☕︎☕︎☕︎

"Don't you have class in the morning?" Aaron questions on the FaceTime call.

"Yeah, I do, but it's only one in the morning."

"Reese," Aaron says sternly.

"I know, I just miss you," I frown under the bedsheet as I stare at him through the screen. "Why couldn't you come with us?"

"I'll be there in a couple of weeks, tops," Aaron promises.

We've been on call for over an hour and a half and I've told him everything even about what happened between Sebastian and me when I was in the kitchen.

Aaron and I have more of a friendship than a brother sister relationship. During his prime teenage years, he was a total player and went around breaking girls' hearts. He brought so many different girls home that both my parents had to tell the girls to wear a name tag so that they didn't call them by the wrong name.

Something always happens in your life and it changes everything for you. It makes you question all your choices and well, he had that moment and now he's more focused on work and his future but that's his story to tell not mine.

Since he was really open about his lifestyle choices, he was the one who was able to understand mine and connect with me. He didn't make me feel like an outsider even though I did make some questionable decisions. I was his sister and he knew that, but he realized I didn't need a brother then, I just needed a healthy friendship with a person I could trust and that didn't wanna exploit me.

"Fine," I frown. "Make sure you have everything done so that you won't leave us again."

"You can't hate them that much," he laughs.

"You know I don't, I just - you know, they're aggressive in their approach sometimes and I don't take that well," I shrug my shoulders.

"True, but what can you do right? They're just built like that, more bronze than brains, all of them. That's also why not even one of them ever got away with having a girl in their room except for me. It was like the hulk in there, I still think about those poor poor girls," Aaron winks and causes me to laugh.

"Ew, Aaron. Please do not set that image into my head!" I yell.

"You know it's true! We all heard it!"

"The fact that mom and dad never broke it up either amazes, they were probably so embarrassed too," I laugh.

"I mean serving them a plan B pill for breakfast every time was a good way to get payback too. I'm gonna take one from their book and use that for my kids one day," Aaron claims.

"Well if you're kids grow up to be anything like us, I'll pray for you on the daily."

"Since when did you become religious?"

"Since I've realized that everything in the universe has been working against me. Maybe God can solve that issue," I smile.

"What you really need is some sleep and I'm sure the princess will be more happy and energetic as ever," he advises.

"Fine," I yawn. "I could use some sleep, I guess."

"Good night my Reese's piece," Aaron smiles.

"Good night my retired player, text me when you're home safe."

"Will do, ma'am. Anything else?" he questions.

Should I ask? Just do it, Reese.

"Uh...- actually, no. I love you."

"I love you," he replies and I end the call. I breathe out and put the sheets to the side as I grab my charger and connect it to my phone. I put my phone upside down on the nightstand and lie down under my sheets to drift into a heavy sleep.

☕︎☕︎☕︎

"Do you think he's gonna wake up anytime soon?" I question Jaxson and Landon who are standing on either side of me.

"No, I still can't believe he slept through us walking down the flight of stairs and all the way to the pool," Landon laughs as he clicks a picture on his phone.

In the middle of the pool, is Roman sleeping on the floating mattress quite peacefully may I add.

I woke up at five in the morning and I couldn't go back to sleep when an idea hit me. I told Roman I'd get him back for dragging me to school on the first day, so I thought this was the best opportunity to do so.

First, I called Jaxson and Landon to get them to help. They were kind of pissed I woke them up at five-thirty in the morning, but I finally convinced them to help me. Instead of bribing them, I guilt-tripped them by using the "you changed my whole life in two days" card and it won't be the last time I use it either.

First, Jaxson went to the twenty-four-hour convenience store to get food colouring and when he was back, we started moving Roman. He has a king-size mattress and so the mattress was heavy on its own but adding his hundred and eighty pounds didn't make things any easier. Also, I'm complaining on behalf of my two brothers because I did none of the lifting which is the upside of having older and much stronger brothers than you.

Before we put his mattress on the water, I tied a rope with Jaxson's heaviest weight from our home gym. Jaxson threw the weight as far into the pool as he could and we watched as the rope dragged the mattress into the middle of the pool and the weight slowly sank to the bottom.

We all left him to go change and get ready for the day and now we're back only to find him still sleeping. I knew this would be a problem so I got the air honk from his room that he used for a prank on me a couple of months ago.

"Plug your ears," I yell. Before I press the button, I hear Grayson say something behind me. His speech gets muffled as I press the button and let the noise shake Roman awake.

I shake my own ears at the blaring sound.

"What... the... fuck," Roman says as he looks around the water around him.

"Surprise," I yell as we all laugh. I turn around to see Grayson rubbing his ear and making his way over to us by the edge of the pool.

"What did she bribe you guys with! I swear to God, I'm gonna kill you, Reese!" Roman yells.

"You could use a shower, Roman! I just did you a favour," I smile. "I don't like debts and I had to pay you back for the first day of school."

"Seriously, Reese? What time is it?" he questions as he rubs his eyes.

"Oh, would you look at that, it's time for school, Landon," I say checking my phone.

"Shit, we should get going then," Landon replies with a smirk.

"Bro, are you serious? Help me out!" Roman yells.

"Ro-Ro- Row your boat, Roman," I wink as I wave goodbye.

"Reese! Landon! Oh my fucking, God! Jaxson! Gray! I'm gonna be late for school!" he yells, but we all ignore him as we head back into the house.

"So I'm guessing we'll have to buy him a new mattress?" Gray questions.

"Uh, yeah," I shrink sheepishly as he rubs the back of my head.

