R Y A N

AFTER DANCING to a few more songs I gesture to Matthew that I need a drink. I wander through the sea of people and head towards the bar, leaning over trying to get one of the bartenders attention. A blonde guy with a headband pulling back the hair off his face and deep hazel eyes smiles my way, asking me for my order.

"What can I get you gorgeous?" He smiles, looking me up and down, a smirk on his face as he eats me up.

An embarrassing blush of pink heats up my skin from his intense stare, but then a sudden brush of confidence fills me as I use him flirting with me to order myself a drink. "If I say rum and coke will you not ask for my ID?"

"Sorry sweetness, but I'm on strict orders," he smiles cheekily.

"A coke is fine," I say rolling my eyes. He chuckles, nodding and takes a glass from behind the bar, popping the top off a glass bottle of coke. I tell him to just give me the bottle and I ask for just a straw instead. He does what I ask and moves to the next person waiting in line. I take a sip of my drink when a pair of hands covers my eyes from the back of me. I feel a warm breath on my ear and the familiar scent of citrus and a musky cologne.

"Three guesses... guess right and you win a prize," the deep voice says.

"Alexander Skarsgard?"

"Nope," the deep voice says as he pops the P and chuckles, deep from the back of his throat.

"Really was hoping you was him... damn," I say and I hear him chuckle again. "Okay... Tom Hardy?"

"Nope, one more guess," the velvetly voice says.

"Chris Pratt?"

"You lost," the voice says, a slight sense of disappointment in his words.

I turn around and see grey piercing eyes staring back at me, his amazing smile beams with his cute dimples on either side and his hair is side parted, brushed back neatly. He is wearing a electric blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top few buttons undone showing off just the slightest bit of skin. Giggling to myself in my head, I look down at the dress trousers and shoes, knowing full well he'd feel more comfortable in jeans and t-shirt right now. Looking at his large frame I can see that he's gotten bigger, actually no, he's gotten wider than the last time I saw him. No idea how's that possible, but he definitely has. Nate. I smile at him and grab him for a hug, wrapping my arms round his neck as I pull his face into my neck.

"Oh, I've missed the way he smells," I think as I take in his scent.

"Nate!"

Hugging me tighter, he burys his head in the crook my neck and I hear him take a deep breathe. Clearly doing the same as I did. His lips dance on my skin as he says with a suprise, "when did you get home?"

"Last night," he pulls away from me, sliding his hands down my torso and resting them on my hips, his finger tips brushing my skin lightly which tickle me a little.

"Last night? Why didn't you come by the house?" He furrows his brows and looks a little hurt.

"Friday night Nate?... Still date night, right? I was never allowed over on date night."

"Yep... err Friday night is date night," he says pulling away a little, looking uncomfortably towards the ground. "We didn't know you was coming back, you never said anything about coming home. It's... it's been a while," he smiles weakly.

"Yeah, errr... I've been busy with college and stuff, plus Christmas in New York is way prettier than there."

"I bet it is," Nate says looking me up and down, still holding me. The air around us is thick, tense, but not uncomfortable as he stares at every square inch of my body. I feel self conscious under his gaze and I want to take a step back from him, not because I'm uncomfortable in any sort of bad way, but I just need a minute. I just want to turn away from his overwhelming stare for a breather, however, his touch on my skin is so familiar and his eyes are so intense, I'm rooted to the spot.

"Why does he keep staring at me like that?" I think.

"Erm... Nico here too?" I ask knowing full well he is from Matt. I wanted to try and change the subject, quick. Him staring at me this intensely was making me start to feel hot and bothered. Last thing I wanted was me to have hot, pink cheeks while Nate was near me.

"Around here somewhere," he says gesturing with his hand, never breaking eye contact from me and places his hand back on my hip with his other on the other side. "We saw you dancing earlier, you've seem to have grown some confidence while you was away?" he smiles, never letting go of me.

"That's Matt. I always get dragged to the dance floor when we're out. Our roommate back at NYU has two left feet and I'm a natural apparently."

