My Best-friend's Older Brother

chapter 2

The next few days were different in the worst way possible.

Jermajesty and I didn't meet up once.
We had a few texts here and there, but his presence just felt awkward.
And honestly? It pissed me off more than I wanted to admit.

Today was one of those days I spent at Maren's house, stretched across the end of her bed while she sat on the floor doing her makeup in the mirror across from us. Music played quietly from her speaker while she talked nonstop about school drama, which I could barely focus on.

Now and then, my eyes drifted toward the bedroom door without meaning to.
Like I was expecting him to walk past.

"You're being weirdly quiet today," Maren said suddenly, pausing mid-mascara wand wave to squint at me through the mirror.

"Hm?" I looked up too fast.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you okay..?"

I sigh softly, rubbing my thumb against the sleeve of my hoodie. "I just have a lot on my mind right now...I'm sorry."

Maren's expression softened immediately. She set the mascara down in her lap and twisted slightly to look at me better.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" she asked carefully.

I looked down at my hands before glancing back at her. "No, thank you, not right now."

For a second, the room went quiet besides the music humming low through the speaker.

Then I sat up slowly in bed. "I'm actually thirsty.." I stretched my arms over my head. "You want anything from the kitchen?"

"Mm, yeah, bring me a water," she said distractedly, leaning closer to the mirror again.

I nodded and slipped off the bed, pulling the bedroom door open before heading downstairs.

The house was quieter down there.
I walked straight into the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing two waters.Not even a second later, I heard heavier footsteps behind me.

"Alyssa.."

I turned around and saw Jermajesty standing in the doorway with his hands shoved in the pockets of his sweats. His hair looked messy like he'd been running his hands through it all day.

"Hm?" I asked quietly.

"I texted you..." he said with a small smile that didn't fully reach his eyes. "Did you forget to respond?"

"I didn't see it," I answered, already starting toward the stairs again.

"Alyssa, wait—"

His voice made me stop halfway to the doorway.

I turned slowly while he walked a little closer, frustration flickering across his face.

"Can you wait?" he asked, his smile fading completely now. "I'm trying to fix this, alright? You said you're unhappy, but you're not giving me a chance."

I let out a sharp breath, tightening my grip around the water bottles. My eyes flickered away from his. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then his expression softened a little." I got you something..." he said, quieter this time. "to make up for the other day."

I looked back at him. "What is it?"

"I can't give it to you now, but it's in my car."

"Okay.." I answered, not sounding nearly as interested as I actually felt.

His lips twitched slightly at my reaction, like he could tell I was pretending not to care.

"I've been thinking about what you said.." he continued carefully. "and i wanna take you out..on a real date. not just sitting in my car all night."