My brothers best friend

Chapter 6

"Tiffany, I'm going to tell you something, but this is not something you can accidentally let slip out or something you can tell anyone else okay?" I questioned.

I was at the ice cream shop in a far back corner with my best friend. We were both sharing a crazy coco chocolate shake and gossiping over the day at school.

"Okay." She said, dropping her straw and giving me her full attention.

I swallowed my fear and looked at her before giving in. "Derek and I are sneaking around behind Josh's back and I need you to cover for me while I go on a date with him tomorrow." I spoke quickly, watching her eyes get huge and her jaw drop.

We sat their in silence for a few minutes, her just thinking of what to say I'm sure.

Eventually she closed her mouth, sat up straight and grinned a huge grin at me.

"I knew it! I knew it! That boy has been so protective over you that there was no way it was just because he cared for you as a brother. Okay okay, one, yes, I will cover for you. Two, how did this happen???"

I went into detail with her about the events that had led to the relationship I hold with Derek, even telling her how he had wanted me to tell Josh, despite my wishes.

"Elena, you have to tell him. Josh will have a cow if he finds out months into this."

"He's going to have a cow either way Tiff, and on top of things, Derek told me he was in love with me. I don't want to mess things up, especially with telling my brother. You know how he is with me." I explained, popping my knuckles, a bad habit I had acquired when I was antsy or stressed.

"He told you he was in love with you El? Oh my gosh, that's so precious! I've never seen that boy serious about anything in his life other than football and parties. Speaking of, are you going to Blakes party Friday night?"

I hadn't really thought about it, I doubt Josh would let me go anyways.

Unless he didn't know.

But now I had Derek to think about as well, would he go to the party despite me not being able to? Would he be able to control himself with other girls?

Are me and him even official for me to be Thinking like this?

Seeing my chaotic state, Tiffany pushed the chocolate shake closer to me and mumbled, "you need it more than me."

•••

Despite mine and Derek's careful and strategic planning to go out on a date, we had to postpone due to my mother wanting to "spring clean" while she was in town.

Plus, she was leaving tomorrow and we really needed to spend some time with her.

Mom, Josh, me, Derek, and Tiffany were all sprawled our across the clean living room floor after hours and hours of cleaning.

Mom forced Derek and Tiffany to help as well stating they can't pick when they want to be family and when they don't.

But here we are, 4 hours later, laid out waiting for pizza to be delivered.

When the door bell finally rang, we all moved from our spots quickly.

My mom rushed to the front door and I went upstairs to shower really quick before movie night, which my mother had also planned.

After scrubbing my body and washing my hair, I went back downstairs to load up a plate full of pizza.

Everyone was already in the living room, blankets and pillows everywhere. Mom was in her recliner, Josh was on the floor with Tiffany close to him, and Derek alone on the couch, discretely saving the spot next to him for me.