2. The Other Brother

CAROLINE

I try to pull away but his grip tightens slightly. It wasn't hard but it was just enough to keep me from running.

"I'm fine," I lie. My voice is shaking.

He looks at my face like he's reading my mind. Then his eyes move past me to where Maverick and Riley are still kissing.

"Doesn't look like you're fine," he says.

"I don't know you. Let go of me."

"You're Caroline, right?"

My stomach drops. "How do you know my name?"

A slow smile spreads across his face. It wasn't really a nice smile nor was it hostile. More like he knows things you don't want him to know.

"I'm Harry," he says. "Maverick's brother."

I stare at him. "You're Harry?"

"Unfortunately."

I've heard about Harry. Maverick mentioned him a few times over the years. He was Maverick’s older stepbrother who doesn't come home much. He was in a band and basically the family’s black sheep. That's about all I know.

Looking at him now, he looks a bit familiar. I realised I've seen him in the portrait at the family house.

"I didn't know you went here," I manage to say.

"Senior year." Harry's hands are still on my arms. "You're shaking."

"I'm cold." I lied easily.

"It’s not that cold yet" He countered calmly, still watching me.

"Caroline!" The voice for which I'm cold at seventy degrees calls out.

Oh no.

I turn to see Maverick jogging toward us with Riley beside him. He's slightly out of breath. Grinning like he just won the lottery.

Harry finally releases my arms.

"Harry?" Maverick's grin fades slightly when he sees his brother. "What are you doing here?"

"I go to school here, remember?"

"Right." Maverick looks between us. "You two know each other?"

"Just met," Harry says smoothly.

Maverick's arm slides around my shoulders casually. The way he's touched me a thousand times before because I had been filled with hope. It used to make my heart race. Now it just hurts.

"This is Riley," Maverick says. He's still grinning. "Can you believe she transferred here? Isn't that crazy?"

"Crazy…" I repeat.

Riley smiles at me. She's even more beautiful up close.

"Good to see you again Caroline," Riley says. "He says his You being his best friend would be stoked about the news of us getting back together ."

Best friend...that's all I'll ever be.

"Listen," Maverick says, squeezing my shoulder. "Some of the guys from the swim team are throwing a party at the Sigma house. It's starting in like an hour. You should come."

I should say no and go back to my dorm and cry and figure out how to survive the next four years watching Maverick and Riley together.

But I can't say no to Maverick. I never have.

"I don't know," I start to say.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Maverick insists. "You can't just stay in your dorm on the first weekend."

Harry speaks before I can. "I'll come too."

Maverick looks surprised. "You will?"

"Yeah." Harry's eyes are on me. "Someone needs to keep an eye on you freshmen. You don't know these frat guys yet."

"Dude, I'm not a kid anymore," Maverick says.

But I'm already nodding. "That's actually a good idea. Thanks, Harry."

I don't know why I agreed. Maybe because the thought of watching Maverick and Riley alone is too much. Or I hoped Harry's presence would give me something else to focus on. Or I was probably just a masochist.

"Cool," Maverick says. He doesn't seem thrilled about Harry coming, but he doesn't argue. "We're heading over now. You guys coming?"

"I need to grab my jacket from my car," Harry says. "I'll meet you there."

"I'll go with Harry," I say quickly. "To get my jacket too."

Maverick looks confused. "You're not wearing a jacket."

"I left it in his car earlier." The lie comes out smooth. Too smooth. "I'll see you there in a few minutes."

Maverick shrugs. "Okay. Come on, Riley. Let's get going."

They walk away hand in hand. I watch them until they disappear into the crowd.

"You don't have a jacket with me," Harry says.

"I know."

"Then why did you lie?"

"Because I needed a minute before I..." I turn to face him. "Can you just take me to that party? Please?"

Harry studies my face for a long moment. Whatever he sees there makes him nod.

"Come on," he says.

We walk in silence to the parking lot. He goes to a black bike with a jacket laid between the handlebars, which surprises me. I was expecting a four wheeled vehicle, not whatever this death machine was.

“Don't tell me we’d be going on that…that thing?!” I asked, backing away gently.

Harry had the audacity to look offended as he said, "Don't talk about Bertha like that, it hurts her feelings.” He strokes it gently.

“Huh?”

“She’s pissed and we won't have a smooth ride till you say sorry” He folded his hands up looking at me expectantly.

He doesn't really expect me to speak to that inanimate object like a crazy person does he? But with the way he was still staring I think he actually does.

Maybe I should have just followed Maverick and Riley. That would be better than whatever situation this is.

“I don't think that's even safe…maybe we should book a ride. A four wheeled one to be precise…”

“You won't catch a ride. Every cabman is booked, Princess. Else you walk all the way down and I doubt you know your way there. This is your only hope.”

I chew the inside of my lips slightly annoyed that he is right. I grudgingly walked up to the black beast and closed my eyes as my palm touched the cold metal.

“I’m sorry…uhmm..Bertha…Don’t kill us on the way” I chuckled nervously on the last part. Seriously, don't kill me. I still need to know how Weirder things ends.”

“You watch Weirder things?” Harry's eyes fly open as he hands me a helmet.

“It’s only the best show ever! I have to beg Maverick to sit through it with me. He doesn't appreciate it as much as I do.” I sighed.

“Yeah…he seems to not be in the habit of appreciating the best things.”

I keep quiet because I have nothing to say to that.

“Hop on and hang on tight Princess”

******

The drive to the frat house takes like ten minutes. The breeze

blew fast at my face as I tried not to think about Maverick kissing Riley.

We pull up in front of the Sigma house as I thought about how terrible coming here was.

Harry turns off the engine but doesn't get out. "You don't have to do this. I can take you back to your dorm right now."

“No, it's good. I already told Maverick I was coming.” I said thing to convince myself that I was going to be ok.

Harry shakes his head and almost wanted to say something but ended up with. “It’s your call Princess”

We walk toward the house. The party is already packed. People are drinking on the front lawn.

Harry's hand touches my lower back as we push through the crowd. Guiding and protecting me from drunk people bumping into us.

We find Maverick and Riley inside. They're in the living room with a group. Maverick has his arm around Riley's waist. She's laughing at something someone said.

They look perfect together and my chest aches.

"You want a drink?" Harry asks.

"No." I just want to get through tonight without crying, I thought.

"Ok." He says this giving me this strange look.

We stand near the wall. I pretend to look interested in the party while actually watching Maverick and Riley. They're dancing now. Well, grinding is more accurate. His hands are on her hips and her arms are around his neck.

I look away.

"How long are you going to do this?" Harry asks.

"Do what?"

"Stand here watching him with her and pretending you're okay."

"What…what do you mean?” I stuttered.

Anyone with eyes can see you pining over my brother like a broken puppy and it's honestly pathetic to watch you…it’s so predictable.”

I turn to glare at him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Harry leans against the wall and crosses his arms.

"You're going to stand here all night watching your best friend hook up with his ex. You're not going to say anything and you won't leave either. You're just going to suffer in silence and smile when he talks to you later."

"You don't know me…you don’t know what you’re saying”

"I know your type. You're the girl who gives everything and never asks for anything back. The one who's always there but never seen. Who thinks if you're patient enough and sweet enough, someday he'll magically realize you're perfect for him."

Every word is a knife and it twists deeper and deeper into my heart.

"Shut up," I whisper.

"Am I wrong?"