"Well it's nice to see you've blossomed into a breathtaking young women... beautiful," he says with a wink and a smile. It's been a long time since I heard that nickname a loud without a phone between us and it feels good hearing it.

"Thanks," I feel my cheeks blush, again and I try to stay calm.

I never blushed when he called me that before, but I've never really been complimented by the opposition sex before. Matt didn't count because he was my friend and when Nico and Nate did it, I just took it as a compliment from a brother. Only Nate was looking sexy as hell and I think back on my conversation with Matt earlier.

"So..." he says breaking the slience, "how long you back for? Would be nice to have you come round the house and hang out like we use to."

"Errr..." I hesitate, knowing full well he won't like what I'm about to say. Both the brothers helped me with my college applications including Tori and Noah, if my Mum reacted the way she did about my gap year, I can only imagine how they will both react to the news. "So I've kinda decided to take a gap year."

"You've dropped out?" He says, stepping back then bending down to catch my eyeline.

"I've not dropped out. I'm going back after the year and I'm enrolling again next summer" I leave my hands on my hips to show him some dominance, but I know full well it won't work.

"Come with me. Now," he says.

Nate pulls me with him, fingers laced with mine together through the garden. I hold the bottle of coke in my hand with my thumb on top so that none of it gets spilled as we zig and zag pass guests. We walk pass people who stare at us as if I'm in trouble and a few of the men smirk at Nate while he drags me into the house. He shuffles pass people who are busy in the kitchen and through to the dining room where Nico is sitting by the bar on a stool with a blonde women draped around his neck.
   Nico looks intense, he has a goatee beard that gives him a dark look and he's hair is long. It's the longest I've ever seen it. It's dark brown and thick, slicked all the way back into a man bun and his piercing blue eyes are filled with... boredom? Irritation? I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with the blonde wrapped around his neck like a python.
   He is wearing a black suit with a red shirt and black tie that is loosely tied around his neck. I can already see he has grown more muscles than the last I saw him, just like his brother and I think it must be from him still boxing. I notice the rose tattoo on his left hand, a few markings peaking out from under his shirt cuff and I can only guess he got more tattoos too from the last time I saw him.
   The women he's with is tall, but not as tall as me, sandy blonde hair that sits on her shoulders and she's wearing a red dress that is way too short for a family function. She's practically all over Nico, but he seems distracted, like he's not interested at all that this beautiful women is hanging off of him.

"Look who I found?" Nate says placing me infront of him and still holding my hand that he wraps his arm around my stomach, holding it to my hip. He pulls my body flush against him, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Hey," I smile shyly. He smiles wide at me, pulling the women off of him and walks towards us. The women gruffs in annoyance, coldly staring at me with hate in her eyes and I can think it's maybe because I've dragged him away from her. Clearly she didn't notice how uninterested Nico was in her arms.

"Hey princess," he whispers. Nate let's go of me, grabbing my drink and allows me to hug Nico with both arms, I step on to my tip toes to reach his high shoulders. Even though I'm 5ft 10in all three Greysons still tower over me with their height of well over 6ft. My arms snake around his neck, his hands sliding up my back as he presses me to him. I can feel every muscled inch of his torso and I gulp from the feeling. Just like Nate, Nico burns his head in my neck, inhaling deeply before he lifts his head up. "We missed you," he whispers against my ear.

"Missed both of you too," I say, smelling his vanilla, spiced scent.

"God I've missed how both of them smell. They always so smell good," I think while holding him.

"You grew your hair."

"Do you like it?" He says as his lips brush the skin of my ear.

"No... not unless you let me plat it with pretty bows," I say amused.

"Not gonna happen princess," he whispers, playfully, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Hi!" The blonde women says interrupting our reunion. I pull back from Nico and both of the brothers stand next to me side by side, flanking me. Nico wraps his arm around my hip, while Nate steps forward, grabbing a hold of my hand. A side smile appears on my lips as I watch both of them protect me from the blonde, intruding on my reunion. But she looks harmless enough. "I'm Samantha and you are?" She says looking at me up and down.

"Ryan," I smile.

"Charmed... Nicky, are you ready to leave yet?" She whines.

"No."

