My brother's best friend

Chapter five

I open my eyes and see Daniel, sitting in the chair at my desk. I grunt and roll over onto my stomach and softly wish for him to go away. I hear the chair squeak on the floor and I thank the stars he's leaving.

"Are you up yet?" I hear him ask. I bite my lip, why does he have to be here? I feel the bed dip at my feet. "I'm not stupid, Linds, I know you're up." Cold air hits my feet. He started tickling my feet. I turn around and start pulling away as I laugh. He keeps tickling me, moving up from my feet to my stomach. I try and push away his hands, to try and stop the tickling.

"Stop please," I say between breaths. "I'm up, I'm up," I add when he doesn't stop. He stops and his face comes into view. He's slightly blurry from the tears in my eyes. I can't decide if the tears are from laughing or of guilt and pain. How can I be happy when my parents are gone? He smiles down at me, "I love your laugh." For a moment we just look at each other.

I grab one of my pillows and slap him with it, "Now leave." He lets out a deep chuckle of his own. "Come on, get up, my mom's making her special pancakes." He says pulling away and getting off the bed. I sit up and pull the covers over my body, "I'm not hungry." He shakes his head, "No, you have to come. Levi's already there and they're expecting you." He walks to the door and I'm silently grateful that he's leaving.

He turns around and faces me again, "I'll be waiting in the hall, if you're not out in ten minutes I'm coming in to get you." He shuts the door and I sigh heavily. After contemplating whether I was going to obey Daniel or defy him I come to the conclusion that if I don't get ready he'll just drag me to his house in my pj's.

I get up, pulling the covers to create the illusion of a made bed. I quickly get dressed in one of the dresses mom bought me a while ago. For a moment I stare at the dress. My heart aches and I want to rip the dress from my body. She's gone. And all I have left is this stupid dress.

Before I can pull off the dress Daniel opens the door, "Time's up." I turn around to face him, "I just need shoes." he nods and leans against the door frame. I pull my hair into a messy ponytail and slip on a pair of flip flops.

Daniel leads the way down the stairs and across the road. He was telling the truth. Everyone was there except for Will and Carter. They probably had to get back to class. I don't know how they can do that, just act like nothing happened. Sure, Carter didn't lose his parents, but Will? He's just moving forward like life is normal.

I take a seat next to Taylor and watch as the conversations die down. When everyone is quiet Dwayne sends me a smile before talking, "I am so happy to see most of the Greene's and Moore's around the same table. Thank you, for joining us." I assumed he was directing his little speech to me since Levi was practically living in the Greene's house, and Will isn't here.

We ate and chatted a little, but truthfully, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and cry. There used to be more chairs at the table. Tow chairs to be exact. Now they are gone, just like the people who used to use them.

After the breakfast I quickly excused myself, hoping to escape and crawl into my hole. I was stopped by Taylor, "Are you alright, Linds?" I bit the inside of my lip as my heart tightens at the question. Of course, I wasn't alright, my parents died. I nod my head, "I'm fine, I just-" I didn't really have a reason for leaving other than to escape the joy and laughter happening back at the breakfast table. It's wasn't fair. They can't be happy, not with them gone.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" T asks. I send her the best smile I can manage at this stage, "I do, and you'll be the first to know if something was wrong." She raises a brow, "Promise." "Promise." She leans in and hugs me.

I leave before any of the others can stop me. I take a deep breath before crossing the road, it was harder to fake a smile than I thought, especially if you have to keep it up for more than a few seconds.

When I arrive at the house I am surprised to see someone on the porch swing. It made a slight squeaking sound as the person rocked it slowly. The man looks up and I see it's Leo. He quickly gets to his feet and hurries over, "I've been so worried." He wraps his arms around me, I fight back tears. I don't want to cry. I will never cry in front of Leo. I am strong and he loves me for it. I pull away from him, "I wasn't expecting you." He shrugs, "It's been over a week and I haven't heard from you and I got worried. I didn't even hear from your brothers." I want to scream at Will and Levi for keeping him away but informed enough to worry.

"So, I decided to check on you." He adds with a smile. I return the smile, slightly less forced. "It's not a problem is it?" He asks when I don't respond. I shake my head, "No, it's fine. Very romantic and thoughtful, thank you." I lean forward and plant a kiss on his cheek.

He smiles at me, "I'm glad to hear that." He leans down slightly and gives me kiss. I really don't want to be physically connected to someone at this moment, but I let him have his kiss, but only for a moment. I pull away and open the door, inviting him in. I wipe my lips as I follow him inside, trying to remove the feelings of pain and guilt.

As we step into the living room memories of my parents start flashing through my mind. Their disapproving faces, mom's stunned look when I told her I'll get married without them. It takes everything for me not to crumble down to the floor and start crying. Instead, I choke down the tears and push aside the clenching pain in my chest.

"Let's go out instead," I say, forcing a slightly happy tone. Leo turns around and smiles at me, "Sounds good." He Leans down and aims to kiss me again but I turn away and he ends up kissing my cheek. I send him a smile and quickly head for the door.