The Boys Next Door

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I tapped my pencil nervously on the edge of my math review packet. Right below, Tyler and Cayden were working on Cayden's Audi engine. Sweat gleamed on their bare chests as they bent over in the stifling sun. I cringed. Tyler and I hadn't spoken since the incident at the movie theater. As soon as the movie was over, he had awkwardly patted my back goodbye and walked off. I didn't understand why he was so mad, if he even was mad. It was just a silly call.

With that thought in mind, I spun around, and stalked out of my room and down the stairs. After pushing open the front door, I marched across the front yard and stopped by the car, hands on my hips. Cayden looked up first. "Yes, princess?" His hands were holding on to something I couldn't see as Tyler worked furiously to tighten it into place. I crossed my arms, suddenly aware of how I must have looked just standing there defiantly.

I held onto my confidence the best I could as I spoke, "I need to speak to Tyler. Now." Cayden looked away, and after snatching the wrench from his brother, Tyler followed me to the shade of the oak tree. I leaned against the rough trunk, my arms still crossed.

Tyler wiped his hands off on his shorts. Streaks of black oil followed his fingers. "What?" he said, exasperated, already looking back to the project he had left behind. "Can you make this quick? I need to get back to work."

I pushed off the tree, the bark digging into my skin painfully. I shook it off. "I just want to know what's up with you. Ever since the movie, you haven't even spoken a word to me." I glanced down at my hands. "What's wrong Tyler?"

He sighed once again and ran a dirty hand through his beautiful blonde hair. "Look, Tae, I'm going to be completely honest with you." He looked up and I nodded. "I was actually upset about that call. I got embarrassed in front of my brother and Kyle, and being the new kid it's already hard fitting in."

I reached out, "Tyler, I'm—"

He cut me off. "Let me finish. I got over that days ago. The same night actually as our movie. I don't know," he kicked at a rock. "I guess I'm upset about the movie itself." I recoiled and opened my mouth to speak, but he held up a finger. "I wanted it to be a date. I wanted it to be more than just two friends going to the movie together." He looked up through his lashes at me gauging my reaction.

My mouth opened and closed like a fish. I was at a loss for words.

"By the way you were acting during the movie, I thought that you wanted nothing to do with me. You just sat there and I don't know. I guess I was just upset. I thought it was better for me to leave you be if that's what you wanted. Except looking at it now, it seems like a pretty stupid idea." He let out a choked laugh. "I really like you, Tae. I know it hasn't been long, but you're so sweet and funny, and beautiful." A small smile played at his lips. "I like you," he whispered.

I smiled, "Tyler, you idiot. It was a date." He looked up, startled. "It wasn't like a date, it was one. And I was acting the way I was, because I thought you were mad at me and Melany." I reached forward and pulled him into a hug. After a second, his arms wrapped around me too. He held me, and in that moment, I didn't care that he had been working and was all sweaty, and he didn't care that I as standing there in Garfield pajamas. We were just us.

And then we were just us plus Cayden.

Suddenly, Tyler was being pulled away and a wrench was being thrust against his chest. "Get back to work," Cayden growled, then stalked away. Tyler smiled sheepishly over to me and after giving a little wave, he trotted off after his brother.

"I like you too," I finally whispered back.

The only problem was; I didn't know which brother I was talking to.