Heather couldn’t help but look around for him, she had made sure to tell them that the invitation was for all of them. Tonight was her graduation and he was nowhere in sight. “I guess he had something better to do tonight,” she thought to herself.
She had wanted Tim to come so they could talk. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how she had made such a big mistake breaking up with him. She hoped that he still felt the same for her and that they could spend all summer together. “Well it looks like that talk will have to wait until another day,” she thought silently.
She turns back to her party and tries to have fun. Somehow she manages it. Well it wasn’t that hard with her friends and family around, especially with James. James is Tim’s younger brother. James is one of Heather’s best friends, and one of the few people who has never let her down. She knew he wouldn’t tonight.
“Well congratulations my love,” James says with so much enthusiasm and love that she can’t help but smile. He holds a bouquet of tulips, her favorite flower.
Looking only slightly surprised, she replies, “Thank you, but you shouldn’t have. You know I don’t need flowers.”
“Well I thought a beautiful girl deserved beautiful flowers, and plus I know they’re your favorite,” he said. He couldn’t help but think how his jackass of a brother ever had a shot with this wonderful girl. How could she ever have fallen for him, and how could she still be hung up on him. Why couldn’t she see what was staring her in the face? Why couldn’t she see that he loved her?
“Well thank you.”
“So when do you leave for Troy?”
“The beginning of September, what are you going to miss me.”
“Well actually, yes.”
“I’ll be back practically every weekend, I promise.”
“This party is lame. You want to get out of here and go to the creek. I think a midnight swim would be awesome right now.”
“Sounds great to me, let’s go.”

Tim watched Heather from a corner. He knew he had hurt her, and felt keeping his distance was the best thing for her. He couldn’t help but be jealous. What the hell was his brother doing? Tim knew his brother had a thing for Heather, but James knew that he still loved her. He might not have showed it very well when he had her, but he hadn’t realized it until he lost her. He thought miserably, “Why did I have to cheat on her? She is the most amazing girl I have ever met, and I screwed it up. I don’t deserve her, but James is just going to hurt her too. He doesn’t know what it means to love someone, and plus she was mine first.”

The next day Heather went to Littlebit’s looking for Tim, but he wasn’t there. Disappointed though she was, she stayed and had fun hanging out with James, Steven, and Nathan. She hung around all day hoping he would show up, but he didn’t. She stayed so late that she ended up spending the night. Heather did this every weekend all summer and only saw him once, and then she couldn’t even get a moment alone with him.
The last weekend of the summer she was at Littlebit’s yet again. It was just her and James this weekend. She always had fun with James, but sometimes it was still a little hard to believe she really had so much fun with him.
“So what do you want to do today? Hunting, fishing, swimming, or a very passionate make out session personally I vote for the last one,” James said.
Heather laughed and said, “How about hunting, then fishing, and last swimming. We’ll see about that last one.”
“Ok,” he said just a little disappointed. You would think after all the hints he had been dropping all summer she would realize how he felt, but no she was still in love with his brother, and it killed him to know that. He didn’t want to see her hurt again, but that was what was going to happen. He knew she would end up back with Tim, but what he couldn’t understand was why.
James spent the whole weekend wishing Heather wouldn’t leave. He had yet to get her to see that he was the one for her and that his brother was a cheater and would always be one. Heather was always so easy to forgive people. She had such a big heart, and couldn’t manage to hold grudge. She couldn’t do it even if it meant her life. That was one of the many things he loved about her, she just couldn’t help but to care about everyone, no matter what they did to her.

