Chapter 26 || I'm your brother and I got you no matter
;the best relationships usually begin unexpectedly
Waking up to a warm body wasn't something I was used to, but I welcomed the feeling of Tori's soft, small form sleeping peacefully beside me.
Plump lips slightly parted. Long, dark lashes resting on her cheeks. One arm tucked under her head and the other laid on top of mine over her waist. I closed my eyes and took a moment of silence - nothing but the soft breaths of Tori's inhale and exhale, a weird soothing feeling washing over me.
With a struggle, I gently pulled myself away from Bella, heading for my door, stopping for a brief second to take another look at how peaceful and pretty she was, turning and closing the door behind me with a soft click.
Bounding down the stairs with a grin on my face, spring in my step and a raise in my spirts - I step onto the cool kitchen tiles to see Cammy sitting at the island and Jason in the fridge guzzling a bottle of water - both pairs of eyes on me as I entered.
Jason's dirty blonde brow shot up to his hairline, smirking as he removed the plastic bottle from his lips and pushed the fridge door shut. Cammy has a playful look in his eyes as he spoons at the porridge, then shovels it into his mouth.
"What?" I shrugged, opening the fridge and grabbing two bottles of water out.
Jason sniggers. "You know what, Cap."
I knew alright.
"So, anything interesting happen last night?" Cammy asked, mocking a mused tone.
I rolled my eyes. "Alright, idiots. Spit it out before she wakes up and comes down."
"You totally did my best friend!" Jason bellowed, snorting out a throaty chuckle.
Miles chimed in behind me, hopping the stairs. "You what?" he bubbled out giddily, rushing down the rest of the staircase and into the kitchen.
"He did, can't you see? He's practically glowing." Jason teased me like a dick.
Cammy and Miles howled while I scowled.
"Ahh, come on, bro. We're only pulling ya leg." Cammy nudged me with his elbow as he stands up to walk his bowl over to the sink.
"Like Tee did last night." Winked Miles. Jason sniggered.
I narrow my eyes into tiny slits. "Now see what ya started?" I berated, pointing a finger at Jason.
He pops his shoulders that are softly bouncing from still laughing. "Don't worry, baby, I'll pay for your therapy sessions." he joked.
Jack ass.
"Who's going to therapy?" the small female voice asked from the bottom of the stairs.
All eyes snap to Tori's half dressed form as her bare feet pitter pattered against the kitchen tiles, rubbing her eye.
Dark hair a sexy, untamed mess and tanned legs on full display.
"Cap." Jason grinned, looking over his shoulder at me.
Bella's brows snapped together in confusion, then she shakes her head. "I have no energy to deal with you dumbasses this morning."
"Mads wear you out good and proper then, huh, Tee?" Miles quips.
I knew Bella wouldn't back down from Miles' teasing tone.
Miles visibly gulps. His emerald eyes rounded and wide in surprise.
I swear I spot a bead of sweat on his forehead.
The guys watching the show with dumbfounded expressions, Cammy sporting a knowing smirk.
"Miles?" Tori prompts, acting innocent.
"Hm?" he hums, legit speechless.
She can't hold it in anymore, she burst out into a loud, melody like laughter, shoving Miles' shoulder with hers.
"You're such a pussy, Carson. Don't talk shit next time." She teased through that pretty giggle of hers.
Miles narrows his eyes and furrows his brows. "Not fucking funny, Tee."
"Not everyone." Eli's voice peeped up from the kitchen entry way.
Tori walks to my side and I don't hesitate in wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her in front of me. Her back against me as I throw my arms over her shoulders and rest them on her chest, my chin on the top of her head, inhaling her fresh scented hair.
"Tee?" Eli says suspiciously. Eyeing his sisters barely dressed form, and no doubt our tangled bodies.
I can't see her face, but she nods her head against my chest. He shrugs and darts for the fridge, pulling out the orange juice and chugging it from the carton.
Tori scoffs. "Eli, use a damn glass you freaking animal."
"You should tell that to your boyfriend when he guzzles the milk like a pig every morning." he shoots back, glancing up at me and smirking.
I grab the kitchen towel and snap it at him, he dodges and chuckles. Shutting the fridge and parking his ass on the bar stool.
Bella looks up at me, craning her neck to the side. "You don't do you?" She asks, distain on her face.
I smirk as she grimaces.
I ain't gonna lie to her, where the fuck is that gonna get me? Another week of silent treatment.
Looking up to see all eyes on us and our interaction.
I sneer. "Haven't you fuckers got shit to do?"
As quickly as they chuckled, they scattered too - everyone except Cammy who's sitting back at the island tapping away on his phone.
"I'm gonna go get changed. I need to get back before the girls call campus security and MI5 to search for my dead body." My Bella says, she tip toes and places a kiss on my cheek.
Smiling down at her, I hand her a bottle of water before she turns on her heel, gives Cammy a gentle pat on the back as she walks past, heading up the stairs and disappearing.
I sigh, pulling the stool out beside my best friend, his shoves his phone down and flips it upside down.
"Everything good, man?" I asked, eyeing him warily.
He nods. "Course. Everything good with you?"
