Chapter 74: Chapter 74:

"So where is she?" He asks

"Nikki" Jake calls me and I see his dad frown slightly. Alec's mom had a grin on. Alec still stood there flabbergasted. I would have to explain things to him later.

"Wasn't she Alec's girlfriend?" His dad spits and I swallow a thick saliva.

"Yes she was dad but then they couldn't continue because of Madison's pregnancy. Actually, I met Nikki before Alec did and I fell in love with her so I was jealous when she was with him but I had to keep my cool"

His dad chuckles and I'm relieved.

"You my dear are one lucky girl! I wonder why my sons are falling for you like that but all the same, you are welcome to the family"

"Thank you sir" I reply gratefully.

I look at Alec and he gives me a small smile. I return it knowing he has  a million questions to ask me.

"I'm delirious to know that you accepted my stepson. But what happened with your other boyfriend? The one after Alec?" Alec's mom asks.

"Er....he died after a car accident"

Alec's mom gasps.

"I'm so sorry about that"

"Its okay." I reply fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Jake squeezes my hand when he notices this.

"But the two of you make a great couple" His dad compliments and I see Jake blush.

"We will be leaving you now, see you later" Alec's mom says and she walks away with her husband.

"You ....you two are a couple?.. Nikki you di... didn't even wait?" Alec stutters out.

I sigh.

"We were in love with each other ever since we met" Jake explains to him and he gets confused the more.

"You told dad you met her before me and you claim you fell in love with each other since you met. No I don't get it! You guys always fought in school and you even wanted to overthrow Nikki! How come you guys suddenly want to be together?"

Jake and I chuckle.

"It's a long story. We just got into fights because of a few misunderstandings " I tell him.

"But wait, does it mean you never loved Aaron?or me?" Alec asks a bit hurt.

"No don't say that! I liked both of you! Its just that fate wanted it the other way around and my heart chose Jake"

Alec gives me a skeptical look.

"I'm being honest! I admired you and Aaron most of the time "

Alec smiles convinced.

"I was starting to think you played with both of us" Alec admits

"I wouldn't do that"

"But I'll still wait for the long story to be told"

"Okay" I reply.

I didn't notice Jake playing with his brothers. I was too busy explaining things to Alec. I was close to confessing that I caused Aaron's death and that I was the one who got him furious that night. I knew Alec would be really disappointed in me for breaking the poor guy's heart before dying so I decided to remain quiet and talk little. I just wish he would visit me in my dreams one day so that I can tell him how sorry I am. I know he forgave me before he died but I cannot help feeling guilty.

"But you can still ask Kimberly and Danny. They will tell you Jake and I were something in the past before the fights. Aaron also knew about it"

"What started the fight?" Alec asks intrigued. He really wanted to know what happened. Little does he know that he brought the fight! The day I stood Jake up and came to the family dinner. I remember everything like yesterday but I know if I start narrating it, its not going to end.

"Hey! What did I miss?" Jake interrupts me and I'm happy because I wasn't ready to tell Alec he was the main cause of the fight after which Helen also came in and a few minor things. I can't believe we went through all that and we are now finally together even though I lost my best friend due to my  cowardice.

"Nothing. I was just asking Nikki what started the fight between the two of you"

"Oh that uh....." Jake trails off.

"We will tell you later. Its a long story too"

Alec furrows his eyebrows and I smile widely.

"Lucas and Thomas want a challenge. Its Big brothers Versus Little Brothers. Are you in?" Jake asks Alec.

"Totally in. What's it about?"

"We are going to play a wrestling game and we will determine who wins! Its a video game actually! No need to worry if you think your ribs are going to get broken..." Jake trails off and I laugh. I think he said that because of Alec's change in demeanor.

"Loser gets to serve winner for two weeks." Jake completes

"Seems exciting" I say

Alec smiles

"Let's teach our younger brothers what we are made of" Alec says and Jake smiles in amusement.

"You coming Nikki?" Jake asks over his shoulder.

"Of course"

°~•~•°

"Come on Lucas! Beat him" I cheer as Lucas tries to beat his opponent Alec in the video game. They are both holding game pads with their eyes fixated on the screen.

Lucas manages to punch Alec in the video game but then Alec gives him a side kick and Lucas lands on the floor. Lucas groans as the game announces Alec as the winner and the big brothers cackle wickedly.