Then before Heather knew it she was off to college, she was happy to be away from Alexander City and her family for the first time in her life. She was even happier to leave all the drama of her past behind her.
When she started classes she found them to be easy, and boring. She made friends easily. She even met a few guys that she was interested in, but Tim never left her mind and heart.
Randy became Heather’s best friend. They became inseparable in matter of weeks. Everyone thought they were dating. Heather couldn't help but laugh at that, "How shocked would the be to find out that Randy's gay."
"Hey sweetie," Randy said coming up behind her at the cafeteria.
"Hey, how was class?"
"Okay, I guess. Why do I have to take English I'm a foreign language major. I already know English."
"You're not all that great at English. You know to many other languages. Get over it, its a reguirment."
"Yeah yeah, lets get something to eat."
"Okay, so what do you want to do this weekend?"
"I'm going home as usually. You?"
"I dont know I might stick around. Campus is deserted on the weekends. It's kind of nice."
Monday when Randy didnt show for class Heather started to get worried. She called him, but got no answer. It took a couple of days but she finally got a hold of him.
"Hey sweetie," Randy said when he answered his phone. He sound sick.
"Hey, what's up babe? I havent seen you around this week. Are you okay?"
"Umm, not exactly I'm sick. The doctor wants to run some more test. I dont know if I'll be back this semester."
"What?!? Does he know what's wrong?"
"Not yet. Dont worry about me I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, well I'm tired. I think I'll take a nap. Talk to you later."
"Bye," Heather said and hung up. Randy did not return to school that semester.

Heather decided to go home every weekend from then on out; school just wasnt the same without Randy. With this decision came some benefits, she could see Tim on weekends. Though it was now a little bit more complicated than she would have liked, Tim now had a girlfriend. It also was made obvious though that he still cared deeply for Heather, but for some reason he did not seem to want to break up with his girlfriend.

Tim didn’t know what he was going to do. He had thought that if he dated someone else he would stop thinking about Heather, but that was not so. It didn’t help that she was coming home every weekend now that her best friend in Troy had withdrawn. He did not know what he was going to do.

James saw how Heather was looking at Tim. He knew that she came home every weekend to see his brother, and it hurt. Even though she hung out with James most of the time, he could tell she wanted to be with Tim. He also knew she wouldn’t try anything seeing as Tim had a girlfriend, but he also knew that wouldn’t stop Tim.

One weekend James stayed at home, and that left Tim and Heather alone together. She tried to keep some distance because he had a girlfriend, but he was making it hard. Every where she went he turned up. He just wouldn’t leave her alone.
“Why won’t you leave me alone?”
“Do you really want me to do that?”
“Yes, maybe, I don’t know.”
“Why do you keep pushing me away?”
“Um, I don’t know? Maybe because you have a girlfriend?”
“I broke up with her. She just wasn’t right for me,” he replied knowing it was a lie.
“Well I’m sorry. What type of girl is right for you?”
“You don’t know,” he said with a little laugh. “You are.”
“Oh,” she said taken a back. Here he was giving her just what she wanted, and now she was unsure whether she should believe him or not. So she said simply, “Whatever.”
“You don’t believe me. Well I should have expected that. I haven’t exactly treated you great, but I promise you that will change.”
“Well you’re going to have to earn my trust back, and you know that is not an easy task.”
“I’m up to it.”
And with that Heather was back with Tim. All James could do now was wait for Tim to break her heart again.

Yet again break snuck up on Heather. It was winter break in no time. She packed up some stuff and headed home for a few weeks.
The first week back she got a call from James asking her to come pick him up at school. She went of course; she couldn’t just leave him there and hope someone else would go pick him up. She did know his family, and she knew exactly how they were.
When she got there she saw something that she wished she hadn’t seen. Tim standing in the parking lot making out with the girl he supposively had broken up with. She was happy when a second later James got in the car. She didn’t mention it to him, but he knew what she had seen. He knew she would see them that is why he called her and asked her to come pick him up. He had watched his brother go out with Ginny whenever Heather wasn’t around and he just couldn’t take it anymore.
“So where to?”
“Littlebit’s, I’m supposed to be helping David paint the living room and kitchen this weekend.”
“Do y’all need some help? I would like to have something to do this weekend.”
“Of course, you are always welcome to help us out. You make work very interesting.”
“Well then, I think I’ll stay down there this weekend, at least.”
“Sounds great, I really have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”

