Mirage

Chapter 4: Stranger

(A/N-  A picture of Caleb and Brooklyn in the media)

I blinked again.

Was my mind playing a trick on me? 

I wasn't hallucinating, right? Oh come on, I don't think I was obsessed to such an extent.

He stood in front of me with the same confused look in his eyes that he had earlier today, but the only difference was that he was shirtless right now and a towel was hanging dangerously low around his waist. He was just back from a shower, it seemed.

Stop staring, Luna!

 I quickly averted my gaze though my eyes craved to roam around his muscular chest and abs.

I heard Brooklyn's footsteps coming downstairs along with another pair of footsteps. Exiting out of Jayden's room awkwardly, I opened my mouth to ask Brooke what Jay was doing here but sealed it immediately when I realized what actually was going on. Caleb stood in front of me. Caleb Carter. Jay's younger brother.

Oh, God. How could it not strike me earlier?

They had come to visit Brooklyn and were staying HERE. 

And I'm stuck here for two weeks.

Two weeks with Jayden Carter? Scary enough.

Brooke, obviously not noticing my internal panic attack, introduced him to me," Luna, this is Caleb and Caleb, this is Luna."

Jay had come out of his room, still shirtless.

Brooke looked at him and then began," Jay, she's Luna, my friend, and Luna, he's Jay."

"Jayden," he corrected," I hate it when strangers call me Jay. She doesn't even know me, right?"

He gave the same pointed look I gave to him at the mall.

I gulped as he walked back to his room. He was really really pissed indeed.

Caleb placed a hand on my shoulder," Um, sorry, please don't mind his behavior. He isn't always like that."

My eyes almost burst out of its sockets. Is Caleb apologizing? That big, bad bully who tortured my friend back in Palo Alto is apologizing for his brother's behavior?

He was just like his brother- Arrogant, tough and egoistic.

Maybe he was trying to impress Brooklyn? Or was genuinely interested in her?

I shoved my thoughts away and opened my mouth to reassure Caleb that it was okay, Jayden's yell was heard from the room, "Caleb! Come here right now! I told you not to drop your dirty undies on the floor. Do you think I enjoy looking at them?"

Caleb looked tad embarrassed and then mouthed 'Give me a sec', pacing to Jay's room.

Though he gave a 'dirty undie on the floor' excuse, I knew Jay said it because he didn't want his brother to talk to me. I'm a stranger, right? 

My gaze shifted to Brooklyn. Was she...blushing? Ew, she blushed on hearing of Caleb's undies? Totally gross!

"Stop blushing," I hissed at her, giving a 'really?' look.

"What?" she said, "Oh please, even you would blush on hearing about the Palo Alto guy's undies, wouldn't you?"

I made a choking sound, instantly disagreeing with her. 

However tempting Jay might be, I'd hate his dirty undies.

Hm, Brooke doesn't know that Jay's the Palo Alto guy. Should I tell it to her or no?