"You're lucky it was funny," Gray laughs. We hear a splash into the water and I turn around to spot the bubbles rising from the water.

"Well, it's about to get a whole lot funnier," I speak. "Let's go before he kills us!"

With that, Landon and I sprint into the house. We grab our bags and he grabs his keys to drive us both to school.

☕︎☕︎☕︎

As I walk into the cafeteria, I look around to find Roman sitting at his usual table. His hoodie up, from behind, I can't see him and how he looks so I make my way over to him.

I take him by surprise and pull his hood from behind. His neck snaps immediately to spot the perpetrator revealing the blue stain on his skin.

"You," he glares. "What the fuck is your problem?"

He pulls his hood back up, but I can still see his face and I can't help but laugh. I try to cover my mouth and not laugh, but it's a total fail and so I just stop trying to cover it up.

If you couldn't already tell, I put the blue food colouring into the pool's water. I wanted another colour, but the blue matched the tiles in the pool and it made the water seem clear. If Roman knew he would end up like this, he would've just stayed on the mattress as long as he could or at least until he could make a deal with Grayson to stay home until the dye washed out. 

Clearly, he couldn't come up with a deal on the spot and Gray made him come to school regardless of his appearance and I love Grayson for that. This is as entertaining as it gets.

"Bro," I wheeze. "You... you look like... a... oh my God," I cry tears of laughter.

I swear the whole cafeteria went silent when I pulled off the hoodie and now is trying to stifle their laughter. They're doing a lot better than I am though.

"Bro, what did you do? Come out of the vagina again?" Nate, one of his friends, jokes. This makes me laugh even harder because I was somewhat thinking the same thing. The rest of his friends start to laugh as well, but he glares at them and they all sober up.

"Roman, breathe... you're... you're turning blue!" I laugh even harder at my joke.

I'm on fire today.

"Reese, if you don't stop laughing, I'll give you something else to laugh about."

I turn my head and look at him sideways and pout. I extend my hand out and rest it on his shoulder as I say, "Sorry to break it to you, but the only thing you can give anyone right now is the blues."

I hear his friends snicker.

Roman sends him a glare and averts his attention back to me. He shakes my hand off and I pout again faking innocence. He stands up and towers over me. I cross my arms maintaining my stance.

"It's war, Reese Price," Roman states.

"Then war it is," I smile. "But hey, look at it this way. The most popular apps are blue like Twitter and Facebook maybe you can finally have some value now that you're blue too."

With that last statement, I take a step back and dip.

"Reese!"

"Love you, brother!" I yell back. When I'm out of the cafeteria, I finally turn to see if Roman's following me, but luckily, he's not. When I turn my head back around, I hit Sebastian and I cause him to fall back. I fall on top of him and we both grunt at the impact.

"Whoa there Usain Bolt," he laughs. "What are you running from?"

I place my elbows on his chest and prop myself up staring at his chocolate orbs. His buzzed hair perfectly lined, I watched the small wrinkles on his forehead. His cheeks a little rosy from the fall, I wonder if they're as soft as they look.

"Oh, you know just the FBI," I shake my head.

"Right and let me guess, you're wanted for killing people with your awful jokes and witty remarks?"

I gasp.

"Awful? How dare you. My jokes and witty remarks are not awful, they are to die for," I smile.

"Wow," he laughs.

"See what I did there," we laugh.

"Yes, yes I see what you did there and I rest my case," he shakes his head. "Ow."

"Shit, sorry," I say as I roll off of him and stand up. We both dust ourselves off and look at each other. "Thanks for catching my fall."

"Yeah, anytime. Really," he smiles.

"I promise it doesn't happen often."

"I hope so," he laughs.

"You know, even with blue skin your brother does not look ugly. Can you tell me the secret to your parents' genetics or?" Zoya comes out of the cafeteria with the rest of the gang.

"Ew, he looks like a raw fish in need of salty ocean water," I claim.

"Obviously, you would say that. He's your brother."

"Am I missing something?" Sebastian question, confused.

"Yes, Zoya. Yes he very much is and you need to get your eyes checked," I smile. "And you're not missing much, just one of the best revenge pranks between Roman and I."

"Best? I don't think so, but I'll let you know once I see him."

"Please, do so. I definitely need your approval," I roll my eyes.

"Of course you need the prank king's approval," Sebastian states.

"Prank, king? Huh. In your dreams."

"Well, I must be living in a dream then."

"You clearly are," I retort crossing my arms.

"You know we could have this back and forth all day, but a girl's actually waiting for me. One that, you know, would actually appreciate my time and attention."

"You're wise."

"I try to be," he smiles as he walks past me and my friends into the cafeteria.

"What was that?" Everleigh questions.

"That is Sebastian."

"Well I know who is, but what was that between you two. So much... tension."

"Hatred, actually. Hatred is the word," I correct her.

"Right," Everleigh says not so convinced.

"Are you guys heading out for lunch?" I question changing the subject.

"Yeah, I thought after what happened between you and your brother, you probably don't wanna go back in there," Everleigh explains.

"Yeah, it's probably the safest option."

"Good, because there's a really popular diner that's close by and it's famous for its juicy burgers and creamy milkshakes," Philip says.

"Then lead the way prince charming, what are you waiting for?"

"Right this way my highness," we all laugh and head out.

A/N:

I updated! Yay! Had so much fun writing this, I'm finally getting back into this story and my original idea and developing them more!!!

For the next chapter: what's humour without a little bit of drama😉
Stay tuned!