"What are you still doing here?"
"Hmm?" Xavier replied as he was lazily sprawled on my bed with his forearm resting over his eyes.
I took a moment to walk my eyes over his body. He was wearing a loose pair of soccer shorts and had no shirt on. His muscles looked delicious as they were slightly tensed. The scars on his chest were light and faded, but still noticeable. I think they made him look rugged and even sexier.
"You'll be late for school," I said, wrapping my hair up into a towel, to make it dry faster.
"I'm not going."
"Why?"
"Everyone will just be setting up for-" he stopped talking abruptly and I narrowed my eyes, studying his face. He cleared his throat uneasily. Today was the day of the formal, our school dance, the one I'm not allowed to attend but everyone else is and we have not discussed it. At all. And it was obvious. I still didn't even know if he was going or if he wanted to go.
"For?" I probed.
"I thought I would help you with Chase. He's my brother after all, he shouldn't be forcing you to help him. He should have come to me."
I rolled my eyes. Good change of subject, Xavier.
"No one's forcing me to do anything and besides, most situations between you and your brother end up in a fist fight, so yeah, I get why he felt like he had to come to me over you."
"I hate when you go all smart and stuff on me."
"I am smarter than you." I smirked.
"Pfft."
I glanced down at the watch Xavier bought me. "He should be here soon. I'm going to work on his resume with him and if you'd like to help, you can pick a nice outfit from your wardrobe."
"My wardrobe?" he asked, removing his arm from his face.
"You have nice clothes, he doesn't."
"I didn't realise how much I loved him, until I thought I was going to lose him. That doesn't even make sense though, does it? For the past year, he's done nothing nice to me, except try to force me back into a life I hate."
"Of course it makes sense. He's your brother. Your twin brother and one of the only family members you have left in the world. It makes complete sense."
He let out a sigh. "Does he even deserve our help?"
"What kind of people would we be, if we didn't?" I asked him, moving towards the bed and sitting down on the edge. "This is the time in his life where he can turn himself around and change for the better. We need to support him through this change."
"Maybe you should go into guidance counselling instead of health," he said sarcastically.
I leaned forward and slapped his stomach.
"Ow!" He groaned, sitting up. "You're going to regret that."
I grinned evilly, before leaping to my feet and taking off out the door. I had made it a few steps, before his arms wrapped around my waist, effectively lifting me off my feet. I let out a loud yelp as he carried me back into my room and vaulted me onto the bed.
I threw my head back and let out a loud laugh. He crawled on top of me. He pinned me to the mattress and began to tickle me. I let out a loud squeal, squirming, trying to get free.
"Told you, you were going to regret it," he breathed, his hot breath fanning my lips.
"Okay, I get it!" I wheezed, flailing miserably. "Just stop!"
He smirked, his fingers doing one last dance against my ribs, before finally stopping. I let out a breath of relief.
"Do you guys always do this?" a voice asked.
We both snapped our heads to the door, where Chase stood, leaning on the door frame.
"Do you often walk into people's houses without knocking?" I replied hotly.
"I did knock."
Xavier got to his feet and pulled me with him. I smoothed my shirt over and pulled the now-half-hanging-off-me towel from my head and hung it up in the bathroom. When I emerged, I clapped my hands together.
"Let's get started."
***
"What do you guys want? My shout," Chase said as we lined up at the burger shack.
"You don't need to do that," Xavier said, much to my surprise. "Do you even have any money?"
"A bit."
"Don't waste it, then."
"You guys have been a huge help, honestly," he said, turning back to us, a genuine smile on his face. I blinked at him. I never knew he could smile like that. "Just tell me what you want."
Xavier and I exchanged a glance, before he shrugged. We ordered, before trailing over to a table outside. I plopped down onto the seat heavily and placed my bag on the ground. We had done a lot of walking and driving around today. It was starting to catch up to me.
I glanced at Chase. He looked nice. We made him shower and shave, before we left. He was dressed in one of Xavier's Ralph Lauren polo shirts and a pair of plain, beige shorts. He looked quite handsome.
I kind of have to say that though, he does look exactly like my boyfriend.