"Thomas you're up! You will be serving us for two weeks if you do not beat me" Jake taunts and Thomas smirks

"I'm an expert in this game! We will see about that" Thomas says and Jake smiles amused.

"I love the energy" I say with a cackle as I watch Jake and Thomas exchange glares before sitting down and taking their gamepads.

The game begins and Thomas is the first to punch Jake in the face on the screen.

"Ooh. That hurt" Alec says and I chuckle.

"Go on Thomas! Beat him" I cheer.

"Aren't you supposed to be cheering me instead?" Jake says as he punches Thomas in the stomach but Thomas reacts and doesn't fall down. The game continues.

"I wouldn't cheer you! I am for Thomas and Lucas"

Alec snorts.

"They are just two losers" he tells me and I frown.

"We aren't" Lucas yells at Alec.

"We will see about that"

"No!" Jake yells and I turn to look at the screen. He was down

"Damn it Jake! What happened?" Alec asks

Thomas and Lucas high five each other with grins on their faces and I see Thomas whisper something in Lucas's ear.

"Okay so we would play again cause we have a tie! This time around, Jake would face Lucas and I will face the devil himself" Alec says and I cackle at the name he gave Thomas.  Thomas smirks in response and Alec smiles.

"Game begins with Jake and Lucas! Aaand....Action!" Alec says as if he was some movie director.

Jake and Lucas grab their gamepads and begin to play. Jake gives Lucas a kick in the stomach but Lucas reacts and punches Jake in the face.  Then he gave Jake a side kick and threw him over. Jake lands on his feet and kicks Lucas. Then he punched him repeatedly.

This is getting harder.

"Get ready to lose Lucas" Alec taunts

"Come on Lucas! You can beat him" I spit

Lucas kicks Jake in the stomach again and punches his chest. Jake staggers back but he grabs Lucas and shoves him onto the floor. Lucas stands up quickly and hits Jake even harder. Jake lands on the floor and the game announces Lucas as the winner.

I cackle wickedly and high five Lucas.

"Congratulations Lucas!"

"Thomas and Alec! You're up" I tell them and they give each other death glares. I wonder who is going to win.

"Alec you need to win this" Jake says as they grasp their game controllers.

"Thomas you have to win this" Lucas spits.

"Ready set, Fight!" I announce and the fight begins with Alec kicking Thomas in all directions. Thomas is out of control and Alec smirks

"Come on Thomas! You can do this!!!" I yell desperately.

Thomas manages to kick Alec in the stomach and punches him repeatedly. Alec holds onto his game controller and hits Thomas. This is not good. They are both experts in this game

"Come on!" Jake yells frustratedly

Thomas succeeds in grabbing Alec's neck and I smile.

"Almost there!" I shriek and Jake scoffs under his breath.

Alec finally ends up on the floor and Thomas shrieks as the game announces him as the winner. Lucas hugs him and they laugh at their big brothers.

Jake and Alec turn red and I can't help but grin.

"Are you ready to serve your little brothers?" I ask both of them cackling wildly.

"That was the deal right?" Jake says with a shrug.

"Yeah. Losers gets to serve winners for 2weeks. But we can still have a rematch?" Alec points out.

"That will be after you serve us for Two weeks and if both of you lose, it will be doubled to four weeks of serving us" Thomas seethes at them and they are bewildered.

"You are a real devil" Alec tells him and Thomas chuckles.

"Its a deal and if you guys lose after the rematch, you two will be serving us for 4 weeks" Jake speaks up narrowing his eyes at them.

Thomas smirks

"Deal" he said and they shake hands with each other.

"Alec can you get me an apple from the kitchen?" Lucas asks

"No way" Alec spits

"Hey! You are supposed to serve us remember? It starts from today!" Thomas points out.

"Today? I thought it will be from tomorrow! Oh brother!" Alec says rubbing his face.

"I swear to you that these two are going to make our lives a living hell during these two weeks" Alec whispers in Jake's ear but it was loud enough for me to hear.

Thomas smirks

"And oh Alec, after getting the apple can you pass by our bedroom and get me my tablet?" He asks and I hear Alec growl a bit.

"Me too! My tablet" Lucas adds and Alec rolls his eyes.

"Fine! I'll get it for you" Alec drawls and walks away.

