Chapter 1

~Ben~

As I approached the pool, I heard a loud splash and giggling. I knew they were at it again. Yup, sure enough my best friend Gary was making out with my sister Lila for the twenty billionth time today. He seemed to get a kick out of flipping her on the water and making her squeal or laugh and then taking her in his arms and kissing her ... well not really kissing her but slobbering all over her. Gross.

"Ok you two get a room," I said when I arrived near the poolside.

Gary laughed and swam towards me. "Don't hate," he said.

My sister followed behind him. Her hair, which was usually long, sleek and dark brown, was a wet mess and looking almost black.

"I brought you lovebirds some sodas," I said as I placed the sodas down on the grass near the pool.

"Aww thanks bro," Lila said and began to climb out of the pool. Gary followed.

"Brrrr ... I'm cold," Lila said.

Gary held out a big towel and they both got wrapped in it. I rolled my eyes and took a seat on one of the lawn chairs. I popped open my Dr. Pepper and looked away from the happy couple.

Gary, my best friend since eighth grade, had just recently started dating my little sister. Gary had no interest in Lila when she was a kid. Lila had a crush on Gary but Gary was too busy chasing cheerleader chicks. It wasn't until Lila's freshman year in college that Gary took interest.

Gary and I were both attending a community college but he would be leaving in the fall to attend school in another city that was at least a four hour drive. He assured my sister that he'd visit her every weekend but we all know how long distance relationships go. I just hoped that Gary would keep his promise to my sister.

I wasn't leaving town to go to a big university. I would stay in town and just attend the university there. Gary though, had pretty rich parents that could afford to send him out to an expensive university.

"I'll be right back," Lila said as she slowly slipped out of Gary's embrace.

She walked off and I noticed my best friend gawking her.

"Watch it buddy," I warned playfully.

Gary smirked and sat down on the chair next to me. "I mean just look at her in that bikini ... oh man."

I laughed. "Yeah ... I'm not checking out my little sister."

Gary took a big chug of his soda and nodded. "Well some guys do check out their sisters you know," he said angrily.

I wanted to laugh be that would have been rude. Word got out very quickly on how Gary's ex-girlfriend Emma, had dumped him to be with her own brother. It had been terribly embarrassing for Gary. He went to visit some relatives that summer just to get away from the humiliation. I had felt really bad for my friend.

After he came back later that summer, I noticed how he and Lila would start talking more. They even started to call each other. I was no idiot. I knew my best friend was hitting on my sister. I confronted Gary and he admitted that he liked Lila and wanted to ask her to be his girlfriend but didn't know how I would have reacted to it.

I had absolutely no problem with Gary dating Lila. In fact I welcomed the idea of my best friend and my sister dating. I thought they made a good couple and Lila had helped Gary get over that bitch Emma who totally humiliated my friend.

"Well anyway ... your sis does have a nice body," he continued.

I cringed. "Can we please talk about something else?"

A few minutes later, Lila came back. Her bikini was a light blue color. It was a two piece. I gulped my soda and quickly looked away.

~Lila~

I was upset because Gary would be leaving for college in two weeks! How in the world was I going to get through the days?

I had had a major crush on Gary ever since I could remember. I still recalled the first time I saw him when Ben invited him over. I was squealing on the phone to my friends saying how hot my brother's friend was.

He eventually found out that I liked him because Ben can't keep a secret! He found me scribbling Gary's name on one of my book covers and he went and told Gary!

I remember that day clearly.

I was in the kitchen scribbling I Love Gary and putting little hearts all over my book cover. Ben went in the kitchen and I quickly put the book up against my chest.

"What's wrong with you?" Ben had asked as he went to raid the fridge.

"Nothing," I said and quickly stood up still holding the book close to me.

"What are you hiding?" He asked suspiciously stepping away from the fridge.

"N-nothing!" I choked.

"Let me see," Ben said sounding a little too evil.

"No!" I yelp and ran.