James had decided now was the time to tell Heather how he felt. Now that she knew about Tim, she might actually see what is right in front of her. They had fun painting. They got more paint on each than on the walls, which made everything more fun.
“So have you had fun this weekend?” James asked Sunday morning.
“Of course I always have fun with you,” Heather replied.
“Heather have you ever thought about not being with Tim? I know you saw him yesterday. All he ever does is hurt you.”
“I know. I keep thinking he has changed, and then I catch him with someone else. Why did you not tell me?”
“I thought that it might help for you to see it with your own eyes. The last time I told you, you got pissed and broke up with him, but you never gave up on him. I could tell by the way you looked at him that you weren’t over him.”
“Well this time it is truly over.”
“I hope so. I can’t stand to watch him hurt you.”
“Well no more. I’m going to start looking at guys who will treat me right.”
“Well speaking of that have you ever noticed how much I care for you?”
“I know we are great friends.”
“That is not what I mean. For some reason, that I can’t fathom, you don’t see how I really feel about you. I’m in love with you.”
Heather couldn’t manage to form even one word. All she could think was when, how, and she couldn’t bring herself to say either word. So she just sat there hoping something would come to her, but it didn’t.
After what seemed like an eternity to James, Heather finally spoke, “Um ok, I’m trying to think of something to say, but I keep drawing a blank.”
“Don’t say anything I was stupid to bring it up. You’re in love with Tim, no matter how horrible he treats you.”
“Ok, first off after what I saw the other day, you don’t have to worry about me being in love with your brother. I don’t think I ever really was or I don’t know. Anyway, I really don’t know what I’m trying to say.”
“Then don’t say anything just forget I ever said anything,” he said as he got up and left.
“What have I done?” Heather said to no one, “But what did he expect me to do. Run and jump in his arms the moment he said the words. He took me by surprise, big time. Uhh, I don’t know what to do.”

Heather stayed at Littlebit’s despite the tension. She had yet to see Tim. She had talked to him, but felt telling him what she knew was best done in person. It is harder to lie in person, and plus she saw him with her on two eyes, he can’t lie his way out of that.

About a week after James’ profession of love, him and Tim showed up down at Littlebit’s. Tim walked straight in picked Heather up and kissed her. When he put her down she slapped him. “What the hell was that for?”
“Well let’s see where to start, hmm let’s start with the girl I saw you kissing last week.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t seen you in weeks first off, and second I haven’t been kissing any other girls.”
“Damn I was wrong you can still try to lie face to face. Well it won’t work. The Friday I got home I came by the school to pick up a friend,” Heather said feeling the need to keep her friend’s identity a secret, “And well it wasn’t like you were trying to hide anything. I mean come on standing the middle of the parking lot.”
“Oh please how are you so sure it was me? And who the hell were you picking up?”
“First off you were standing next to your car, and you were wearing the shirt and hat I gave you for your birthday. Second of all it is none of your damn business who I was picking up.”
“Like hell it is my business. You are my girlfriend.”
“See you just gave yourself away. You stopped trying to deny that you have been cheating on me. And I’m no longer your girlfriend, and even if I was it still wouldn’t be any of your business who I am friends with.”
Tim stood there in shock. He couldn’t believe it; he had gotten caught and this time she wasn’t buying anything he said. It also bugged him that she was at the school. Who the hell would she be picking up? It had to be someone who knew they were dating and knew he was cheating on her. But damn it who could blame him, she’s gone over ninety percent of the time. “Well it looks like I fucked up and got caught,” he said as she walked out of the room, “But I would really like to know who set me up?”

