To; Alex
- Hey thanks for last night! I had fun:) just wondering if you’re free tonight around 7? X

From; Alex
- Anytime babe, I had fun too, u were nice;) … for once! Kidding, and yeah im free, why? What’s on your mind? xx

To; Alex
- I’m worrying about your lack of punctuation and how awful your spelling is, but I was wondering if you would like to come to mine tonight… meet my friends? I’m cooking, if that makes a difference. X

From; Alex
- Ouch you just broke my heart? that was so mean of you to say, and are you asking me
on a date here or am I getting it wrong?;) xx

To; Alex
- You know what I’m asking, don’t make me say it. Just say; yes or no. Although saying no would be wiser as my friends are idiots and hate each other. X

From; Alex
- Haha, have I ever told u that ur cute? see u at 7 babe. Xx

-

I was a bad friend.

I was going to hell.

In fact I don’t think hell would even want me.

What lunatic invites their two best friends and her Brother, plus his soon to be wife to a meal she is preparing. Did I mention those two best friends hate each other and that my Brother is an idiot, maybe Erin would be my saviour? Oh this was a bad idea. I should cancel right, I should cancel right now.

Except I’ve started dinner now and letting all that food go to waste would be a joke. Plus I couldn’t demolish six portions worth of Mexican Wraps. Hell no, I put so much effort and time into making them. Do you know how hard it is to actually wrap those things? They should be re-named Mexican Falls Apart.

“Are you nervous?” Let’s play a game of guess what Robin’s doing… that’s right, she’s lying on the sofa reading a book. Like always, maybe she wouldn’t be doing that if she knew Freya was coming to this meal… I’d only told her it would be Tony the Dick, Erin, Alex, Me and Herself.

Oops?

And obviously I’d told Freya that Robin was going out, otherwise she’d have never came – fearing she’d end up with a black eye or worse, a broken bone… or two.

“No, definitely not nervous,” I scoffed re-arranging the Mexican Fall Apart’s.

“You really are, what are you nervous about, Tony or Alex?” Christ, I think I forgot the part where Tony and Alex were going to be in the same room, this could spark so many things. Like Alex realising my family is dysfunctional, or Tony inviting him to the wedding, or me being tormented by them both, or them both turning into twelve year olds… help.

“Neither,” I scoffed “they’re both idiots it’s ok, I’ll just give them a colouring book and some pencils and we’ll be fine!”

“We don’t own any colouring books, or pencils for that matter.”

Great thanks for the moral support there, Robin.

“What time have you invited everyone round for anyway?” she sighed, I think she disliked this idea as much me. Robin really was not a people person, she wasn’t really an anything person to be honest.

“Urm, seven,” Robin reached and grabbed her phone off the table “I think,” although I’d definitely told Freya to come for half past seven. I didn’t want arguments to start before at least one person had eaten some of the food I slaved over all day.

“Better get yourself sorted out,” Robin chuckled throwing her phone down “it’s just gone seven, on the dot.”

Just as the words left Robin’s mouth there was a loud, booming knock at the door. One I could instantly distinguish, “Oi, you can’t just invite us round and not be ready!” Tony called, I didn’t even have time to get over to the door and open it before he’d invited himself in.
“Oh hello to you too Tony,” I stopped mid-stance “come in why don’t you?”

“I will do, don’t you worry baby sis!” he grinned widely and then jogged across the small space between us. I didn’t have time to react before he swiped me up into his freakishly large arms and spun me around the room a couple of times, resulting in me feeling extremely sea-sick: Idiot.

“Put me down!” I demanded. I’d spent a while on my hair and my clothes, for once, were quite presentable and he was not going to ruin that.

“Oh yeah, sorry I forgot you’re making an impression for your now boy-f,” he put me back on the floor and I stomped on his foot, for one he did crease my outfit and two, he did not just refer to Alex as my ‘boy-f’ and he did not actually just say ‘boy-f’ – were we back in High school, or?

“He is not my boyfriend,” I argued back.

“Riiiight, what just a casual fuck every now and then?” Tony smirked leaning back against my kitchen worktop – did I mention he’d just left his ‘girl-f’ or future wife standing awkwardly at my front door? What a dick.

“Gross Tony,” I screwed my face up. My Brother should not be asking me who I am, and who I am not having sexual relations with – not that there were any because well “we’re just… friends, ok?” yes, I’d just officially given us the friends title. It was real now, we were in fact friends. I want off of that subject though, seriously. “Aren’t you going to invite your girlfriend in?” I whisper-shouted; Tony's eyes immediately widened and he looked over at Erin who, bless her soul, was stood politely twiddling her fingers.

“Baby,” Tony cooed. He jogged back to her side and slipped his hands around her waist, placing a protective kiss onto her forehead. I’d have found it cute if it was anyone other than Tony.

