Be My Friend

Chapter 46: Family Reunion

"Been working out at the gym. See these?" Andy flexes his biceps and I can't help but roll my eyes. He motions for us to follow down the hallway to the living room, but hesitates when he sees me visibly touch Alex's hand to get his attention.

Silently we trail down the hall to where the older brother was tapping away on his iPhone. His blue eyes were narrowed intensely at the screen with worry lines etching into his skin. Just by looking at his appearance I would've guessed he just came from a business meeting; sporting a black neatly pressed suit and hair neatly combed. We all knew he was going to be the successful and distant one of the family, so I didn't know why it bothered me slightly that the person I was looking felt more nostalgic than a fresh image.

"Andy, we went over this. Mason and his friend will not care if you show them your biceps." Ethan says, not even looking up from his phone. Andy plops himself down on the suede grey couch and props his feet onto the glass table. He shrugs as if he couldn't care less.

I twist my hands in their grasp and steal a nervous glance and over at Alex who seems to be preoccupied examining everything. "So..." I clear my throat, and for the first time since stepping into the room Ethan pauses and looks up from his phone. "You were probably expecting me to bring a female companion, and... Someone a little shorter probably, but this... Is my boyfriend, Alex." I introduce quietly for the second time today.

Coming out a second time did not feel any easier than the first, especially if one of your brothers was a little oblivious to begin with.

"What?" Andy says in a shocked tone. I can't help the pit in my stomach seems to grow in size, making my stomach feel like it was being twisted.

Ethan gives him a long and hard look. "Andy." He snaps and raises an eyebrow. Me and Alex take a seat on the opposite couch.

"What?" He snaps back but then his face twists into realization. "Oh. So that's what you meant when-" he gets cut off just as quickly as he begun saying something.

"Yes, Andy," Ethan pinches the bridge of his nose in mock annoyance, "yes."

I look back and forth between the both of them with narrowed eyes trying to read the silent conversation they seemed to be having between them.

"So... This is your childhood home?" Comes a quiet voice from beside me.

"Um, yep. The whole nine yards." I emphasis with little enthusiasm. The place was small and I couldn't blame Alex for having a difficult time getting around. On the first floor it always was cramped, with pictures or old childhood artwork hung on every inch of wall, to furniture being shifted around constantly in hopes to find that perfect spot where no one tripped over it.

The walls were painted a white back when I still lived here, and the carpet in the main room was always a fluffy light brown as far back as I could remember. Still left over from the eighties, or so mom said. Which I hoped wasn't true.

"It's interesting... I've never seen such a place with so many memories." He says thoughtfully with eyebrows scrunched.

"Would you like that tour my mother mentioned, then?" I ask. He thinks for a moment and then nods.