Gabrielhuffed.“Well, hell, if wecan’t fuck or fight, why are we going to this goddamn party in thefirst place?” I almost laughed. I knew they were more disappointedin not fighting.
Iheard Michael clap him on theback as we walked closer to the house. “We’re going to make newfriends.”
Gabe laughed. “Idon’t need any friends. I got you fuckers.” I shook my head at thesounds of their obvious rough housing behind me.
Aiden fell instep next to me. “Youokay?”
He knew Iwasfeeling off since ourvisit to the bookstore. It was the first time I’ve ever sort ofspoken to her. It was the first time I pushed my presence up in herface. I didn’t blame him for wondering if I was losing it. “I’mfine, Aid,” I said, trying to reassure him.
Gabriel’s voicereached me from behind,“Justsay the word, Mase, and we’ll all go tell Dad to eat adick.”
I couldn’t stopthe laugh that escaped from my chest. Like I said, Gabriel’sloyalty ran deep. “I’m fine, Gabe.” As long as Shane stayed to herself and didn’t take aninterest in anyone, I could wait out the remaining months untilgraduation.
Now, if she took aninterest in someone…well, then all bets were off.
I didn’teven have one foot on the grass ofthe front yard and people were already calling out our names,blowing out whistles and all that shit.
“Hey Mason!”
“Yo, dude, it’s theBuchanans!”
“Aiden, bro!”
“Oh my god, they’rehere!”
I almost turnedaround and just headed back home.
Gabe was right.If we weren’t here to fuck orfight why in the hell did we even bother?
I looked backatthe twins right before wegot to the front door of the house. They both looked at me and gaveme a slight nod.
Once we walkedthrough this doorway, we didn’t need to be in each other’s pockets, but we’d all be connected toeach other in some way, shape or form. At least one of us willalways know where any of the other one of us is.
I took the bond withmy brothers seriously.
We entered thehouse, and it was everythingyou’d expect a kick-off-the-new-semester party would be. Music wasblaring, people were drinking, guys were peacocking, and girls werecompeting for attention.
I didn’t judgethe fun. It just never grabbed my attention like it did mostpeople. I wasn’t sure if I should curse my father for my sense of responsibility or thankhim.
Within amatter of minutes, a bevy ofblondes, brunettes and redheads surrounded us. Black, White, Asian,Indian…you name it.
And believe itor not, they were battling with football players, student body members and just a crowd ofpeople for our attentions.
Itwas very sobering.
Andidiotic.
We weren’tcelebrities or famous athletes or congressmen. We were just fourstudents at an elite private college for fuck’s sake.
I glanced backat thetwins and they werebeing swarmed by females on every side. It was like watching thenature channel, all hunter and the hunted like.
My laugh turnedinto a cringe when I heard one girl ask Gabe-in what had to be themost annoying voice in the world, “So,which one of you is Mike and which one isGabe?”
The ice inGabriel’s voice made me wince.“Neither of us are,” he answered, rudely.
The girl lookedconfused as she said, “But I thought…”
“My name isGabriel, not Gabe, and my brother’s name is Michael, notMike,” he explained. “Unless you’rerelated to us, if you want us to answer you, then you had bettercall us by our names and not some familiar nickname you think youmay us by.”
