Chapter 3 The ask

Kaden

“Okay, I think that's the last of them.” Bryan said as he slammed the truck of my car.

“Do you always have this much luggage?” I groaned. The entire backseat was full of his suitcase and the truck was barely closing.

“Haha, very funny.” He said sarcastically. “I only packed the necessary things. I'll have my other things sent over when I'm settled.”

“You're not sending anything. You're only going there for a year and you'll be back. Why do you need so many stuff?”

I tried not to turn when I heard Allison's voice behind me, tried to focus on anything except the woman casually strolling towards us.

But I can only restrain myself so much. Soon, I lost the fight with myself and turned around. Allison was still holding the flask containing vodka her brother thought he was hiding from me.

I had gone for an annual retreat with an art fellowship during freshman year and Bryan had hosted a party and almost burned the apartment down. Since then, we've decided on minimal amount of alcohol in the house.

Beer, ginger ale, and some other lighter substance.

No vodka.

But being the absolute strong head my best friend is, he always manages to sneak somee vodka into the fridge and always thought I'd never notice a weird looking flask.

Typical.

I've never called him out on it. Mostly because I stole some of the liquid sometimes. And he heed our other agreement and never had a party in the apartment again. It was all good.

“There aren't many stuffs. Right, Kay?”

I tore my gaze away from Allison to look at her simmering brother. Bryan stared at me expectantly. He clearly wanted me to take his side.

“He's your best friend. He'll definitely take your side.” Allison scoffed.

She said it with so much certainty that I almost chuckled. Almost. I wouldn't know what to do if that sound actually came out of me. It would be strange.

Like a fish willingly abandoning the water kinda strange.

So instead, I said, “Actually, you do have so many stuffs.”

Allison glanced at me, surprise flickering in her gaze as if she couldn't believe I just took her side. Bryan, on the other hand, looked offended.

“Not cool, bro.”

I merely gave him a slight tilt of my lips. “We have to go so we can get to the airport on time.” I added.

Bryan sighed and walked up to his little sister. He wrapped his arms around her. “I'm going to miss you, Al.”

She hugged him back just as tight. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes but she blinked them away and put a big smile on for her brother.

“Don't get all weepy on me now. Go before you miss your flight.” She said.

“Are you sure you'll be okay–”

“Don't finish that question.” Allison interrupted her brother. “You've asked me a million times and my answer hasn't changed. I'm going to be okay. Jeez, I'm in college not high school.”

“I know, I'm just worried about you. Don't act all grown up now.” Bryan ruffled her hair while she shot him a glare.

“Ruin my hair one more time and I'll cut you.” Allison threatened playfully.

Their interactions would have been cute if I cared enough. But I didn't.

I've never understood how the both of them were so close, how they always fought and got back together, what exactly was so special between them.

I had siblings too, an older brother and a younger sister, but we definitely do not share the type of siblings love that these two do. My siblings and I barely talk to each other anymore.

Not just my siblings, I barely talk to anyone inu family anymore. Not since that horrible dinner that fractured our bond completely.

We talk when we need to present a “united front” as a family during charities or company events. I didn't mind it, but sometimes I just wonder what if it was different?

“Alright, I should get going.” Bryan said and walked to the car.

“Drive safely.* Allison said to me as I was about to enter the driver's seat.

That was twice in one day that she had bothered to talk to me directly. It was starting to get concerning.

“I always drive safely.” I said instead and entered the car before she could respond.

I started the car and began to drive off. I could still see her in the rearview mirror, staring at the car as if fighting herself from running after us. I caught as she wiped something, a tear probably, from her face as we turned the corner.

“Man, I'm going to miss this place.” Bryan sighed.

“You won't for long. You'll be back for the holidays, right?”

“Hell yeah, there's no way I'm missing our Thanksgiving tradition. I can't wait to see you in your costume” Bryan chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

It was hardly a tradition when you're being forced into it every year. My birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day. And ever since Bryan found out, he's made it mandatory that we will celebrate the two events.

His meaning of celebration is baking a cake the shape of a turkey every year. But the thing is, the two of us will try to bake it ourselves. We've never succeeded in getting the cake right but we refused to hire a baker.

We'd spend all day trying to bake and just end up ordering pizza and watching “Bad Boys” till daybreak.

Surprisingly, that day is usually the best I've had all year. So we do it every year and it never got boring. Besides, we add new things each year. Last year, we baked wearing costumes.

“I'm not putting on a costume to bake turkey cake when you're just going to ruin it.”

Bryan scoffed. “Dude, you ruin the cake every year. It's not my fault you can't bake.”

“You can't bake either, your sister does the baking for you. She's way better at it.”

Allison Smith was better at a lot of things but I wasn't going to start mentioning them. Because that would mean I have been paying attention to her. And I'm not supposed to do that.

“Yeah, she is.” Bryan sighed.

And just like that, his mood turned sour again.

“Are you okay, man?” I asked.

“Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little worried about Al. Between losing the tournament and breaking up with Sean, she's been through a lot these past few weeks. It sucks that I'm leaving now that she needs me the most.” He sighed.

I fought an eye roll as I heard Allison's ex boyfriend name. I didn't know the details of their breakup, but I knew it was about damn time. The guy just gives off a very wrong vibe. Which was why Bryan doesn't like him. I didn't either.

“I'm sure she'll be fine. She'll pull through.” I answered.

Bryan nodded. He was silent for a few seconds before he turned to me again.

“Listen man, Al is a strong woman, but sometimes she needs help and doesn't like to admit it. I'll appreciate if you'll look after her in my absence. You're the only one I can trust not to try to sleep with her.”

For some reasons, I felt guilt in the pit of my stomach as Bryan said those last words. I've never thought of Allison that way. She's always been Bryan's annoying little sister. So why then do I feel so guilty?

I pushed back the feeling. My best friend has entrusted me with caring for his sister, I wasn't going to let my feelings, or lack thereof, get in the way of our friendship.

“Sure, no problem. I'll be happy to help.” I smiled.