Chapter 9: Surprise

"You weren't meant to be coming for another week," I exclaim upon seeing my brother, tackling him into a bear hug.

"You make me feel so loved," he says ruffling my hair, purposely making it stand on end. I narrow my eyes at him and step away.

"Hi Leo," Hannah greets him, turning round on the sofa with a welcoming smile.

"You're still friends?"

"Don't be so horrible," I scold hitting him lightly with a smile.

Leo enters the lounge and drops his suitcase carelessly. He looks older than when I last saw him.

"You have stubble," I comment.

"You have eyes."

"Haha very funny."

My brother looks a lot like my dad. He stands taller with a more athletic aesthetic. However, he has the brown eyes, with matching tussled brown hair and a chiselled jaw. He is also a strong advocate for older brothers being extremely protective.

"You have been okay though haven't you baby sister?"

"I don't like this nickname," I reply putting my hands on my hips.

"And that is a rubbish answer to my question," He replies simply.

Leo makes his way to the kitchen and begins raiding the cupboards for food.

"I love Maryland cookies," he says before eating half the packet. I don't even bother to roll my eyes whilst I make my way back to Hannah.

"I wonder what he will make of Alex," she giggles to me, "I forgot to say well done for last night's video."

"Don't. My brother is not finding out about that. Nor the fact that I am in contact with three guys, you know what he is like," I hiss.

"What are you whispering about?" Leo says, looking up from the ever-shrinking packet of cookies.

"Nothing," Hannah and I chorus.

He frowns ever so slightly, but then shrugs and goes back to eating the last of the Maryland cookies.

"We are going to my room," I grab Hannah's arm and start pulling her in the direction of the staircase, not wanting to discuss the boys whilst Leo is in earshot. I end up letting go of Hannah only a few seconds into our journey to my room as I'm too lazy to waste my energy dragging her upstairs. We get to my room and I push open my door.

"What the fuck?" I yell.

"Rowan?" I hear Leo call, "What's going on?"

"Nothing," I shout back, with my eyes still fixed on Alex, "Hannah just...um."

"I just told her that Kelly from our year is pregnant," Hannah finishes, saving me from an awkward silence.

"Which one is Kelly?"

"You wouldn't know her she's new," Hannah answers. Next thing you know Hannah will have a massive back story to this fictional pregnant girl called Kelly, she is extremely quick at this kind of thing whilst also being known for getting carried away.

"Oh okay," Leo says and we hear him walk away from the bottom of the staircase. Probably towards the kitchen to get more food.

Alex wears a smirk that people would pay to have as we enter the room. He is dressed in a simple blue polo shirt and a pair of jeans.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" I hiss, shutting the door behind Hannah and me, "My brother would castrate you if he found you in here, and probably me, and that's impossible!"

"Woah Cinderella, I was just thinking what a lovely room you have here. You see you have been in mine more than once now, and yet I have never been in yours. I thought it was only fair if I got to see the witches lair."

His brown eyes sparkle with laughter and mischief. This boy will be the death of me. I look at the floor and see a selection of my bras on display. Oh god. This is why we should tidy our rooms ladies and Gentlemen, because we never know when an Alex Rossa will sneak into our room. Heat begins to rise into my cheeks. Could this get any worse?

"Alex, get out," I order pointing to the window.

"Hey! You should be kinder to me. I think I'm allergic to that wax strip you put on me, my leg went all red!"

Laughter erupts from me. The kind of laughter where eventually no sound comes out of your mouth and tears stream down your face.

"You're not having an allergic reaction Alex you idiot," I chuckle.

"That's perfectly normal," Hannah says with a small smile, able to stifle her laughter far quicker than myself.

"Well I knew it was normal," Alex awkwardly shuffles his feet around on the floor.

I continue to giggle, my sides hurting and my lungs screaming for some air.

"Hate to interrupt this fun little gathering."

The three of us turn to face my brother who doesn't look too happy.

"No boys in my little sister’s room. Get out," Leo orders, glaring at Alex. The culprit in question turns a light shade of pink, and if it wasn't my brother kicking him out of the house, then I would find this amusing.

“I’m sorry,” He begins, fumbling over his words, he begins to say that he’ll say me around before being cut off swiftly by a stern look. He seems to get the message as he bows his head and follows my brother out of the door.

