"Dude, G, she's never going to like you like you want her to if you continue to stare at her like a creeper from across the room."

Grant (don't you dare call him Tommy unless you're that brown eyed girl across the lunch room, thank you very much) switches his gaze to narrow his eyes at his brother, leveling a lethal glare at the older boy.

"I'm not staring at her!  I was just wondering what Katie is doing talking to a jerk like Mike.  She's my best friend, I'm allowed to worry."

Tyler laughs softly as he watches his younger brother's green eyes drift back towards the short, thin, curly haired brunette girl across the way.  Almost as if he was pulled there like a magnet.

"Yea, just best friends.  Not like you didn't have your stuffed animal marry you two ten years ago or anything like that."

That finally does it. Sixteen year old Grant turns wide eyed to openly stare at his brother, Tyler now being 18 and a senior at Granby High School. It is rare that he, as a sophomore would be sharing a lunch hour with an upperclassman like this. His gaze flits around nervously, making sure no one else around them has heard his brother's revelation.

His voice is lowered dramatically as he hisses back.

"Ty, I thought you promised never to bring that up again?!"

The older of the two Gustin boys can no longer take it as he rises out of his seat with a laugh. Leaving his younger brother at the table alone, just as the girl with the brown eyes turns their way. Smile prominent on her face as she waves enthusiastically at her friend. Grant's face brightens and his eyes shine as he waves back at her.

Tyler shakes his head as Katie starts to cross the room to the table where his brother is still sitting, murmuring to him as he leaves.

"Kid, you've got to stop denying that you guys like each other. It's almost painful to watch."

Grant makes a disgusted face at his brother as he walks away.

Katie reaches the table and drops down into the now empty seat beside Grant.  She leans in so that their shoulders bump together and then sits back in her seat with a smile.  Grabbing one of the french fries off his tray and popping it into her mouth before he playfully bats her hand away.

She pouts slightly as he reaches forward to lace their fingers together.

"Tommy, can you help me with something??"

If anyone else were to call him Tommy Grant would instantly curse them out, but he melts under Katie's attention.  Any swagger he would show with another girl drops away, and he is instantly that six year old boy again who married his best friend in the back yard after Easter dinner.

"What can I do for you Kittie Kat??"

Katie blushes at the old nickname Grant bestowed her on her tenth birthday.  He cocks his head and arches an eyebrow at her as he waits for her response.  His thumb lazily drawing circles on the back of her hand as they sit close together, hands clasped at the lunch table.

"Tommy, Mike Walker asked if I wanted to go to a party he is throwing on Friday.  A senior party.  I wasn't sure what to do, I didn't think I'd really know anyone.  But maybe.... Come with me.  Please, please, pretty pretty please....  I'll love you forever, I promise."

Grant sighs heavily, knowing she is saying all of this as just his friend.  But those six little words wrap themselves around his heart, his mind, his soul.

I'll love you forever, I promise.

He can never say no to her when she flashes her brown eyes like that, making them impossibly large.

And he drowns in them.

"Oh course, Katie my Love. Your wish is my command."