Young Collective - Cole Sprouse

Chapter ten

"Do you want me to get the cab with you home?" Cole smiles. We both stand outside in the freezing windy cold with our suitcases by our side.

"No, it's fine. I should be fine." I twiddle my thumbs and don't make eye contact.

Truth is I'm fucking terrified of going back to the apartment. I don't want to face the fact that my brother is practically being locked up in rehab for nearly two years. Not to mention I hate being alone in the apartment. I don't want to leave Cole either. But I'm not going to make him come out to my apartment.

"Let's go back to mine." He steps forward.

"What?" My chin shoots upwards and I frown.

"Come back to my apartment. I know you don't want to be alone at your brothers place. So, come back to mine." He smirks.

No. Leave the boy in peace. You're only going to make it worse. You're never going to get over him.

"Alright." I say without thinking.

"Alright." He repeats.

He walks over to the road and hails a taxi. I feel like I'm going to freeze up. He starts placing his luggage into the boot and I walk over and he takes my suitcase and places it next to his. He walks around the side of the car and opens the door for me and I giggle. He's so sweet. He runs around the other side and jumps in. It's so warm inside the car, and it smells like table cleaner. I stare out the window.

"138 Broadway thanks." He says to the taxi driver. I turn to him. That's Williamsburg. One of my favourite neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. My brother lives in DUMBO, in the Sweeney Building. Only 15 minutes from Coles apartment.

"I really like the show you doing when you little boy- it's called the suite life no? My daughter is also big fan of you and your brother." The taxi driver smiles to Cole as he punches the address into his gps. Cole sparks up a conversation with him. I turn back to the window. As we drive off I notice a small group of people inside the airport with cameras pointing my way.

Not good.

———

"Wow." I say as I drop my bag and suitcase at the door.

"I like it." Cole shrugs and he walks off into the kitchen. He opens the fridge.

"We only have carrot sticks and chocolate dipping sauce." He yells to me.

"Do you live here by yourself?" I ask, ignoring his statement.

"I don't know what we'll eat for dinner." He says to himself as he closes the fridge and walks over to the couch. He slumps down. I follow him and sit back on the cushiony couch.

"I like carrot and chocolate so that's fine." I eventually answer him.

"My parents actually owned this apartment. The building is really old too. I bought it off them because I loved it so much. Dylan stays here sometimes when his girlfriend is away and vice versa when he's away." He shoves a carrot stick in his mouth. I pout and he gives me a bite of his sloppy seconds. I smile.

I'm surrounded by white walls, stone features and brown grainy wood. The downstairs area is simple and long. With a kitchen at the end of the living room. There is a staircase leading up to a loft area where I'm guessing his bedroom is. I think there's only one bed in the apartment. It smells like frangipani.

"Isn't it too small for a four person family?" I lean on his shoulder.

"We used to come here when it all got too much. We permanently lived in the heart of New York. Right in the middle of everything. Especially when Dylan and I were younger. We came out here, to relax mostly. We all slept in the same bed. It was like a vacation. We made so many beautiful memories in this apartment. Mom wanted to sell it. So I bought it off her anonymously. She only found out a few months ago." He puts his arms around my neck.