James stood there in awe as Heather tore into his brother. I guess she wasn’t lying when she said the last straw was the last straw. She knew how to get her point across too. I mean she really ripped him a new one. Tim came in so happy to see her, and she slapped that smirk off his face in seconds. “Damn I really do love that woman,” James whispered while Tim contemplated who had set him up, “If he only knew.”
Twenty minutes later James found Heather sitting outside. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah I’m fine, actually I’m great. It felt so damn good to slap him. And the look on his face when I told him that I saw him, oh it was priceless.”
“Thanks for keeping my name out of it.”
“Hey no problem, I know you two fight enough without me being thrown into the mix. As much as I can’t stand him he is your brother, and siblings have to stick together, in some cases. Take me and Tiffany for example, a lot of the time I want to beat the shit out of her, but if anyone ever so much as tries to hurt her they will be dead.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right, but I still had to have you see what he was doing.”
“I know and thank you again for that.”
“Hey! What’s up with this little powwow? Did I miss something? Did you break up with me so you can go with my brother?” Tim said as he walked out the door.
“Well I would be a better match for her,” James replied for her.
“So, I’m guessing you enjoyed that little show earlier.”
“Well what wasn’t there to enjoy? She ripped you a new one. And I always enjoy when your actions catch up to you.”
“Hey, hey boys!” Heather interjected as Tim came toward James ready for a fight. “Now both of you just get over it, I’m not dating either one of you. So no fighting on my behalf.”
“Well he deserves a good beating, but if you insist,” James said kissing Heather on the cheek as he got up and left.
“So you’ve finally hooked up with my brother. I thought it would never happen. I’ve known for years how he felt about you,” Tim said.
“What are you talking about? I’m not with James.”
“Yeah well either way, I know how he feels about you. And if he is the friend you went to pick up, he deserves to have his ass beat.”
“And why would you say that?”
“Well first off he knew you were with me, and he wants you. Second of all brothers don’t rat each other out like that.”
“Oh so him letting me know you were cheating on me was a bad thing to do. What all would you like your brother to keep quiet about? Or rather I should ask what all has he kept quiet about?”
“Never mind,” Tim said and turned to leave. “I guess I’ll see you around sweetheart.”

Heather sat outside until dusk. She had a lot to think about. How James felt about her, how she felt about him. How Tim knew but never told her. Why would he not tell her? I mean knowing Tim he could have made it work for him, not against him. She’s known him his whole life of course she knew how he could spin something in his favor. But why wouldn’t he? Did he really care that much about his brother? She knew they loved each other, but they didn’t hesitate to hurt each other and competition was a way of life for them. It just didn’t make sense.

When she came in dinner was ready. She walked toward the kitchen to see Tim fixing a plate, “Here this is for you. You’ve been out there a while. I’m sure all that thinking has made you hungry.”
“Thank you,” she said as she took the plate, a little confused.
“Let’s go sit on the porch I want to talk to you.”
“I don’t know…”
“Oh come on I promise I won’t bite,” he said with a gleam in his eye.
Obviously he was remembering her in bed, and she wasn’t going to bite. “No I think I’ll stay in here.”
“Oh come on, I just want to talk to you. I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
“Ok,” she agreed wondering what the hell is going on.

James watched Tim and Heather head to the porch in silence. She might have broken up with him, but the way it looked she would be back in his bed tonight. James knew he had been stupid to believe that this time would be different. He knew she would never truly leave his brother, no matter how much Tim hurt her.

“So what do you want to talk about?” Heather asked when they sat down.
“James,” Tim replied.
“What about James?” she answered thinking here comes what I’ve been looking for; he is going to spin everything to work for him.
“I know you’re wondering how long I have known that my brother is in love with you, and you are also wondering why I have never said anything to you about it.”
“Ok so you know me, and I know you that is why I have been wondering.”
“Ah yes but in reality we don’t know as much about each other as we think. I realized how little I knew about you one day while talking to James. He knew so much about you that I had never heard. So of course I tried to beat him at the game. I told him something that I didn’t think he knew. Well he knew it. He told me I should pay more attention to my girlfriend. After our conversation I started to think, and somewhere in the middle of all that non-thinking, as you would call it, I realized he had feelings for you. I didn’t realize until the first time he told you I was cheating on you that he was in love with you.”
“So why didn’t you tell me? I mean you could have spun it as he was jealous and wanted me. That would be more like you I have to admit.”
“Yes it probably would, but you were the first girl he wouldn't cover for me with. I knew how special you were to him, and I had come to realize how much you cared for him too. I just couldn’t do that to either of you. I was the one who fucked up and for once I faced the music without trying to find an easy out.”
“So why did you say something about it today?”
“When I walked outside and saw y’all talking I realized he had finally told you. Well I realized he had told you or showed you a lot. Yes I know he was the friend,” he said seeing her about to say something. “I also could see the confusion in your eyes as you spoke to him. I just don’t want you to give him mixed messages. Don’t lean on him and think it will have no effect on him when you move on to another guy. I know you wouldn’t do it purposefully. Just be careful.”
“Damn and I thought you didn’t have a heart. You know that is why I always thought we were good together, me the cold hearted bitch and you the heartless bastard. I guess I was wrong there, you do have a heart.”
“Do you really think you are a cold hearted bitch?”
“I don’t know. When you hear it enough you start to believe it, but I don’t feel cold hearted at least not all the time.”
“Hey I’m sorry if I ever hurt you. I mean other than the cheating. I know I have said some things that I never should have, like calling you a cold hearted bitch.”
“It’s ok.”
“No it is not. You shouldn’t let anyone speak to you like I have, and you especially should never believe any of what they say. You are a good person, who would do anything for anybody. You are the farthest thing from cold hearted.”
“Ok stop now before you make me cry.”
“Oh please you might not be cold hearted but you also don’t cry. At least not easily.”
Heather laughed. Damn this boy knew her way to well, but he said he didn’t know her that well. He said James knew her better than he did. Was it actually possible? Could James really know her that well? Could she be falling for James?

