Best Friends Brother

Best Friends Brother - Chapter 2, "Mistake."

"Sofia, I'm finished!"

I heard light-weighted footsteps, her arrival just seconds away. Snapping back into reality, Ahmed and I assumed positions, sitting as far away from each other, as far as we possibly could before his sister had entered the room.

"Did you not hear what I told you before? Get out!" Saidat's voice rung throughout the hollow bedroom, annoyance visible from her tone. She had asked me if I was okay, and I just nodded, lifeless and limp, as if I were a rag doll.

"What, can I not talk to my friend?" Ahmed scoffed, clearly trying his hardest to play things off. After what he had just done, I wasn't sure if friend was the label we were looking at. But we couldn't be more than what we were, things wouldn't work. After long, our secret would be revealed, some way or another - we would slip up.

I told both of them I'd be heading out, and awkwardly picked up my bag, my tie undone from the event that had just occurred. Waving goodbye to their parents, I exited her house, the bitter cold slapping me round the face. I wanted to feel the same warmth I'd felt earlier, exactly that, was all I wished for.

Home:

Slamming my bedroom door shut, I hugged my blanket close, itching with excitement. How had this happened? To me, out of all people? I closed my eyes, reminiscing on everything that had taken place, and how slightly we got away with it.

School:

Standing around with my friends, I began to speak to Ryan. He had been sick, and even though I wouldn't like to admit it, I missed him. A lot. He was a funny little boy, and honestly, I missed how he made me laugh uncontrollably whenever we talked.

On time like always, Joe, Saidat and her brother arrive at our little table in the canteen. Yet that was when I saw him. The same person, but so different from who he was last night. He looked straight ahead, not even acknowledging my presence.

Ahmed strolled towards us, careless, letting his arms swing. He greeted everyone warmly, shameless, acting as if everything were completely normal, as if he hadn't just done what we had done together. He went down the line, though he soon stopped. I looked longingly for him to talk to me, to simply interact with me, however when he did look me in the eyes he pursed his lips, narrowed his eyes and walked away to join his friends.

I felt ashamed... though only what did I expect? It felt so wrong, yet so right.

I wished it never had to have ended.

After my last lesson had finished, I grabbed my bag quickly and left without a word. I wasn't going to wait for anyone, or anything. I felt betrayed. I just wanted to be home, at peace. I tucked the falling strands of hair behind my ear, and started to make my way through the gates, when-

I felt a familiar feeling, him caressing my shoulder.

I spun around and locked eyes with him. I would've felt ecstatic, though he didn't have that kind of expression, the expression I had witnessed yesterday. His eyebrows were furrowed, his eyes hidden, facing towards the floor, desperately finding any way not to look at me - and to be honest - I hated it. He let his hand drop as he let go of my shoulder trying to compose himself, allowing words to exit his mouth.

"Sofia I- I don't know a good way to tell you this: so I'm just going to be honest with you."

Oh no, I really didn't want to hear what he would say next. I felt myself squeezing my eyes shut, not wanting to re-enter back into the real world, reality.

"I don't regret anything we did last night, but I'm sorry, - it was just a mistake. I don't know what I was doing, or what got into me."

The words stabbed me like a dagger.

"What you and my sister have is amazing, I don't want to get into the way of it... I'm just sorry."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The boy I gave up my very first kiss to came towards me, and tells me such news like it was nothing. I felt my eyes well with tears and I tried not to let them fall. However, once that first tear broke free, the rest followed like a never-ending stream.

Ahmed looked up and noticed my state, pulling me in for a hug. I was reluctant at first, not wanting to get to close, just to have everything fall apart. I hesitantly let my head rest at the crook of his neck and he wrapped his strong hands around me. I felt safe, though it saddened me even more, knowing I would never get to experience this again.

The hug lasted around a few seconds. He awkwardly said good bye, walking away with a sense of doubt, though not daring to look back. I darted home, as I didn't want anyone to see me crying as hard as I had been. It worked perfectly as when I had reached my front door, no one had seemingly came to check on me.

I fiddled with my keys, unable to see clearly throughout the endless flow of tears traversing down my face. I unlocked the front door. My father called out to me while I casually entered the house, a news reporter portrayed on the TV, discussing the latest stories.

"Had a good day today?"

I stuttered a yes foolishly, making my way swiftly up the stairs into my bathroom. Locking the door, I collapsed, soon picking myself up and looking into the mirror, surprised with what I saw. My eyes puffy and red, my mouth permanently glued together to try to stop myself from making any sort of noise, my hair a dishevelled mess.

It was crazy, how could I let one person influence my mood so drastically?

-Message from Ahmed.

Huh? I heard my phone go off. Wiping my face clean, I picked up my phone, not expecting what I had seen.

Why, out of all people, why him? I sighed and turned off my phone.

"I know you're mad at me. I would be too, but all I ask for is for you to read what I send you, alright?"

I heard another ding, and picked up my phone again, rolling my eyes meanwhile. I kept his messages on my screen, skim-reading what he had sent.

"What I told you at school today... It wasn't what I truly felt. Sofia, I think I have feelings for you."

"But we can't be together."

"We can't, as long as you and Saidat stay friends."

"It isn't possible."