"But soon though right?" She says as she flutters her eye lashes. Nico, who has not once stopped looking a me, never looks her way and coldly speaks, answering her question.

"No."

"When?"

"When I'm ready Samantha and I'm not ready."

"Urgh, fine," she moans with a huff and rolling her eyes. "While the two of you babysit... her, I'll just go and get another drink. Excuse me," she says with a fake smile.

"She seems..." I go to say the word 'nice' sarcastically, but then I blurt out, "like a bit of a bitch."

"Language."

"Really Nico? I'm 20yrs old, I think I'm old enough to swear."

"Ladies shouldn't swear."

"Ladies shouldn't do a lot of things," I hear Nate mutter. Nico stares at him with ice cold eyes and they seem to have a private eye conversation that only they know the words too. Both of them do this weird twin thing, ever since I've known them they've done it, only they aren't twins, but they are really close so might as well be. Always knowing what the other is thinking, like they are in perfect sync.

"How long are you back for?" Nico pulls me towards the stool and I prop myself up crossing my legs when I sit. The slit in my skirt exposes my legs and I try my best to cover them, however, it's no use. The slit is far too long up my thigh and no matter how much I fiddle, trying to cover what's on show, I can't. I see Nico's eyes widen, and he clears his throat in an uncomfortable way, trying hard to avert his eyes. Giving in I uncross my legs and rest my hands on my lap, at least trying to cover my private area.

"Oh your gonna love this," Nate smiles and sits next to me on the stool that Samantha sat in, sorry, bitch face sat in.

"What do you mean?" Nico crosses his arms over his chest forcing his muscles to bulge out. He hovers over me, a dominant entity radiating off of him, but I'm not scared of him. I'm just nervous about his reaction.

"So... I made a decision a while back and I have decided to take a gap year."

"You dropped out?" His voice was laced with annoyance and I cross my arms the way he has.

"Why does everyone say that? I haven't dropped out, I'm going back next year. I just want a year to figure things out, plan stuff and really think about the decisions I'm making is right, I'm going back."

"You want to switch majors?" He asks.

"No... maybe, I don't know, but I'm taking the year to figure that out. Things I wanted two years ago might not be what I want now, so I'm just going to see what options I have."

"You promise you're going back?"

"I promise... scouts honor," I say, smiling as innocently as I can.

"Okay," he huffs, blowing out air through his lips, "if that's what you want."

"It's what I want. Plus I get to stay here so you guys get to see me more," I say, easing the tension with the promise of being here for the next year.

"We have missed you beautiful," Nate says and he pecks me on the cheek.

"More than you know, princess," Nico says, kissing my other cheek. I don't need a mirror to tell me how hot and pink my cheeks must be right now, I know full well I'm blushing like crazy.

"There you are," Matt yells coming towards us with Jackson. "Found this one in the back."

"Yeah, hiding from your Aunt Hilda! She's trying to set me up with Charlotte or Charlene?" Jackson shrugs his shoulders, looking like he's thinking really hard.

"Charlee, she's the maids daughter," Nate chuckles. Matt shakes both of their hands and I get up to give Jackson a hug.

"Just one person missing from prom night, when Sophie getting in?" Jackson replies.

"She's coming back tomorrow I think, why?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"N-no reason, just wondered if we could get another prom night get together is all. It was fun!"

"You sure about that?" I smirk.

Jackson and Sophie had kept in touch over the years. They didn't do a long distance relationship but, I knew they both really liked each other and happy they kept in contact. They always both casually asked about one another so whenever they did I always took the opportunity to tease them both about it.

"Hey! All I'm saying is it was a good night and I had fun, didn't you?" He says pointing at me.

I smile and look at Nico whose head is cocked to the side, his eyes burning into me. I remembered the kissed we shared after the prom and I wonder if he's thinking the same. I did have fun that night and I also shared a treasured memory that night too.

"Yeah, definitely a night to remember," a small smile etched on my lips, as I look away from his intense stare not really knowing where to look. When I look back there's a tiny smirk engraved on Nico's lips, then I notice Nate raise his eyebrows and looks between myself and his brother. I wonder if he knows about the kiss Nico and I shared that night? I for one have never told a soul and I mean they are close - extremely close, would he have told Nate?