"Mhm. Better than good if you can't tell." I responded, twisting the cap off the bottle of water and chugging.
He drops his head, chin touching chest. "You seem happy." he states.
I swallow before answering, "I am. She's perfect, Cam. Everything I ever wanted in a girl."
WTF!? I sound pussy whipped already.
Cammy snorts lightly. "I'm glad." he pauses for a minute while I eye his rigid form. "You can't fuck shit up with her, she's good for you. She'll look after you if no one else can."
The fuck?
"Where's this coming from?" I asked.
He pops his shoulders nonchalantly. "No where." he responds. Turning in his seat towards me. Face turned serious, eyes glossed over and intensely burning into mine. "I'm only going to say this once, bro. So remember my words, okay?"
Why do I get a sick fucking feeling about this?
Cammy was the most serious outta all of us, sure. But this was something else, he almost looks, scared?
I nod, waiting for him to continue as his green eyes darting around the open space ensuring we're alone.
"If a day ever comes and I'm no longer around, I want you to do everything in your power to keep that girl close, ya hear?" He raises a serious brow. "It's not everyday someone like her comes along. I can see it in her eyes; the way she smiles at you. The way you look at her. It's real. I know deep down she will stand by you. And the fact you didn't see her coming, I know it won't be long before you spilling the three words to her. But I need to know you're gonna look after her, like I know she's going to look after you.. If the day comes when I'm not here - remember that I'm your brother and I got you no matter."
I feel sick. Where the hell did that come from?
"Cam, man," I sighed. "is something going on I should know about?"
He shakes his head. "Do you remember what I said to you?" he prompts. "Just then?"
I nod. "Yeah. Look after Tori, she'll look after me. You got me no matter what. We're brothers."
"Exactly. Just remember that, everything's good. Okay?" He says, gripping my shoulder.
"Yeah, man. Okay." I agree.
Cammy pushes his stool back and stands, walking away, but before he leaves my sight, I call after him.
"Cam. You'd tell me if something wasn't right, yeah?"
He nods. "Yeah, man."
Then he's off, out the door, softly closing it behind him.
As I made my way up the stairs, I can't shake that bizarre conversation with my best friend. We've had hearts to hearts before, drunken break downs and shit. I mean I've known the guy my whole life - but something about that one right there shook me something strange.
It's like he was scared of something, telling me something without actually telling me.
I felt like I should be worried but deep down I knew if something was wrong he'd tell me.
We were best friends. Brothers. Family.
He had no reason to keep anything from me.
Right?
"Everything okay? You look a little spaced?" I hear Tori's voice coming from my adjoined bathroom as she enters my room.
I hardly register what she's just said. My mind repeating Cam's words. Envisioning his serious facial expression. The solemn tone he bared.
I shake my head free, and turn to Bella. "Yeah, yeah. Fine."
I look her up and down to see her sporting a fresh t shirt of mine with one of my zip up basketball hoodies over the top hanging off one shoulder.
They were baggy as hell so how the fuck did she make it look like a proper outfit?
A damn hot outfit.
She pinches her brows together. "You don't look fine. Wanna talk? I can wait around?"
Aw bless her heart.
She really was going to be the one to look after me if Cammy ever did disappear.
I smile at her, she's the cutest fucking thing ever.
"I'm good, babe. Come give me a love before you have to go." I say, holding my arms out for her.
She places her self between my legs, my head resting on her stomach as my arms wrap around her waist and stay put at the top of her perky ass.
The feel of her nails softly running through my hair felt fucking amazing, soothing as fuck, as her other hand rested on the back of my neck.
"Do you think we'll always be in each others lives, even if this didn't work out?" I asked, Cammy's words playing on my mind.
She hums, pausing before she answers. "I'd like to think so. You boys are hardly going to let me leave of my own free will." She says pointedly, giggling.
"True." I admit.
I feel her pull back a bit. Cupping my face in her small hands, there warm and soft against my cheeks. "You sure everything's okay?"
I sighed, blowing out a puff of air. "Cammy said something and it's fucking with my head."
"What?"
"Saying if a time comes and he's not around, he wants me to keep you no matter what. Telling me to remember that if he wasn't here, that he'd always be my brother." I say, repeating some of the words Cammy said. "It wasn't Cammy, Bella. It was like he was scared of something, he's never spoke like that before - not that seriously anyway. Just fucking with me." I confessed. Feeling somewhat lighter from saying it out loud.
She drops to her knees in front of me, ducking her head to capture my gaze.
"Cammy is your oldest friend, yeah?" I nod. "He's seeing you change, he's proud of you. He's also the main one that's always looked out for you, like you do him. That's what best friends do. Maybe he just wants you to know that if anything was to happen, you have him still, as well we me. Or it could be in case we get serious, things change and people drift, he's letting you know it's okay, you're still gonna be friends. . ." I glance up at her. "I'm not saying it is, and I'd never want to take his place, I love Cam, but I suggest reassuring him. It's not only us females that need a little assurance, y'know?" she finishes, with a gentle smile.
This girl, man.
She keeps going like this I'm gonna fall faster than a motherfucker.
But first I need to find out what's going on with my best friend.