He's My Brother's Best Friend and My Enemy, This Can't Be Good!

I hadn’t been able to eat lunch with my friends for the last two weeks. Since AP tests usually took four hours I had been eating lunch with the other designated “smart” kids. Now that all that was behind me I made my way over to my usual lunch table.

“I missed you guys so much!” I exclaimed.

Lunch carried on as usual. It was as if my two week absence hadn’t even occurred. That was the thing I loved about my group of friends, they never made anyone feel left out.

As lunch carried on the boys seemed to have lost themselves in their own conversation. Now that the end of May was approaching, reality was beginning to hit them. I tried to get Parker’s attention a few times throughout the duration of lunch but was met with no response. I didn’t take it too personal.



“Hey you,” I heard a familiar voice murmur.

I turned around abruptly consequently knocking my backpack-that was balanced on my knee-to the floor causing everything to scatter. It had been a long time since Parker’s presence startled me. Before I could even react to the scattered remains of my books, Parker had placed them back into my bag handing me my backpack when he was finished. He made sure it was zipped so the same thing didn’t occur again.

“Sorry,” I apologized.

“For what? Dropping your bag on the floor, that’s a silly reason to apologize to me.”

“Psh, I wasn’t apologizing to you I was apologizing to my books,” I teased.

Parker let out a loud gasp before a chuckle escaped his lips. My lips tugged up into a smile before they were met with his.

“Are you going home right now?”

“I was planning on it. Why?” Given Parker’s question I knew there was no way I was actually going home now.

“Come with me to the park.”

“The park?” I questioned. The only park that was remotely close to Mass High was the one found adjacent to our old elementary school. I hadn’t been there since I went with Ava a few months ago. “Guess I’m going to the park then.”

Parker’s face lit up as he laced our fingers together leading me out of Mass High toward the parking lot. Like usual our cars managed to be parked beside each other. I quickly got in mine starting the engine before looking up to find Parker staring at me. I rolled down my window so that I could speak.

“I don’t want to leave her here,” I said. I knew Parker wanted me to go with him in his car but I didn’t want to have to drive back to Mass High after to get my car. It was just easier if we both drove there. “I’ll follow you.”

“We’re not being very environmentally friendly,” Parker teased, trying to guilt me into driving with him.



Me being the child I am ran straight for the swings before he even finished getting out of his car. I saw him a minute later walking towards me a cheeky grin radiating off his face. Soon he occupied the swing next to me and the two of us swung our legs in perfect unison.

Before long the sun began to set. I wouldn’t have minded too much but as the sun disappeared the air became chillier. Parker took notice, shrugging off his jacket to lend me. He got off the swing taking my hand with him as he ushered us towards a bench overlooking the park.

“All right Daniels, what’s up?” I asked. He definitely didn’t drag me to the park to swing on the swings with me for an hour.

“I’ve started looking at flight information for June.”

“I thought you already had your ticket down there for June?” I questioned.

Parker shook his head. I was surprised USC didn’t have everything in order. May was almost over and the entire team was set to report at the end of June. I was really surprised that his parents hadn’t already purchased the tickets.

Parker hesitated for a moment, turning to face me. “Are you going to go with me for the week?”

This time it was my turn to hesitate. As much as I would have loved to spend a week with him LA I couldn’t do that to him. It wouldn’t be fun for either of us. I would be stuck in a hotel room while he mingled with his new team and he would be too focused on me to get to know them. Parker sensed my hesitation before I could even object to his offer.

“Don’t even play the distraction card Jos. I’ve told you multiple times you won’t be a distraction to me.”

“You don’t know that,” I muttered.

Parker brought his hand to my face, turning it so I was once again looking at him. Dropping his hand from my face he grabbed mine and squeezed it tightly. “Babe, I played an entire season with you yelling at me on the sidelines in a jersey. If that wasn’t a distraction you going down to LA with me won’t be either.”

“You’re supposed to be going down there to meet your team, not be with your girlfriend.”

“And I will be with them, in the day. They want us down there to begin training and building their roster. They’re not even forcing us to stay in the dorms unless we want to.”

I could see Parker growing frustrated with my persistence. He could tell I wanted to go with him, at least I hoped he did. I couldn’t bring myself to accept his offer. I wasn’t going to let his parents spend money on a plane ticket for me. If I went we’d have to stay in a hotel which was another expense. Parker wasn’t thinking logically.

“Parker you know I want to go with you,” I breathed.

“Then go with me. I’ll book the ticket when we get home,” Parker insisted.
“I can’t Parker. I can’t stand in the way of you and your new team. I don’t want to hold you back.”

“Josylne-Grace really? You really think you would hold me back? How many times do I have to tell you’re the reason I’m going there! You’re not holding back. You’re letting me go half way across the country to some stupid school for fucks sake,” Parker rambled.

I listend to his words intently. I knew Parker meant every word that left his mouth, there was no doubt about that. Despite the truth to his words my answer hadn’t changed. No matter what he said, if I went I would feel like a burden.

“Stop thinking,” Parker mumbled. “I know what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours. Just go with me, please.”

“Parker,” I warned. If he kept talking I was going to cave. I already wanted to go with him but his persistent begging was only making matters worse. I needed to stick to my original answer.

Suddenly Parker’s mouth twisted into a smirk. I saw the light return to his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, the words leaving his mouth carefully. “You’ll be a bigger distraction to me if you stay here in Massachusetts.”

I sighed. There was no way I was going to win this battle. I had a feeling that even if I said no he would still end up buying me a ticket.

“Don’t guilt me Daniels,” I teased.

“I’m not guilting you Jos,” he said, innocently.

“I’m not going to the practices,” I mumbled.

It took a moment for my words to register for Parker. You could see them processing in his head as his face went from tight and furrowed to relaxed and overjoyed.

“So is that a yes?” Parker questioned.

“Promise me you’ll hang out with them. I don’t want you bailing on bonding experiences because I’m there.”

“Okay, yeah. I promise.”

Parker jumped off the bench and before I knew it I was standing myself. His lips crashed onto mine, his arms wrapping around my backside pulling me closer. I couldn’t help but smile mid kiss causing Parker to pull away from me. He looked down at me with the best smile I’ve ever seen.

I took this time to add in my last condition. “I’m paying for my ticket.”

“No,” he said sternly.

“Do you really want me to go?”

“I’m not going to let my girlfriend pay for her own ticket to LA!” he exasperated. I looked at him, matching his irritated expression. I watched as his eyes quickly scanned the park. By now the sun had completely set, the only light was coming from the lights than lined the sidewalks. Panic grew in Parker as his eyes met mine. “You can pay half,” he exhaled, defeated.

“Guess we’re going to LA again,” I joked.

“Have I told you how much I love you?” he teased.

“Maybe a few times.”

Parker pulled me into a hug before peppering my forehead with kisses. I couldn’t help but feel lucky being in Parker’s arms. Most guys would be so grateful to get rid of their girlfriend for a week and here was mine begging me to go with him. I was one lucky girl.