Semi-Edited

PLEASE go read the authors note at the end of this! It is kind of long but VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ IT!! PLEASE PLEASE! 

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Song above is Say Love by JoJo. Thought it kind of thought it fit Macey and Luke (Lacey?)

Enjoy! 

My brother and my best friend kissing. I couldn't force myself to look away no matter how hard I tried. This was not what I was expecting to see coming home today. Hell I didn't think I would ever see this. They loved to tease one another and get each other hell, Macey was like my sister. How can they be kissing or even be together?! I wanted to yell over at them but all words were stuck inside of me.

I felt like my eyes were burning just watching them. The kiss probably didn't last more than 10 seconds but to me it felt like they were sucking each others tongues for hours. My mind could not seem to wrap around the idea of Luke and Macey being together, it just didn't sound right.

Looking at them though I wasn't angry that were together. Maybe they did look good together and I can't deny I have thought about them going out together. What I was most pissed about what they didn't tell me. It was clear as day they have been seeing each other for a while. This was just a first kiss I was witnessing. No they seemed really familiar with one another.

I felt almost betrayed that my own best friend wouldn't tell me she was seeing someone. I was pissed that my brother, my own blood, didn't tell me he liked Macey and asked her out. No one told me! No one had the balls to straight out tell me they were seeing each other.

Sure I would have been angry at first and kind of disgusted but I would have been fine with it. Now I was not. I was more angry that they didn't tell me. How long have they been going behind my back? That is what I wanted to know. It was almost like Amy and Ethan all over again. They didn't tell us they were going out and now these two.

Everyone has been hiding things from me lately, and I hated it. I hated that no one trusted me or that no one thought I could handle the news. I was not some glass vase that needed to be handled with care. I can take whatever anyone had to say to me.

This just pushed me over the edge. I had thought Macey would tell me since we tell each other everything. I have told Macey everything that goes on with me. Have you? The voice asked in my head. At those two words I paused. Okay maybe I haven't really told her everything that has happened these last few days, but that is only because she hasn't been around much. Now I know why.

A wave of anger hit me making me clench my jaw at them. I was not going to just run away and not confront them. I was going to give them a piece of my mind for keeping this from me. I didn't even hesitate as I marched over in their direction.

"Hey!" I shouted when I got near. The two of them jumped apart and looked around. I came to a stop in front of them and watched the color drain from their faces. They didn't think they would be caught.

"Carter." Luke said, and glanced at Macey with what looked like fear in his eyes.

"Did you really think I wouldn't find out about you two? Did you plan on hiding it from me forever!?" I basically screeched at them. My anger was getting a hold on me.

"Carter we were going to tell you." Macey said.

"When? When you are getting married?"

"Car-" Luke started to say but I interrupted him.

"I can't believe you two! My best friend and my brother hiding that they are seeing each other. You've been sneaking around for god knows how long. No wonder I haven't seen you much lately Macey."

"Carter we are sorry. We wanted to tell you, but we thought we should see where it is going before." Macey said taking a step towards me.

"We thought you would freak out like you are right now." Luke finished her sentence. I stared between both of them my anger only slightly going away. Yes I agree that I would have freaked out but give me a few minutes and I would have been fine.

"Yeah well I should freak out! It is quite a shock seeing two people you never knew liked each other making out!" The longer I stood there the worse I felt. The anger was slowly going away but left in its trail was hurt. Hurt that no one tells me anything and no one trusts me to understand.

I had nothing left to say to them at the moment and to be honest I needed a few minutes to myself to process this whole thing. Being here in front of them was not helping me at all.

"I need to go. I can't be around you two right now." I took a step back.

"Carter we are so sorry! We didn't mean to hurt you." Macey pleaded as she started for me but my brother placed a hand on her arm. He knew I needed some space and for that I was grateful.

"I...You should have just told me, I would have understood." I said softly. Not even glancing at them I headed towards our apartment building, not once looking back. As much as I wanted to go run back to Gage's I knew I needed to think this through myself. Maybe later I will call him but right now I needed to be alone with my thoughts. All I hoped was that Macey wouldn't come after me.

******

Two hours passed and I was locked inside my room. I was sitting at my desk trying to sketch but all I was able to draw in the last hour was a circle. Yes a circle. My thoughts were all jumbled that I couldn't really think straight.

I haven't heard Macey come home and a par of me was sad she hasn't come to talk to me yet and another part was glad she hasn't come home. As much as I wanted her to come and make up with me I don't think right now I could do that. Maybe I was acting like a child but I couldn't help it.

After staring at my sketch pad for another 10 minutes I just threw onto my desk with a loud sigh. I was getting no where with it. I almost regretted not going to Gage's after my little spat with Luke and Macey. At least I would have someone to talk to.

My eyes were drawn to a picture on my desk that was of Me, Macey, Luke and Ethan, standing by the beach. I was of course standing next to Ethan because that was my only opportunity to touch his bare upper body. Next to me was Macey and Luke, both smiling widely. Of course right after this they started arguing that Luke had pinched Macey and what not. I just couldn't see how they got together. One moment they are like brother and sister and the next each others throats. Sure looking at them they looked like a perfect couple but never in a million years did I think they would actually date.

