My Brother's Playboy Best Friend

18

Hazel's point of view.

A harsh slap against my back takes me out of my daydreaming. I jump in surprise, wincing.

"Missing your boyfriend, cutie?" Aaron asks, sitting next to me at the cafeteria table.

He's way too close for my liking. If only Parker wasn't bedridden with pneumonia. If only Vince wasn't still hospitalized. If only Neil didn't move away.

"Vince isn't my boyfriend," I snap.

"I wasn't talking about Vince, you know," he teases, chuckling.

I feel myself blush in embarrassment. How come I think about Vince when a 'boyfriend' of mine is mentioned? Neil and I broke up only a week ago, how did Vince take over my mind so fast? He's not even here for fuck's sake!

"Screw you," I grumble.

Aaron slides his arm over my shoulders and squeezes me. It doesn't feel friendly nor playful.

"Gladly," he whispers in my ear.

I cringe, pushing him away. "What the hell."

"Oh, come on, don't be shy!"

I frown at him. He takes that as an encouragement and speaks more. "Your boyfriend wouldn't even find out." He tries to convince me.

For once, I know he's talking about Neil.

Before I can think it through, I blurt out words that I wanted to keep to myself. "We broke up anyway."

Aaron looks at me, eyes wide, and I realize I fucked up. He takes the revelation as a blatant invitation. It really, really wasn't one. He smiles cockily, bringing his hand back on me, around my waist this time. I shriek. All the guys at the table look at us. The player next to Aaron hits his shoulder, hard enough for him to let go.

"She's been through enough bullying," someone says and I stiffen.

"Yeah, cut her some slack," a player agrees.

They all pile up on my misery to get Aaron to back off. I know they mean good but this just isn't it.

Uncomfortable, I stand up, grabbing the untouched apple on my food tray and my strawberry milk.

"Don't wait for me," I tell Aaron sternly as he seems to have picked up that habit in the last few days.

I walk through the hallway. Some people talk. They always do anyway. I hear them mention Eve and the bullying and Vince. It all makes me sick. This isn't anybody's business yet they run their mouths constantly. I look around for a quiet place I can rest in. Normally, I would have gone to the library but it's closed this week for maintenance reasons. I contemplate sitting somewhere along the corridors like I used to with Neil but the image of eating there alone feels way too lonely. Though it isn't much better, I decide to sit in a bathroom stall instead. I close the lid, sit and curl my legs on the seat. It's empty for now. I rest my head back against the wall. How did I get here? This is pitiful. I eat my apple and drink my strawberry milk. Food doesn't taste as good when Vince isn't trying to steal it and when Neil isn't telling me one of his crazy stories.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I know it's Neil. His messages have been building up in my notification box. I can't get myself to amswer them because it would mean Neil really is gone. I sigh and take out my phone. Time to rip off the band-aid.

Neil : To whoever is concerned,

I laugh at his first message. He always has a way of making serious situations funny.

Neil : My mom has made her infamous rabbit stew to celebrate our moving.
Neil : I had to eat some and I fear I might not survive the experience.

"Dork," I mumble.

Neil : She even convinced our new neighbours to have some.
Neil : I think this might be an attempt at mass murder.

I laugh quietly. That's what he sent yesterday. I scroll to see his most recent message.

Neil : You doing okay, Haz?

My smile falls. I sniffle.

Hazel : I'm hanging on

He replies instantly.

Neil : I hope you're not wearing anybody else's jersey in my absence.

I know he's trying to get updates on Vince and I with this. It's kind of sneaky, I have to admit.

Hazel : negative, the jersey spot remains yours

He gave me his old jersey before leaving as a parting gift. He takes some time to reply, writing and erasing over and over.

Neil : How come?
Hazel : Blake is on probation
Neil : Lmao. Good for him.

I shake my head, giggling.

Hazel : you're such a jerk
Neil : Vince is a jerkier jerk.
Hazel : no

He sees the message and stills, waiting for an explanation. I gladly give him one.

Hazel : Vince is the jerkiest jerk
Neil : Agreed!
Neil : I have to go. I'm trying to suck up to the new coach so he lets me play QB.
Hazel : ttyl <3
Neil : <3

I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. Neil is amazing, I'm glad we're still friends. Some girls walk into the bathroom and I quiet down. They stay in front of the mirror, away from the stalls.

"We're you invited?" one asks.

"Where?"

"Vince's party, of course."

I frown and then remember. Ah right, we're in March. Vince's birthday is coming around and so is the huge party his parents throw every year.

"Uh. No?"

"Me neither but my sister was. Probably because she's studying in one of the universities the Blakes finance."

"How can I be invited?"

"I don't think you can get invited if you aren't. The Blake family only sends a limited amount of invitations."

I scrunch my nose. I was never invited per se but the football players, who are always all invited, sneak me in each year.

"That sucks. I wish I was friends with Vince."

"Yeah, me too."

I scoff silently. Poor girls, they have no idea how much of a true jackass he is. Maybe they're better off that way actually. They exit the bathroom and I get on my phone once again. I do something I never dare to do. I open Vince's contact and text him.

Hazel : I'm invited to your party this year, right?
Hazel : like, actually invited
Vince : u couldve said hi first
Vince : what happened to the "hi vince, hope ur not rotting too much, alone in the hospital"
Vince : my nose hurts like a bitch too
Hazel : no because did I ask?

He doesn't answer for a minute but I know he's trying really hard not to cuss me out.

Vince : if u wanna be invited, u gotta be my girlfriend
Vince : I have a girlfriend only invitation
Hazel : go fuck yourself
Hazel : right now, you're a free trial and you're failing
Vince : no no no no
Vince : wait
Vince : I was joking
Vince : haha, funny
Vince : of course u can come
Vince : here
Vince : [attachement]

It's an invitation with my name on it. I laugh out loud. I can't believe her tried to ask me out like this.

Vince : are u still here?
Vince : stiles, I was kidding
Vince : come back

I never realized how truly clingy Vince was. Maybe that's why he never let me text him.

Hazel : you suck at dating.

I close my phone and exit the bathroom as it buzzes with a message.

Vince: hey thats not nice
Vince : I still like u even if ur mean to me

I can't help but smile at how my heart fluttered. A few months back, I would've died reading those words. Somehow, I still feel myself melting at them. I like it. I like this.