Ben chased me in the living room. He blocked me from going upstairs and locking myself in my room.

"Move!" I yelled at him.

"No way Jose. Let me see what you're hiding."

"It's none of your business!" I yelled. I felt like crying. I hadn't wanted Ben to find out I was crushing on his best friend! That was just so embarrassing!

Ben crept closer to me. I held the book tight as if that would help. Ben had always been in sports and I knew he was way stronger than me. He grabbed my book and easily took it away.

He looked at the cover and burst out laughing. "Oh shit! You like Gary?" He asked hysterically.

"Shut up! Give me my book!" I was starting to cry.

Ben nodded. "No way Jose. I'm going to keep this and show Gary."

"No!" I cried out. Tears spilled down my face.

"Yup!" Ben teased.

I sighed and ran upstairs to my room slamming the door and crying hysterically. My brother was going to embarrass me! Oh god!

I laid on my bed and cried. I knew Gary would be coming over that night because it was Thursday and he came over almost every Thursday because that was the night his mother worked late.

I stayed in my room the whole afternoon so afraid to go outside. Finally later that night Ben knocked on my door. I opened it and narrowed my eyes at him.

"You told him didn't you?" I asked furiously.

Ben smirked. "Yeah. He's not interested though Lila. Sorry."

I grabbed the book from his hands. "I hate you!" I whispered and slammed the door on his face.

I cried more because now I knew that Gary wasn't interested in me. How could I have been so stupid to think that he'd like a short girl with braces? He was used to dating girls with long legs and pretty bodies. It was my first heartbreak.

The next day I ignored Ben completely. He kept trying to talk to me but I didn't say a word to him. I kept this up for over a week and finally Ben was frustrated. We were in the living room one afternoon watching Drake and Josh when Ben grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.

I wanted to yell at him for doing that because it was Drake and Josh the lucky shirt episode that I loved so much but instead I kept my cool and sighed.

"Come on Lila, talk to me please. I already said I was sorry about the whole Gary thing."

Silence.

"Lila ... please ... don't make me beg. I'll get on my knees if I have to."

I looked at him and raised a brow to indicate I was waiting for him to get on his knees.

Ben groaned and got on his knees in front of me. He looked up at me with his puppy brown eyes and pouted. "Please? I'm so sorry."

I tried to hold in my laugher but I couldn't help it. Ben smiled and got closer to me and hugged me. I hugged my brother back.

"Finally you're back," he whispered in my ear.

"I don't hate you. I hope you know that. You just pissed me off." I whispered back.

We broke our embrace. Ben's face remained close to mine. "He's stupid for not liking you sis. I mean he's my best friend and all, but he can be a jerk sometimes. I'm sorry."

I smiled. "It's ok. I'll just have to get over him."

"You can do better," My brother said and kissed my cheek.

Suddenly the room got quiet and I had to look away from Ben's eyes. I had sensed something ... strong? No way. I shrugged it off and went on.

"Turn the TV back on. You know this is my favorite episode."

Ben nodded and switched the TV back on. He went to sit on our father's recliner and we sat in silence watching the show. The funny parts on the show passed us by. There had been weird tension in the air that I never figured out.

So years after crushing on Gary, he had recently became mine. It started off the night he had come over to my house with a broken nose. I took care of him and we started taking. One thing led to another and we started kissing. I had to admit Gary was a hell of a kisser. Not that I had kissed many guys in my time but still...

After that night Gary kind of freaked out and ran out on me. I was left with yet another broken heart. I never told Ben about it and just moped around for days.

A week later, Gary called me to ask me out. We went out to eat and then to a blues bar. I had such a great time with him and he apologized for having left me that night. He said he had still been on the rebound from his ex girlfriend Emma and that now he was ready to move on.

I decided to play a little hard to get for a while longer. I knew he had a bad break up with Emma so I told him we could be friends for the mean time. Well, that didn't work out because two weeks later after our first date we had officially become a couple.

We were both shocked that Ben took the news well. He said he was glad his best bud had found a girl to take his mind off of that bitch Emma.