"There you are!! I've been looking everywhere for you!" I hear a squeal and I break my gaze from Nico to turn and see their Aunt Hilda walking towards us.

Their Aunt was their Mother's older sister. Everything about her screamed money and I heard she was on her fourth divorce that paid out a very generous sum of money. She looks like Mrs Greysons twin, although her hair was blonde from colouring and her eyes were dark green unlike their mothers. She wore a skirt, mint with a white blouse and nude heels that clicked when she walked.

"Oh Ryan! So nice to see you sweetie."

"Hi Aunt Hilda," I say giving her a hug.

"I'm glad you're here! I wanted to say how happy I am you've found yourself a wonderful young man. You two sure make a gorgeous couple," she says gesturing to Matt.

"Oh we're-"

"Thank you," Matt says and he draps his arm around my shoulders.

"I saw you kids dancing earlier, it's so nice to see young love."

"But we're just-"

"Isn't it. I've known her for so long, but finally realised how much I really loved her," Matt beams happily.

I see Jackson chuckle as he knows full well that Matt is gay, not to mention he sees me more like a sister then a girlfriend. I see Nico and Nate stare at each other from the corner of my eye and when I look back at them, Nico's lips are in a straight line with his knuckles turning white into a fist. Nate just blankly stares, confusion on his face as he wonders his eyes between Matty and I.

"I love the early stages of love. Everything is all rainbows and sunshine, sweet gestures, romantic walks... it's my favourite part. I just wish your Nephew would take my advice and meet a pretty young girl. See how happy your Aunt is with her boyfriend, this could be you soon?" She winks.

"We actually-" I try to tell her again that we are not a couple, but Matt chimes in once more.

"Maybe, I mean we are crazy in love. Right cupcake? This could be our engagement party next year, oh and the babies are going to so gorgeous if they look like their Mama," he says and he pecks my cheek with a kiss, squeezing me hard into a side hug.

"Hilda! The Banner's are leaving!" I hear Mrs Greyson call from the kitchen. She smiles, giving me a final squeezed hug and walks off leaving a awkward silence in the room.

"Why did you tell her that?!" I say hitting Matt on the shoulder several times.

"Hey, if I'm marrying you when I'm thirty than I need the practise," he laughs trying to dodge my hits.

"Only as a back up plan so I don't die alone with twenty dogs you sicko!"

"You mean cats?" Jackson giggles.

"No! I hate cats."

"Wait? So you two aren't-" Nate says standing up.

"What? NO! Matt's gay!"

"Excuse me, but what about Tiffany?"

"Well that's still a new thing," I point out.

More recently Matt had been experimenting with a girl called Tiffany. She was in his dance class and they had a few one night stands after many, many, many drinks. Matty says he is a hundred percent not into girls, but Tiffany and him have this weird understanding about their friends with benefits relationship.

"A girl? So you're what, like bisexual?" Jackson says confused. He's only ever known Matt to be into boys so this is all new information for him.

"No, just friends with benefits and the friend just so happens to be a girl," he shrugs matter of factly.

"I'm confused," Jackson says rubbing his head, "so your sleeping with a girl, but your gay?"

"Well she knows her way around... stuff and sometimes I get lonely," he says gesturing towards his groin with a smile. "Plus Ryan said no!"

"Oh my god." I can't help but cover my face in embarrassment.

"What? You did!"

"I'm not having sex with you," I scoff.

"Which is why I'm sleeping with Tiffany. Part time," he nods the last bit.

"Oh my god, Matthew!"

"Oh pipe down, virgin. Everyone has sex and don't act like your all innocent! I know you secretly want me," he chuckles with a wink.

"Matt!"

"Well, you two sure fooled Hilda, you two look so in love," Jackson says making kissing noises.

"You fooled us too," Nico says with some what of relief on his face.

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AROUND 11PM the party is starting to come to an end. Matt takes Jackson home because its on the way to his house and as Tori and Noah have a hotel booked in the city for a few days he needs the lift home. Nate and Nico offer to give me a ride as we are all going the same way too, while Mum and Dad help their Mother clean up. Probably staying for a night cap afterwards. I say my goodbyes to everyone, walking with Nate to the car.

