Brother’s Best Friend

Ruthie Rose~ Point Of View

"Silly me to think that he could fall, like an idiot—"

"Kill me," I mumble into my pillow. "Please."

It's Friday night, and I'm currently being held hostage in my own house.

My tone deaf older cousin, Kat, decided to stop by for what was supposed to be a quick visit. Apparently, my mom needed to borrow Auntie's diamond tennis necklace for her date night with my dad tonight.

So Mom let Auntie borrow one of hers before, Auntie returned the favor, and Kat drove it over.

The problem? She never left. Now she's laid across the end of my bed, loudly butchering song lyrics while holding my hairbrush like a microphone.

"Silly me to think that he could fall—"

"KAT, I promise you, HE'S NOT IN LOVE"

I peek at her from under the pillow just in time to see her clutching her chest in offense before going right back to screaming the lyrics she only halfway knows.

I had plans tonight... Actual plans. But I had to cancel because Kat suddenly decided we were having a "sleepover.".... Against my will.

I was supposed to meet my older brother, Davon, and his best friend, Colt, at their old high school football game. Since Ohio University has a bye week, they wanted to go back for old time sake.

And I was supposed to go with them. Now instead, I'm stuck here listening to Kat scream the only part of the song she cared enough to learn while they're probably somewhere enjoying their best lives.

This must be hell...

"OH MY GOSHHHH!"

Kat screams so loud I threw the pillow off me and shot up instantly, thinking she somehow hurt herself.

But no.

She's laying flat on her stomach across my bed, kicking her long tan legs in the air while hugging one of my pillows to her chest.

"This song does something to me," she gushes dramatically. "It honestly describes me and Colt's relationship."

I stare at her blankly.

"What relationship?" I ask. "He barely notices you, and he doesn't date."

Kat rolls her eyes like I'm delusional. "He's just playing hard to get. Once he gets into the NFL, he'll realize I've been there since the beginning and come running back to me."

She points at herself proudly. "Cause I'm the one he belongs with."

I physically cringe. I flop back onto my mattress with a groan, staring up at my ceiling. "He's not playing hard to get, Kat. He just doesn't want you."

Her gasp is immediate.

“Ruth!"

"What?" I shrug. "You know I'm right. Colt literally has a pattern. He hooks up, then leaves. That's it."

She huffs loudly and I roll my eyes while staring at the ceiling.

Colt doesn't do anything that causes attachment. He's cold and distant with almost every girl that isn't related to him. Me included. Well... mostly.

We talk, but only when Davon's around, and never about anything personal. Just small conversations. Friendly ones. At first, it used to feel weird. But as the years passed, it slowly became normal.

"You don't get it," she says dramatically, clutching my pillow tighter to her chest. "You're just like everyone else that doesn't believe me. What we have is special, even if he doesn't see it yet."

I stare at her, "Do you even hear yourself?" I ask slowly. "You sound more delusional than SpongeBob thinking he's finally getting his license."

Kat huffs loudly, throwing herself back against my bed. "I don't sound any more delusional than you letting our little cousin call you mom."

I shoot up so fast my neck almost cracks. "That's different and you know it!" I fire back immediately.

"It's not!" she argues back.

"Our little cousin lost both her parents," I snap. "And I'm the one person familiar to her, so you comparing that to your twisted Colt fantasy is not the same thing."

Kat pouts, folding her arms across her chest. "So what?" she mutters. "She gets to have her happy ending thinking you're her mom, but I have to face the reality that Colt doesn't want me?"

I blink at her. Then blink again. "Yes, heffa," I say flatly. "Exactly that."

"Whatever. If our little cousin gets to have a happy ending, then so do I. So get ready, because we're going to chill with the guys."

I shake my head immediately.

Hell no.

I'd rather drag my nails across a chalkboard than hang out with Davon, Colt, and Kat all in the same place.

Davon already thinks Kat is annoying, so he'll purposely keep his distance the entire time which leaves me stuck alone with her while she tries to force Colt into conversations.

I'd rather get set on fire.

Rather eat cornstarch and pull my hair out strand by strand than spend half the game being tortured.

"Fuck no," I say quickly.

Kat shoots up so fast my mattress dips beneath her weight. One second she's at the end of my bed, and the next she's standing over me dramatically.

"Why not???" she whines. "Don't you love me?"

Before I can answer, she drops directly onto my stomach. All the air leaves my lungs. I cough so hard I thought I'll start coughing up blood.

"Kat!" I choke out, shoving at her shoulders while she lays across me like a human weighted blanket.

"I need you, Ruth," she begs dramatically. "Colt won't even notice me unless you're there."

"Pleeeease?"

I stare at the ceiling for a second, questioning every decision that led me to this moment.

Then I finally cave.

"Fine," I wheeze, pushing her off me so I can actually breathe again.

Kat squeals loudly, nearly falling off the bed in excitement, she's not fat.

She's actually the complete opposite, skinny like Taylor Swift, just with curves and a booty. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOUUUUU!" she squeals loudly, practically jumping up, bouncing on my bed like she just won the lottery.

"Okay, so I'll get a babysitter for Zara. Just make sure whatever you wear is sexy," Kat tells me.

"Dress sexy?" I repeat, staring at her like she's lost her mind. "It's a football game, Kat, not a fashion show. And Zara's coming with us."

Kat's smile instantly drops.

"My parents would kill me if I left her home with a stranger," I continue. "Plus, you know she doesn't do well with new people."

"How am I supposed to spend any time with Colt if Zara's around?" Kat whines, throwing herself back against my pillows. "The only other person she's attached to is him."

"And I can't hook you up if you're gonna dress like a granny," she adds.

I suck my teeth immediately. "If I can't bring Zara or dress how I want, then I'm not going."

Kat growls in frustration, glaring at me from across the bed.

"Fine," she huffs. "You can bring Zara, but you are not dressing like a granny. Trust me when I say I will purposely spill pop on you."

I roll my eyes. "Fine, whatever. But you gotta get Zara ready while I get dressed to your standards."

Her mood instantly switches back.

"Okay, thank you," she says happily. "And make sure whatever you wear has blue in it so we can match."

I stare at her flatly.

"Anything else, Queen of England?" I ask sarcastically.

Kat gasps dramatically. "I like that. Can you start calling me that?"

"No."