TOO FAMOUS !      by KissLeclerc
February 12, 2024    #    "Oh, Brother."

             NERVOUSLY SEATED AT HER DESK, Devyn felt Ollie's comforting back rubs as he offered words of encouragement, assuring her that everything would be fine. Despite attempting to call her younger brother, Max, twice, each attempt went unanswered.

Moments before Ollie had finally convinced her to start small and conveniently try to introduce the two over the phone. Devyn began to pace, sick at the thought but she realized that she was 5,000 kilometers away.

Any consequence that her mind came up with about the foreseeable future wouldn't bite her in the butt until she went home for spring break.

And then again, she practically came up with many unlikely scenarios.

Devyn was just overthinking.

As she sat at her desk, ready to give up since her brother wasn't answering and she was definitely not going to call her parents as she was completely unprepared for that conversation, Max finally rang her back.

"SHIT." Devyn felt a pit form in her stomach.

"It's okay! You got it." Ollie was quick to come to her side. "Don't be nervous, it's just your brother. And I'm here."

Devyn's heart raced as the phone rang, each tone a reminder of the weight of this moment. Ollie's steady presence made her feel a little at ease.

Slowly bringing her finger to swipe and accept the FaceTime request before she propped her phone up against a water bottle, waiting for the call to finally connect.

"Hello?" Max spoke aloud. His face up close to the camera before pulling away and revealing all his features. Ollie wasn't sure what to expect, but he didn't realize how much her brother would like her.

He was wearing a headset, making it clear as day that he was probably gaming at his desk. The bright screen of his monitors lit up his face in the darkness of his New York bedroom.

"Hey!" Devyn exclaimed, trying to ease herself as Ollie stood out of view and to her side.

"Sup biggie." He snickered. A brief deadpanned expression painting across her features in response.

"Can you die."

"Eventually, yeah." Max shrugged, snacking on what seemed to be graham crackers. "What do you want?"

"Uhh?" She scoffed at his attitude but knowing deep down he was just messing around. "Can I not talk to my little brother?"

"No. Not really." He paid not attention to his phone screen, but instead staring at what his PC had to offer.

"Oh. Okay." Devyn playfully frowned.

"I'm kidding." Her brother smiled before she glanced at the boy beside her. Ollie just watched and let them talk, minding his own business. "I miss you!" Max continued.

"Yeah. I miss you too." She replied. "What have you been up to today?—What time is it over there? 4:00?" She did the math in her head as Wales was a 5 hour time difference.

"Yeah." Max nodded. "And I haven't done much. Just been in my room." He shrugged, "Oh, but dad is making dinner tonight."

"Oh! That sounds good already." Devyn briefly smiled. Frowning at the sudden desire she had to be back home. She did miss her family.

"Yeah, he's cooking your favorite actually." Her brother finally glanced into his camera.

"Curry rice?" She gasped as he nodded. "You're kidding.. Oh my god, why do you all hate me?"

"It's in honor of you!" He laughed. "Actually, you know I started bringing a framed picture of you to the dinner table and placing it where you would usually sit..."

"WHAT?" The girl nearly cackled. Ollie smiling wide at this interaction as her sibling dynamic with Max seemed sweet.

"We just miss you." Max admitted as she pouted with a frown. Her heart skipping a beat as she now felt home sick.

"I am actually going to cry."

"But, how's it going with you? Second semester treating you well?" Max attempted to change the topic. Not wanting to make her feel left out even more.

"Oh... it's been going fine, just been busier—ish." Her tone clearly nervous as she felt the topic she wanted to discuss came closer.

"Uh. Are you okay?" The boy questioned.

"Yeah, I'm chilling..." Devyn trailed off. Not convincing anyone whatsoever.

"Yeah okay, so... why'd you call?" Max knew something was up. He knew his sister well.

"I just wanted talk to you! Is that too complicated to register?" Devyn quirked a brow as she felt the conversation go no where... but she knew she was being difficult.

"There's gotta be something because you never do this." He said with thinned lips. "No offense, but you just don't call me casually."

"Oh.. sorry." That statement made her feel guilty.

"Don't apologize, it's okay. I'm just joshing you." Max snickered as he glanced back up at his monitors.

"You're such a boy." His use of words made her chuckle. "But yeah, I actually do have something to tell you." She finally initiated that talk and took a deep breath before glancing at Ollie once again, as he gave her a thumbs up.

"Alright, what? And can you maybe hurry... I'm about to hop on fort." Max said nonchalantly, making Devyn roll her eyes.

"Uh. You can hold it off. It's kind of important."

"Okay." Her brother sighed. Bringing down his gaming headset to rest around his neck. "Whattup?"

"Uh.." Devyn didn't expect to get here so soon. "Okay. So... remember when I told you, mom, and dad about a guy I was seeing?"

"Umm..yeah? Why—Did he hurt you?"

