My Brother's Best Friend
A story by Government Patsy
Chapter 1
Dana POV
I was 14 years old when I first met him. I'd only just started my freshman year of high school - and as much as I was enjoying my classes, I was struggling socially. I'd always had a few classmates I got along with well but it didn't seem like they found me cool anymore. High school will do that to kids, I guess. My older brother Bill was obviously looking out for me, being a senior in high school himself. And Melissa, being a junior, always let me have lunch with her and her friends. As nice as they were to me, I didn't feel like I had anything in common with Melissa's friends though. I was already really into my science classes and Melissa and her friends seemed more interested in "the spiritual realm" than anything scientific.
Bill was always surrounded by his football friends but I know he never felt like he had any close friends either. He never outright said anything but him and I always had an understanding of each other that I never had with neither Melissa nor my younger brother Charlie. We're both more reserved and don't open up to people as easy as the other two more extroverted Scully siblings. And even though Bill seems very extroverted around school, always surrounded by his football friends and adored by most of the girls, he has that same very secret and reserved part of him that I do. He just hides it a lot better than me!
For Bill this was all about to change though. It had only been a few days before Bill started talking about the new kid in his class who just moved to town from New York. They quickly started hanging out together but three weeks into the school year I had yet to meet this New York stranger, that Bill seemed to share an instant bond with somehow.
"Hey, Danes," Bill says as he sits down next to me in the school cafeteria.
I've left Melissa and her friends since their spiritual talk became a bit too much for me today so I'm just sitting by a table all by myself when my brother joins me.
"Is this your baby sister then?" I hear him say and look up to see a crooked smile.
His dark brown hair falls across his forehead and his green eyes sparkle down at me. He looks tall and slightly tan. He's not as tall as Bill but obviously still way taller than me. His face is already my favorite thing about him - even though he's clearly got a nice body as well. He chuckles as he sits down across from me as he looks questioningly over to Bill.
"Yeah, she's a bit shy," Bill chuckles and puts his arm around me in a little squeeze.
"I'm Mulder," he says, smiling at me as he extends his hand towards me.
"Dana," I tell him and curse the blush I can feel plaster my face as I shake his hand.
He's the most handsome guy I've ever seen. His dark red t-shirt falls perfectly across his chest and his smile is making my heart beat a thousand miles a minute.
"Nice to meet you, Dana," he winks at me and I swear my heart actually stops completely.
"How are you, Danes?" Bill asks me sweetly as he unpacks his lunch.
"I'm okay," I shrug, looking down at my food so I don't get distracted by my brother's new friend.
"Yeah? How come you're not sitting with Missy today?" he wonders out loud and his concern for me is very evident although slightly embarrassing in front of Mulder.
"Sheila started talking about her psychic abilities and Melissa was hanging on her every word… I just didn't wanna get into another argument with them… they don't want to listen to logic anyway, so what's the point?" I sigh and shrug.
"Oh, Dana," Bill chuckles.
"So you don't believe it's possible that some people have psychic abilities?" Mulder questions me and I look up at him in surprise.
"Well no, obviously not," I say and raise my eyebrow at his question.
"Why not?" he wonders with a smile.
"What do you mean?" I ask, tilting my head in disbelief. "Scientifically there's no evidence…"
"Oh, scientifically," he cuts me off with an annoying smirk that enrages and excites me at the same time. "You think science has the answer for everything, Dana?"
"Well, yeah," I say confidently. "I can't imagine anything that science can't explain."
"Interesting," he chuckles.
"Alright, Mulder," Bill cuts in. "Stop bugging my sister!"
"He wasn't bugging me," I mutter embarrassed - Bill is treating me like a baby.
"I like your sister, Bill," Mulder says smiling at me. "She's very spirited!"