Sitting there I needed to talk to someone. Not really wanting to annoy Gage with my problems I decided to call the one person I knew would listen to me. I picked up my phone and headed to my bed. While I hit dial I gently laid back on my bed, making sure I didn't hurt my back in the process.

"Hello?"

"Hey mom." Just the sound of her voice I could feel myself relax a little.

"Sweetie!" My mom practically yelled through the phone. I smiled up at my ceiling.

"What are you guys doing? Still in London?" I asked.

"Yeah we are. You know your father, doesn't leave until everything is perfect." I could practically see her rolling her eyes right now. I knew what she meant my father was such a perfectionist that if it wasn't done the way he wanted, he would stay until it was. That always lead to longer trips or longer nights at the office.

"Enough about us though. How are you? How are your classes going?"

For the next few minutes I just talked to my mom about random, small things. It was nice just to talk to her. It felt like it has been forever since I last saw her, so I was making due with just her voice today. It wasn't until a few minutes in that my mother finally said something.

"So why did you really call me today?" She asked.

"Can't I just call my mom and talk to her?"

"No. I can tell something is wrong. Mother intuition." I sighed.

"Everyone is hiding stuff from me. It's like they don't think I will understand or something."

"Who's hiding what from you?"

"Well first Amy hid the fact that she is now dating Ethan." I grumbled.

"Ethan and Amy are dating?!"

"Mom that isn't the point here."

"Okay, okay. Continue."

"They didn't even tell any of us. I found out when I saw them making out on the side of a building. I then ran into them at the ice cream shop where they did admit it. But why did they lie? I would have been fine with it." Even though I said that I knew I wouldn't have been, still not.

"Would you be fine with that honey? Everyone knows you have a huge crush on Ethan, so of course it is going to be hard hearing your friend is dating him."

"I don't have that big of a crush on him!"

"Yes you do. The only people that don't know is Ethan and your brother. Both are denser than rocks." Mom mumbled into the phone. "Anyways, honey, they probably didn't tell you because they wanted to see if they had actual feelings towards one another, before telling anyone."

"I understand that and I have kind of made up with Amy for it. But still they hid that from me. And now I just found out Luke and Macey have been seeing each other as well!"

"Luke and Macey? Our Luke and Macey?" I nodded than realized she could see me.

"Yep. They have been seeing one another for a while now apparently."

"You father owes me 10 bucks."

"Mom! You and Dad made bets about them getting together!" I exclaimed through the phone. What is up with my family betting on things?

"Of course, had to make things interesting. Your father never thought Luke would get the balls up to ask Macey out." Mom giggled through the phone. "Did you hear that honey?" I heard mom call out to my dad over the phone.

"Our son is seeing Macey." I couldn't hear my father's response but my mom than said, "Pay up bitch." Why are these people my family again?

"You guys have a gambling issue." I muttered into the phone.

"Honey that is good news though. We have all wondered when they would get together." She was silent for a moment before she spoke again. "That is who he took to the aquarium the other day!"

"Mom you don't get it! They lied to me this entire time. Every time Macey said she was studying she was with Luke. Why didn't she just tell me? How many opportunities did she have to say 'hey, I'm seeing your brother'."

"Honey-" My mom started to say but I kept on talking.

"She is my best friend, like a sister to me. We are suppose to tell each other everything and she hasn't been. She hasn't even been around much lately and now I know why." I was now sitting up cross legged on my bed. "Even Luke could have said something!"

"Carter! Honey listen to me." My mom finally yelled through the phone at me. I shut my mouth and listened to her. "I know you are upset that they didn't tell you, Macey especially, but you have to see it from their view. They were keeping it to themselves to make sure they would work out. Why tell you and have you freak when they would only break up the next day."

"I get that I just-"

"Your aunt and I had the same situation happen to us. I didn't really tell her I was seeing your father and she never told me she was seeing Nick. We were both just caught up in our own lives. But look how things worked out now. All of us are happy.

"Sweetie, you are allowed to be mad at Macey. And I am sure she wants you to be mad at her for not telling you but you can't stay mad forever. They did what they thought was best. Luke and Macey are still in that 'are we boyfriend and girlfriend' or just 'friends' stage still. They want to make sure they actually like one another before saying anything to anyone.

"Be mad for a little while but we both know you will forgive her. She is your best friend so you can't be mad for too long. Let both of them know they hurt you than move on." I was quiet for a minute letting her words sink in. My mom knew me well enough to know I will forgive Macey instantly. I just hate that she was right.

"Fine." I groaned, flopping back down on the bed.

"Wait until tomorrow to talk to her so you can have a clear head, than let her explain. Everything will work out."

"Thanks mom." I smiled softly into the phone.

"No problem sweetie. Don't let your brother knew we know about them." I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why?"

"Oh nothing. I gotta go sweetie, your father needs to pay me the 10 bucks. Have a good night and text me tomorrow how everything goes."

"I will mom. Thank you for listening to me."