After resume dropping all morning, we had stopped in at an old Bar. There was a job advertised. Even though Xavier and Chase don't turn 18 until next month, we asked if Chase could do some cleaning type jobs and handyman work, until he is of age to serve alcohol. Surprisingly, the guy said yes.
It was kind of perfect, really. The man, Joseph, had a room for rent out the back as well. We organised that as a part of the job, if Chase was willing to work, whenever he needs him and helped him with general maintenance of the place, he was able to live in the room at the back. It was a win-win.
"Seriously, thank you," Chase said, his eyes going from mine, to Xavier's and back to mine. "You don't know how much I appreciate this. Especially after everything I've done to you guys."
"Let's not focus on what has been done by who," I suggested, putting my hand up in a stop signal. "Let's focus on new beginnings and most importantly, family."
Xavier glanced at me, surprise evident in his eyes. We locked eyes and his lips curved upward into a smile. My heart skipped a beat as he stared at me with complete adoration. I smiled back and reached out, gripping my hand briefly with his.
"Sounds good to me," Chase smiled, unaware of the moment Xavier and I just shared.
Xavier just nodded and took a sip of his coke.
I raised my glass. Xavier did the same and Chase followed suit.
"To new beginnings," I declared.
"To new beginnings," they chorused, before we all clinked glasses and drank.
***
"You. Look. Amazing." I breathed, staring at my best friend in awe.
"Really?" she grinned, her cheeks blushing a light pink. She glanced down at herself, running her hands over the fabric.
"Really."
She had her dream dress on. It was a beautiful, vibrant white, with streaks of sparkly gold through it. Her hair was pulled into a low bun, with bits curled, falling down beside her face. She looked so beautiful that it made my eyes sting with tears. And I was not a crier, so that's saying something.
I had a nice, black dress on, but it was not formal like. It was something nice I would wear to a party or a dinner, but not to a dance. I felt it would be a bit stupid to dress like I was going to the formal, when I wasn't. I just wanted to wear something nice, to semi-match Brooklyn in the photos.
Her parents took a series of photos of us and I took heaps of her and Jayden.
As I prepared to take the last few photos, before she was going to leave, he turned to her. He said something that made her cheeks go a darker shade of pink, before he pressed his lips to her. I got the whole thing on camera.
I grinned and gave her a thumbs up when they broke apart. She gave me a shy smile, before ducking her head.
"I wish you were going to be there," she sighed as she re-did her lipstick, ten minutes or so, later.
"Me too."
I held back the tears in my eyes as she did her last minute preparation. Even though it was super cliche, they were arriving at the formal in a limo. I wanted to roll my eyes when I saw Jayden pull up.
He placed his hand on the small of her back as he walked her to the car. Brooklyn's mum began to cry, burying her face into her husband's chest. I blinked back my own tears as I watched my best friend live the dream we had shared for many years.
She sent me a wave and I waved back, as she slipped into the limo. Seconds later, the limo peeled from the curb.
I stayed to help clean up, but left soon after as her parents crying and reminiscing about her as a baby, made me feel uncomfortable. I drove home, biting my lip, thinking back to the times Brooklyn and I gushed about formal. That was some years ago now. It was crazy to think that we were actually here.
I arrived at home and went straight into Xavier's room, in serious need of a hug, when I noticed he wasn't there. I frowned.
Surely, he didn't go...
Making my way through all the room downstairs, I quickly jogged up to my room. When I opened my door, a vibrant, red gown was laid across my bed. My mouth fell open as there was also a single, red rose laying on top of it.
Walking over to it slowly, I picked the fabric up, running my fingers over it. It looked stunning.
There was a card placed beside the dress. With my fingers slightly trembling, I picked it up.
Faith,
I'm sorry I couldn't get the school to let you go to the formal. So, I'm bringing the formal to you.
After you put the dress on and are ready, card two is in the bathroom.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Love always,
Xavier.
The tears I had been holding it burst from my eyes and fall down my cheeks.
He was so sweet. I had no idea he was doing any of this.
Looks like I was wearing the dress of my dreams, too.