Babysitter or Boyfriend?

Chapter 21

A/N

Oh. My. Gosh. So I wrote and re-wrote this chapter like 20 times, I'm not joking. I still don't love how it turned out but my brain is fried when it comes to this story...I know I need to end a story when I'm literally OUT of ideas. I hope you like it anyway :) This is the second to last chapter!! WOO!!!

Chapter Twenty-One

Wrenching myself free of Alex's grasp, I started towards my brother in the doorway. "Jake, let me explain-" I began calmly.

"Explain?" Jake laughed derisively in my face. "Explain what, Avery? That you're apparently screwing my best friend, and neither of you bothered to tell me? Save your breath, sis." With that, he stormed off and seconds later I winced at the sound of his bedroom door slamming.

After exchanging a brief, panicked glance with Alex, I hurried down the hall and knocked firmly on my brother's door. "Please, Jake, can I come in? Just let me explain."

Several long seconds of silence passed before the door swung open and Jake stared murderously down at me as I brushed past him into the room. I knew he'd let me in-even at his angriest, my brother had a major soft spot for me.

"Jake," I said, my voice still calm. "Alex and I-"

The phrase seemed to trigger something in Jake, and he turned away, plowing his fingers through the unruly mop of light brown hair on his head. "How long, Ave?" he demanded to know. "How long have the two of you been...well, whatever you are? Together?"

"About a month," I replied softly, staring at the carpet.

"A month?" Jake practically screeched, his eyes blazing as he turned to face me once more. "You and Alex have been hooking up for a month? All these times we've texted or spoken on the phone-you didn't think to even mention it?"

It was hard not to feel somewhat defensive, but I tried to keep it out of my voice. "We're not hooking up, Jake. We're in love. I've loved Alex awhile now, and on Halloween night I found out he felt the same way about me. We just thought it'd be best to tell you about our relationship in person."

"In love?" Jake laughed scornfully. "Right, I'm so sure."

My eyes filled with tears. "What, Jacob?" I snapped, growing increasingly impatient with his attitude. "Am I not capable of being loved by someone else? Not capable of loving?"

I knew my tears had hit a weak spot when Jake sighed in exasperation. "That's not what I said, Ave," he said. "I'm just telling you that Alex has had a lot of girlfriends, and I don't want to see you get hurt if he decides to move on someday."

"I'm not going to hurt her, Jake," Alex's voice came from the doorway. "My relationship with Avery is different from all those other relationships."

"How do you know that?" Jake snapped, his anger at the situation returning. "What if it's not different at all, and the two of you break up in a month or two months or a year? If that happens, then I'm stuck in the middle of it all."

Swiping the tears off my cheeks, I glared at my brother. "Why do you have to be so negative?" I asked. "Why can't you be happy for us and hope for the best?"

Jake stared long and hard at me. "You know what? Do whatever you want," he growled. "My opinion hasn't mattered much up to this point anyway." And with that, he snatched his car keys off the dresser behind him and stormed past us out of the room. Moments later, we heard the front door slam.

I sank onto the bed and glanced mournfully up at Alex. "That went well," I said sarcastically. "Happy freaking Thanksgiving."

"Yeah," Alex mumbled, not meeting my gaze. "Um...maybe I should go."