Chapter 36

I blinked my eyes open, groggy and disoriented as I stared up at my bedroom ceiling. My whole body felt heavy with sleep, and for a second, I couldn't even remember how I got here. The last thing I remembered was sitting in the car on the way back from the football match, exhausted and full of donuts.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes as realization hit me. I must have fallen asleep in the car, which meant—oh no.

My brothers must have carried me inside.

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

With a sigh, I slowly pushed myself up and immediately noticed the familiar scent clinging to me. I glanced down at myself and realized I was still wearing Lucas' hoodie. Right. I had stolen borrowed it a while ago, and now it had basically become part of my wardrobe. Not that Lucas ever really complained. If anything, he just liked bringing it up to fluster me.

Yawning, I dragged myself out of bed, not even bothering to fix my hair as I made my way downstairs. The house was quieter than usual, which was strange considering I lived with a bunch of loud, obnoxious brothers.

As I entered the kitchen, I spotted Elijah and Easton sitting at the table, both eating breakfast.

"Look who finally decided to wake up," Elijah said, smirking as he took a sip of his coffee.

I frowned, rubbing at my eyes. "What time is it?"

"Just after ten," Easton replied, barely looking up from his plate.

I glanced around. "Where is everyone?"

Elijah stretched lazily in his chair. "Having a lie-in. They were wiped after the game yesterday."

I sighed, slumping into the chair across from them. "I missed getting out of the car, didn't I?"

Easton smirked. "Oh yeah. You were dead to the world. Henry and Miles carried you inside."

I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. "Please tell me they didn't say anything."

Elijah chuckled. "Not yet, but I'd prepare for some teasing."

"Great," I muttered, lifting my head slightly. The hoodie sleeves were too long, so I tugged them over my hands and rested my chin on the table.

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Still wearing Lucas' hoodie, huh?"

I scowled. "Shut up."

Easton just smirked. "At this point, I don't think he's getting it back."

I ignored them and got up to grab some breakfast, still feeling half-asleep. I took a piece of toast and lazily spread butter on it before sitting back down. I was halfway through taking a bite when Easton spoke again.

"So, what do you wanna do today?"

I paused mid-chew before swallowing. "Uh... I dunno. Maybe nothing?"

Elijah scoffed. "Nice try, but you've already got plans."

I frowned. "What?"

Elijah smirked. "You're having your friends over to study for that maths test on Monday."

I groaned, slumping back into my seat. "Why did I agree to that?"

Easton chuckled. "You volunteered, remember?"

I muttered something under my breath, poking at my toast. I must have been out of my mind to offer up my house for studying. Of all the ways I could've spent my Saturday, suffering through maths was definitely not on the list.

After breakfast I found myself sprawled out on the couch in the living room, flipping through channels aimlessly. There was nothing good on, just reruns of old sitcoms and some random reality show about baking disasters. I considered going back to bed but knew that if I did, Easton or Elijah would drag me out of it again.

Instead, I settled on watching a crime documentary that I wasn't really paying attention to. Every so often, my phone would buzz, but I ignored it, too comfortable where I was. Eventually, I must have dozed off again because the next thing I knew, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps stomping down the stairs.

The peace was officially over.

Henry appeared first, grinning like an idiot as he walked into the kitchen. "Did I mention that I scored yesterday?"

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Only about a hundred times."

Miles and Alex followed behind him, both rolling their eyes as they made a beeline for the food.

"You do realize we set up half your plays, right?" Miles said, grabbing the cereal box from the counter.

Alex nodded. "If we weren't there, you wouldn't have even had the chance to score."

Henry scoffed. "Yeah, but you didn't score, did you?"

Miles threw a piece of cereal at him. "You're unbearable."

Henry dodged it with a smug grin. "I'm just saying, facts are facts."

Elijah, who had been leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee, sighed. "Alright, enough. You all played well, so knock it off."

Henry huffed but didn't push it further. Instead, he flopped into the chair across from me while the twins continued bickering as they made their breakfast.

I eyed them lazily. "You guys know it's basically lunch now, right?"

Miles shrugged. "Breakfast, lunch—same thing."

I shook my head but didn't argue. It wasn't worth it.

Just as I was about to grab my phone and check what I'd missed, the doorbell rang.

Easton, who had just walked in from outside, raised an eyebrow. "That'll be your friends."

I groaned. "Right. Study session."

Henry smirked. "Bet you're regretting that now."

I shot him a glare before pushing myself up off the couch and making my way to the door. When I opened it, Chloe and Sophia stood there, both holding notebooks and looking far too cheerful for a Saturday.

