Chapter Forty-One: Bros Can't Be Lovers
"Oh, you're here?" Lance says nonchalantly, as if expecting my presence—or so what his parents had told him the moment they flew and went on a date.
I constantly ask myself why I still 'babysit' him, when he's technically not a kid anymore. Rather, he's an annoying brat who has too much to say--or why I'm still going my way out, even when I have a part time job at the library.
Maybe because for extra cash? Or maybe I just wanted to piss him off. Either way, both sounds like killing two birds with a stone.
With a final grunt of annoyance, Lance stepped a few feet aside, widening the door enough for me to enter. My eyes immediately darted to the television and it was playing another one of his 'animes'. Figures.
The door closed behind me and Lance made his way through the couch, not looking back or saying anything as he plopped down without a care.
"I'm surprised your parents haven't been going to date night as frequent as usual," I spoke in the midst of silence between me and him, heading to where he sat and took a seat a few inches away.
"Miss me much?" he said in arrogance. The nerve.
"Oh yes, I reallyyyyy missed you. Missed annoying you," I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms as I stared at the two characters having such an overexaggerated kissing scene.
Tch. What's with the media and making a kiss seem like it was given from the heavens? It's nothing special, and in real life, no one kisses that grand anyway.
"You're so cheesy," I commented, adding a snicker onto it. "—aren't you too young to be watching kissing scenes?"
"You can't understand 'fine tastes' Avery," he grumbled, eyes still strained up front. "---just like how you can't see how lucky you are or why Tom has awful tastes liking you."
"Are you sure you're not really a witch? Cause I'm starting to be suspicious of you."
I snorted, feeling quite offended with me being considered an 'awful' choice, but then again, I wouldn't dare like myself either. You can't please everyone and I have no intention doing so.
"So? How are you and Tom doing?" he inquired, finally sparing a glance at me.
I snorted; eyes narrowed by this brat's question. What's with everyone making me and Tom a big deal? The guy has a crush on me, that's all. They're all acting as if it's something grave.
And, I'm not obligated to like him back anyway. Just because they ship us doesn't mean I'll be forced to for their entertainment and own interests.
"I seriously don't know if I should be concerned about you being so heavily invested with my life," I scrunched my nose.
He gave me a knowing look. "For your information, I'm not interested in your life, but I'm doing this because of my bro."
"Bro?" I perked a brow up. "—since when did you two get all so cozy?"
"It's none of your business."
I smirked. "Is that so? Then all the more it's none of your business to pry in my life, isn't that right?"
He audibly sighed, rubbing the flesh in between his eyes and reverted his gaze back to me with a constipated like look.
"Stop being sassy, will you? I swear, I don't see what Tom sees in you. What a shame. That guy," he shakes his head in disappointment.
"Why? You want to date him?" I suppressed a laugh. If he's that so 'sad' about Tom liking me, then he can have him. I don't mind. In fact, it'll be a burden off my hands.
Immediately, he shrieked, slapping his hand lightly on my shoulder with a revolted look. "Don't say such disgusting things, Avery!"
"You're giving me the goosebumps!"
I rolled my eyes. "So? What happened between you two?
"Don't make it sound like something else!"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're the one making double meanings here! Geez."
He audibly groaned; eyes squinted as he huffed before facing the television in defeat. "We made a pact."
"A pact?"
"Anyway," he coughed, seemingly trying to move the topic, but I didn't mind. They can do their secret or something. It doesn't involve me. "---are you interested in Tom now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Geez Avery, I meant to say are you attracted to him or something?" he murmured. "---you can't possibly be not attracted to him."
"How come?"
"Because you look like you like him," he absently muttered, like it was just a casual revelation.
I snorted, leaning forward and grabbed a chip to which Lance scowled but was basically rendered useless. "Me? You're kidding."
"I mean it's not bad to like him," he shrugged. "—what do you dislike about him anyway?"
"What's with everyone shipping me with him?" I rolled my eyes, starting to get irritated. "---can't a girl and guy just be friends?"
"Not when one has a huge crush on you," he added, leaning forward and plopped a handful of chips in his mouth.
"I'm sorry if I don't like him okay?" I sarcastically remarked. "---he's too annoying. And persistent, and sometimes really cheesy."
"You mean his prince-like dialogues?" Lance entertained.
I chuckled. "Yeah, that. I just don't understand why he likes me, you know? I never did anything to him to make him like me so much."
"Well he's a weird guy."
"But he's a good guy too," Lance added not a second later, waving a finger up. "---it'd be a bummer if you let go of the person who'll ever like you."
I sneered. "Rude."
"What? I'm saying the truth."
"Shut up, brat."
"Old hag."
"Okay, how about we play this game?" Lance lifted both of his knees and cradled them close to his chest with eyes still strained to the anime.
"Imagine you and Tom dating, do you want to kiss him and hug him of sorts?"
"I'm very disturbed by how you sound like a hormonal girl," I scooted a few meters away from him
"Just answer, geez."
"I don't know! I don't know if I want to you know....kiss him or something!" I replied, getting flustered with his questions.
"Hmmm...be honest with me," he says a bit too serious for my liking, switching the television off with the remote and then faced me. "---you kissed, haven't you?"
"What the hell are you saying?!"
"You're losing your composure and your eyes are slightly dilated," he stared deeply at me like he was a detective trying to inspect my behavior. "---you're fidgeting. Yep, you did kiss."
"Stop making assumptions!" I screeched, my cheeks starting to get red by his interrogations.
He replied, clearly unamused by me. "I've known you for what? 9 years? So, I can tell when you're lying."
"Curse you," I seethed at him.
"You let him kiss you," he jabbed a finger to my direction. "---so deep inside, you must like him."
I opened my mouth to protest but he puts a hand up. "You're really a stubborn ingrown, aren't you?"
I rolled my eyes.
"If you really don't like him," he blew a huff of air to his fingers. "---then let me tell you this in advance."
I scrunched my brows. "About what?"
"About Tom seeing another girl."