came out. There was his father, who looked a lot like Alec too. Then there was a little girl standing next to Alec's dad, holding onto his leg. She was adorable. Her blond hair was into two little pigtails, and her big blue eyes stared up at me. Her cheeks were a little bit red, just like Alec. 'Aww!!!' I thought.

"Ellen is on a date today, so she couldn't make it unfortunately." Mary explained. I nodded. I already knew that.

"Hello. I'm Brianna. What your name?" I asked the little girl, picking her up as she came running towards me. "I'm Lily. I'm four years old." She said proudly smiling sweetly. I carried her to the dinner table and Mom brought out the food. I sat Lily down next to me and Mary. I was looking Lily's way but soon felt a presence sitting down next to me. I looked to the other side and saw Alec sitting down. I smiled at him, then picked my food.