Chapter Eight: So What Did I Miss in School?

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Our drinks were cold by now, but we were so deep in discussion that neither of us cared to notice.

"I can't possibly finish this story at this point," Brennan said. "Bennett would rather die than let anyone know this."

"And this is where I'm at the crossroads," I told her. "Either I have you continue your story so I have something to blackmail with Bennett, which makes me worry how much Jordan has rubbed off on me. Or, I make you stop before Bennett unfriends me ten times over."

"Oh the possibilities," Brennan cried out dramatically, before being a quiet for a moment. "You do know I'm teasing Jordan since Bennett gave me permission to, right?"

"Permission?"

She gave a one-shoulder shrug. "He told me to watch out for the blonde one. He tries to be funny, so give him a reason to stop laughing."

I tried to hold back from laughing too hard. "Jordan is going to throw Bennett off the building once he learns about this."

I stopped when I saw Brennan staring at her drink. She took a sip and doubled take.

"This type of tea isn't good cold," she said with a grimace.

I took a sip and agreed with her.

"Don't you think they're an odd group?" Brennan asked me.

"The guys?" I asked for clarification, trying the cold tea again. The second sip didn't taste any better.

"Have you never thought about how they all became friends?"

From that, I actually thought about it. "I always thought Declan and Bennett lost some kind of bet to Jordan." I chuckled at that but saw Brennan wore a thin smile. I realized she was being serious about this.

"Bennett didn't trust anyone except me and Bentley, then just me. He knew the rules of the game. Anyone who wanted to be his friend really just wanted to be friends with his influence, connections."

I was quiet.

"Something happened to Bennett in his junior year."

"What happened?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "I don't know. He never told me. All I know is that at the end, he told me he was going to move out of the main house."

"I knew he needed my help," Brennan told me. "So I did all that I could. I gave him his own apartment, paying the rent and giving him a monthly allowance."

"And you shouldered all of his expenses by yourself?"

Brennan sat back in her seat. "Yes, until our father learned about our alliance after a couple of months. He didn't want to burden me for my little brother's 'rebellious phase'-" she said with quotation marks "-and gave me a credit card for Bennett to use. Bennett already figured it was from our father and probably abused it. But both of us know it's going to backfire someday."

"Why let him?"

"Bennett might as well use it while he still can," she told me. "My father probably thinks he'll tire him out sooner or later, however that will work."

I didn't know what to else to say except the obvious. "That is so complicated, too complicated," I said.

"Oh, trust me. I know," Brennan said. "What still irks me is that Bennett still won't tell me what caused him to want to move out. Of course, he probably got into a fight with our father. But... It's not like that's rare."

She looked at me. "Something must've pushed him over the edge."

My mouth felt dry, and I knew the cold tea wouldn't be much help.

Brennan waved it off with a laugh. "But I doubt you know anything either. However, I hope you'll tell me if you do know anything."

"Of course," I said, making my stomach drop.

I knew Bennett didn't tell anything to his sister to protect her and, well, spare her from worrying and calling the police. But I didn't like that I had to keep it from her as well. As much as I see her as an elder sister, she's Bennett's sister first and it will be up to him. I think I just sibling-zoned him.

"I trust Bennett, he's a smart kid," Brennan told me. "So I know that he wouldn't come close to anyone who had any ulterior motives."

I started to defend myself but her look on me silenced me.

"Like I said, people befriended me and my brothers for our influence, for our money, for our connections, for our hearts." She smiled slyly. "Do you have someone's heart in the palm of your hand?"

"N-No," I said.

"Of course you don't," she said cheerfully, returning to her former self, "or else you'd be hanging off them right now. But even though I know you as that innocent respectful girl, why haven't you snatched one of them yet?"

Otome game hasn't ended yet?

"I haven't really been thinking of that sort of thing right now. Especially with them. They're my best friends."

"Oh honey, but dating your best friend is the best type of relationship," she said. "Although I see your problem now. Poor girl. I wish you the best of luck."

"Thanks for the moral support," I said through gritted teeth.

She laughed. "I really don't know what I'd do if I were you. So you're on your own there. But I'm still rooting for one ship, sister-in-law." She added the last part with a knowing look making me look away in embarrassment.

Brennan let out a sigh. "But I still would have liked to know how their little group formed," she said with a chuckle. "Although I know how you met Bennett. Quite the mouth you got there."

I felt my cheeks turn warm. "He caught me when I was having a bad day," I said with a forced chuckle.

"Who hasn't?" She said. "But do you know who really has?"

Brennan suddenly pulled out her phone, typed in something, and then showed me the screen. There, I faced a young Bennett, probably in his middle school years, with a burnt batch of brownies. He may have been furious with the state of his brownies if he wasn't angry at the one who took the picture as it showed him charging towards the screen.

She gave me her phone, allowing me to look through the album called Benny. "He forgot to set the timer. He didn't step into the kitchen for a week before trying again."

I swiped right and saw a middle school Bennett and Bentley at the pool. Bennett was lounging on a couch float, but rather than being relaxed, he held his arms to brace himself before Bentley was about to do a cannonball into the pool.

"Those two nearly drowned each other after that. Then they pushed me into the pool since I was sunbathing the entire time," she said, sighing at the memories.

"They seemed nicer to each other back then," I commented.

"Actually, they were. They-"

"Finally," a voice interrupted us.

We saw Bennett walking up to our table. "Brennan, you can't just kidnap my friends."

"That would be a dream come true," Jordan said that deserved an elbow to the stomach from Declan who said, "Can you shut up for once?"

"It's ok, Bennett," I told him. "I don't mind this Frazier kidnapping."

