Hola, everyone! I don't really have much to say right now, other than the fact that I'm glad this one came to me so quickly! So, enjoy! (Is it just me, or do I end every AN with that? Oh well...o.o)
- Veg

Brooklyn's POV

I tightened my grip around my phone when the needle came in contact with my fingertip as I winced in pain. "Ow! Dammit!" I call out as quiet as I possibly can.

"Brooklyn?" My little brother asks from the other end of the call. "Are you okay?" I let out a deep, frustrated sigh before sucking the small drop of blood off my finger.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I tell him. "I just pricked my finger hemming this damn dress for Maggie…like she needs it any shorter." My brother lets out a small chuckle as I continue with my mindless babbling. "I'm sorry, hun, what were you saying?"

"I miss you," his not-so-childish-anymore voice admits. "When am I gonna see you again?" I ponder his question before puncturing my finger yet again.

"Oh, you little shit…" I angrily mumble, but then quickly catch how Alex must've taken that. "Oh, god, I'm so sorry, Alex! I wasn't talking to you…" My brother just continues to laugh at me. I really do miss that kid. "Uh, when will you see me again? Geez, I don't know, kiddo. I can't just fly out there whenever…I've got a lot going on right now."

"I understand," he replies in a rather sad tone that makes my heart sink down into my stomach. That's when I immediately remember something.

"What about you come down here?" I ask. "I mean, you'll be out of school by next month, right? Maybe I'll see if you can get on a flight with Pat when he comes to visit."

"And I'd stay with you?" He questions, sounding much happier this time.

"Jesus, Alex, where else would you stay? Of course!"

"Yeah, but aren't you living with…that Jesse guy now?" I can't help but roll my eyes at his choice of words.

"'That Jesse guy?' You mean my boyfriend?" Alex replies with a quiet "Yeah." "Why? Did you not like him?"

"No- no, I mean, he was cool and all, I just…" His voice fades off and he quickly finishes with a much louder. "Uh, never mind."

"You alright?" I can't help but ask. All the way from the other side of the country I still worry about those kids.

"Yeah…just exhausted. I was up late last night…studying."

"Now that's what I like to hear," I tell him, proudly smiling to myself.

"Brooklyn, can I ask you a question?" He quickly changed the topic. "Like…without you getting mad or anything…"

"Of course."

"Why….why did you ever break up with Logan?" He really caught me off guard with that question, but I try my hardest not to let it show. Why is he bringing this up now, anyway?

"…uh, I told you, Alex," I tell him as I try my hardest to focus on re-threading my needle. "It was just getting to be…too much. I love New York, he loves LA…it just wouldn't have worked out." Liar. You're lying to him. You're lying to yourself.

"I thought you two were in love," he then shoots at me and I nearly choke on my own foot in return.

"We weren't…" Liar. "We were just young and stupid." You fucking liar! "Look, let's not discuss this anymore. How've you been?"

"Christ, I already told you I'm fine. How are you, Brooklyn? Why don't you tell me about what you're up to for once? I sometimes think you spend so much time worrying about us you forget to take care of yourself."

"Alex, please, don't worry about me. I'm almost 22 years old and I can take care of myself." I let out a deep sigh and shake my head as I turn Maggie's dress to the next side that needed to be fixed. "God, you know you're really starting to sound just like me." And I'm not exactly sure if that should worry me or not.

"So I've been told," is his plain reply. He's silent for another moment as I continue to sew until he lets out yet another sweet-but-curious, "Brooklyn?"

"Yeah?"

"The other day…I…I saw, uh…"

"Saw what, bud?" I mindlessly nudge him to finish his sentence.

"Well, I was at the coffee shop with some friends the other night, and I ran into-"

"Brooklyn! I'm hoo-oome!" A familiar Australian sing-songy tone interrupts my phone conversation.

"What was that, Alex? I'm sorry, Jesse just got home and felt it necessary to shout it out to the whole complex."

"Logan." He finally finishes.

"…what?"

"I saw Logan at the coffee shop Friday night… He gave me a ride home because my friends were…being stupid, and…" He takes one more pause before telling me, "He said he misses you…and he's been thinking about you."

