Maybe your heart still stops when you see me

What Happened??

BRENDAN'S POV (ha surprise)

*DING DONG*

"ZOE! CAN YOU GET THE DOOR!!"

"YOU GET IT, LOSER!"

"YOU ARE LITERALLY STANDING NEXT TO IT!"

"SO?"

"ugh never mind." i groan. "i'll get it." i make my over to our big oak door, trudging my feet as i walk. today hasn't necesarily been a good day. i went to a coffee shop, kissed a girl i didn't know, and then ran all the way home in the rain (despite having a car that was parked in front of me. what the heck brendan?) and now i have a cold. it's been fantastic. 

"you know, zoe," i call to my sister over my shoulder as i open the door, "you're going to regret being so lazy someday when you-" my breath automatically hitches when my blue eyes meet the deep brown ones in front of me. one's that belonged to someone who wasn't supposed to be back yet. 

"okay, i-i can explain." i quickly stutter out. "just please don't beat me up man, i know we used to be close and i almost tried to beat you up one time but like i'd really appreciate if you wou-"

"dude," ricky chuckled softly in amusement. "i'm not gonna beat you up. but i do know someone who really wants to hit you with a chancla......but that's another story." to my utter surprise, he pulls me into a bro hug and pats my back. "how have you been, man? it's been a bit."

"what? oh, i mean good?" i look at zoe over ricky's shoulder with a wide eyed expression, which she returns. "does he know?" i mouth to her. she nods, but she looks extremely confused. i'm extremely confused. what is happening?

"that's good." ricky pulls back and gives me a genuine smile. "so..... you and nini?"

i choke on the air i'm breathing on. "bless you?"

"you and nini." he repeats with a confused laugh. "you guys a thing now?"

my mouth gaped open as i tried to decide what to say. the truth or remain silent for the sake of my sister.

"if you are, i just wanted say please, dude, just treat her right." ricky spoke with a sigh, pushing stray curls away from his forehead. he looked terrible, like he hadn't slept for a while, and i could tell he was tense. "she literally deserves the world. ask her what her favorite things are, especially here favorite ice cream, it's a rare one. make sure to appreciate her smile. it's the most beautiful thing in the world. "

"ricky-"

"every time she smiles, cherish it. you may see it a lot but you'll never get tired of it. i never do." he grins, dazed. "and her laugh, make sure to make her laugh a lot. it's like music and it just brightens the world. she is my sun, make sure she is your sun too. just make her happy for me man, okay?"

i stare at him blankly. there was a little angel on one of my shoulders and a devil on the other. the angel was telling me to spill zoe's whole plan, and the devil was reminding me of all the things zoe could possibly do to me. i inhale a shaky breath. "no."

"no?" ricky's eyes flash so many different emotions at once, it nearly scares my soul out of me. anger, fear, confusion, sadness, saw them all.

"nini and i aren't a thing." i confess, stuffing my hands in my pockets. 

"no!" zoe screams, making the both of us turn towards her. her face flushes bright red as she laughs nervously. "um... i mean whaaaaaaat? pfft, i thought you said you were!" 

"no we aren't." i say sternly, causing a death glare to come from her. "nini and i aren't a thing." i turn back to ricky. "we will never be a thing because she only has eyes for you. when i was with her in cafe, all she talked about was you. basically every sentence had your name in it. i asked her to tell me more about her and she basically introduced herself and then said you were her boyfriend. she likes you man, a lot.  and i don't even like her that way."