“Robin?” I called and turned around – almost giving myself a heart attack in the process because she’s moved from her spot on the sofa to standing on my left.

“Cute aren’t they?” she mumbled admiringly to me “Hey, I hope you don’t mind but I invited NAME ?” I nodded in agreement, NAME was a cool lad, and he could distract Robin from Freya. Luck was on my side today “I was thinking you know make this like a couple’s night…”

“This is not a couple’s night!” I shouted, stomping my left foot as well for some unknown reason, I seemed to do that a lot “Alex and I are not a couple, ok?” I huffed and stormed off towards the kitchen.

“Oi, Jade aren’t you going to say hello to Erin?” Shit, I knew there was something I’d forget.

“My god, I am so sorry!” I rushed out, but she flipped her hand and giggled.

“Don’t worry, honestly.” I grinned widely and she stepped forwards, pulling me into a bone crushing hug “It’s been a while eh Jade?” Erin was lovely, deep down even if I may have forgotten everything about the poor girl, one thing I could remember was how lovely she was and how she did not deserve a mongrel like my Brother. Did I mention she had a cracking pair of boobs and a fabulous arse, accompanied with the perfect pair of legs?

“It has been a while,” I lied because I couldn’t remember her, oops “we should do something soon,” Damn does my mouth have a filter?

“Well,” Erin stepped back just as the doorbell rang, I shot her a sympathetic smile but Tony put his hand out and stopped me, wondering off to get the door himself. So he did have manners somewhere deep down “Tony and I were wondering, seeing as he regards you as one of his best friends,” he does? “And I don’t think you’d like to be a best man, especially with his loons of friends,” agreed they were idiots “would you like to be my maid of honour?”

Oh my god. I didn’t even know the girl and she was giving me an honour, “I-I, urm,” dammit a stutter “I, wow Erin. I’d love too,” I smiled and her arms were back around my body. She rocked me side to side just as Tony walked around the corner, his thumbs up and a wide smile smacked across his face.

“Good choice,” he mouthed pointing back over his shoulder to where Alex was following behind him, as white as a ghost.

“What did you do?” I hissed.

“Nothing.” Tony shrugged.

“Go in the living room you idiot,” Erin finally let go of me and Tony instantly wound his arm around her waist, he rolled his eyes and mumbled ‘touchy’ leaving the hallway – Alex started to follow him, but I grabbed his arm and stopped him.

“Not you,” I laughed. He stopped and turned to face me, I could see the ‘sorry’ working it’s way up to his lips but raised my eyebrows and he stopped “don’t even say it,” I scolded “what has he said to you?” I frowned, hoping he would say something weird, or funny, or he would try and hug me… but he didn’t.

“N-nothing,” he stuttered and he does not have a stutter.

“Tell me what he said Alex or I’ll go and pound his face with a crate of gone off tomatoes.” I wasn’t joking; I had one of those in the fridge.

“No, don’t do that!” Alex grabbed my arm, knowing I was deadly serious “He just gave me that Brotherly talk you know,” he shrugged “Although I think your Brother really will go through with his threats,” he frowned “you know it isn’t in any of my intentions to ever hurt you right?” he whispered seriously and I think my heart almost broke.

To-Do list: Beat the shit out of Alex for scaring the shit out of my cute twelve year old who is actually twenty-three and drives a car and plans great dates, friend.

“Oh Alex,” I don’t know why I did, but I wrapped my arms around his neck (with much difficulty, hello I was tiny compared to him) and hugged him tightly “Ignore Tony, we don’t call him The Dick for nothing… and he couldn’t hurt a fly!”

“But he’s so big,” Alex said in awe hugging me back.

“Puppy fat,” I argued. It wasn’t, it was definitely muscle. Alex didn’t need to know that. I then quickly pulled away and took his hand in mine “anyway come and say hi, oh and Erin is in there… so you’ll be able to see who Tony is marrying, she’ll keep him on a leash, promise!” Alex squeezed my hand in response.

“He cares about you,” Alex said and I scoffed. Tony and I definitely did not care about each other, I was his brat sister and he was my idiotic brother.

“Hey everyone!” I shouted to the four people, because during my moment with Alex, NAME seemed to have snuck in? Unless Robin kept him in a cage in her room, not that it would surprise me.

“Everyone,” Robin scoffed and I glared at her.

“This is Alex,” I continued ignoring her comment “he’s my friend…” and he definitely was my friend even though it didn’t look like it because we were holding hands.

“Hey,” Alex waved slightly.

