My Best Friend's Brother
Written by: Jill Annette

CHAPTER EIGHT – JUST AN ATTRACTION

Mamoru watched Usagi after their kiss as she nervously looked from person to person in the room. If he didn't know any better he would say that she was avoiding eye contact with Rei. Usagi continuously fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as she stood off to the side of the circle as Ami and Yuuichirou shared their kiss. Once the game was finished, Usagi left the room and walked outside.

The kiss was amazing, Mamoru had to admit. It played out to his advantage anyway, since he had been wondering what it would be like to caress her lips with his. Because they both picked the same number, it was just a game and no one would think anything of it. He had hoped it was her the entire night and was more than delighted when she stepped forward once their number was called.

Now however, Mamoru knew Usagi was troubled. He could see it in her face, by her actions. He knew it was because of the way he had kissed her. Had she not wanted to kiss him? Was he that repulsing to her? Bowing his head for a moment, Mamoru decided he would have to ask. It was stupid for him to let these feelings – whatever they were – to go on without getting them out in the open.

Looking around the room, he realized most everyone was caught up saying goodbye to whomever it was that was leaving. Mamoru stood and crossed the room in a few quick strides, partly so that no one would notice where he had gone off to and partly because he didn't want the chance that he would change his mind.

- - -

Usagi leaned against the railing of the balcony. She watched the cars pass by in hopes that maybe it would help clear her mind. That was probably the most stupid game she had ever played. It toyed with people's emotions and left people like her wondering how the hell she ended up the way she did. Gods, how did she end up liking Mamoru? Attraction, she knew it was there but serious like? She could not put her finger on it.

From the beginning, ever since he walked into his sister's room when she and Rei were sprawled out on the floor caught talking about dating best friend's brothers, she felt something for Mamoru. Usagi cringed as she remembered how just moments before he had barged in she asked if he was handsome. And damn, was he handsome.

She sighed. Now she would never be able to get him out of her head. All she would ever think about was how comforting the kiss was. Then she would constantly have to remind herself what Rei said about her not being able to choose between the two of them if things did not work out. Usagi had promised not to jeopardize their friendship and she would be if she told Mamoru her feelings and they actually did something about it.

Besides, who's to say that he feels the same way? He's nearly five years older than her and why would a college graduate want something to do with a high school student. Albeit she will be graduating from high school in two months. And then what? Usagi sighed again propping her chin in the palm of her head. She felt like she still had a lot of growing up to do.

The balcony door slid open, making Usagi gasp and turn around. Her lower back pressed against the banister. The devil himself appeared in front of her, closing the door behind him. Usagi crossed her arms to put something between them besides the night's stale air.

"Hey," Mamoru said, attempting a comforting smile.

Usagi smiled a tight smile herself in greeting, all the while avoiding eye contact with him.

He reached for her arm and held fast to her soft skin. Usagi tensed at Mamoru's touch and tried to pull away but she only ended up closer to Mamoru. He had the upper-hand in this situation: he was much stronger than she. There was not much she could do but stare at him, their blue eyes clashing with each other.

"I meant what I said about not hurting you."

Usagi lowered her head away from his gaze only for a second because Mamoru cupped her chin in his other hand and pulled her face to his. Their faces were so close she could feel his hot breath on her mouth. Usagi could breathe in his scent and she knew he caught hers as well. He stayed tauntingly away waiting for her to close the gap. Being in the awkward position she was pressed against Mamoru, Usagi adjusted her footing and literally fell into another kiss. Again she was taken by his lips and was able to taste his soul. She could feel tears in the corner of her eyes because of what she had to do.

She pulled away from his warmth with newfound strength and turned around. "I can't." With her back to him it was much easier to say the words. "I just can't."

Mamoru raked a hand through his hair. "Why not?"

Usagi shook her head, still turned away from him. At least this way he could not see her tears.

She heard Mamoru scoff and then say, "Well, if it isn't obvious enough, I guess my feelings are not shared and I just made a complete ass of myself."

"It's not that," Usagi whispered, unable to find her voice.

"Then what is it, Usagi?" His voice was stern. "I like you and I thought you liked me but I guess I read you wrong."

Usagi swallowed her tears down and looked at Mamoru once again. "It's not that I don't like you, it's just – I – We can't." She shook her head again, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Mamoru took a step closer to her. "I don't understand," he said reaching out for her again but she moved away from him. He pulled his hand back in as if he were burned and curled it in a fist. His eyes never left her, questioning her in a way he couldn't with words.