So now here we are, Gary and I in love and having been together now for almost nine months.

Ben and I shared an apartment together since I couldn't wait to leave my parents house. It was the first time Ben and I had a place of our own. It was liberating living on our own.

Gary came over almost every night and we ... well we had a lot of time together if you know what I mean. I had to admit that Gary was a god in bed. Not that I had much to compare to since he had been my first, but still ... he was really good in bed. I was surprised that bitch Emma would have left him to be with her own brother ... yuk!

I came back to join the boys at the pool. I noticed how quiet my brother was. I realized he hadn't been in a relationship for over a year now. I knew a girl named Flanna in my physics class that would probably like my brother. I knew Ben would definitely like Flanna. She was one of those type of girls that all the guys noticed. Tall, long legs, long curly brown hair and big honey brown eyes. She had Jessica Alba's lips and Jennifer Lopez's ass. She was the type of girl you would hate but I thought she would make my brother happy.

"I'm back," I announced and took a seat on the lawn chair between Gary and Ben. "So what did I miss? What are you guys talking about?"

Ben looked at Gary. "You don't want to know. Guy stuff."

I rolled my eyes and grabbed some sunscreen lotion. "You guys better not be checking out other girls. Well Ben can but not you Gary," I joked.

Gary laid back and stared up at late August blue skies. "I wouldn't do that babe. You know I only have eyes for you."

I giggled. "Hey Ben," I began, "I know this girl-"

"Whoa! No! I'm not going to be set up," Ben chimed in.

I groaned. "How did you know I was going to set you up? Maybe I was about to tell you a really good story about someone."

Ben looked over at me and lowered his head down. I was able to see my brother's brown eyes peaking over his sunglasses. "Well then ... what's the story?"

I pursed my lips and smiled. "I was going to set you up."

Gary laughed.

"No. I don't want to be set up Lila. I told you already."

"Dude, let her set you up. She's going to set you up with some prime sophomore honey," Gary said.

"Ugh! Don't say that," I warned Gary. I turned back to look at Ben. He was looking straight out into the pool. "Ok ... I won't set you up bro. I'm sorry I brought it up."

Ben shrugged. "It's ok."

There was an awkward silence before Gary come over to my chair and took the sunscreen away. "Here ... let me," he offered to put it on me.

I sat up as my boyfriend rubbed the sunscreen on me.

~Ben~

I couldn't believe Lila had the audacity to try to set me up with someone. I really didn't want a relationship, but honestly when I saw Gary and Lila together it did make me yearn for some type of companionship.

Gary said he knew I was feeling down so decided to take me out to where guys go when they are lonely ... the strip joint. Besides he would be leaving the following week for college so he wanted us to get a boys night out before he left.

"You have to meet Ginger," Gary said anxiously as we entered the bar filled with half naked chicks.

"I really don't want to be here," I said as we walked in.

"Dude, chill out ok? I'm going to buy you a dance from Ginger and trust me you won't be feeling down anymore," Gary guaranteed.

We walked towards the back of the bar and took a seat in one of the booths. A tall slender blonde came over to us to take our drink orders. "Nothing for me," I said right away.

Gary groaned. "Dude..."

I sighed. "Ok get me a Samuel Adams."

"Make that two honey," Gary winked at her.

The girl left and I eyed my friend. "I can't believe you bring me here. You could have taken me to go play pool or out to drink at the blues bar but no ... you bring me to a titty club."

Gary shrugs. "You need some titties to get your mind off whatever. I've seen you kind of glum bro. I don't like it when my friends are all depressed and shit."

I took a look around the room. I had to admit some of the girls were pretty hot. I decided I should just enjoy myself.

"You know ... Emma and I used to come here together. She'd buy me some lap dances from Ginger and that would fucking get me horney as a motherfucker! Then we'd go back to my place and I'd fuck her so good..." his voice trailed off for a moment..."yeah those were some good times. That bitch." He looked away.