My heart starts beating fast again and I can't help the smile on my face.
x
As the weeks pass I start having lunch with Bill, Mulder and a few more seniors from their friend group every day. I can tell that Mulder is very smart but also quite rebellious. Whenever he talks about his assignments and grades he always gets A's, he also helps his friends out with their assignments quite regularly. But he parties every weekend and so does Bill since he started hanging out with Mulder. I also see Mulder occasionally approaching the stoner kids. I'm quite certain that he smokes pot quite regularly. For someone like me, who always abides by the rules, it actually bothers me quite a bit. Especially since I can't deny that Mulder has awakened feelings in me that I've never quite had before. I like talking to him… and looking at him. He's so cute and funny and handsome and charming… I can't stop myself from thinking about him when I get home from school either. Bill and Mulder have grown really close very quickly but my parents don't seem too pleased with Bill's new friend. Bill's always been very eager to please our father and do well in school but he doesn't seem to take anything that serious anymore. I definitely understand my parents' concern… to be honest, I'm growing more worried about my brother for every month that passes too.
x
One autumn afternoon I'm walking across the school parking lot to get to my bike when I see Mulder sitting in his car with a junior named Brent, who's known for dealing pot. I can feel my blood boil and as I see Brent leave the car, I approach Mulder and tap at the window. He looks up, his eyes widening, and then he quickly stuffs something into his inner pocket before opening the door of his BMW.
"Dana?" he questions me as I get into the passenger seat of his car, my backpack in my lap. "Are you okay?"
"You know, if you want to throw your life away, that's your own business…" I start off, completely ignoring his question. "But why do you have to bring my brother down with you?"
He's completely silent as he just stares at me. Silence fills up the car and is only disturbed when droplets of rain start to hit the car's roof.
"Dana, what exactly do you mean?" he finally asks me, his voice sounding a little shaky.
"I know I'm just a freshman, but I'm not blind or deaf, Mulder…" I sigh. "I know Bill likes you a lot… I like you… but he's changed so much since he started hanging out with you."
I can feel my face turn red as I say that I like him and I hope he doesn't take it the wrong way.
"Dana, I know you love your brother but maybe you don't know him as well as you think you do…" he sighs and leans back in his seat.
"Why do you smoke that shit anyway?" I can't hold back my contempt anymore. "You're smart, Mulder… don't you know what it can do to your brain?"
"Dana, I… I don't even do it that much… at parties I'll partake once in a while, but sometimes I say no as well…" he tries to explain himself.
"I see you talk to Brent several times a week, Mulder!" I say angrily - I know we're not friends or anything, but I didn't think that he'd lie to me like this.
"Oh, fuck…" he rubs his eyes with the heels of his hands. "Dana, I'm not lying to you… I know it looks bad, but just trust me, okay?"
"Why should I trust you?" I ask him, crossing my arms over my chest.
The rain outside is falling quicker now. Aside from the rain it's completely quiet between us. He's searching my face for something… he looks like a hurt little puppy. I almost feel bad for him.
"Dana, my life is a mess!" he exclaims. "Your brother is probably the only real friend I've ever had… you can't tell him that I told you this, okay?"
He seems desperate and suddenly I feel a knot start to form in my tummy.
"What is it?" I ask him carefully, not sure that I want to hear this.
"I buy pot for Bill…" he almost whispers.
He's looking out the window and I'm trying to wrap my head around what he's just said.
"It started at a party a few weeks after we just met… I'd tried it a few times before and Bill wanted to try it as well… I guess he really likes it - he says it's the only thing that can calm him now… but he doesn't want to get caught!"
"So he asks you to buy for him?" I ask in disbelief. "What about you getting caught? And why the hell do you just supply him with drugs if he has a problem?"
"He'll just buy it himself if I don't do it for him!" he exclaims. "If he gets caught with drugs, he can't join the navy like he wants to… and I can control how much he smokes this way!"
"Mulder, this needs to stop!" I say strictly. "I know you think you're doing him a favor, but you're really not! Being friends doesn't mean you'll do whatever someone asks you to…"
"Yeah? And how would you know?" he fires back and it feels like a punch to my heart.
