*Nate’s POV*
“We’re going to New York?” I repeated for the third time, unable to believe what I was hearing.
“For the last time, YES!” Trent replied, laughing at my shocked expression. “ You, me, Alex and that hottie best friend of hers.”
“Wait a minute. Alex and Annie are coming too?” I asked in disbelief.
Trent nodded in response, before continuing on, “It’s gonna be awesome, dude. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to sort things with Annie too.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know her and I have had a thing for a while now, and you’re well aware of my recent fuck up,” he started, “New York is the perfect place to set everything right and tell her how I feel. I really like her, Nate.”
“Nawh, little Trent is all grown up!” I sneered, earning myself a dead arm. “Ouch! DUDE!”
“You deserved that!”
“Okay, fair enough” I admitted, “ So you’re going to abandon me in New York while you and Annie get up to God knows what?”
“Well, that’s the thing. I was kind of hoping you’d keep Alex busy,” he replied sheepishly, “I mean you guys get on pretty well. You wouldn’t mind hanging out with her a bit, would you?”
“Course not,” I smiled, trying with all my might to hide my excitement. Trent was giving me full permission to spend time with his sister. Granted he didn’t know what was going on between us, well really I didn’t even know what was going on, but still. I couldn’t wait for New York. I was still unsure as to whether Alex wanted me like I wanted her. I mean, the last time I’d seen her she had rejected me, but I don’t know what it was, I still had a feeling there was something there. There was for me anyway, I just needed to figure out how she felt and two weeks in the big apple would be the perfect opportunity, especially with Trent being preoccupied with Annie.
“Thanks Nate means a lot.”
“Any time, T-man”, I really meant that. “So, the big apple, eh?”
“I know! Mom always did go all out when it came to kissing ass, but she’s just taken it to a whole new level!” Trent exclaimed, but I saw the hurt cross his eyes. He was my best friend after all and I knew him better than anyone else did, well apart from Alex maybe. I knew that their parents not being around really got to them both. In all honesty it would get to me too. I had always been close to my folks and I loved it that way. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how they must be feeling.
Trent spent another hour in mine discussing plans for the trip and how he was going to win Annie over after his last idiotic fuck up. Like really, I’m surprised the girl even spoke to him anymore. Trent was like me: a player. We were two peas in a pod, that is until Annie came along. They hadn’t properly gotten together, but everyone that knew them knew that Annie and Trent were crazy about each other. They got on like a house on fire and always seemed to end up together at parties; it was only a matter of time. The passion between them was something I’d never witnessed before. That was until I kissed Alex. The sparks that flowed between her and I rivaled those of Trent and Annie.
When Trent left I lay on my bed, gazing up at the ceiling. He was right; New York was the perfect place to tell someone how you feel and that is exactly what I was going to do. I wanted Alex more than I had ever wanted any other girl and I had to have her…
*Alex’s POV*
I couldn’t wait! Spring break was a mere two weeks away and it was going to be epic. So what if Nate was going to be there: I’d deal with him, ignore him if I had to. Bottom-line: I was going to enjoy myself and have a ball with my best friend. A grin stretch across my face just thinking about it. I had told Annie as soon as I reached school that morning and she had been over the moon. I knew she would be. She and I had always wanted to go to New York and the fact that we were going together was just the cherry on top. I think secretly she was glad Trent would be there too, even if she didn’t say it. Sure, he had messed up but underneath it all I knew she liked him enough to forgive whatever he did to her. I know some people might hate the idea of their best friend and their brother being together, but not me. The thought of the two most important people in my life being happy was something I loved, and no one could deny that they made a cute couple.
I had a feeling there would be a lot of Trent and Annie time on this trip, and that meant one thing; there would be a lot of Nate and Alex time as a result. I didn’t know how I felt about that because, truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how Nate would act around me because things didn’t exactly go very well last time I’d seen him; I’d rejected him and he had stormed out. Would he be angry with me? Did he still want me? Had I ruined everything? I suppose there was only one way to find out and New York would be the perfect place to do it. Trent would be preoccupied with Annie, and Nate and I could have some time to ourselves without fear of being interrupted by Trent. My heart rate picked up at the thought of being left alone with the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. Spring break couldn’t come quick enough!
It had been 3 days since mom had called with the news of our trip and I still hadn’t seen Nate, which was strange. He was usually always over hanging out with Trent after school. Since Trent was in college now, the boys couldn’t hang out at school anymore, but they certainly made up for it when they got home. Those two lived in each other’s pockets! There was nothing they didn’t know about each other. In a way I was glad Trent had a friend like that, someone he could confide in, someone to be himself with. Granted he had me, but I was his little sister; it just wasn’t the same.
Suddenly a thought swept over me; did Trent know about Nate and I? He hadn’t said anything, but I knew how close he and Nate were; as close as Annie and I, and I had told Annie everything. No, he couldn’t have, could he?
My thought process was interrupted by a knock on my door.
“Hey, Al. Can I come in?” asked the familiar voice.
“Sure thing, T.” I called back and less than a moment later Trent was sitting next to me on my bed.
“Sis, I really need your help”
“Let me guess,” I sighed, “Annie?”
Trent flushed a deep shade of red and I couldn’t help but giggle at how cute he was being. He had it bad. To be honest, I couldn’t really blame him; Annie was great. She was gorgeous, had the perfect figure, the prettiest face and on top of that she was a great person.
“Alright, lover boy,” I chuckled, “Spill!”
“Hey, don’t call me that!” he whined.
“Sorry, lover boy. Go on” I shot back, earning myself daggers from Trent.
“I need to win her back. I fucked up big time and I need to make it right.” He admitted, “ I need her in my life, Al”
I could almost sense the longing and hopelessness in his voice. What he had done was wrong, like really wrong, but he seemed genuinely sorry. Even if he didn’t know it yet, it was clear to me that my big brother was madly in love with my best friend. I smiled at the thought; I would love Annie as a sister-in-law some day.
“Yeah, T. You really did but we’ll fix this”, I assured him, “You know she can’t ever stay mad at you. Just be your usual caring self, the one who doesn’t drunkenly kiss her friends at parties, and she’ll forgive you, I know it.”
He sighed, “You just had to bring that up, didn’t you?”
“Yup”, I said popping the p, “That’s what little sisters are for.”
“You know I love you, even if you are a pain in my ass…” he responded before adding, “ You really think she’ll forgive me?”
Worry was evident in his words and immediately I reassured him. “Of course she will. You’re a Henderson. Who in their right mind could resist?”
He visibly relaxed and let out a laugh. “ Oh Al, you always know how to cheer me up.”
He kissed the top of my head before getting up and took off out my bedroom door.
I woke Friday morning to the sound of my phone. This time, however, it was a text message from a number I didn’t recognize. I unlocked my phone and opened up the message.
‘Meet me behind the gym after school. Nate x’
My mouth hung open in shock. What could he want?
YOU ARE READING
That Beautiful Boy... and Me
Jugendliteratur"He turned to face me without uttering a single word. Without warning his lips were on mine as he pushed me roughly against the wall of the house. His kiss was filled with passion and longing. It was as though he put all his feelings in to it and it...