"Oh! No, no, no, no wayyy." She laughed. "Far from that."

"Oh my god, I'm an uncle." Max gasped. "Mom's going to kill you—"

"DUDE." Devyn cut him off. "I'm not pregnant, what?" She cringed. Ollie's soft snickers from beside her made her lip tug with a small grin.

"Okay then what about him??" The boy asked as Devyn now had his full attention.

"So like..." Devyn took a deep breath, briefly trailing off. "What if I told you he's like..." She subtly glanced at Ollie.

"He's like....?" He droned at her dragging it on.

"He's like a formula race car ... driver?"

"Ha. Ha." Max snickered, not at all believing what she just said. "What is it really, who is this guy?"

"Erm. Ollie Bearman?" She attempted to rip off the bandaid.

"What the hell are you on about." He groaned.

"You know... the reserve driver for Ferrari...?" She kept going as he wasn't having it, which was frustrating.

But Ollie loved every single second of this conversation.

"Are you delusional?"

"MAX." Devyn sighed. "Can you SHUT UP." She groaned into her palms. "I know it sounds insane but just listen to me."

"Dude what are you even on about?" His irritation began to grow. "Like are you on drugs?—"

"LISTEN—Ugh, you know what." Devyn reached forward for her phone. "Here. Talk." She shoved the device into her boyfriend's hands. "I can't."

"Oh." Ollie said awkwardly. "Uh, Hi!" He waved, hesitantly showing his face into the camera.

"WAIT—WHAT THE HELL?" Max yelled into the call making Devyn grab her phone back.

"Max! Meet Ollie!" She laughed at his sudden reactions. "My boyfriend!"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Her little brother was losing it. Shocked at the random odds of his older sister dating a well known race car driver.

"WELL... Yes!" Devyn laughed awkwardly as his mouth was just agape. Jaw completely dropped.

"HOW????" He gripped his phone, eagerly looking into the FaceTime as he was probably trying to get a good glimpse of Ollie.

"Oh!" She laughed nervously. "Long story." She continued. Trying to completely avoid that conversation.

"Does—DOES DAD KNOW?" Max asked. "Devyn. YOURE DATING A RACE CAR DRIVER???"

"Well. yeah..." She felt calm now that the hard part was over it. Casually panning the camera to Ollie as he waved once again.

"That's so cool???? It's nice to meet you??!" He was trying to register what was going on, but the rush of emotions were too much to handle at once.

"The pleasure is all mine!" Ollie replied happily.

"Okay so—" Devyn brought the camera back to herself. "Do you think mom.. or dad will like him???"

"Oh, dad will GLAZEEEEE." Max snickered as he leaned back in his gaming chair. "Good lord, Devyn."

"STOP—" She laughed at his words once more.

"Bruh, I'm being so serious,YOU KNOW HOW DAD IS. He's most definitely going to beg for race tickets or some shit like that." Her brother said through a laugh.

"Oh.. I don't know about that one—" Devyn shook her head.

"It could be arranged." Ollie butted in. Receiving a glare from Devyn in return.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" The boy on the phone gasped.

"Bro, SHUSH." She covered her boyfriend's mouth. "My dad can easily afford his own race tickets. It's not a worry." 

"I like my brother in law already." Max said in satisfaction.

"Knock it off. Do not scare him away." Devyn gritted through her teeth, glaring into her facetime camera as he just laughed.

"Don't worry, no scaring away is happening." Ollie quietly reassured her as he rubbed her back. "Zip it before I die." She mumbled back through a suppressed grin.

"So when is he coming to meet mom and dad?" Max spoke up, making Devyn glance back at her phone once again.

"Erm... and if I said spring break?" Her statement was like a question. A light lift at her shoulders, shrugging.

"REALLY????" Max said loudly. "STOP YELLING?" She scolded through a harsh whisper.

"Mom and dad aren't home right now. They're at the store, I can be as loud as I want." He said proudly. "But is Ollie actually coming for spring break?" He went back to the subject at hand.

"Uh. Yeah..." Devyn replied.

"That's so cool."

"He wants to take me to Melbourne." She brought up as the boy yelled in response once again.

"WHAT THE— OHHHH dad is gonna be PISSED." Max groaned. "IM PISSED."

"WHAT? Why?!"

"YOU'D be going WITHOUT US?" His response was quick, making Devyn lean back into her seat with an embarrassed laugh.

"Oh, brother." She grumbled.

"Ugh. But that's sick though." His behavior quickly changed. "I'm happy for you. That's fun!"

"Thanks." She smiled softly before letting out a small sigh. "Ha. Do you think mom and dad would actually let me go?"

"I think mom might be a bit hesitant but, she'll eventually say yes." Max gave her a genuine answer. "And like I've said, dad will meatride him HARD and say yes with no doubt." He laughed.

"You are so—"

"Right all the time? Correct about everything?" Max cut her off, making her roll her eyes in response.