He's right. I wouldn't know. I don't have any friends. It still hurts to hear him say it.
"No, Dana, sorry…" he reaches out for me.
"It's fine," I say and pull my hand away from him. "I need to go anyway."
I start to open the door but he reaches over me and closes the door. He's so close to me. He smells amazing… manly… musky…
"It's raining a lot, I'll drive you home," he says.
"I'm wearing a rain jacket, I'll be fine," I protest.
"No, I'll drive you," he insists and turns on the car and begins to drive.
He's been to our house a few times to visit Bill so he knows the way. His car is amazing… it still smells new - it makes me wonder if his family is well off.
"Dana, I know I've been an idiot," he breaks the silence as we drive through town, the famously slopey roads of San Francisco completely wet from the rain. "I've never had a real friend before… I don't like being at home so I go to parties, I hang out with whoever wants to hang out with me… and until your brother that didn't include the best company really."
"Why don't you want to go home?" I wonder out loud and immediately regret asking when I see the hurt on his face. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay," he lets out a sigh as he makes a right turn. "I have a sister… your age… she's sick."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mulder!" I say and feel my heart ache for him.
"She's been sick for a while… cancer… I love her and I love my parents but… it's a lot," he says, his voice cracking.
"I understand," I tell him. "Will she be okay?"
"There's hope," he nods silently. "But honestly, we don't know. She's a fighter but it's hard seeing her in pain… seeing my parents in pain."
"Of course… does Bill know?" I wonder.
"Yeah… he's the first person I've ever told… you're the second," he gives me a slight smile.
"Well, I'm glad you felt like you could share that with me, Mulder," I say honestly, feeling very moved that he's this open with me.
"I'll stop with the pot," he says sincerely. "You're right, it's stupid!"
"It is," I agree with a nod.
"And I'll stop buying for Bill!" he adds.
"Good," I give him a smile, believing him completely.
We pull up in front of my house and suddenly I feel very nervous.
"Well, thank you," I say nervously.
"I'll come in with you," he says, nodding towards the house. "I want to talk to Bill."
"Oh, alright," I say, feeling even more nervous.
We quickly run up from the car to the house, trying to avoid the rain. My father immediately meets us as we go into the house.
"What is this?" my father asks us sternly.
"Mulder gave me a ride home… it was raining!" I say quickly, my whole face red from embarrassment and nerves.
"I was coming to see Bill anyway," Mulder says. "Is he home?"
"He is," my dad says, not sounding very impressed. "Could you go to your room, Dana?"
I look to Mulder and he just shrugs. I look back to my dad and he nods his head towards the stairs. I run up and go to my room. I open the door and close it again but stay on the ledge… I want to hear what my dad wants with Mulder. I can clearly hear my dad even though he's talking quietly while sounding very serious.
"... and you're an 18 year old guy! She's only 14!"
"I know, Sir… I like Dana! I was just giving her a ride home - I have lunch with her every day at school, I know her, I just wanted to be nice!"
"You like my 14-year-old daughter?" my dad's voice is raised now and I feel so bad for Mulder.
"Sir, no! Not like that!" he says desperately - breaking my heart a little bit. "She's Bill's sister! She's a good kid, I was really just trying to be nice!"
There's a silence between them before my dad finally says: "Bill's in his room, you can go up to him."
When I hear Mulder go up the stairs I duck into my room.
My head is so full of thoughts. But after everything that Mulder told me… about my brother and about himself… the one thing I can't stop thinking about is how close we were in the car. How his breath had tickled my cheek as he reached over me to close the door. His smell. His smile. His eyes. The utter heartbreak of hearing him call me a kid.
x
Shortly after Christmas everything culminates. I know that Mulder stops supplying Bill but he doesn't stop using. And as the marihuana becomes an everyday thing for Bill he begins needing stronger stuff on the weekends. You can tell just by looking at Bill that he's slipping. And I know exactly what's going on because Mulder starts talking to me more often. He's trying so hard to get through to Bill but nothing helps.