"I call shotgun," I hear a bubbly voice say from behind us.

The rest of the night I spent with both of the Greyson brothers and Matt, while Jackson floated between us and his friends. Only we did have a intruder in the form of a blonde, miserable, whiny, annoying women who some call her Samantha. Not going to lie, but every time Nico brushed her off, it did make me smile as his full attention was on me and not her. Clearly she hated that, but there was only so many times she sat on his lap or tried to, that he got annoyed and told her it's a family party. And right now, I really didn't want her riding home with us.

"Nah, here. Call a cab," Nico says from behind her and he gives her a card.

"Wait... what?"

"Goodnight Samantha," he says walking towards the car and he gets in the drivers seat.

"Are you serious?" She scoffs.

"Bye Sam," yells Nate as he pulls at my hand towards the car.

"You pricks!" she calls after us and I see her walking away, pulling her dress down as she walks.

"Get in beautiful," Nate says as he opens the door to the back. I turn to look at her again, I'm not sure why but I kind of felt sorry for her in a way, however, I was relieved at the same time that she wouldn't be in the car with us. Nate softly grasps my chin, pulling my gaze forward then ushering me into the car.

"But shouldn't we-"

"She's fine, get in princess," I hear Nico say from the front seat.

Nate smiles holding my hand and helping me into the car. "C'mon beautiful," he says tenderly.

I get in the car, sitting on the backseat while Nate sits in the front seat with his brother. I see them both glare at each other and smirk then Nico starts to back the car out the driveway. The car is filled with both of their scents. Citrus and musk from Nate while there's a vanilla spice smell that I recognize as Nico's, both scents are mixed with their cologne and I realise how much I really did missed their smells.
   I close my eyes and breath in deep, taking in the familiar smell of the Greyson brothers. I always associated smells with memories and a flood of them were twirling around my head of my two favourite men. I really had missed them and I know by the way they hugged me, they missed me just as much.

"So Matthew is your back up huh?" Nate says not looking back.

"Yeah, but so is Sophie."

"Thought you would of picked someone better... you know someone who isn't gay," he chuckles.

"Guess I'll be missing out on some stuff," I smile looking down.

"You could always get yourself a side piece," Nate says. Nico smirks but doesn't say a word, he looks forward as he drives along the road to our destination, paying attention to the road. "I'll be your side piece if you want?"

"Nate," I say rolling my eyes as a blush forms on my cheeks.

"Just saying beautiful. People have certain needs and a gay man can not fulfill a womens needs. Where as I could definitely fulfill your needs in the-"

"Yeah, I get it Nate, we can change the subject now," I say embarrassed and cover my face with my hands.

"She grew in confidence but yet, still gets shy," I hear Nate say amused.

"Still cute as ever princess," I hear Nico chuckle.

Nate was right. If our deal did come to a actual thing when we turned thirty then Matt wouldn't be able to give me what I needed and nor would I for him. Yes Matthew was gay, possibly bisexual if he continues seeing Tiffany or another female in the future. But I wanted to be sure I was looked after. That I had someone to hold me at night, laugh with me and spend the rest of my life with. I was scared of being alone and knowing that Matt was my back up plan gave me some comfort.

But was it really ideal?

*word count 3617*

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I hoped you liked this chapter!
I thought it would be funny if it did seem like Ryan & Matthew were
together to other people, hence why their aunt Hilda reacted that way.
And just like Matthew I probably would of played along, making her believe it was true 😂

How do you think their reunion went?
They really did miss each other huh?
Could cut the sexual tension with a knife though I doubt Ryan can tell...

Since this story has been posted I've had over 850 reads in a month!
That to me is insane that I've had so many in a short space of time.
Thank you to all of you that have read this story
so far & thank you to those that have commented, your feedback
& comments make me smile!

If you haven't, pleave me a comment letting me know if you like it so far,
I would love the feedback & don't forget to vote!
CeeCee
xoxo
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