The Little Things [Book 1]

Chapter Nineteen: Formation

"I think I'm in love," Bryan's words caught everyone off guard and all three of his friends turned to him. Dean was the first to react, as he had almost choked on the root beer he had been drinking.

"Is yours spiked? When did you get drunk and we didn't realize?"

"No, I'm serious, guys," Bryan pressed and rubbed his temples in frustration.

"Sure you are. Bryan, you say that almost every other week," Blake replied, agreeing with Dean. Thomas decided to remain silent, not sure whether Bryan was serious or not.

"I'm not drunk or high, okay? I don't know when it started, but I am in love with someone". There was certainty in his tone that his friends couldn't deny. They all shared a look before Dean urged him to go on.

"Who is it?"

"Chevrolet..." Now, Bryan's voice was weak and vulnerable, and he hated it. Oh, he knew his friends would have a field day with this, but he couldn't keep it to himself anymore.

"Isn't Leyla a sophomore? When did you fall in love with her?" Thomas replied, not able to stay quiet any longer.

"Not Leyla... Rachel," Bryan admitted and covered his face with his hands.

Now his friends actually reacted to his words. And just like he had expected, they all laughed. The rush of blood in his cheeks made him groan and he lowered his head ever more.

"Shut up," he grumbled.

"Dude, no! We won't stop. You think you're in love with Rachel?!" Blake snapped, doubling over with laughter.

"I don't think," Bryan said and looked up at them. "I really like her, dammit!"

"Man, you really need to get laid," Dean barked out, finishing his root beer and setting the bottle down.

"Can you be serious for one second?"

"About this? No. Come on Bryan, Rachel? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love her. But she's way out of your league," Thomas told him, sitting back on the bleachers and opening a new bottle for himself.

"Fuck off, Heissmann," Bryan snapped at him. "You really think I don't know that?"

"Then why are you telling us?" Dean asked him.

"Because you are my friends? And because you've known her for more years than I have," he replied.

"Yeah, and? Are you asking for our help to bang her?" Blake asked him.

"Bang...? No, I... I don't just want to get in her pants," Bryan said, suddenly very interested in the wet tag on his root beer.

"Wait. Do you want to be her boyfriend?" Thomas asked him, calming down and getting serious. Bryan didn't reply. He just nodded.

"I know she has feelings for Mark. But he's gay so I don't mind. Who I'm worried about is you," Bryan admitted and looked at Thomas.

"Me?!" Thomas said in surprise. "Why would you be worried about me?"

"Come on, Thomas. We've all seen the way she looks at you," Bryan said and Dean alongside Blake nodded agreeing with him.

"The fuck are you talking about? Rachel isn't interested in me," Thomas replied confused.

"Hell yes, she is. Thomas we know your one true love is soccer, but stop being this oblivious. Rachel has a huge lady boner for you. And everyone knows that," Blake said back, finishing his words with a burp.

"I don't... I don't think so. But whatever, Bryan, I'm definitely not interested in her. In the slightest. And she knows this," Thomas said, feeling weird about the fact that he hadn't realized that Rachel had been interested in him.