My brother's best friend

Chapter Fifteen

Today is the first day of school. Well my first day of university I should say. As my alarm goes off at 5:30am I roll over desperately trying to find my phone to turn off the loud alarm. After multiple attempts I finally ended up shutting it off and rolling back over. Looking through the small slits in my curtains I could see that the sun was just about to rise. You may be wondering why I'm up so early, but over the past weeks I've been getting up at this time every morning and going for a 45 minute run, then I pick up a coffee and bagel and eat it on the balcony of the condo before getting ready for my day. After everything that has been happening I need some alone time and something to just take my mind off of things.

Just as I'm leaving my room, putting my earbuds in each ear I bump right into Link who is also leaving his room. I've been avoiding him like the plague. Every since the night we all came back to the condo and he kissed me I've barely said a word to him. Eating all my meals in my room with the door locked and ignoring all his calls and texts. I'd thought by now he would have gotten the hint but apparently not.

"Morning Hailey, you going for a run too?" Link looked down at me taking in my running attire. I just looked at him, I hadn't really looked at him in awhile. He did seem to have put on some more muscle. He was more defined than he was before. Great.
"Uhm yeah I was actually. Going down the shore line and back this morning" I replied before taking a few more steps towards the door.
"Mind if I join you? I haven't been down that way before, wouldn't want to get lost out in the city right?" He said, a small smile gracing his face. How can I say no to that?
"Yeah sure I guess that's fine, I like to keep my headphones in though just so you know" I replied walking the rest of the way to the apartment door.

Once out of the building we started out run, Link never said anything to me for the first little awhile. He just quietly kept pace beside me. Every so often he would look over at me. Never saying anything though.
The morning was nice, a crisp breeze came off the water and we ran alongside it. A few fishermen were out trying to catch something nice and early.

