Best Friend's Brother: Chapter One

She's Not Fine

"For God's sake, Katie is this the last box?!" I huffed as I put down another box in her room. I finally got Harry to sign the papers last week after the arcade with Nathaniel and Katie.

"Momma! I'm hungry," Melody attached herself to my leg and sat on my foot.

"Me too, honey," I rubbed the top of her head, "What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know."

"I don't know how to make that," Melody gave me a disapproving look, "You should ask Auntie Katie if she knows how to make that or do you want to get pizza?"

Katie snapped her gaze to me. "Pizza? I like pizza, let's go out for pizza!" She got up off her bed and ran out of her room. I slowly made my way behind her, swinging Melody on my leg as I went.

"Daddy!" Melody jumped off my leg and ran to Nathaniel, who was coming through the door with a small box labeled bedroom. 

"Hey, princess," he put the box on the kitchen island and picked Melody up, "How are you?"

"Mommy said she wants to go out for pizza." She grinned at him.

"Did she?" He gave me a look, and I rolled my eyes.

"I simply gave an idea," I kissed his cheek and grabbed the box off the counter and carrying it into my bedroom.

As I started unpacking my box, I heard a knock on my door, "Come in!"

"Hey, can we talk?" Katie asked hesitantly as she made her way into my room.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Do you think that Autumn is trying to take your spot as my best friend?" I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her.

"No, I don't think that she's trying to-"

"Okay," Katie breathed a sigh of relief without letting me finish.

"-I think you're letting her take it." I finished and put my hand on my elbow.

Katie looked down, and a small 'oh' escaped her lips. She started shifting uncomfortably as she thought about what I'd said.

"It's Hannah more than you, but it still hurts like hell. I know you guys are moving on and making better friends, but I'm not moving as fast as you guys. I still need my best friend, but lately, you haven't been there like you always say you are. I know you guys have your own lives, and you're going through your problems, but you and Hannah have each other to go to. Someone who's your age that will understand where you're coming from. I don't, Katie. Harry hasn't been in high school for four years, and Kari is too emotionally unstable to carry her own problems, let alone help me carry mine. I'm not trying to guilt-trip you; I'm just explaining where I'm coming from. I still love you more than anything in the world, and you'll always be my closest and best friend," I finished and sat down next to Katie, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

"I'm going to fix this, at least for you and me. Hannah can fix her problem herself if she notices," Katie laughed.

"She probably won't, but at least I have you."

///

I poked my head in Katie's door after putting Melody to bed, "Hey, I'm going for a walk. I'll be back."

"It's ten at night, Jessica. Why are you going on a walk now?" She turned around in her chair to face me.

"I have to clear my head. I'll text you when I'm on my way back." I walked out the door. I hopped on my bike and went to Kendall's Koffee. Kendall, the owner, saw me at the door and opened it for me.

"Hun, I don't think you need coffee at ten-fifteen," He gave me a disapproving look as he walked behind the counter. I took a seat at the bar and put my head in my hands. "You didn't come for coffee. You came for help, didn't you?"

I let out a deep sigh, "Nothing is really happening; everything just feels... grey."

"And losing him is blue like you've never known?" Kendall chuckled. When I didn't laugh with him, he continued, "It's okay to laugh a little, kid. Your life is changing, and it's not the norm for you; it's natural." He slid a cup of hot chocolate in front of me. "It's on the house."

I gave him a grateful smile and took a sip; it burnt my tongue and burned all the way down. "Ow, that's hot!"

Kendall laughed, "Hence the name hot chocolate."

I frowned and licked the whipped cream off the top of my mug. The bell rang above the door, and Kendall got ready to take their order.

"Just a large black coffee, please." I turned to look at the person ordering — tall, lean, and from his side profile, very attractive. Kendall told him his total and quickly poured the coffee for him as he paid. He took the seat next to me; slightly irritating me as the shop was completely empty.

He took a sip out of the to-go cup Kendall slid over to him. I quietly sighed and continued to drink my hot chocolate.

"Do you come here often?"

I almost spit out my drink at the cheesy one-liner. I coughed and cleared my throat.

"Yeah, it's my favorite coffee shop. You?"

"First time actually," He looked at me with a smile on his face, "I just moved here."

I could see Kendall getting a bit uncomfortable behind the counter. I could tell he was getting a weird vibe from this guy, and honestly, I was too.

"Your eyes are stunning," he complimented. 

I grinned, "Thank you!" 

I tried to exert as much confidence as I could. His atmosphere changed a little and I could tell that I had dodged a bullet. 

"Well, I have to go. It was nice talking with you," I stood up from my seat and waved at Kendall.

The guy reached out and grabbed my hand as I turned away, "Wait, I never caught your name."

"Kenna."

"Nice to meet you, Kenna. I'm James."

"Same to you." He let go of my hand and I walked out of the building. I got on my bike and went to the store to pick up some fruit snacks for Melody. 

///

I wandered up and down the aisles, searching for any other groceries we would need. I turned up one aisle and saw James again. I kept my head down but he still recognized me.

"Hi, Kenna," he smiled. His tone had a weird feel to it.

"Hello, James. Funny bumping into you here." James fumbled with something in his pocket. I quickly grabbed what I needed off the shelf and started to the next aisle. "Bye James."

James grabbed my arm once again, "Sorry honey, it's just business."

I heard a fwooshing sound and felt a burning hot pain in my abdomen. My vision started getting blurry as I looked at James who was holding a gun. Before I could process what was happening, my vision started fading and I fell to the ground.