"And Jake, please get a glass of water for me, I'm thirsty" Thomas says with a smirk. Jake says something incoherent under his breath and walks away but then Thomas stops him again. Wow! Thomas is really mean. No wonder Alec calls him devil.

"And my lady? What would you love?" Thomas asks me and I'm dumbfounded. I look at Jake and he was fuming.

"Its alright!" I reply.

"Come on! My servant here can get you anything" Thomas taunts and I could feel anger radiating off Jake's body. I cracked up. Thomas just called him a servant and he is about to blow up like a grenade.

"Just water" I tell Thomas after recovering from my fits of laughter

"Servant" Thomas calls but Jake doesn't respond

Thomas rolls his eyes.

"When I call you servant, you answer yes sir! Understood?"

Jake huffs.

"Yes sir" he drawls with a smirk etched on his face.

"Get the lady a glass of water too" Thomas says and Jake nods

"Now shoo" he adds and I chuckle whiles Jake gave him a death glare. How mean can this boy be? I instantly like him.

"Come on! Don't be so mean to them! They are your brothers" I tell Thomas as he sits down in a couch like a boss in his office.

"They deserve it. Especially Alec! You don't know what they did to us some months ago"Lucas spits.

I shrug.

" Just have sympathy on them"

💖💖💖

I think telling Lucas and Thomas to be sympathetic rather made them abusive. They kept on sending Jake and Alec to fetch unnecessary things then they will tell them to take them back. They have been going back and forth for like thirty minutes now. It was funny but I felt so sorry for Jake and Alec who looked like they were going to pass out any minute from now. Who asked them to participate in the challenge? If they hadn't participated, none of this would be happening to them so they kind of deserve it.

"What else now?" Alec spits with annoyance evident in his voice. He was panting uncontrollably with Jake in the same state beside him.

"Alec can you get me my jacket? I'm  freezing" Thomas states with an evil smirk. I look at all the things around him that Jake and Alec had generously fetched for him. Textbooks, lemonade, popcorn, comic books, sandwiches and even Thomas's bed which shocked me. And I'm sure Thomas will make them transport it back to his bedroom again. There were a whole lot of things here. Alec huffs.

"You are freezing? Can't you turn on the heater?" Alec spits.

"If you would do that for me or get my jacket I would be grateful" Thomas taunts taking a sip of his lemonade.

"Okay we have had enough! We have been going back and forth for hours now! We need some rest! We are not robots for crying out loud!!" Jake yells at them and they look at each other's faces in amusement.

Then Lucas and Thomas burst into hysteria. I chuckle too.

"Come on! Are you both tired so soon?" Thomas taunts

"Yeah! I thought you were big brothers!" Lucas adds up emphasizing the big brothers in a taunting voice.

Then they laughed again.

"Or more like mom and dad find out about your little secret little brothers" Alec threatens. What secret?

Thomas and Lucas stiffen and they suddenly stop laughing. Thomas was even choking on his lemonade.

Alec smirks satisfied. I'm sure whatever secret they are hiding from their parents must be so serious to make them stop laughing. Jake and Alec laugh. I think Jake knows the secret too

"Are you trying to blackmail us?" Thomas seethes at them.

"No little brother! We are just warning you not to be so full of yourself or else we can let your little cat out of the bag" Alec taunts.

Thomas and Lucas turn red.

"You wouldn't dare!" Lucas yells at them.

"Okay, if you don't want us to, then give us a break for like 7 days without serving you" Jake speaks up.

"A whole week? That is way too much time! That wasn't part of the deal! No" Thomas spits

"Then I guess....Dad! Do you know what Thomas and Lucas...." Alec announces and Thomas quickly moves to cover his mouth.

"Okay one week it is" Thomas says defeated.

"That's more like it" Alec says with a satisfied smile and he leaves with Jake.

"Shit! If it weren't for that secret!" Thomas yells stamping his foot.

"What do we do now?" Lucas asks

"Now, we find their secret too"

"Nicole are you coming?" I hear Jake hollers to me.

"Nicole! Do you know any secret about Alec or Jake?" Lucas asks me with innocent eyes.

"I'm sorry kiddo but I don't know their secret"

"Please" he begs.

"Its okay Lucas! She wouldn't tell us if we beg! She is friends with them" Thomas says with a frown.

I sigh "I'm telling the truth! I don't know their secret. Its like they do not have a secret at all"

"Yeah right" Thomas drawls and plays games on his phone.