"Sassy men apocalypse."

"Shut the hell up." He shot back.

"OH! Now who the hell do you think you're talking to?" Devyn scoffed at his words.

"My bad... sorry." His lips formed a straight line making his sister nod in satisfaction. "Riiiiggt..." She trailed off.

"So! ... Do you like him??" Devyn went back to the subject of Ollie. "Well... Obviously." Max replied.

"Okay what do you like?" She quirked a brow. "Minus the fact he's a race car driver."

"The hell am I supposed to know about him." His tone and expression was dead. "Don't be a smartass." She scolded.

"It was a genuine question..."

"The fact that your older sister thinks he's dateable?" Devyn replied. Shrugging at her shoulders as she didn't even know how to answer Max's question.

"Well I'd hope you think he's dateable—" He furrowed his brows.

"Am I dateable?" Ollie chimed in.

"Yes, now SHHH." Devyn quickly answered, placing a finger over his lips. "Siblings are chatting." She gave him a side eye as he held his arms up in surrender.

"Yes ma'am." He suppressed his laugh as she pulled her finger away.

"Wait so like, what if you told mom and dad about bringing your boyfriend but... forget to mention what he looks like or who he is..." Max interrupted as he shared his sudden thought out loud.

"What do you mean?" Devyn turned her attention back to him with a confused gaze.

"Like—" Max let out a laugh. "Text the family group chat saying like; Hey! I wanna bring my boyfriend for spring break. Is that okay? He wants to meet you guys—Blah, blah, blah, and then just completely forget to mention he's like.. Ollie Bearman." He shared his idea, but Devyn wasn't too keen or amused.

"What good would that do exactly?" She tried not to laugh.

"Well. I just want to see dad's raw reaction to Ollie arriving." Max shrugged as she finally let out a fit of giggles.

"Oh my GOD, he would freak?" Devyn grew to like the idea.

"Wait—I don't want to startle your dad our first meet." Ollie objected. The idea feeling a little silly.

"You're not gonna startle him, it would just be an unexpected , pleasant surprise!" Max pushed for his own idea. "HA, Dev, how much you wanna bet dad would hug Ollie?"

"Erm—Dad doesn't hug anyone. There's absolutely no way." She glanced at the FaceTime once again, giving her brother a quirked brow.

"I will bet you $100 he hugs him." Max crossed his arms.

"Oh? Okay. Deal."

"I'm so winning." He said confidently as she scoffed. "Oh, shut up." Devyn snickered before the sibling duo fell silent.

"Okay, so is that it?" Her brother asked abruptly. "What..." She looked at him with a slightly lost expression.

"I wanna play Fortnite... so is this all you needed to talk to me about?" He said with not a lot of interest anymore as Devyn's jaw dropped. Ollie laughing beside her.

"MAX." She scoffed.

"IT WAS A REAL QUESTION." He defended. "I MET YOUR BOYFRIEND... WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?"

"I don't know." Devyn was unamused. "A good conversation with my dear little brother, maybe?"

"I'm gonna go." Max insisted.

"Why do you fucking hate me?" She was slightly hurt, but it was just her little brother after all.

"Because you hate me." He was quick to reply.  "I don't hate you.." Devyn shook her head.

"Okay, so then what?"

"Uhh.. I love you?" She shrugged. "How about that?"

"Okay. I love you too... Now can you let me go." Max was persistent as he continuously switched his gaze between his monitors and the FaceTime.

"You fucking suck so much." Devyn frowned. "I thought we were having a good conversation."

"We were! But my friends need me—"

"Okay, just go." She cut him off, an offended older sister tone laced in her voice.

"Alright, alright. Thanks, Dev! Love and miss you! Can't wait to see you in March!!!!" He smiled, picking up his phone. "And can't wait to meet you Ollie." Max knowingly smirked as she subtly laughed.

"Nice meeting you as well!" Ollie replied, briefly coming into frame for a wave.

"Bye Max." His sister let out a soft, yet frustrated sigh, "Love you lots."

"Love you too, bye!" Max waved before hanging up. Devyn now rolling her eyes in response. "I hate when he does that." She scoffed.

"At least it went well." Ollie pat her back. "Proud you got that done with! It was quite funny."

"Thank you for being here." She softly smiled, glancing at the boy beside her as he stood over her. "Any time." He reached his hands out to pull her up and off her seat.

"Now, I just have to let my parents know I'm bringing you home." Devyn snickered as Ollie pulled her in for a hug. "It'll be good, trust me." He insisted.

"You're the best." She smiled as he looked down at her and placed a quick peck on her lips.

"I try."

VERA'S VOICE!
beef chapter. pre written as well.
i clearly rushed in the end but
little brothers just wanting to hang
up abruptly is so real.

sighs.
okay anywho. Hello Max Suzuki. welcome.

Belle.
— vera