"Maybe you will one day." Usagi said aloud, just to break the silence that tightened around them.

She watched as Mamoru's eyes narrowed, his blue eyes darkening to coal. Before she knew it his back was to her and then he was gone with the slam of the door. Usagi took deep breaths until her heart slowed down and her tears decided to leave her be. Slowly, Usagi stepped back into the apartment to find only Rei still in the living room.

"Where's everyone?" Usagi asked.

"Mamoru left in a huff," Rei explained, knowing well to mention him first. "I'm not sure what's wrong with him. Yuuichirou followed him out the door and Motoki and Reika are – um – they went to bed."

"Oh, okay." Usagi nodded and prayed that her breathing was even. "Can we go now?"

Rei shot up from the couch, "Yes, let's."

- - -

Rei noticed Usagi's silence on the walk home. It was closer to two in the morning and if she did not know any better, Rei would easily mistake her silence for exhaustion. However, Rei knew something happened between her brother and her best friend.

"You okay?" Rei asked, concern written in her violet eyes.

Usagi nodded, "Yeah. I'll be fine."

Rei cocked her head to the side, "You will be?"

"It's just," Usagi sighed, "it's been a long night."

"Tell me about it," Rei stated. To try and lighten the mood she continued to talk, "I mean, I didn't think we were ever going to get to leave once Motoki decided to spring that last game on us."

Silence.

"And then you disappeared for a while." Rei said, knowing she probably should not have mentioned either the game or her disappearance. In truth, Usagi didn't disappear because Rei knew where she was all along. She just wanted to figure out away to tell her friend that it was okay for her to like Mamoru and for her to show her emotions if that's what she wanted. Forget what she had said earlier and she'll forget the promise. It was selfish of her to even think of denying her friend something just because she was afraid of what may happen.

"I needed some fresh air." Usagi told her friend. "I started to feel dizzy." She forced a laugh, then, "I guess I drank too much."

Rei knew then that Usagi was not going to mention anything about Mamoru. The kiss they shared because of the game or their conversation on the balcony. The raven headed girl was hurt that her friend would not trust her enough with the predicament Usagi found herself in. However, Rei also knew that she was part of the problem.

"It'll just be great to crash into bed," Rei said.

"You're telling me." Despite whatever turmoil Usagi was dealing with inside, somehow she pushed it aside, Rei noticed, as she smiled broadly and said, "I'll race you home!"

With that the blond was off, leaving Rei behind. Milliseconds passed before Rei herself picked up her pace and chased after her blond friend. "You better get a head start!"

Usagi raced up the path of the Chiba's home and up the porch steps and into the door, Rei fast on her heels. Mamoru was standing at the bottom of the staircase when the girls bounded in the room. He looked disheveled, his unruly hair going every which way and his shirt half-tucked in. The blond stopped dead in her tracks causing Rei to slam into her sending both of them toppling to the floor.

"OW!" Rei whined, "Why did you stop?"

They lay in a tangle of limbs on the floor a moment before they were able to catch their breath and straighten themselves out. Rei stood up and smiled down at her friend, "Looks like I'm going to win!" The she ran up the stairs.

Usagi was sitting on the ground, her legs bent to the side, and she was looking at Mamoru. She forgot that she would have to see him every day she would come to Rei's house. Mamoru slowly shook his head before he started to make his own way up the stairs.

"You know it'd be different if it could be," Usagi said.

Mamoru looked down to Usagi's pathetic form. It was just an attraction, nothing more and nothing less. He would get over this in a few days time he was sure. "No, I don't think it would be," he stated sternly before finishing the few steps he had left and closing his bedroom door behind him.

Defeated, Usagi let herself fall to the floor again, this time alone without her best friend to catch her.

- - -

So I had an inspiration bug that stayed with me from one chapter to the next AND time to write it out. Here's the next chapter. In AWESOME timing. ) Hope you enjoyed it... um ... yeah. ;-)

I'm also working on a series. I have it planned out anyway, so far I have three parts for sure and possibly a fourth. It depends really on how much I get into it. This is just a plug I guess. A notice for you to be on the look out for sometime this year. There's a really big outline for it... and not much else. But I'm letting you guys know anyway.

Thanks for reading.