"It is what moms do. Goodnight sweetie, love you."

"Love you too and tell dad goodnight." With that we hung up. I stared up at my ceiling feeling better now that I talked to my mom. Mom's know what to say in the right moment.

My mom was right about the whole thing. I was right to be upset about the whole thing but I had to forgive and forget, even though it wasn't that easy.

*****

As my mother predicted Macey and I made up the next day. Even though I was angry at hurt I couldn't be without my best friend for too long. Being like normal girls the moment we met up at 95 Degree's after classes, both of u started crying and hugging one another. I wanted to be angry at her and my brother for longer but it wasn't who I am. I always forgive, which can be a bad thing at times.

Even after we made up and talked through things I was still a little peeved but I pushed it all aside. I could be happy for my best friend and brother. I didn't want to be 'that' sister that ruins someone's relationship over something stupid. So I did what I needed to do, forgive both of them.

Mace and I talked for a few hours about things we have kept from one another. I finally told her about hanging out with Gage, getting in a fight, and the kiss between us. To say she flipped out be an understatement. Once she had stopped freaking out and firing questions at me did she start to explain how her and Luke ended up together.

She told me how they kissed at the frat party a month ago and things just went from there. She didn't realize how much she actually liked him until than and what not. I tried to engage in the conversation but it is my brother we are talking about. The moment when she started to say he was a good kisser and knew how to use his hands I had cut her off. No sister wanted to hear that about her own brother, that is where I drew the line.

When Mace did talk about Luke I noticed her eyes light up and had a small sparkle I have never seen there before. I never saw Macey more happy or excited about someone before and I knew my decision of forgiving her was right. I knew deep down they were right for one another. As much as I hated them for keeping it from me I understood.

Because of Macey and I's little dilemma I had to cancel on Gage to do our english assignment on Wednesday. I ended up talking to Mace for longer than I thought and when I could finally leave she dragged me over to Luke's place to make up with him as well. I hated that I didn't see him all day but I knew it was more important if I hung out with her and Luke.

I had of course texted my mom and let her know things were okay now. I found out they were coming home Friday and that they wanted all of us to come over Saturday to see them and eat dinner. She of course made sure I didn't tell Luke that they knew about him and Macey. When I asked all she did was change the subject. I had a feeling my mom had something planned for Saturday and I wouldn't put it past her and Aunt Kay to do something.

That is why when Saturday rolled around I was hesitant about going over to my parents house. Sure I wanted to see them after they've been gone for a few weeks but knowing my mom and Aunt Kacey I was worried they were going to do something horribly embarrassing, and the worst part is it wouldn't be about me. That is how you know it is embarrassing if someone else is more so than the actually people. Then again Macey and Luke had no idea.

Right now I was getting ready to go over to my parents house with everyone. Apparently Ethan and Amy were going separately and would meet us their while I drove along with Luke and Macey...goody. Just another thing to remind me how single I am. I wasn't sure if Gage counted or not since we were 'fake' dating. And I wasn't even sure if that was still going between us.

For the rest of the week I had met up with Gage to finish our english assignment. Because it wasn't due until monday we only did a little bit everyday and it was a good excuse for me to see him everyday. We still haven't talked about our kisses or the fact that we were supposably together. It just never really came up or if there was a good opportunity to say something I always ended up chickening out. Things were going good for Gage and I right now and I felt like if I said anything it would just make things worse.

I was liking how Gage was opening up to me and being different. I was learning new things about him everyday and I was liking the things I was finding out. The fact that he actually was really smart and didn't mind school, but he never would admit it out loud. Or that he wasn't really a bad boy and it was all just a fake image he had around people. It was things like that, that made me want to stick around him.

So there were just some things I never brought up. We just did what normal friends would do together, and it worked out well for us.

"Does this look okay?" Macey suddenly asked barging into my room unannounced. I glanced over from where I was standing in front of my closet to look at her outfit. She was wearing a really cute dress that had a soft blue skirt that came above the knee, and a white top half that had thick straps and a heart shaped back. It was super cute but way too dressy.

"Mace you do realize it is cold outside and that a dress is really fancy right?" I asked turning to face her.

"Now I have to change again." She threw her hands in the air and left my room. Wondering why she was freaking out I followed after her.

"Mace what's wrong? You normally don't a have problem picking out an outfit."

"I have to look perfect. This is your parents we are talking about." She said quickly going through her closet and muttering under her breath.

"Since when do you care what my parents think? Macey you have met my parents before, they could care less what you wear. You could show up in sweats and they wouldn't notice."

"Carter this is the first time I am meeting your parents as your brothers girlfriend. They aren't just like my parents anymore, they are his. I am going up against every girl he has every brought home Car!" I could tell she was starting to panic.

"Macey." I stood up and went to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. "Look at me." Her eyes were wide but she looked at me.

"You have nothing to worry about. Out of all the girls Luke has brought home, not a lot by the way, you are definitely the best. My mom already loves you like a daughter so why would that change cause you are dating Luke? No matter what you do they will like you. Plus they don't even know you guys are together." I said looking her in