But that dark Saturday evening in January, Bill can't hide from his problems anymore.
My parents get the call after they've gone to bed. The phone ringing wakes me up as well. Everything happens so quickly. Within twenty minutes my parents are in the emergency room with Bill.
Mulder and Bill have been in a car accident and Bill's broken his arm but besides that both boys are unharmed. I'm so relieved when I hear that. But Bill tested positive for a few different drugs and he also had alcohol in his system. Mulder was driving and also had alcohol in his system. Bill finally breaks down and tells my parents how much he's been struggling feeling like he has to live up to my dad's expectations and falling behind in school. The drugs were the only thing that made him feel better but he promises to stop with all that now. He has to attend some meetings but overall my parents took it very well and they're supporting Bill through all of this.
Mulder, however… my dad was so angry with him and my mom too. To be honest, I'm very disappointed in him myself. I never thought he would drink and drive. He crashed my brother's car as well - the car that Bill worked so hard to save up for.
When Monday comes around I avoid Mulder. Bill is still healing at home but Mulder looks very surprised and hurt that I don't come sit with him and the other guys… is he serious? I join Melissa and her friends and eat my lunch without talking that much.
As the school day ends I put on my winter clothes and go to get my bike. As I cross the parking lot Mulder pulls up next to me in his car, rolling down the window.
"Get in, Dana," he says, reaching over to open the door for me.
The sight of his brand new car, while my brother's car is being sold for scrap metal ignites my anger.
"Fuck off, Mulder!" I say, making him break in surprise while I keep on walking.
He quickly catches up to me again though.
"Dana, please!" he begs me. "I want to explain, please give me a chance!"
I sigh deeply and get into the car. He starts driving and I have no idea where he's going.
"So how are you still driving a car?" I ask in disbelief that he still has a license.
"My dad sorted it out for me," he sighs and I notice that his neck turns red - he's embarrassed.
"Must be nice," I snicker.
"What's that?" he asks, sighing in defeat.
"Just… never getting into trouble… buying your way out of things… having a brand new car while my brother worked hard to afford his old car which is now just… scrap," I say angrily. "You could have killed him, Mulder! What were you thinking?"
Mulder pulls up by a secluded beach area. There's no people around, it's just an empty parking lot and a lot of seagulls flying over the beach. It's a grey winter day but at least it's not raining today.
"Dana, I wasn't driving…" he trails off. "Bill was."
"What?" I exclaim in shock. "No, but he was… what?"
"He was gone, Dana… I couldn't stop him from getting in the car. I tried but I'd had a few drinks… I tried so hard to stop him and when he started the car, I just got in. I tried to talk some sense into him but he kept driving until we hit that tree… I was so scared! I didn't know what to do! But I'd just had alcohol and Bill had… well, you know… so I got him out… his arm was busted but I got him into the passenger seat and called for help. I just told them I'd been driving… I knew my dad would bail me out. No one was hurt, except Bill's arm…"
"Thank you, Mulder!" I interrupt him and give him a hug before I can stop myself.
"Wow, Dana," he chuckles. "It's okay."
He pats my back and I pull away from him, slightly embarrassed.
"Bill is so lucky you're his friend!" I say sincerely. "I'm sorry I was so mad at you!"
"Don't be," he chuckles. "But thanks for listening to me! It means a lot to me that you know the truth!"
I take in his words and they make me wonder…
"Why?" I wonder out loud. "Why do you care so much what I think?"
"Well," he seems to ponder this. "I guess you're Bill's sister but… I also consider you a friend, Dana."
"You do?" I ask in surprise - my heart beating so fast in my chest and my cheeks hurting from smiling at him.
