Falling: A Teenage Love Story

Chapter 7: The Brotherly Vist

A/N: This chapter is gonna be a fairly long one; so get ready. (Also; I was writing this and 3/4 of it got deleted when I came back to publish, so sorry it isn't very good or wasn't published as soon as it could've been.)

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Mads' POV:

I walk out of the house at 8, just like James told me to. I can't have him complaining about my tardiness forever.

I am wearing a "Rock Rebels" t-shirt under my black hoodie, that i pared with white converse and dark jeans. I figured I would go with something plain and comfortable, but as soon as I stepped outside I regretted my clothing choice. The autumn air was cold tonight and felt like ice against my skin.

Anyway, even though I'm there 2 minutes before he requested, he's still in my driveway before me, waiting.

"Once again: your perfection sickens me." I saying sticking me index finger down my throat as he opens the door for me, still sitting in the drivers seat.

I step inside and slide into the passengers seat. The heated car feels good. I rest my hands on the leather seats, stroking it gently.

"Freak-a-zoid." he grumbles. "What?!?" I ask rather defensively. "You're petting my seat!" He practically yells as me. I don't feel hurt or ashamed, but instead I feel slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry, It's just so warm. It welcomed me..." I admit truthfully. James chuckled, "It welcomed you? God Mads, you're getting more cheesy and delirious my the second."

I sock in the arm, "Just drive."

James' POV:

Thank God that Mads agreed to come tonight. I needed help and I wanted to ask something important.

She sits in the passengers seat playing the radio, blaring it when her favorite song comes on. How do I know? I'm her best friend for the love of it! I know everything about that girl and I'm proud to say I do.

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I drive for only a couple minutes before we reach my house. It's brick with a dark brown door. Trees surround it house like it's locked in a cage of woods.

I pull into the paved driveway and slam the car's brakes, we sit for a moment in silence, 'you should ask her' my inner voice says, 'come on you know she will say yes.' I open my mouth, but not before she jumps out of the truck, red door slamming.

"Great, there goes your chance." I mutter to myself.

"What, Ja?" Mads turns, a look of concern on her face that tells me I should've kept my big mouth shut.

"I just said; 'what about the kiss you promised me?'" I say covering quickly. This was the first time I'd lied to her, hopefully it would be the last. "Ok, fine." She says rolling her eyes, she plants a kiss on her palm and slaps it across my face in a playful way.

"God damn it Mads. You sure know who to give a beating." She just smiled and hurried up the frozen brick stairs.

She walks inside first, and places her hoodie on the coat rack. At the top of the split level stairs I see Ryan come into view. "Hey hows my baby brother and his favorite girl?" He asks referring to me then Mads. He runs down the stairs and picks her up and flips her upside down.

"Put me down!!!" Mads shrieks in between laughs, Ryan listens (SHOCKER) and drops her to the ground. "Sorry. It's just been so long, I couldn't help it."

"It has." Mads says wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a hug. As soon as she releases, silence falls around us.

Ryan finally brakes the tension thats so thick, it would be hard to cut with a knife, "So James, have you asked her yet?"

I panic. Mads looks from Ryan to me her eyes gleaming with curiosity and shots me a slight look of disgust which I assume she gave me, thinking I was being dishonest. "

What's he talking about?" She asks and squeezes my arm tight.

I don't know what to say, but some how I come up with something, "Mads," I begin running my fingers through my hair. "I will tell you. But not here, and not now."

Mads POV:

"Ok Ja." I say out aloud. But on the inside I'm like: 'SERIOUSLY JAMES!!! AHHHHH!!'

We have never had secrets before. Let alone one that seems like such a big deal. I can't figure out why James can't just tell me! We're best friends for CRYING OUT LOUD!

James soothing voices startles me and shakes me away from my thoughts, "You wanna go downstairs and say 'hey' to everyone?"

I nod and start to walk down the stairs. Down here looks like usual with the exception of some people and snacks. The coffee table in the center of the room is piled with snacks and 3 of the 4 couches are filled with foot players and their girls. Most are on the edge of the couch, yelling a string of cuz words at the television, which is already playing the game tape, others are sprawled out just lying there and a few are sitting back, holding hands with their girlfriends.

James struts over to the empty couch and the players throw him high fives like he was gone for 2 years serving in the military over seas, rather then being gone for 2 minutes to go down the road to pick me up.

'Men.' I think.

James sits and pats the empty place next to him on the couch. I hesitate, considering options, I have no idea why though...

I walk over to sit next to James trying as hard as possible to not make the big boys angry by standing in their line of vision, which of course, is aimed at the flatscreen.

I recline backward, taking in the softness of the couch. James follows my lead -eyes still glued to the TV- and puts is arm around my shoulder protectively.

I feel so safe in arms.

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At half time everyone but James and I desert the room, heading for upstairs to get drinks, refill snacks or use the bathroom.

I keep thinking about before as the commercials run, lighting up the otherwise dark room. I can't bare it any longer, so I gather my courage and speak, "Ja?"

"Yeah?"

"What was Ryan talking about before?" I ask, both hating his silence and dreading the answer.

He takes a long breath, earning his own energy and courage to answer. He runs his perfect fingers through his perfect brown locks and looks at me, as if to judge me, as if he can find out just by my facial expressions if I really should know. He stands up, no longer sitting on the couch or looking into my eyes.

I stand up to match him and tap his jaw slightly, positioning his face so he is forced to look at me. I touch his arm lightly with my hand trying to comfort him, "Ja, just tell me." I whisper quietly.

He takes another breath and says, "Well, I suppose you deserve to know. What I really want to ask you is-"

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"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

-William Shakespeare