That night they all played cards. James didn’t seem to want to be anywhere near Heather or Tim, but she eventually convinced him. “Oh come on James, I need you to play. You are the only one who will let me cheat and help me cheat.”
“Ok, since you need me,” James replied sarcastically.
Heather heard the sarcasm and it hurt. He didn’t really know how much she needed him, how much she depended on him. But of course she never realized how he felt either. They had a long road ahead and she knew it.
“James sit by me please. You know that will be the only way we can cheat.”
“Ok,” he said, but what he was really thinking was what the hell are you trying to do to me; you are making me sit between you and Tim. What is she trying to do kill me, or rather get me killed? Or maybe she is hoping I’ll kill Tim.
“Ok so we’re playing phase ten, as requested by the lady. I told her no on the whiskey,” Tim said as they entered the kitchen. The look he gave Heather said he didn’t think that this was going to work. Which is exactly what he believed, he didn’t think a game of cards would get James to forgive him and warm back up to her especially since the two of them ate dinner on the porch by themselves. But it wasn’t like what James thought. James thought Heather had forgiven him and taken him back, but Tim knew that wasn’t going to happen again. All Tim had wanted to accomplish with his private talk with Heather was to get her to tread carefully with his brother’s heart, but James couldn’t see that.
“Oh why not, I could really use a drink,” James replied.
“See I told you I wasn’t the only one who wanted to get drunk tonight,” Heather put in.
“Fine I’ll go get the bottle of Jack. Why don’t we play quarters instead?”
“Because the two of you always gang up on me when we do,” Heather replied.
“Oh now we wouldn’t do that,” James said, starting to lighten up at the mention of old drinking times. “Ok so maybe we would, but I promise we won’t tonight. So what do you say, quarters?”
“Ok fine but when y’all get me drunk y’all have to take care of me.”
“Oh trust me I don’t think that will be a hardship for either one of us,” James replied with a little grin and glint in his eye.
Tim headed out of the room to his truck to get the Jack. Heather kept looking at James. She couldn’t help but notice the mischievous look on his face. “What are you up to? You have that look.”
“Me, nothing. I’m not up to a thing,” James replied.
“Oh please I know you better than that. I guess I’ll find out soon, but if I had to guess it has something to do with getting me drunk.”
“Now like I said before I wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh yes you would and we both know it, but I trust you not to do anything once I am drunk so I don’t particularly care.”
“Oh how sweet the little couple is flirting,” Tim said as he came back in. Heather shot him a look that said clearly you’re not helping.
“Well we have to do something, and you know how much I love to flirt. If you had waited about five more minutes he would have been under my control. I could have had my way with him,” Heather replied.
“Oh you know you can have your way with me anytime, anyplace,” James replied with a mischievous grin on his face.
“Ok on that note I think I need to get drunk,” Tim interjected. “So let’s get started. Quarters with rules.”
“Sounds good to me,” James answered.
“Um why not just regular quarters,” Heather put in.
“Now missy you told me you trusted me. Are you taking that back?”
“No I do trust you. Ok fine, but don’t take away snacks.”
“Ladies first,” Tim said.
Heather took the quarter aimed for the shot glass and amazingly made it. She looked up, “James drink.” He looked a little shocked but he poured himself a shot and downed it. Heather aimed again and yet again she made it. She looked up at James and said, “Tim drink.” She didn’t even wait to see if he took his shot, she aimed and made it again. She looked back at James and said, “Drink sweetheart, and the rule is no one calls me sweetheart.”
“Oh come one now. That’s not fair. You just called me sweetheart,” James retorted.
“Yes but see I don’t call you sweetheart that often, but both of you call me sweetheart all the time.”
“Ok we get the picture,” Tim interjected. “Still your turn Heather.
She made one more, “Tim drink up, and it is your turn James.”