“Lex, you know Robin…” they nodded to each other. I pointed to NAME, who I didn’t really know that well to be honest “This is Robin’s other half, NAME!” Alex tipped his head in a sort of ‘sup’ way and NAME mirrored his action. Weird. I moved on, ignoring that “You know Tony, apparently.” I glared at Tony and he just shrugged “And this is Tony's other half to be Erin!” Alex waved over to her and then squeezed my hand.

Hooray for things being awkward.

“Why don’t you all mingle?” I suggested “Because I really need to check on dinner,” and I really did need to make sure everything as perfect I didn’t want to give anyone food poising. I dropped Alex's hand and pushed him down onto the couch, giving him an encouraging smile and quickly left the room. That atmosphere was not giving me any enjoyment. I was starting to worry about when Freya was going to arrive, shit.

I started working on reheating the food for everyone in the kitchen, because I’m a good host and feeding people cold meals would not be good. Everything was going well when I heard Tony's loud voice travelling down the hallway to where I was.

“She would not invite you!” I heard him laugh humourlessly.

“Well she did, so move up!” That was Freya, oh shit.

I pulled off my oven gloves and jogged over towards the front door, finding Tony stood in the doorway blocking my view of Freya.

“Move Tony,” I sighed.

“Oh hell no,” Tony argued pushing me back. Somehow, with this shove I managed to trip over my own foot – resulting in my landing with a loud ‘oof’ on the floor. This caught everyone’s attention and soon enough, Tony, Erin, Robin, NAME, and I were crammed into this tiny little hallway. Everyone had crowded around the door and not one of them had offered to help me up, rude.

That was until Alex walked into the hallway and noticed me on the floor; he immediately pulled me up and asked me if I was okay, which I was. He also offered to rub my bum for me, but realised how weird that sounded and I reminded him that he shouldn’t do that in front of Tony
if he wanted a pair of hands at the end of the evening.

Anyway! I had better things to deal with, like Freya who was still putting up a fight with Tony.

“Who are you arguing with?” Robin scoffed, trying to peak over Tony's conveniently large shoulders.

“Guys just let her in!” I sighed, rubbing my temples.

“I’ll let her in, sure but if that asshole steps a toe into this apartment I’ll knock him through the fucking wall!” Tony shouted, his eyes never leaving Freya and whoever ‘he’ in front of him was.

“Tony. Move.” Robin said monotonously, Tony obliged and moved. Bad move Big Brother, bad move. Now I was in the shitter.

“You told me she wasn’t coming!” Both Freya and Robin shrieked together. I sighed. Sighing was all I could do.

“Sorry?” I mumbled quietly, I was sure only I could hear myself though.

“Go home.” Robin said blankly.

“Hey! I invited her,” I frowned.

“Jade are you mad?” Robin shouted at me “Do you want a repeat of last time huh? Are you really that dumb?” Ouch, she thought I was dumb.

“I’m not dumb!” I argued back “I just wanted my two best-friends to be there for me, for once!” I pouted, usually if I pouted people felt sorry for me. It didn’t work this time however, the atmosphere was as dry as a desert and Robin looked like she was going to kill Freya, I suspected that Freya looked the same but the massive door in front of me was preventing me from seeing her face.

“No actually, you might not be dumb,” Robin agreed “but Jesus Christ, Freya you are. I’d understand if you’d have turned up on your own, maybe we’d have been damn civil with each other, but was bringing that scum really necessary?!”

Wait who was the scum?

“Betraying your best friend and now you’re here to rub it in her face?” My eyebrows furrowed. Who was she talking too?

Damn you door.

I looked over at Tony and Erin to find them both watching glancing over Robin’s shoulder at Freya. NAME, bless his soul was trying to pull Robin back, but she was having none of it. I looked beside me and locked eyes with Alex, “And you think your friends are bad,” I mumbled under my breath.

“You okay?" he mumbled and I nodded, blocking out Freya and Robin who were still arguing. Clearly, Alex didn’t believe me and wrapped an arm around my waist, a gesture I didn’t resent of argue against.

Apparently Freya and Robin were still arguing and the argument had developed to the extent where NAME was holding Robin back and Erin was soothing Tony. I’d had enough, why was everyone setting out to ruin my day?! Scrap that.

I unwound Alex's hand from my waist and strutted my sassy little ass towards the door, I pushed Robin and NAME back and practically growled at them before turning around sympathetically to apologise to Freya.

She was not getting that apology. My mouth fell out in an O-Shape and it was not because of her extremely revealing skirt. It was more to do with the person whose hand had snaked its way around her waist. I tried to compose a sentence but nothing was working, bar one word that vomited its way out.

“Traitor?” I gasped in utter disbelief.

“Jade, I promise I was going to tell you!” Freya panicked “I mean you’ve moved on right because you have Alex now don’t you, so it’s not like you were going to get butt hurt over this?” she asked timidly.

“This is why you were so keen to get me to see Alex?” I shrieked in understanding, that sly so-and-so.

