Ever After

The Reckless and The Brave

Ethan was driving. Fast. Emma was sitting in the passengers seat, holding onto her seatbelt with one hand and the safety handle above her head with the other.

"Ethan, maybe you should slow down." She suggested after he took a rather sharp turn at almost sixty miles an hour, any faster and they would have flipped.

Ethan gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. "I know what I'm doing." He spat and took another turn, not bothering to slow down enough on this one either.

"Yeah? Well, you're scaring me! Slow down!" She said over the roar of his engine. He hadn't pressed the brake since they left James', just let off the gas to slow down.

Ethan sighed deeply and hit his blinker, slowing down this time as he turned to follow one of the many backroads leading up into the mountains.

The view was amazing up here, but they weren't coming to look out at the city or watch the sunset. No, Ethan needed to let off some steam. Before he hurt someone, or hurt himself.

Either way it wouldn't be pretty.

Ethan turned onto an old dirt road and shut his car off. He let his head fall onto the steering wheel, accidentally beeping the horn and making the girl next to him jump.

The older sighed and reached to take her hand, lacing their fingers. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just pissed." He mumbled, afraid if he raised his voice he would still sound angry.

Emma bit her lip. "Why are you so mad, babe?" She didn't understand why he was so upset. So, James and Grayson were making out; who cares?

"I'm mad he didn't tell me." The older mumbled, lifting his head to look at his girlfriend.

Emma found that a little ridiculous. They hadn't told Grayson or James about the two of them. How was what they just witnessed any different? "You have to think, he's probably scared, E."

Ethan shook his head, growing angry again. "Yeah, but I'm his brother. He should be able to trust me."

Emma blinked, cocking her head to the side. "It's not about trust, Ethan. He's never had to deal with something like that before. It's really new to him."

"Yeah and I could have helped him with it." Ethan spat and took his hand from hers before getting out of the car to start walking down the dirt road.

Emma scoffed, getting out as well. "Maybe he doesn't want your help!" She called after him.

The boy didn't stop walking, he didn't turn to answer her either, so she followed. "Hey! Where are you going?"

Ethan still didn't answer, just kept walking. He's slow enough that Emma can catch up to him in just a few strides.

Soon they're walking together. Emma is still trying to get a reply out of the older. "You know he's going to have to figure some stuff out for himself, right?"

Ethan's still not saying anything. It was like he wasn't even hearing the girl.

Emma stops walking. "You didn't tell him about us."

Ethan stopped as well, looking over slightly confused but definitely still mad. "So?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "It's not fair for you to be this mad at him for not telling you about him and James if you still haven't told him about us."

Ethan shook his head, turning back around to continue walking. "It's different."

"How is it different?" Emma countered.

"Because he's gay." Ethan clenched his jaw.

Emma didn't understand. Ethan was perfectly fine with James being gay, but suddenly had a problem with his brother if he was too? "What does that have to do with anything?"

"He didn't tell me!" Ethan finally yelled, turning to look at her this time.

The girl had been so used to him ignoring her that she actually jumped when he turned to yell. "He doesn't have to!" She yelled back

Ethan clenched his fists and turned away again, letting out a frustrated scream.

Emma frowned a little. "What are you doing now?"

Ethan sighed and dropped his head, rubbing the palms of his hands into his eyes. "I don't know. I just wanted to help him."

Emma didn't get what the older meant by that. "Help him with what?" She asked. No one needed help being gay. There wasn't anything Ethan could do to "help".

"I don't know!" Ethan yelled again, shaking his head. "He said his head was messed up. I just wanted to help."

"I don't know either, but you're not being much help to him walking out like that as soon as you see him and James together." Emma stated.

She wanted Ethan to realize how bad that looked. How unsupportive he was being already and it hadn't even been one day.

Ethan bit his lip. She was right. Grayson was probably freaking out right now.

The older sighed and turned to walk back towards his car. "I'll talk to him about it tomorrow. I need to think. I don't want to hurt his feelings."

Emma hummed and started to walk with him. She figured maybe she'd call James when she got home just to make sure they were alright.

Ethan would probably drop her off before he went home. It would make sense, so he didn't have to come out again.

Ethan got into the drivers side and shut his door, putting his seatbelt on. "I'll drop you off." He mumbled and started to drive when she got in as well.

The girl didn't reply, just nodded and put her seatbelt on. Ethan drove her home, leaning over to kiss her before she got out.

He pulled away a little, wanting to apologize. "I'm sorry for the past hour or two. It's just a lot to process. How long have they been.. seeing each other? You know?"

Emma smiled a little, shaking her head. "No, E, I don't know and I don't care. Their relationship isn't any of my business just like it isn't any of yours. I am very happy for them though. They both deserve to be with someone that really cares; who cares more about you than your best friend?"

Emma pecked his lips once more while he took in what she said. She had a point, she always did.

"I'll see you tomorrow, E. Drive safe, stop acting stupid. This would be a silly thing to total your car over, better yet a silly thing to end up in the hospital over." The girl opened her door and got out, waving to her boyfriend and she walked towards her house.

Once inside she took her shoes off and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She needed to call James.

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here it is!!! i hope you guys like it!!!

i tried to create some drama but i don't want to drag it out so 🤷🏼‍♀️

no cap, i probably only have three or four chapters left until the end so thank you guys so much for staying around and reading and voting and commenting.

i love you guys and i hope your day is good

enjoy! 💝💕💖💞