“Ok sweetheart,” they both said in unison.
Heather laughed and said, “Drink both of you.”
When James downed his shot he looked at Heather and said, “I think it is time our beautiful companion had a drink.”
“Who are you talking about me or Tim?” Heather replied with a mischievous smirk on her face.
“Well seeing as I don’t think guys are beautiful and especially not my brother, I guess that means you.”
“Ok you two love birds let’s just get on with the game,” Tim interjected feeling a little out of place in their game.
James aimed and made it. He looked up at Heather with that little grin she loved and said, “Well my darling I believe you have to drink.”
“Ok, but next time I make the rule no one can call me darling,” she retorted with a little grin of her own. James took aim again and yet again made it. He just looks at Heather and nodded. She took another shot and waited for him to nod again. In which he did when he made the glass a third time. Then he said, “Lets see…I know no one calls anyone by a nickname. That way we are on even ground with you Heather.”
“Ok,” Heather and Tim said in unison.
“But you know I don’t like even ground,” Heather said.
“Oh well, I do,” James replied.
The night continued like that until they all went to bed. Tim couldn’t help but feel left out. It was his idea to talk to Heather about James which in turn put everything into motion, but he didn’t think he would feel like a third wheel around them. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was the James had felt the whole time him and Heather were together.
Heather headed back to school a week later. When she pulled up at her dorm she was surprised and very happy to see Randy sitting on the steps. He walked over and gave her a hug. "I've missed you girl," he said grinning.
"I've missed you too. How are you doing?"
"Good, the doc put me on some meds so alls good."
"So what's wrong? You never told me."
"Thyroid problem, but its all under control now. Need any help with you stuff?"
"Yes please."
"So, how was your break?" Randy asked when the got to her room.
"Interesting, I broke up with Time. He cheated on me again."
"What the hell! Would you like me to kick is ass?"
"No. I'm fine, but it seems James is interested in me. And I think I might be interested in him."
"Hmmm, that'll piss Tim off. Go for it."
"It wont piss Tim off. He basically so go for it too."
"What?!?"
"Yeah I was shocked too, but he was sincere. He thinks James and I would be good together."
"Well then what are you waiting for?"
"For James to believe that I am really over Tim, and that I want to be with him."
"Anyway I can help?"
"Yeah can you let James stay in your dorm this weeked?"
"Sure, I wont be there anyway."
"I know," I said with a grin.
"Hot damn, my good girl is going over to the bad side. I'm so proud," Randy said grinning like a fool.
"I'm not going over to the bad side, just close."
That weekend James pulled up at Randy's dorm just as Randy was pulling off. Heather waved good bye, then turned to James. "Come on, I'll show where the room is."
They walked up to Randy's room in silence. Neither knowing exactly what to say. When the entered the room Heather decided action was better than words, and kissed him long and hard.
"Well, that was a nice welcome," James said when he caught his breath.
"James, I'm sorry I hurt you. It was never my intention. We'll you please give me a chance?"
"Of course I will. I love you," James said smiling tenderly.
"I love you too. And I think you need to know that the conversation Tim and I had that night on the front porch was him telling me not to hurt you."
"What?!?"
"Yeah, he was worried I would end up hurting you. I cant help but see his point. He loves you very much, he's just an ass hole most of the time."
"Well..." James said not knowing what to say.
"So are we officially together or are you going to make me beg?" Heather asked changing to subject.
"Hmmm, what would begging include?" James asked grinning.
"You only get that if we're together. That does not count as begging," Heather replied trying her best not to smile.
"Well, in that case, yes we're together," James said as he picked Heather up and headed toward the bed.

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 26.05.2012

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