Our run ended at my usual place, the little cafe just down the road from the condo.
"Do you want anything? I'm going to get in line" Link said as we walked into the cafe, taking in the warm smell of the fresh baked goods.
"I'll order in a minute, have to use the washroom first" I said before walking off towards the bathrooms. Once I entered and did my business I took in my appearance in the mirror. God did I look awful... my face was beat red, my hair all matted down with sweat, I don't even want to know what I smell like. Taking a few paper towels I just washed off my face with some cold water to get rid of the sweat and redness before leaving the washroom only to find that Link was sitting at a table by the window. Talking to a women with short black hair, I couldn't help but get a little jealous at the sight. I took a deep breath and walked up to the table sitting down in the chair across from Link. The girl standing beside the table looked down at me with a puzzled look.
"Harlynn, this is Hailey. Chases sister, Hailey this is Harlynn. We went to school together last year" Link said introducing us. She looked back down at me not showing at expression on her face what at all. I just smiled up at her, I have no reason to not like her.
"Oh hi, sorry excuse me I'm just going to get some food" I said as I tried to stand up only to have Links hand be placed on mine indicating me to stop in slowly sat back down and looked at him. I watch as he slides the tray he had in front of him over to see he had my special coffee ordered and my favourite bagel on its way as well.
"Link you didn't have to do that, here let me pay you back" I say as I reach into the pocket of my leggings trying to find some change to give me.
"Hailey it's fine, it was literally $5 not even. Don't worry about it I got you" he smiled at me, causing me to blush I just sat back in my chair and looked out the window.
" Well Link, you have my number now so I expect to hear from you soon ok?" Harlynn said as her fingertips brushed against Link's hand. He smiled up and her and nodded as she walked away. He glanced behind to watch her leave. The bitch didn't even say anything to me or acknowledge I was still in the room. I glared at him. He's such a pig. Just as he looked back at me our food arrived at the table. I thanked the waitress before packaging all my food up and getting up to leave the cafe.
"Wait where are you going?" Link asked me as I was walking towards the door.
"Home?" I said rolling my eyes at him before continuing on my way. I could hear him packing up his food as well before jogging to catch up with me.
"What did you not want to eat in the cafe?" He asked
"Maybe you should have asked Harlynn to eat with you" I replied back. He stopped in his tracks.
"What is your deal?" He snapped at me causing me to stop dead. I didn't turn around I just waited.
"Hello? Hailey, what do you want from me? Please explain to me what I am doing wrong here?" He continued on. I still didn't reply. I turned around to look at him. He looked pissed, I'd never really seen Link pissed before.
"I don't want anything, just forget I said anything ok?" I replied looking at him in the eyes. He waited a moment. His eyes studying me closely.
I turned and started walking back towards the condo now. I felt like I looked stupid standing in the middle of the sidewalk having a one sided argument with Link. He quickly caught up with me and we both walked in silence the rest of the way back to the condon. Once inside we heard the shower running meaning Chase was up. I looked at the clock and it read 6:45am. Later than when I normally get back but I can work with the time I had. I didn't have to be at school until 8:15. Taking my bagel and coffee, I walked out onto the balcony. I sat down in my regular chair and took a big gulp of the coffee. Letting it burn as it slid down my throat. Link sat in the chair across from me. Taking a sip of his coffee, his eyes never once leaving mine as he did. I rolled my eyes relaxing back into the chair more enjoying my coffee and bagel. The air was starting to get warm, summer wasn't quite over yet so the warm weather still came to visit every now and then. I looked out across the city. Taking in its smell, and the sounds of people going to work, busses honking their horns and whistles from crossing guards.
"Hailey... we need to talk about this. We can't keep going on like we are" Links statement brought me out of my thoughts. I looked over at him. He had a sincere look on his face.
"Fine. What do you want to talk about then?" I asked turning in my chair so that I was facing him.
"I want to talk about us, about what's going on here. I want to know where you stand and what your thoughts are about all of this" he said looking me dead in the eyes. I sighed, running my fingers on my temples. This is not how I wanted to start my day.
"I don't know Link. I don't know how I feel about this, or about us. I know how you make me feel, and I like it most of the time. But then there are times when I hate it. I don't understand what's going on. I don't understand why you keep kissing me then not talking to me then kissing me again and making me feel so good about myself when we both know it can never work... you're my brothers best friend, you have been forever. If he found out that anything had happened between us I don't want your guys friendship to be ruined because of me." My voice sounded sad. A lot more sad than I had expected it to sound. I looked over at him. He was looking down at his hands.
Neither of us spoke for a few minutes so I decided to get up and go shower.
"Hailey... I like you. I like you a lot. I have for awhile now I've just been to discouraged and shy to tell you. I've watched you grow and mature and fuck Hailey, I'm falling for you. I want to make this work. I want to make you feel good and make you smile. We can keep it from Chase, we have all summer. Please just give me a chance. If it doesn't work out then Chase will never have to know. And if it does work out then I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now Hailey please just give us a chance" he sounded so desperate. My back was facing him, I was tongue tied. I had no idea what to say to him.
Just then I felt his warm hand grasp mine. His thumb moved over the top of my hand caressing it.
"Please Hails, at least think about it." He whispered into my ear leaning in. He wrapped his arms around my body and god did it ever feel nice. I felt so safe and so comfortable in his arms.
"I'll think about it ok... but you need to give me some space. For now you're just Chases best friend and my roommate, okay?" I answered turning around to look at him.
He was grinning like a child opening up a shiny new toy on Christmas. He nodded his head before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

Authors Note:
Hey guys, so to start off. I moved to college three weeks ago so I've been trying to adjust here and get all settled in. I really like my program so far, we haven't really done much stuff yet but from glancing over my text books and notes so far I think I'm really going to enjoy it. I'm taking Child and Youth Care, it's always been a dream of mine to work with kids when I get older. So here's to the future! Hoping that when I have some down time I can start writing more!
Below attached is another picture of the fucking perfect Wesley Tucker, whom I incision Link to look like! But have him look however you want!

Write soon,
~ PrettyLittleVixen :)