"I-…I…" I stutter, not exactly sure of how to react. "Uh, I've gotta go, hun." Alex lets out a deep, frustrated sigh. "Bye, kiddo."

He said he misses you…and he's been thinking about you. My heart nearly jumps up to my throat. My head is spinning and I feel sick to my stomach. I can't believe what I just heard…I thought- I hoped- that was all over and done with. As much as I loved Logan... I wasn't going to ruin what the both of us had planned for ourselves. Now, I've moved on…and hopefully he has, too, or will soon…

You haven't moved on. Stop lying to yourself.

"Babe?" I hear Jesse call once more before poking his head in the doorway.

"Hey," I say, forcing a quick smile and immediately putting a silence to my racing thoughts. "Sorry, I was on the phone with Alex."

"Don't apologize," the handsome blonde replies with a lighthearted chuckle. "Everything alright?"

"Uh, yeah," I lie once again. "We were actually talking about having him come to visit next month. You know, I figured he could ride the plane with Pat and stay for the same two weeks or so-"

"Sounds wonderful- boy can stay the whole summer if he'd like," he excitedly replies, leaving me a bit suspicious.

"So…looks like I don't have to convince you in to anything," I questionably say while quirking an eyebrow at his enthusiastic behavior.

"Of course not!" He gently takes my face in between his hands and gives me a quick peck on the lips. "Out of everyone you've introduced me to, he's the only one I have to worry about impressing."

"Oh, please," I take a moment to run my fingers through his wavy, golden locks. "He's only thirteen. Don't worry about impressing anybody."

"But I only want him to like me," Jesse tells me with a pout while grabbing my other hand. "I mean, he's not only your brother, but your best friend, too."

"He does like you," I assure him. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"I just want to make sure." He flashes me a bright smile before giving me yet another quick kiss. "Alright, come on, then, we have to get going soon." I give him an annoyed groan and let myself fall onto my bed.

"Do I really have to go to this? We've gone out every night this week…and I have to finish this dress for Maggie by tomorrow morning, and-"

"Babe, this is for a really important colleague…if my agent wins this guy over, I'll be modeling...Versace! Louis Vuitton! Do you know how big that would be for me?" He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, and then proceeds to twirl another loose strand around his finger. I feel my heart completely sink- Logan always loved playing with my hair…God dammit, Alex, why did you do this to me? I was perfectly fine pretending those years of my life never happened…and now- "Come on, I really want you there with me." His bright green eyes come in contact with my brown ones as he gives me the saddest, most irresistible puppy dog face he can manage.

"Fine," I reluctantly give in. "What should I-" Clearly over-excited, Jesse cuts me off once more.

"That navy dress that's been collecting dust in the back of your closet!" He nearly leaps over to my closet and begins rummaging through all of the hangers.

"What navy-" I begin to question, but before I can finish, he's holding up said dress. It was short, sleeveless and a dark shade of navy blue with a line of silver buttons going down the bust. I haven't worn this since that night when… Jesus Christ, don't even finish that thought. "Oh, that old thing?" I ask, trying my hardest to pretend it doesn't hold any significant memories. "I didn't even know I still had that thing…I don't even know if it'll still fit." Probably not…not since-

"Come on, it should! Just try it- we have to be out of here in the next fifteen minutes!" He sprints out of the room, most likely to make a phone call or do something else of importance.

I carefully remove the dress from its hanger while studying every detail of the article of clothing, from the soft, sleek satin to the tiny details engraved in the buttons. After removing my typical loungewear, I pull the dress over my head, and much to my surprise, it still fits. I make my way over to my closet to find a matching pair of shoes, but immediately stop when I get a glance of myself in the mirror.

"You look beautiful," I can almost hear his voice whisper in my ear as he gently wraps his arms around my waist.

Stop this! You moved on, remember?

"Brooklyn!" Jesse finally calls out. "You ready?"

"Uh..." I hesitate. "Yeah!"

I take one last look at myself in the mirror and try my hardest not to cry.