"We seriously need a family intervention about this," he muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, Bennett eyed Brennan's phone in my hands with a picture of him and his brother.

"What have you been showing her?" He accused before snatching the phone from me. As he flipped through the pictures, he said, "I thought I deleted this album."

"It's called back-up, little brother," Brennan said, taking back her phone. "How did you find us?"

"Lucky guess," Jordan said, eyeing me.

It dawned on me. Jordan's Trace Ace app strikes again. Sorry, Brennan.

Jordan and Declan moved another table and connected it to ours. Then Jordan slid into the seat next to me.

"So ladies, what have you been talking about?" He asked with a grin. "Boys? Dating? Romance? Me?"

Brennan smiled. "Actually all of them. Aren't you and Declan over there a thing?"

"Why do people keep on shipping us?" Jordan cried.

Declan got up from his seat next to Jordan and sat in the seat across from him. "I'm done with all of you."

Bennett sighed, eyeing his sister as if his gaze can make her behave as most people tend to do. He clearly has no such control, but you'd have to give him credit for trying.

"Why did you have to steal Naomi away from us?" Jordan asked, leaning his head against mine. "We got to her first."

"Some talk from someone who constantly flirts with her," I said. "You rather switch places."

"Are you jealous? Is my plan working?"

I pushed him away. "As if."

Jordan laughed. "This has been my plan all along. Making Naomi jealous to show her undying love for me."

"What I'm feeling isn't love right now."

"Yeah, now your plan is really going to work after you told it to her," Declan muttered.

Jordan stopped laughing and frowned. "This is also part of my plan."

"Seriously Jordan, stop it," Bennett said.

"Why? You don't like thinking of me as your brother-in-law?"

"I think I just threw up a little in my mouth."

"Sorry, but you're not my type," Brennan said, making Jordan's jaw drop. "I've always been into the strong silent type."

"But that's me isn't-" He stopped at who Brennan was looking at.

Declan.

Declan looked away. "Please don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Brennan asked innocently.

"Bennett, your sister is scaring me."

"So even the great Declan is scared of something," I said with a laugh.

"I'm not great," he snapped, flustered. "I mean, don't call me the great."

"But do you know who is great? Me. I'm great." Jordan looked at us, trying to get us to agree, but he was met with silence.

"I know I said you can tease them," Bennett said to his sister. "But you're taking it too far."

"It's never fun unless you take it too far."

"Wait, you told her she can make fun of us like this?" Jordan demanded.

"You weren't exactly complaining before," Bennett said.

"Well, yeah, but I now I see that I have been blinded and seduced by this Frazier," Jordan accidentally pointed to Bennett who sat next to his sister. When he tried shifting to his actual target, it was already too late.

"You need to die."

"But I will if Naomi cannot see that my heart has always been with-"

"So what did I miss in school?" I asked the others.

As Jordan slowly withered away in his seat, Bennett and Declan updated me on a couple of homework and an upcoming chapter quiz.

"You all should grab yourselves some drinks," Brennan told them. "Can you get me and Naomi another cup of tea as well?"

Bennett eyed his sister, then let out a sigh. "Alright. C'mon Jordan, you're with me. Declan, keep an eye on them."

"Why can't I stay- Ok, I get it, nevermind."

They both got up to wait in line to order our drinks. Declan looked warily at Brennan who kept on looking at him with an innocent smile.

I looked at Brennan and she gave me a wink in response.

"Are you interested in anyone Declan?" Brennan asked him, moving one seat over to be next to him.

Declan's eyes caught mine and he looked away, making me look away as well.

"Not really," he said, scooting away.

"Liar," Brennan said. "Why do you keep avoiding me?"

"You're my friend's sister, and-" He cleared his throat when Brennan moved closer to him. "Please move away."

"Why aren't you like your friend?" Brennan asked with a pout.

"Because he's an idiot and I have honor," Declan told her, crossing his arms. "And I know you're doing this on purpose."

"Aw, it's just fun teasing you."

I saw the other two were at the counter beginning their orders. "Do you think they're ordering the right drink for you?" I asked him.

Declan froze. "I want strawberry lemonade. Last time they got the wrong thing on purpose. I need to stay with them or else... " He looked at both of us. "Just stay right there."

We both smiled and said together, "Of course."

Declan went to join his friends. I can't believe they all went to get drinks and left the two of us alone. I'm almost disappointed in them.

Brennan looked at me, impressed. "How did you know that would work?"

"I know Declan. He was flustered but wasn't going to budge. That was the only thing that might have been able to."

Brennan suddenly grabbed my hand and we walked as fast and quietly as possible, attempting to stifle our snickers.

Just as Brennan opened the door, I heard Bennett say, "Wait, where did- Hey stop!"

The two of us raced to the car and zoomed away as fast as we can.

"So..." Brennan asked. "Do you know anywhere we can hideout? My place is Bennett's place, so that is a no for me."

"Let me think," I said as I turned off the location setting off the Trace App.

Obviously, I couldn't go to the base. They might check my house and I can't trust my mom with Jordan around. They also know me too well to check the bookstore or library.

"Actually, I think I know."

After a couple of rings, the call was picked up and I said, "Lynn, save us."








I know, a bit late. But I'm getting there. Progress people! Progress!

I wonder a lot of things in this chapter... What happened at junior year. The relationship of the Frazier brothers. Jordan's motives. And well, much more!

Oh, and I have the next chapter ready. This chapter was WAY too long, and too... deep. I had to cut in half. Please be prepared for the next chapter. Trigger warning wise. I'll be sure to put a warning at the beginning of that chapter.

Thank you all and I hope you have a great day.


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