Chapter Four
I'm cursing at myself as I stand in a mile long line for dance tickets. I should have bought them yesterday, or maybe even Wednesday, but here I am, on the day before the dance standing in a line filled with guys, who like me put it off till the last minute. It's not like I didn't want to buy the tickets sooner. It's not like I didn't glow the entire week with Brian's acceptance, but a part of me feared he would remember I was his sister's best friend and ditch me. I mean, that's not really Brian's style, but still. He's known me a long time. He knows all the dorky traits I carry and then some. I've been nervous all week that he was going to change his mind, scared that he would cancel out on me. But to my heart's delight, he never did.
Sashaying down the line, Olivia pushes out her chest, pulling down her white cashmere sweater so that the V shows off a bit of her cleavage. A few of the boys in front of me whistle as she moves past them, earning an eye roll from me. "Hey," Olivia comes to a stop next to me, her pretty manicured nails pulling on the straw from her plastic cup. "What are you doing in line?"
"Buying the tickets, I can't belive I waited until the last minute."
"Me either. You're going to be here forever!" she whines. She stands on her tiptoes and sees her own date, Dan, close to the front of the line. "Here, give me your money, I have an idea." I hand her the money and she runs over to Dan returning two minutes later. "Problem solved. No more waiting. Dan's going to get the tickets for you."
We step away from the long line and Olivia pulls a bottle of water out of her bag for each of us.
"Did you decide on a dress yet?" she asks, taking the cap off her water and taking a sip.
"Yep, the red one." I play nervously with the cap on my water bottle avoiding eye contact with her.
Swallowing her drink, Olivia stares at me with wide eyes. "The one that pushesd your boobs together making them look incredible. That dress is too hot Sam, don't waste it on Brian. Save that for somebody else and just wear something you already own."
"I already bought it."
"Take it back." She shrugs and I ignore her. "Sam, really, take it back, that dress was really expensive."
"It was a final sale," I say biting my lip and watching her from the corner of my eye. "Besides, like you said, I look good in it."
"You look hot in it." Olivia smiles over at me. "But why waste your hotness on my brother?"
"I'm not wasting anything."
Pursing her lips, Olivia surveys me as we continue to move down the empty hallway. "Oh my God! You have a thing for Brian!" she squeals, clasping a hnad over her mouth. My eyes widen, as her voice carries echoing through the empty corridor.
I spin to gape at her. "Shh! I do not," I say pulling at the hand that covers her mouth.
Shaking her head, she blinks at me. "You do! How have I never seen it before? You were all too quick to agree to ask him, you even flirt with him! I just thought you were trying to make him feel better after the breakup, but no-you actually like him!"
Doing my best to play it off I open my bottle of water and take a long sip. "That's not true. We're just friends," I say when I'm done gulping.
"Just friends my ass, you want my brother!" Her voice is filled with disbelief.
This could play out two different ways. One, Olivia will hate me for liking Brian vowing to never be friends again, or in typical Olivia fashion she'll make a bigger deal out of the situation then needs to be, declaring she can't wait till I become her sister in law.
"Nothing is going to happen," I say quietly next to her. "Brian is out of my league and he's your brother, I would never do anything to overstep our friendship. It's just a little crush. That's all."
Olivia stands quietly next to me. It's completely unnerving. Not like Olivia at all. We reach our lockers and both silently turn the dial. Neither of sure what to really say.
"Hey," Brian's voice sends a thrill through me. He walks over and leans on the locker that separates mine and Olivia's. He nods a quick hello towards Olivia and turns to face me.
"So, Sam, I want to make sure I get a tie that matches the color dress your wearing, but it occurred to me that I didn't know what color that is. And to save myself the embarrassment of showing up with more than one tie with me, I thought I might just save time and ask."
I smile up at him. "Red, my dress is red."
Nodding, Brian's smile grows. "Red's a good color on you."
My face lights up. He's noticed what color looks good on me? Still smiling at me, his fingers move towards my face, brushing the loose strand that fell out from behind my ear back. "I'll order a corsage that will match a red dress. Is that okay?" His fingers fall from my hair, allowing air to finally enter my lungs.
I can't think straight, my usual banter with him seems to sister-best friend like. I'm not sure how to act around him now. "Yeah, of course."
"So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at seven then." Brian pulls himself from the locker. I nod up at him, as he smiles over at Olivia and playfully punches her in the arm as he moves past her. Pulling my books to my chest, I tuck my chin down, smiling to myself.
"Oh my God!" Olivia exclaims in a loud whisper next to me. "My brother has a thing for you, too."
"No he doesn't." I assure her.
"Oh, I think he does. You two were just so weird and flirty with each other."
I roll my eyes, even as my stomach coils with excitement. There's no way Brian feels anything for me. "Oh please, we were just discussing the dance."
A smile pulls at Olivia's mouth. "It all makes sense now. How did I not see it this whole time. You guys are so into each other it's sick! Oh my god! My best friend and brother! It's so cool but at the same time it's like, ew, ya know, cause he's my brother."
Sighing, I rope my arm through hers. "There's nothing going on. Brian is just being nice, and you are overreacting. You'll see. Brian doesn't like me."
"Right," Olivia snorts. "Whatever, I know my brother and I know my best friend. I better not turn into the third wheel when you come to my house."
Ignoring her, I shake my head and lead us towards the parking lot. There is no way Brian likes me. But it would be so awesome if he did.
