Flowers & Benches

Year Two (College) and Gaura

Caitlyn exits the small house she shared with her best friends and smiles at the young boy sitting on their front bench. "Good morning Joss!" She greets her little brother, he turns and grins at her. 

"Hey, Cat!" Joey greets, handing his sister a gaura flower. "Li asked me to give this to you, she had an early class." He explains as she fixes him with a questioning glance.

"Ah, that explains it. Did Liz go to class too?" Caitlyn asks, Joey shakes his head.

"She went to meet up with her cousin and go grocery shopping," Joey tells, Caitlyn nods at the simple answer remembering that her roommates were complaining about the food shortage in the house. 

"So, I have a class at 4 today, otherwise I'm all yours!" Caitlyn expresses, sitting next to him. He grins at the news.

"You'd think since you're double majoring that you'd have loads of classes but nooooooo...." Joey teases making his sister laugh loudly. 

"That's just how awesome I am!" She tells him jokingly while flipping her hair sassily, her brother just laughs.

"Could we just talk for a bit? Then we could go out to breakfast." Joey suggests, Caitlyn nods at his wise decision. "Mom misses you," Joey whispers softly, Caitlyn freezes, then lets out a little sigh.

"I know Joss. I miss her too. I just can't go back." Caitlyn tries to explain it to her brother, majorly failing. 

"Why not?" He asks suddenly, Caitlyn shrugs, "Cat, he's never there. You wouldn't run into him." Joey continues softly, she bites her lip at how perceptive he's become.

"I know, but it's just too much of a memory. He's everywhere." She explains more to herself than to the questioning teen. 

"You came to my basketball game that one time." Joey points out, Caitlyn laughs almost ruefully.

"That was different Joss! He and I didn't go to your school! But going back to Mom's house, where we all lived... he and I spent so much time there, Joss..." She explains sadly, he finally nods accepting defeat. "How old is Rory now?" She asks changing the subject to her step-sister.

"She's 8 now," Joey replies, grinning at the mention of the petite girl he lives with.

"Woah! Time flies by! Ethan and Ella are 12, and Eden is 16." Caitlyn sighs referring to her stepmom's kids. 

"Hey, Cat?" He questions gently, Caitlyn turns to him expectantly. "A few nights ago, you thought I was asleep, I wasn't, and you were talking on the phone. Who was it?" 

Caitlyn sighs slightly, "Joss, that was Aiden."

"Aiden your boyfriend?" Joey asks, his sister nods, "Why were you fighting?" 

"We weren't fighting." Caitlyn tries to lie, but her brother gives her a look.

"Which is why you were yelling loudly." He points out, Caitlyn sighs.

"I wanted him to meet you." She says softly, Joey stares at her.

"I've never met one of your boyfriends!" Joey exclaims loudly making his sister flinch. "Except Carter, that is." He tags on thoughtfully. 

"Exactly, which is why I wanted to change that." Caitlyn explains, "Because it doesn't matter who I'm dating, you'll always be a part of my life. I want you to like whomever I'm dating and for them to like you. You're my little brother Joss. I can't change that no matter how hard I tried when I was little." She continues, joking a bit at the end to try and dissipate the blatant surprise written on her brother's face.

"Woah..." Is all he can say, he shakes his head a tad like he's trying to dispel awful thoughts. "And?" 

"Well... I managed to convince him. How would you like to meet Aiden over breakfast?" Caitlyn asks somewhat nervously, Joey beams.