"Hey," Sophia greeted, stepping inside.

Chloe smirked. "Ready to suffer, Adrian?"

I groaned. "Don't start."

As they walked in, I glanced behind them, expecting to see Lucas, but he wasn't there.

"Where's Lucas?" I asked.

"He's running late," Chloe said, setting her stuff down on the table. "Something about his mum making him do something first."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course he is."

Sophia laughed. "He'll be here soon. Now, are you actually prepared to study, or are we gonna have to force you?"

I sighed dramatically. "Let's just get this over with."

Chloe grinned. "That's the spirit."

I was already regretting everything.

I tried to ignore them. Really, I did. But Miles and Alex were relentless.

"I can't believe we didn't know about this," Alex said, grinning like an idiot. "How long has this been a thing?"

"Yeah," Miles added. "Is this, like, a special Lucas-and-Adrian thing?"

I scowled. "Shut up."

Henry, ever the instigator, smirked. "You know, I think it suits you."

"Oh, definitely," Alex agreed. "It just fits."

I turned to Elijah, desperate for help. "Are you seriously letting them do this?"

Elijah barely glanced up from his phone. "I mean... they're not wrong."

I groaned, sinking further into the couch.

Lucas, of course, was loving every second of it. "See, even your brothers agree. It's the perfect nickname."

"It's stupid," I muttered.

Lucas nudged my side. "But you haven't actually told me to stop."

I huffed, avoiding eye contact. "I hate all of you."

Chloe, who had been watching the whole thing with an amused smile, finally chimed in. "Alright, leave him alone. You guys act like you've never heard a nickname before."

Miles smirked. "Yeah, but this one is special."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, can we move on now? We took a break to escape studying, not bully Adrian."

I sighed, grateful for the intervention. "Thank you."

Sophia winked. "You're welcome, Shorty."

Lucas snorted as I groaned again.

Easton finally spoke up from his spot on the couch. "Alright, enough," he said, though he was definitely smirking too. "Are we watching this movie, or are we just gonna sit around making Adrian miserable?"

Miles shrugged. "Both?"

Elijah gave him a look.

Miles sighed dramatically. "Fine. We'll let Shorty live for now."

I crossed my arms, scowling at my brothers. "Only Lucas can call me that."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and the second I realized what I'd said, my face burned.

I heard a few snickers, but I didn't dare look at my brothers. Instead, I hesitantly turned to Lucas, already bracing for his reaction.

He wasn't smirking like I expected. Instead, he was just... smiling. Softly. Sweetly.

His warm brown eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, everything else faded away. My heart did an embarrassing little flip, and I suddenly felt way too warm in his hoodie.

Lucas tilted his head slightly, his smile never wavering.

I swallowed, unable to look away.

Then, the loud boom of the movie starting snapped us both out of it.

I blinked rapidly, turning back to the screen like my life depended on it.

Lucas chuckled under his breath, but he didn't say anything.

Neither did I.

But my heart was still racing.

Miles, of course, wasn't about to let it go. He smirked, leaning back against the couch. "Well, that's interesting."

I pointed a warning finger at him. "Say it again, and I'm throwing you outside."

Miles just grinned, but he didn't push it.

With that, everyone settled in to actually watch the movie.

Lucas leaned back, still grinning as he stole another biscuit from the bowl. "You're fun when you're annoyed."

I kicked his leg under the coffee table. "Shut up and watch the movie."

Lucas just chuckled, nudging me again before finally focusing on the screen.

I sighed, shaking my head. At least they'd finally stopped.

For now.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The movie played on, the glow from the screen casting soft light across the living room. For a while, everyone actually stayed quiet, focused on the action unfolding in front of us. I leaned back into the couch, trying to ignore the way my heart was still pounding from earlier.

Lucas was sitting close—closer than usual, maybe—but I told myself I was imagining it. Every so often, I caught myself glancing at him, only to quickly look away when I realized what I was doing. He, on the other hand, seemed completely relaxed, eyes fixed on the screen as he absentmindedly stole another biscuit.

The occasional sound of chewing and someone shifting in their seat was the only noise aside from the movie. Every now and then, Miles or Alex would make a comment under their breath, and Easton would tell them to shut up.

By the time the credits rolled, I stretched my arms over my head, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Okay, now that's over, can we just accept that studying is a terrible idea and should be avoided at all costs?"

Chloe smirked. "Nice try. We're still studying."

I groaned, slumping back into the couch.

Lucas patted my knee, grinning. "Come on, Shorty, you'll survive."

I shot him a glare, but the warmth from earlier crept back up my neck.

