I Love My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 2 ~ A Makeshift Family

*Eleven Years Ago*

"Matty! I said stop it!" screamed an exasperated seven-year-old Isabelle. She was so fed up with her this older boy-scratch that- she's been fed up with him since she met him, even though he was probably one of the first people that she had ever met, seeing as their fathers are best friends, resulting in their sons being best friends.

"Oh calm down, now sit your little butt down and have some breakfast." said Isabelle's oldest brother, Joe, as he placed a half of a toasted, buttered bagel and a bowl of fruit in front of her. He truly was the only one who actually was able to connect with and understand Isabelle is every way, including the fact that she couldn't eat bacon and pancakes for breakfast every morning before dance. Isabelle had been dancing since she was about two-years-old and had fallen in love with it since her first ballet/jazz class that her mother had brought her to. She continued with taking regular dance classes up until about two weeks after her mother walked out when she was just six. A scout from Dance Team USA had easily spotted the little six-year-old and she was soon signed to Team USA. She had been training a ridiculous amount of hours, hours that she wasn't able to spend with her mangled family anymore, not like they were ever all home together anymore.

After her mother left, her father began taking 24-hour shifts at the firehouse, and training during his 48 hours off for the Marines. He was already a Marine with 4 short tours under his belt, in fact, that was what had led her mother to leave him, seeing as he was never home in the beginning of Isabelle's life. But now, he was training to be a First Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps, and Isabelle couldn't be more proud of him. Although, in a short year, once he had completed his training, he would be deploying again for at least two years, which caused Isabelle to grasp onto any opportunity to spend with her father.

With her father gone most of the time, Isabelle's three older brothers were left to take care of the young, but not clueless girl. Her oldest brother, Joe, was ten years older than Isabelle, making him a young, seventeen year old training to not only be a firefighter and E.M.T. , but he had also began to train with the USMC. He had just returned home from boot-camp and would be receiving his assignment soon.

Her second oldest brother, Scott, was six years older than Isabelle, making him a goofy thirteen year old who had just about started going through puberty. He was the brother that was always able to put a smile on her face, despite the occurrences of what had happened in rehearsal that day. He had his dreams set with wanting to following in his father's and brother's footsteps into the firehouse and Marine Corps.

And Isabelle's third and youngest older brother, Bobby, was just four years older, leaving him to be the eleven year old that the other two brothers picked on, out of love of course. He had his dreams too, but not to join the Marines. Instead, he had wanted to become an E.M.T. and firefighter full time and eventually move to the south, in hopes of finding an active firehouse.

Then, there was Matthew Reed. He was friends with all three brothers, but best friends with Scott, seeing as they were the same age, and they had the same dreams. Join the firehouse, and join the Marines, following in his father's and Isabelle's father's footsteps. In young Isabelle's eyes, he was the definition of all that was evil. Of course, it was just Isabelle's luck that he lived in the same house as her. His family had lived in Tennessee and ran their own farm and after seeing what Matt's dreams were, they knew that they would be easier achieved in New York, rather than the farm.

"Hey Bella! Come on, don't want to be late! We still have to pick up lunch on the way!" yelled Joe from the hallway while he went to start up the truck. Isabelle grab her bag and jacket and ran to Joe's truck. She was short, even for her age of seven, and Joe's truck was lifted, so someone always lifted her up to the truck. Unfortunately, the someone this time just had to be Matty, seeing as him, Scott, and Bobby were going to baseball practice.

"Come on Princess, I promise not to tickle you anymore unless I want us to all be late,"

After contemplating for a good five seconds, she finally agreed to grin and bear it, she was used to lifts anyways from dance.

Matt shut the truck door and the mini makeshift family was off.