Heartbreak Girl

05 : Breaking my brother's joy

I decide to not bring a bag today and stuff my items inside my sweatshirt pocket. I merrily go down the stairs and find my pouting brother sitting on the couch.

"Hey, l'il bro." I coo, happy to see him sad. I thrive on him being in trouble, sick, I know.

"Are you ready to go." He deadpans. I pat his head and beckon that he follows me out of the house. Mom already left to work, so the house is empty.

We walk to Simrin's silver Audi. I'm surprised to see Julian taking up the whole back seat and singing too loudly to the song playing on the radio.

"Hey," I greet Julian, ignoring Leith who's getting excited to have a guy friend for today. "What're you doing here, college boy?"

Julian Carmendarez is in his last year of college and is Simrin's adopted brother. The siblings look alike, which is good, because people don't ask questions about them being related. But, Julian doesn't have the Italian accent that Simrin acquired in Venice. Julian's goofy, and we had a thing when we were young. You know, the whole best friend's brother thing is bound to happen when your sister has a hot friend, and your friend has a hot brother. But, I was just too mature for Julian. Okay, not really. We're both kids stuck in older bodies. But, he's over me, and vice versa. The whole BFF's bro phase has been long forgotten.

"I came to visit this weekend only to find out that my sister is going to a party. And I'm going to protect her from the evil, horny boys." Julian explains as we head to the mall, puffing his chest and shooting me a giddy smile in the rearview mirror. I send Simrin a horrified look, and she returns it.

"Your brother's coming with us to the party?" I squeak. I'm not saying Julian is embarrassing to me, he's quite the opposite, being a former Saint Gerard's quarterback. But, oh my. Poor Simmy-Rinny-Bo-Binni.

"Yep." Simrin sighs, taking a turn into the Collins Park parking lot.

Collins Park is the modern version of a mall, there's no Macy's or Jcpenney, only fancy stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. They have the best spa here. Simrin and I always come here when we feel like getting pampered and primped.

"Why're you acting like it's such a bad thing, I'm awesome. And I can boost your street cred, nerds." Julian smiles cockily and Simrin and I share a knowing glance. Julian visits often, but he doesn't know Simrin and I's rep at school. The Carmendarez's speak very highly of us. Supposedly we're two bright, and mature young adults who will change the world one day.

If only they knew.

"What're you talking about?" Leith rats me out as everyone unbuckles their seatbelt. "Sloan's the badass of the school and she's an idiot, nerd my ass." Rude, I get A's and B's, which is more than Leith can say, the average B and C noob.

Julian gasps and ruffles Leith's hair, "Language, kid." He then turns to me with an amused smile, "Is this true, Aphrodite?"

I wince at the nickname he gave me when we were little. "He's not wrong..."

With that, I loop elbows with Simrin, and force her to skip inside the mall with me like little kids.

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"Fun in the sun, or checkmate?" Simrin holds up two nail polish bottles, one pretty yellow and the other black.

"Fun in the sun matches your dress better." I confirm, remembering the outfit she sent me a picture of earlier when we were choosing our outfits.

Simrin is wearing one of her grandmother's old dresses; a bright yellow polka dotted number that flared at the waist and clung to her chest. It complimented her olive tone, not that that's a surprise, anything looks good on my best friend. I was going with a more cliché look which consisted of a white tank under a leather jacket, a too-tight leather skirt that clutched my thighs, and combat boots. More of a guy's retro style - besides the skirt - I know.

Simrin nodded at my choice and I went back to admiring my drying nail polish. I chose the colour Bite Me, a bright red that screamed sexy and daring. Right now, a hairdresser was straightening my very curly locks so that she could twist the front and attach it to the rest of my hair in a bun.

Julian and Leith got bored after five minutes in the salon, and the two left to go eat. Don't worry though, I told Julian mama's orders on Leith's appetite and nobody disobeys my mom, not Simrin or Julian or anybody smart. Hence why Leith is always in trouble.

"I can't wait." Simrin bounced in her seat excitedly until the employee told her to sit still.

"Neither can I." I smirked. I was still pondering over what little prank I could do that'll set Brooklyn off. I thought over smashing her face in her birthday cake or something. But, that's such an overused move. And immature, at that. But, then again, I am immature...

"Don't think about it." Simrin warned and I glanced at her. Too late. "Seriously Lo, it's her birthday. Give the girl a break."

I scoffed. She never gives me a break, she started this whole rival. I entered high school with high hopes and braces and I'll be coming out with an attitude and useless reputation. The first straw was in the beginning of freshman year, the first day, to be precise. I was throwing my things in the garbage can and she accidentally pushed me inside of it. That's how Simrin and I became friends, she helped me out. Ever since I got back at her later that day by asking my mom if she could splash a puddle on her when she picked me up, we've been enemies.

"I can't 'give the girl a break'." I mock. "She isn't even a girl! She's a manipulative-bimbo-monster."

Simrin snorted at my description and then began to stare at something out the window. I follow her gaze and mutter, "Speak of the devil and she shall appear."

"That's not Brooklyn though." Simrin pointed out. I shrugged, apologizing when the employee faltered with my hair.

"Close enough." I waved Simrin off. Sitting at the edge of a fountain was Winter and a group of friends. She was encircled by everyone and I could briefly make out an arm thrown over her shoulders. I followed the arm to the body that it belonged to. Gage Dartmouth, looking as uninterested as ever.

I remembered before Winter and Gage were a thing, how there would always be a twinkle in his hypnotic eyes and either a teasing smile or knowing smirk on his kissable lips. People have been talking about how Winter has tamed the bad boy. The way gossipers make it sound is so revolting, as if Winter had a leash on him and he wasn't a human, it was animalistic. Now there's always a droop to his broad shoulders, and a certain dispiritedness in the way he walks. He doesn't move with ease now, more like something's holding him back. Like Winter's leash, for example.

From afar, I noticed his head turn from the ground, to my direction. I can only see a blurry image of his eyes, so I can't tell if he's looking at me. He's probably not, but you never know, and I'm not one to avert their eyes in mortification like other people. I don't get humiliated for actions that I willingly commit.

No, my focus stayed on Gage until the hairdresser moved my head to face upward.

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i just realized i chose nina dobrev and paul wesley to be a couple in here kinda like in tvd lmaoo im stupid ok ciao ciao my loves

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