"Oh God." My laughing fit well and truly subsided I drop onto my bed.

"Don't oh God yet," Hannah says coming over to me., "I think I've found why Alex was actually in here."

I look at the pieces of paper she held in her hand.

He was in here finding the worst photos of me as a kid.

"It's not that bad," Hannah tries as I pick up the image of me at Chester zoo.

"Not that bad?" I say sceptically, "I have green and yellow braces, a serious spot problem, and glasses that are bigger than my head. I’m not winning the award for top model Han.”

"Could be worse," she responds trying to reconcile me.

"Is that a bit of sandwich stuck in my brace?" I squint at the photo, "My nine-year-old self is not one I want to remember."

"I guess you're just going to have to come up with something really good to get back at Alex," Hannah suggests sympathetically. I look back at the horrific picture now in my hand.

"You don't say."

*

"Who was he?"

"Leo, I barely know him, you don't have to worry," I reply, trying to eat my soup in piece.

"Barely know him? Jesus, dad is away for a week and you start having boys you barely know in your room?" He exclaims. I note that was not my most sensible move in this discussion. I blow on my tomato soup in an attempt to cool it somewhat. I imagine it is the current conversation Leo and I are having, what I’m saying is a futile attempt make it less heated. Seen as Leo is a pretty laid-back person, you'd be surprised at how protective he is over me when it comes to the male species.

"I didn't even let him in my room," I shrug, "He just jumped from the house next door."

Leo's eyes widen as his mouth forms a straight line.

"Do you need me to tell him to back off?" He asks seriously, "I can do it with a fist."

"God no! You really don't need to worry, he's just a..."

I struggle to find the words to describe mine and Alex’s relationship, knowing I am managing to makes the situation worse with every sentence that leaves my mouth.

"He's just a friend, sort of," I finish.

"But you said you barely know him."

"Did I say that?"

"Yes."

Leo sits down opposite me and stares me down. It is like he is hunting down his prey.

"Who is he?"

"Leo, he is just a friend," I sigh, "Nothing more, maybe quite a lot less as we don't even get on very well."

"But you just said your friends."

"It's complicated!" I exclaim, setting my spoon down on the table. "Will you just let me eat my soup?"

"Okay," Leo says, "But is complicated like relationship or-"

"Leo!"

"Okay, okay, sorry for just looking out for my baby sister," he places his hands in the air.

"You don't need to worry about Alex," I assure him.

Silence sits heavily on our shoulders as we have no idea what to say to each other. I quickly finish my tomato soup and shove the bowl and spoon carelessly in the dishwasher.

"What do you want for tea?" Leo asks, shattering the silence, before I open my mouth he answers his own question, "Doesn't matter I'll get us an Indian take out."

"So there was literally no point in asking me what I wanted."

Leo looks at me as if I am idiot and says, "Do you want an Indian?"

"Yes," I chirp giving him the biggest grin I can, "Love you big brother."

As I make my way upstairs, I hear Leo muttering something about me being peculiar, but I choose to ignore it. As I enter my newly tidied room, a precaution in case of any future unwanted guests, I smile as I see Alex sat by his window. His eyes meet mine and he returns the smile. He stands up and opens his window fully then points for me to open mine.

"Hey," he whispers, looking worried that my brother could walk in any second.

"He's having lunch you don't need to worry, and as long as you don't shout he won't hear you," I chuckle.

"Oh right." Alex rubs the back of his neck as if he is nervous, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I caused any trouble with your brother."

"You didn't create trouble for me really, I'd be worried for your own safety if I was you," I shrug with a small smile proving everything is okay.

"Oh I am," he says seriously, "Anyway that's all I wanted to say.” He begins to shut his window before he pauses, “Oh, and Rowan. If you ever tell someone I said sorry, one, they won't believe you, and two, I'll make you sorry."

"And here is was thinking we were having a nice conversation."

"Never."

Alex moves away and shuts his window, and I mirror his movements shortly after. I shut my curtains and lie on my bed, contemplating what to do with the rest of my day. Just as sleep begins to take over my body, my phone pings causing my eyes to snap open.

It's still not going to stop me posting that picture- A

I roll my eyes and put my phone back into my pocket. What an earth am I going to do next? I struggle to think of more revenge pranks which leaves me uneasy. I feel as if they are only just really beginning.