"Yeah," he chuckles at my reaction. "You're a good kid, Dana! And you were there for me when I needed someone to kick my butt a little bit."
"Yeah," I chuckle nervously. "But I'm not a kid, Mulder! I'll be 15 next month…"
"Yeah, I know," he nods. "You know what I mean though."
"Well… no," I shake my head. "What do you mean?"
"You're my sister's age," he shrugs. "Compared to me you're a kid… even though you feel more and more like an adult yourself. I mean… don't you think Charlie's a kid even though he's 12?"
"Well, he is," I contemplate it. "But it's different…"
"Maybe," he shrugs, starting the car up again. "Can I drive you home?"
I try to shake off his comments and consider his offer.
"I'm not sure, Mulder… my parents aren't really your biggest fans right now…" I trail off.
"I can imagine," he laughs. "Your dad really hates me."
"No…" I try to lie but can't stop from laughing, making Mulder laugh as well. "He's a little overprotective, that's all."
"Just a little," Mulder continues to laugh.
"You know what, just drive me home, Mulder… I don't care what my dad says!"
"Really?" Mulder seems shocked.
"Really!" I ensure him with a smile.
x
When Mulder drove me home my father definitely wasn't pleased but Mulder didn't come in this time so it wasn't too bad. Bill obviously stuck up for him as well, saying that Mulder would never disrespect their friendship, so my father had nothing to worry about. My father still seemed worried though.
As the school year came to an end it became clear to me that Mulder was going back to New York for college. Bill got accepted into a local community college where he's going to study business, giving up on his dreams of joining the navy - and honestly seeming much better for it. But having to say goodbye to Mulder… maybe for good… it left me crying myself to sleep for many nights. I know he doesn't see me like I see him… he doesn't feel about me like I feel about him… but I want him so bad that I'll take whatever I can get. And his friendship has truly improved my life so much already.
Bill has truly turned his life around from where he began this school year and he manages to do alright on his final exams. Mulder does extremely well and to make everything even better, his sister is in remission, finally looking and feeling better.
My whole family has come to see Bill graduate and after we've celebrated and taken some pictures, I look around for Mulder. I quickly spot him, getting his picture taken with his sister who's in a wheelchair, still very fatigued from battling cancer for years.
As they've taken their pictures I manage to lock eyes with him and he happily exclaims my name.
"Hey, Mulder," I say shyly, acutely aware of his sister, parents and grandparents watching us. "I just wanted to congratulate you."
"Thank you, Dana," he smiles his amazing smile at me.
He introduces me to his whole family and I hear his grandfather mutter; "She's cute" to Mulder who just rolls his eyes at him. His mother asks to take a picture of the two of us and Mulder surprises me by saying yes. A few minutes later Bill comes over and they get a few pictures taken as well. When Bill and I go back to our family, Mulder comes running over.
"Hey, Bill - I'll see you tonight!" he says slightly out of breath.
"Of course," Bill chuckles.
"Dana, I forgot to say goodbye to you…" he smiles down at me and pulls me in for a hug.
I'm surprised at first but quickly hug him right back. Even through his graduation gown, I can feel how toned and muscly he is. I sigh as I lean into his chest, my arms around his middle. "It'll probably be a while till we see each other again, kiddo."
He pulls out of the hug again and gives me a peck on my cheek and winks at me. My whole face turns red as he's done this in front of my whole family.
"Maybe one day," I say hopefully.
"Definitely," he smiles at me.
And then he's gone. I can feel the tears burn in my eyes but I hold them back.
My grandmother comments on the nice young man and asks about him but my dad quickly averts the conversation. I bet he's happy that I'll probably never see Mulder again…
As the days go by I keep taps on his social media profiles, checking them every now and again. When he posts a scenic picture of Central Park on his Instagram saying that it's good to be back, I break down crying. I already miss him so much and I bet he doesn't even think about me anymore. I'm left wondering if I'll ever be happy again...