Dinner that night was full of tension. Spike made a pot roast with carrots and potatoes, homemade gravy of course. She sat across from Emma, not looking at her, not daring to speak to her. Instead of saying, "Emma can you please pass the carrots?" she just reached across the table and helped herself. Chester was sitting as far away from Emma as possible, four seats to her left; even Baby Jack separated them. Chad sat next to her, grabbing her hand underneath the table and squeezing it when the silence became too unbearable, showing his support for her. She smiled at him every now and then, but always caught sight of Chester in the corner of her eye and blinked back tears.
Everyone was finished and Spike got up to clear the table and serve a desert of freshly baked Apple Pie, which had become her specialty. She served Emma an unusually small piece and sat down.
Mrs. Bloom took a bite and smiled. "Christine this is amazing! You'll have to give me the recipe."
"I'll write it down for you later," she replied flatly. Mrs. Bloom looked slightly deflated and that ended all talking for the rest of the night.
In truth, Emma was never so happy to get ready for bed. She crept upstairs while the three brothers were playing cards, so they wouldn't see her getting in the shower. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't care if they knew she was showering, but this wasn't normal. A month ago their presence would have been brushed off; she probably would be walking around in a robe, unaware of them. They would have been insignificant. But this wasn't a month ago; this was tonight. The fact that Chad had already seen a near-naked Emma only made her want to cover up more. He couldn't feel the bad attitude Chester was giving him; no one seemed to notice it but Emma. Even as they played cards, presumably poker, Chester gave Chad a sinister smile every time he won, as if to say, Ha, I beat you!
By the time Emma got out of the shower, Chad was waiting outside the door.
"I wondered what was taking so long." He gave her a quick kiss and tugged at her towel, which was wrapped around her bare body. If she hadn't kissed Chester, she probably would have teased him a little and let the towel almost slip off. But she had. And what made it worse was out of the corner of her eye Emma could see Chester standing at the bottom of the stairs, glaring at them.

It was two AM and Emma was wide awake. The thought of Chester and Chad in her house kept her up. Two guys she'd hooked up with in the past week. Two brothers, one she was deceiving and the other she was leading on. She wasn't that serious about Chad. He felt more strongly about her than she about him.
Emma sighed. She should have never let that kiss with Chester happen. Maybe if she didn't kiss Chester, she would learn to love his brother... it was a drama gull of should-have-beens and what-ifs. She got herself into this, but she didn't know how to get out.
The truth was, she liked Chad- she really did. But Chester was the one that made her heart beat faster, her palms sweatier, her knees weaker. Chad's kisses were great, but she was unemotionally attached. It felt like a fun fling to Emma- a very fun fling. She felt that something with Chester could be something real. The only problem was Darcy.
But if Darcy and Chester weren't together, would it be fair just to dump Chad? She knew it wouldn't. Chad was a problem, too.
Emma got up and walked up the stairs. She needed something to eat. Maybe it would help her fall asleep. She couldn't stay up all night thinking about this. She rounded the corner and stepped into the kitchen to see someone rummaging through the fridge. The figure stood up and looked at her. She stood frozen, not know what to do. Chester started walking over to her.

"Chester," she breathed, hugging him. She felt tears spring to her eyes. He sighed and reluctantly held her in his strong arms. She felt safe. She pulled away and looked up at him, blinking back the tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I like you. I want you to know that. But Darcy-"
"I overreacted. Darcy, she's your friend. And my girlfriend. And Chad is my brother. It wouldn't be right."
"This is so messed up. I like you, you like me... but it's just not possible. Not without anyone getting hurt. People we care about." Emma needed this reminder for herself as well.
Chester nodded. They hugged again. She caught a glimpse of Chad, sleeping on the couch. She let go of their embrace. She felt like she was betraying Chad, just by wanting his brother.
Chester seemed to sense this. "I should probably get to bed. Did you want something to eat?"
"No, I'm fine now." She wouldn't be able to fall asleep right away, but knowing Chester was no longer mad at her eased her thoughts. She walked to the basement door, opened it, and stopped.
"Bye, Chester," she said, shutting the door behind her. She was three steps down when she heard a soft knock. Chester entered and shut it behind him, quietly. Emma heart beat faster and faster... she walked slowly to her bed, knowing Chester was behind her, and knowing what was inevitably coming next. She didn't bother going under the covers. Instead she sat down and stared out the window, at her pillow, at anything but Chester... he lifted her chin and kissed her softly, barely brushing her lips. Her whole body tingled, she shivered ever so slightly. She looked up at him and gazed into his eyes. Suddenly she pushed him onto her bed, lying on top of him and kissing him madly. She ran her hands through his hair; he somehow worked her bra and got it off in five seconds. They kissed and kissed until they could kiss no more, falling asleep in a guilty embrace.

They woke up around 6am, when the sun was bright enough to shine though the basement window and interrupt their sleep. Emma sat up, her heart pounding, breathing heavily. What did I do? she thought. Last night was amazing, no doubt in her mind, but it would just complicate things further. She groaned and smacked herself in the forehead. Chester sat up now. "I should probably go upstairs." he hopped off her bed. Her heart raced even more as he kissed her cheek. "I'll see you later I guess."
She sat back and buried herself under the covers.
Half an hour later the door opened again. She didn't dare sit up. Chad came down and entered her room. Oh, God. For half a second Emma considered faking a deep sleep, but he pulled the covers off of her and saw her expression of shock.
"Emmaline," he chuckled, "did I scare you?"
"No... I'm just tired, I guess."
"Okay." He laid down next to her, pulling the covers over them. He hugged her, kissing her neck. It felt bland, it didn't make her stomach flop like Chad's kisses usually did. After a passionate night with Chester, Chad was boring. He wasn't good enough. She didn't want him anymore.
"Maybe... maybe we shouldn't be doing this right now. I mean, what if my mom comes down to do laundry or something? Or wake me up for breakfast?"
Chad nodded, clearly disappointed. He hesitantly walked up the stairs and out the basement. The door half-slammed.
Emma felt bad for rejecting him. She had to end things with him. She didn't like him anymore. It wasn't there after what happened last night. She cried slightly and fell back asleep.