KILEY

I watch as Gabriella clambers into the taxi and I am rooted to a spot. It broke me that I hurt her feelings, that I hurt family. First, Gabriella didn't look like the girl I grew up knowing, and somehow it didn't occur to me that she is allowed to grow up too. As cliche as this sounds, she really did grow up fast. I faintly remember the Saturday night she was given birth to. I marveled at her tiny self. Due to some reasons, I thought she was my sister until I realized she wasn't. Being slightly jealous of Ethan, I planned to take her as my own.  

Second, I didn't expect her to react that way concerning Tiffany. Truthfully, I set up this dinner to welcome my 'baby sister' back from college, but the Tiffany talk slipped out. 

Gabriella has always been a quite dramatic and crazy girl, she most times causes me to roll over and laugh hard. Oftentimes, it's quite difficult to take her seriously and other times, it was almost difficult not to take her seriously. She is extreme and while that might be exhausting to others, it's a beautiful game I like to play; Reading Gabriella.

I walk back into the restaurant to meet our meals cold. It is going to be a waste trying to eat it up, so I leave. Besides, I am in no mood for a meal anymore.

Ignoring the warning bells ringing in my head, I decide to drive up to her house. She most likely would punch me hard. I would punch me hard. 

My phone buzzes, indicating that I have a text. I swipe its screen to see that it is from Ethan. I wince.

'Is Gabriella okay? Are you still with her?'

Ethan has to be the most protective big brother in the world, everyone knows better than to mess with her. It is clear that I'm the only make he trusts her with. This is the sole reason I guess she crushed hard on me in high school, besides the fact that I may or may not be the hottest guy she knows.

I decide to ignore the message since I do not have an appropriate response for Mr. I'll-break-your-head-if-you-mess-with-my-sister. 

My phone buzzes again.

'I guess y'all are having a swell time. Don't have too much fun without me.'

I sigh in relief as this would give me time to drive up to her house to grovel. 

~~~

Gabriella's little apartment complex is at the other end of town so the sky is darker when I manage to reach there. 

I park in a space and take a while to gather my thoughts and catch a breath. As a mature man, I must choose my words wisely and not get annoyed by the 'little girl' who brought me all the way here. 

My phone buzzes.

'Uh. Why is Gabriella home crying?'

Shit. I made baby sister cry. I quickly make a mental note of all the pretty presents I could give to appease her.

"Whatever happened between you and Gabriella, fix it." That's the first thing Ethan says once he sees me. I'm still in my car.

"How did you know I was here?" I ask with my eyebrow raised.

"I figured."

"It was a misunderstanding. Of course, I didn't set out to hurt her," I say, kneading my temple.

"Yeah, even I know Gabriella can be dramatic sometimes." He gives a small smile which is quite uncharacteristic of him. 

I peer at him. "Are you fine? You seem...off."

He chuckles but his eyes don't meet mine. "Off? I'm okay. Tired maybe but okay. Work at the company has been quite hellish."

I give him a look that tells him I don't buy his bullshit. "Right." 

I decide to give him space, he'll speak when he wants to. He always speaks, always vocal about his thoughts.

"Yeah..."

"I'll just head up to Gabby the sulker."

"I'm right behind you. In case she goes well Muhammad Ali on you."

I let out a nervous chuckle, "Whew!"

***

"It's me. Kiley," I say in response to her grunt. I'm outside her apartment, waiting to be let in.

"Go away! I will not be seen with a manipulator."

"What do you mean, manipulator. Look, I'm sorry. I really intended for this night to be a special one for us."

"Special?" 

"Yes. Just my very own baby sister and I."

Silence.

"Gabriella?" No sound comes from the other side of the door. It seems like she magically vanished from the earth. "Gabriella? Open up..."

Still no response. I try the door but it is locked. "Okay, I will sit here until you respond." My eyes catch the time on my watch. Eight pm. I rest my head on the cool door, determined not to move from the spot.

My phone buzzes for the umpteenth time and I expect to see a text from Ethan but surprisingly I see one from the woman that indirectly caused this brawl.

Tiffany.

'Babe? Where are you?'

Babe. Tiffany is well aware of my dislike for labels. Babe loosely translates to boyfriend or girlfriend. 

Another text comes in

'I'm at your apartment.'

Yes, we're at that point of our not-so-relationship, the point where we both have access to each other's apartments. Even though I have never been to hers on my own, she makes it a duty to 'surprise' me every chance she gets. Now, the surprises aren't surprising anymore, I pretty much expect her to show up anyway. 

I shoot her a text 

'I'm out with Ethan. I'll be home soon.'

Home. Cringe. Now I sound like a married man to his wife.

In a millisecond she replies.

'Oh. I guess you'll meet me here then.'

"Why are you out here?" Ethan says as he emerges from the elevator.

"Your sister refuses to let me in. I think she's pretty angry." I jab my thumb towards the door.

Ethan rests his forehead on the door and with a light knock, Gabriella responds. "Who's there?"

"Ethan. Open up, we can't stand here forever."

"Is Kiley there?"

"Yes, he is. Open up. He's deeply sorry, forgive him I can come in. I'm hungry as hell." On cue, his stomach grumbles.

The door opens slightly, revealing her blond hair sticking in all directions.

I wince.

"You look like shit," Ethan states. His nose is scrunched up.

"I'm not in the right state of mind for this now. Ethan, come in." She drags Ethan into the apartment and shuts the door in my face. Hard.

Ouch.

Well, at least I tried. And also, to make up for my almost broken heart, I have a woman to return to. Gabriella's little show annoys me a bit but I understand it's the way of little girls.

***

"Babe! You're home." Tiffany hugs me tight like she's never going to let me go.

"Woah."

"I missed you so much. I was thinking you were not coming around anymore."

This is my apartment, of course, I woke come around.

"There was a little skirmish over at Ethan's."

I don't tell her about Gabriella because I believe it'll cause another unnecessary skirmish and I'm in no mood for that. A man needs his peace of mind.

Tiffany slowly pulls off my shoes leaving my sock-clad feet. 

"I ordered Chinese," she announces over the sound of the blaring Television. 

I think about the abandoned meal we left at the restaurant and I feel nauseous. "I'm good. I had dinner over at Ethan's."

"Ethan... doesn't his sister live with him?"

"Yes, Gabriella. Why?" Tiffany has doubt etched on her face. She runs a hand through her brunette hair. 

"I... I just feel uncomfortable with you around her," she whispers

Why is she whispering? "Why? I've known her since forever." I peer at Tiffany.

"I know, don't get me wrong. I just feel out of place. I know that she's young and all but..."

"There's nothing. She's like a little sister to me. In fact, she's my little sister."

"But I don't think she sees you as a big brother."

I ponder over that a bit.

"See, you're thinking about it."

"That's ridiculous. Now come here." I pull her by the waist and she falls into my lap. "Enough of all that talk, now to why you actually are here".

Tiffany giggles, pushing her face into my chest. She's such a tease.