Sophia stood, stretching. "Come on, let's go back to the kitchen before we get too comfortable and give up completely."

With more groaning (mostly from me), we all dragged ourselves off the couch and back to the kitchen table, where our books were still spread out. I slumped into my chair, already regretting this.

Lucas sat beside me again, flipping open one of the textbooks. "Alright, let's do this."

I sighed dramatically, picking up my pencil. "I hate this."

"We know," Chloe said, amused. "You've made that very clear."

Sophia grinned. "Maybe if you were actually good at maths, you wouldn't hate it so much."

I scowled. "I am not that bad."

Lucas snorted. "You really are."

I turned to glare at him, but he just smirked, nudging my arm with his elbow. "Don't worry. That's what we're here for."

I huffed, but despite my complaining, we got back to work. Lucas occasionally leaned over to help me, pointing at my paper and explaining things in a way that actually made sense. The girls worked through their own problems, occasionally throwing teasing comments my way when I looked particularly lost.

It was exhausting.

But, as much as I hated to admit it, it wasn't that bad.

Especially with Lucas sitting so close, his voice soft as he helped me through the more difficult parts.

Maybe studying wasn't the worst thing in the world.

But I would never admit that out loud.

The next two hours dragged on, filled with numbers, equations, and me trying not to completely lose my mind. I was pretty sure that if I had to look at one more algebra problem, my brain was going to melt.

Lucas, of course, was completely fine. He leaned over occasionally to help me, his tone patient as he explained things. Chloe and Sophia worked through their own problems, occasionally throwing comments my way whenever I looked particularly lost.

"You're just overthinking it," Sophia said, glancing at my paper.

I sighed. "No, I'm just bad at this."

Lucas nudged my arm. "You're not bad, Shorty. You just need to practice."

I shot him a look. "That's literally the same thing."

Chloe laughed. "You're so dramatic."

"I have to be," I muttered, slumping forward on the table. "It's the only way I'll survive."

We kept working, taking short breaks here and there, but by the time we reached the two-hour mark, my head was aching, and I was ready to throw my textbook across the room.

Just when I was about to complain about how much I hated maths for the hundredth time, Elijah strolled into the kitchen, stretching his arms above his head.

"Alright, nerds," he said, leaning against the counter. "You guys staying for dinner?"

"Yes," Chloe said immediately.

Sophia nodded. "Definitely."

Lucas grinned. "Yeah, I'll stay."

Elijah nodded. "And since it's the weekend, we're getting a takeaway."

That got my attention. I sat up. "Really?"

Elijah nodded. "Yeah. Is pizza alright?"

"Yes," we all said at the same time.

"Great." Elijah pulled out his phone. "Let's go to the living room and get everyone's orders."

We all pushed our books aside without hesitation, practically sprinting to the living room. Henry, Miles, and Alex were already there, lounging on the couch and watching something on TV.

"We're getting pizza," Elijah announced, leaning against the back of the couch. "What's everyone having?"

The orders started flying in.

"Pepperoni," Henry said immediately.

"Meat feast," Miles added.

"I want BBQ chicken," Chloe said.

Sophia shrugged. "Veggie for me."

Lucas grinned. "I'm going classic. Pepperoni."

"I just want a margarita," I said.

That made Alex pause. He turned to look at me, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

I frowned. "What?"

"Margarita?" Alex scoffed. "That's so boring."

I narrowed my eyes. "It's literally pizza. It's good."

"It's plain," Alex shot back. "You could get anything, and you go for the most basic option?"

"Maybe I like basic things," I huffed.

"Yeah, we know," Miles teased.

I picked up a cushion and threw it at him.

He caught it, laughing. "Wow. Such aggression. Must be all the boring pizza weighing you down."

"Oh my God," I groaned, throwing my hands up. "Why does everyone have such strong opinions about my pizza?!"

Lucas, who had been quiet up until now, leaned back on the couch, smirking. "Because you're easy to mess with, Shorty."

I scowled at him. "You're not helping."

He just grinned. "I wasn't trying to."

Elijah sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Everyone chill. Adrian can have his boring margarita if he wants."

"Thank you," I said, crossing my arms.

Elijah smirked. "Doesn't mean we won't judge you for it, though."

I groaned, flopping back onto the couch.

"Anyway," Elijah continued, scrolling through his phone, "I'll place the order. It should be here in about forty five minutes."

That was good enough for me.

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Word count: 2488

Hey Guys Thanks for reading this story so please be nice and kind. I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or bad grammar.

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More chapters will be coming out soon.

*EMMA HETHRON*