My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter Fifteen

Fergie's Point of View

I can't stop thinking about Tatianna. I've been thinking about her ever since we left from our trip. Now that I've seen how awkward she's been acting, I know that she has to have feelings for me—way deep down. Am I imagining all of this? She flirts with me sometimes, and likes to pass it off as friendly banter. Should I even waste my time trying to get with her? I've known Tatianna for such a long time now and I can't imagine what life would be like without her. Even if she doesn't like me back, I still want her in my life as a friend. If she keeps acting this way, we'll never be close friends again. I wish she'd tell me what's going on inside her mind. I hate how she makes things so difficult sometimes.

"Mind if I come over after practice?" I ask Dev.

It's the end of the school day, and all the cars are leaving the parking lot. We make our way to the football field, lugging our sports bags with us. The cross country runners and boys soccer players follow sporadically behind us. I honestly don't know how the cross country runners run endless miles. I'd probably pass out somewhere along the road, I can't run long distance for crap. I'm pushing it by running all over the field for football. I'm the most laziest athlete that I know. I get the work done, I just don't like doing it. I love football—hate the workouts.

"Why?" He asks.

It's never a 'why'. He always tells me I can come over. In fact, sometimes I come over without giving him a heads up. His family is also my family, we've established this already. Why does he have to ask me this? I can tell that he's starting to question why I even come over at all. Of course, I enjoy seeing Tatianna whenever I come over, but that's not the main reason why I visit at all. She's part of the reason, but it's not like I'm with her every time I come over. I'm barely ever around her whenever I go over their house.

"My parents are renovating our kitchen and they're starting today. I just didn't wanna be around all that noise. They'll be finished by the time I get back home later on tonight, if you let me come over. I think it'll take at least a week." I shrug my shoulders.

"Yeah, man." He nods his head. "I don't care."

"You sure?" I raise my eyebrows. "Cuz it kinda sounds like you do."

"I mean, now that I know you like Tati for sure, I just gotta be careful." He quietly says.

"Dev." I stop walking, as soon as we enter the field.

"What?" I can tell he feels guilty for saying that.

"What do you mean by careful? You know I would never do anything to hurt, Tatianna." I'm offended. I really am.

"Fergie, guys only want one thing. I'm a guy, I would know. I love Brittany, and we waited at least 5 months because that's what she wanted. I'm a good guy, I'd never cheat. So of course I waited." He explains.

"You think I just wanna be with your sister for sex?" I scoff.

"Aye, chill on all that. Don't use my sister and sex in the same sentence." He grimaces.

"And then you're insinuating that I'd cheat if she doesn't have sex with me." I shake my head. "I can't believe this."

"No, I'm not saying that bro." He sighs.

"Then, what are you saying Dev?"

"Things can go wrong. You're my best friend, she's my sister. If anything happens, I know I'ma have to choose. You just never know what could happen. Besides, we graduate this year. She gotta whole nother year in high school left." He says.

"I like Tatianna, and I have for a very long time. I don't want to use her for sex. I'm attracted to her mind, her personality. She's real. I know her like a book." I explain. My heart flutters just by thinking about her.