pieces | ethma

The 1 (Part 2)

Emma

"So, hows it going with Kelsey?" I asked Grayson. He was sitting at my desk while I sat on my bed. Ethan was at a doctor's appointment, so he couldn't hang with us.

Kelsey was Grayson's girlfriend, and they've been dating for a few months now.

"Good. She's great."

"I'm happy for you." I said, digging my spoon into the pint of Ben and Jerry's.

"Any guys on your radar?"

Just your twin brother.

"Nope. I'm staying single for now."

Not true.

"I'm convinced that Ethan has a girl, but he won't tell me anything."

I shrugged. "I haven't heard anything out of him."

"Has he been hanging out with you at all?"

Only all the time. But you don't know that.

"A little."

Grayson nodded. "Do you still have feelings for E?"

I almost choked on my ice cream.

"I don't know. It's complicated." I said.

Yeah. I've only been sneaking around and sleeping with your brother for two weeks. And I'm in love with him. But you don't know that.

"Well, I should get going. Dinner is soon. Unless you wanna tag along?"

I smiled. "No. I have homework to do. Thank you for the offer though."

"You're family. There's always an open spot for you."

I nodded. "Bye, Gray."

-

"Do you think he knows?" I asked Ethan. He was partially laying on top of me, his arms around my waist and mine around his shoulders as we laid in my bed. He snuck out of his house after dinner, and here we are.

"Grayson? I think he knows I have a girl, but he doesn't know it's you." Ethan said before dipping his head down to my neck.

I leaned my head back, giving Ethan more space to lightly suck on my skin. Until I realized the marks would be visible tomorrow.

"Ethan?"

"Hmm?"

"If you're gonna make marks, do it where people won't see."

He lifted his head and smiled before pulling my shirt over my head. "Works for me."

-

I was at my locker the next morning when Ethan and Grayson walked over to me.

"Hey, Emma. We got you coffee." Ethan said, handing me my coffee. I smiled at him, and he sent me a discreet wink.

"Thanks, guys."

"Woah." Grayson said. "What's that on your neck?"

"Huh?"

"Emma, who?"

Grayson was getting mad. Ethan was just staying silent for a minute until he pretended to be caught off guard. "Yeah, Emma. Who did that?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Emma, I am worried about it. If you can't even tell me that just means I'm gonna be disappointed in you."

"Don't worry. It was all consentful and safe, and frankly not your business."

I couldn't believe I was having this argument with Grayson. Ethan seemed to be enjoying it.

"I'm sorry, Emma. I just get worried about you. You're my sister. You know that. It better not be Jordan. If he breaks your heart again the next thing thats gonna be broken is his face."

"Gray, you don't have to break anyone's face."

"Ethan, do you know who it is?" Grayson asked.

"No clue." He said, staring at me. I blushed, looking away. Then I hoped Grayson didn't notice.

-

Ethan and I made it another two weeks without anyone finding out. People might've been suspicious, but no one found out.

Rumors spread when I wore Ethan's jersey to a football game, but Grayson didn't question it. Hell, I've worn both of their jerseys on occasions.

One day I almost got caught by Grayson because he came into Ethan's room while I was there in secret. I went into the bathroom, but Grayson was in E's room for the bathroom because Cameron had come home and needed to use Gray's bathroom.

I snuck behind the shower curtain, and I was all clear.

Grayson knew I was interested in someone, and he knew Ethan had a girl, but it took him a while to realize that Ethan and I were each other's company.

Grayson and I were hanging out when he found one of Ethan's t-shirts laying in the bathroom. "When was E here?"

"We hung out the other day."

"Why did he leave his shirt here?"

In reality, Ethan spent the night, and I wore his t-shirt to sleep in after some wild lovemaking.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

"There's something going on between you two."

I opened my mouth to explain, to make up an excuse. Anything. Nothing came out.

"I—"

"Save it, Emma. You know how worried I was about you? I thought you were back with Jordan, or even worse that you were letting random guys take advantage of you. Now I find out that it's been you and Ethan, and you guys have just been lying to me? My best friend and my own god damn twin brother. It would've been fine if you told me."

"Gray—"

"I'll talk to you later." He said, throwing Ethan's shirt at me and storming out. I heard the front door slam shut followed by Grayson revving his engine on the way out.

Great. My best friend was mad at me, and it was my fault that my boyfriend's twin brother was mad at him.

Ethan called me that night, and we had a long talk about it. Ethan told me that he explained everything to Grayson, and he finally understood. He was mostly mad that I let him worry about me for that long.

After that I realized that I didn't care what Jordan thought. Either way, Ethan and Grayson would make sure nothing happened. They could take him, and they'd definitely protect me from him too. I was lucky to have Ethan and Grayson in my life.

And I was lucky to finally be able to call Ethan mine. To finally be his.

We had our little thing going on for a while, but then he finally took me out on a real date, and asked me to be his official girlfriend. Of course I said yes, and we've been official for a week. Junior year of high school dating my best friend. What could happen?