“But you’ve moved on now!” Freya argued, ignoring the question completely.

I didn’t know how to respond and thank the lord Robin was with me at that moment and thank the lord she pulled me away “Just because she happens to be starting to date again it does not mean you can jump into bed with her Ex, again, you slut!” Robin roared letting the cat out of the bag.

Yes ladies and Gentlemen. The reason my Brother, Robin and everyone else in the world except me because I had the power to forgive and forget hated my best friend (who I’m not sure is worthy of that title right now) because one horrible day I’d come home to find her banging him on our couch, which we had to get rid of. It was fair to say I was broken, I loved Kellin. Like I don’t know what love is but I’m sure I had it with him, I wanted to have his children and I wanted to live happily ever after but he was fucking my best pal with no remorse.

I kicked him out and Robin kicked Freya out.

“Hardly a slut!” Kellin hollered, his voice making me want to puke.

“You’d jump in Jade's grave if you had the chance Freya,” Robin said with a laugh.

“Jade was a shit bang anyway,” Kellin scoffed “frigid,” he shrugged and I used to love this asshole? Apparently my Brother and Alex did not like that comment what-so-ever. Tony stepped forwards in full attack mode, but Alex stepped in front of him and in front of me.

“I suggest you leave,” Alex said quietly, but his voice was dripping in threat.

“Jade I am so sorry!” That was Freya, who sounded almost upset as I was.

“Or what dude?” Kellin snarled.

“You weren’t invited,” Alex said simply “so how about you stop ruining everyone else’s fun and get the hell out of here before something serious happens.”

“What? You’ll flick me down with your fringe,” Kellin whose head was fifty times much too big for his body tested.

“Nah, he won’t touch you man,” Tony hollered “but I will.” Tony stood beside Alex; both of them had their arms folded protectively across their chests staring Kellin down.

“Can I just talk to Jade?” Freya sniffed, was she crying?

“Now’s not the time Freya,” Alex said more softly “I just think to save all arguments you should leave,” Tony nodded in agreement at his statement.

“But she’s my best friend; I can’t just leave with all this hanging on my shoulders!” Freya cried loudly. This built Robin’s anger back up and the girl pushed everybody out of the way. Christ was we being filmed and was Ashton Kutcher here again?

“Shut up Freya,” Robin laughed humourlessly “You’re a shit friend, really. Because it doesn’t take a genius to work out Jade has problems with men,” everyone nodded in agreement, thanks “we know she has problems letting people get to know her and she let him in,” she pointed to Kellin “she knocked down her walls… but being the whore you are you jumped into bed with him, but not once, not even twice, three fucking times you slut!”

Alex turned around to face me, pulling an ‘O-face’ I felt my eyes brimming with tears and my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Something I’d managed to push away had resurfaced. I was angry, but I couldn’t get manage to get any words out. Bringing up the past wasn’t good, especially when it was my past. Everyone should have left it and I’d have dealt with Freya and Kellin on my own and none of this would have happened.

I was done.

“Get out,” I mumbled.

Nobody moved, they continued to argue.

“I said get the fuck out!” my voice raised dramatically, but yet nobody moved “Are you all fucking deaf or do you not understand that by get out I mean get the fucking hell out of my god damn apartment before I burn you all.” Freya and Kellin scurried away, Robin and NAME left the flat, Robin shouting a lady-like ‘Bitch I’m not done with you’ to Freya. Tony kissed my forehead and slipped out, Erin gave me a ‘he’s a keeper’ and then left too. Leaving just Alex stood beside me.

And then he stepped in front of me, he tried to cup my face but I pushed him away “Get out Alex,” I roared “don’t you understand that I don’t want you or anyone here?” he ignored me.

“You don’t mean that,” he argued “you need someone right now Jade and I am not going to leave you alone!”

“Yes I do mean it and I don’t need someone, I never need anyone. Don’t you understand how sick and twisted it is that I still manage to call someone who slept with my boyfriend, the boy I was convinced I was going to marry and live the life of a princess with, a best friend? I’m a mess and you need to leave!” somehow my voice managed to soften and he nodded understandingly.

“You’re not a mess,” he frowned and wrapped a hand around the top of my head. He quickly pulled it forwards and pressed his lips to my forehead, a gesture that made my eyes well up even more “I’m not going anywhere,” he said softly.

“Well I fucking will then,” I pushed him away and stormed off down the hallway into my room, once I was in there I threw myself onto my bed and screamed loudly.

And then I broke down.

Nobody had even touched the food I’d made.

Notes

HELLO!
I HAVE INTERNET!

This has been freaking nominated for a Fanfic Award! That's so crazy!
If you want, you can vote for me here :)
I've also been nominated for Best Author too, this is so surreal! <3