Five
Their arrangement went on for another month. Vanessa marveled at how different the relationships were. Her and Brooke were very physical already. Brock and Jose were very closed off, private almost. The only reason Vanessa knew they were together was that she was still fake dating Brock. She had to laugh at the contrast. It made sense though. Brooke has known for years who she is and what she likes. Brock is still figuring himself out.
Jose is an angel, though. At least in Brock’s eyes. He’s patient, he’s kind. He’s happy with just laying in bed and cuddling close.
Brooke and Vanessa, on the other hand, were very physical, and their mom, well, she was just glad that Vanessa couldn’t get pregnant. She laughed at the thought.
The fake dating plan was still going strong and the Hytes-Hayhoe family loved Vanessa, which was a huge improvement.
Brock’s parents just loved how close Vanessa had gotten with Brooke.
“They’re best friends!” his step mom would say.
Vanessa had to stifle her laughter.
“So, you have a date with my brother tomorrow night?” Brooke asked one Thursday night after dinner, her voice was teasingly low.
Dinner on Thursdays with Brock’s family had become a weekly occurrence and Vanessa had made a habit to ‘help’ Brooke with dessert.
“Yeah, you jealous?” Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
“Only if you don’t come see me afterwards.” Brooke twirled one of Vanessa’s curls around her index finger.
It was all too familiar, and scary, as her parents were just on the other side of the kitchen door and could walk in at any moment.But they didn’t, and Vanessa was thankful.
They went back into the dining room with the pineapple upside down cake that Brooke had made and sat back in their respective seats.
“Mom, dad, I’d like for Vanessa to have a sleepover with me tomorrow night after her date with Brock. Would that be alright?” Brooke’s voice was smooth as velvet, even, not even a bit of nerves dripped from her lips.
Vanessa, however, almost choked on her own spit. A sleepover?! With her lesbian girlfriend?! In her fake boyfriend's house?! With his conservative parents down the hall?! Fuck.
“I don’t see why not,” her mother said, looking towards their father who nodded in agreement.
“That would be fine dear.”
Vanessa felt Brooke’s leg run up and down her shin and she locked eyes with her girl. Brooke had a wicked gleam in her eye, and excitement curled in Vanessa’s stomach.
If Vanessa had her way, Brooke would come on every ‘date’ that she and Brock went on. However, they felt like that would be too obvious. Instead, Brock, Jose, and Vanessa played mini golf. They couldn’t risk Brock being seen without Vanessa in case word got back to his parents. So far everything worked out.
After mini-golf, Brock and Jose sat in his car while Vanessa stood outside on Facetime Brooke.
“Brock,” Jose whispered, “I gotta tell ya something.”
Brock’s stomach was in knots. He, too, had something to discuss with Jose, but he nodded for Jose to go first.
“Brock, I think I’m fallin’ in love with you.”
Brock’s cheeks turned pink with warmth. He smiled. That’s not what he was expecting.
“Really?” Brock whispered.
Jose nodded.
“Jo, I really don’t know what to say,” he did know what to say, he was just scared.
“You don’t gotta say nothin, babe. I just wanted to tell you.”
“I think I love you too.” Brock whispered, “you’re an absolute angel on Earth. You make me so happy. I don’t even know if you’re officially my boyfriend, but I want you to be.”
Jose smiled, “I’d like that.”
Jose leaned forward and did his favorite thing in the world: he kissed Brock softly on the lips.
He loved kissing Brock. He wanted to do it all the time. He wanted more. He wanted to kiss him in other places. But Brock simply wasn’t ready yet, and that’s okay. It was a work in progress.
A loud pounding on the window brought them back to reality.
“Get a room!” called Vanessa’s loud and crass voice followed by a giggle.
Brock rolled his eyes and unlocked the door for Vanessa to slide into the back seat.
“Let’s get goin’ boys, my girl isa waitin’ on me!” Vanessa clapped her hands and Brock started the car.
“I’ll call you before bed,” Jose murmurs before he gets out of the car.
He says his goodbyes and only stops kissing Brock when Vanessa returns from the house with her overnight bag. Vanessa takes Jose’s place in the front seat and Brock drives off.
“I hate leaving him, you know.” Brock whispers, “I know this arrangement is worth it, but it makes me sad to leave him home and go places with just you.”
“Yeah, I understand that. It won’t be like this forever, though. You turn 18 soon right?”
Brock nods, “next month.”
Vanessa smiles, “there ya go then. It’ll be alright, Brock. He loves you.”
“I love him.” Brock pulls into the driveway of his own house, the windows were dark.
Vanessa saw Brooke’s pale features look out the living room window and butterflies flutter in her stomach. Brock leads her up the walk and unlocks the door. Brock doesn’t even have the door locked behind him before Vanessa is being pulled up the stairs by Brooke and into her bedroom.
“Thanks, Brock!” Vanessa whispers before Brooke shuts the door on them.
Brock just shakes his head and chuckles, he makes a note to get his ear plugs out tonight. He knows that his parents won’t be able to hear anything, they’re at the end of the hall. But Brock shares a wall with his sister and even when Vanessa is whispering, she still isn’t quiet.
The bedroom door shut and immediately Vanessa found herself pressed up against it.
“Miss me?” Brooke asked sweetly.
"You know I did babe, the boys just weren’t as entertaining tonight without you."
“Let’s not talk about our brothers.” Brooke’s voice was low, an almost growl against Vanessa’s throat, “it’s not exactly considered a turn on.”
Vanessa jumped into Brooke's arms wrapping her legs around her waist and they merged into a kiss. Her hands found their way into Brooke’s blonde curls, giving them a little tug. Brooke grins into the kiss. She turns them towards the bed and sits down, Vanessa on her lap.
“Off,” Brooke mutters, fumbling with Vanessa’s shirt.
Vanessa takes pity on her and pulls the shirt over her head. She had changed her clothes after the ‘date’ and didn’t bother with a bra, so she sat topless on Brooke’s lap.
“Beautiful.” Brooke whispers.
Her girl’s honey colored skin was so soft, she could run her hands over it all day.
Brooke guided Vanessa to lay down on the bed while she got up and stood next to her. Vanessa whined at the lack of cuddles. Brooke hushed her.
“Hold on, needy girl.” she teased.
Brooke slips her own shirt off, ready to feel Vanessa’s skin against her own. She lays down next to the smaller girl who shivers in the cool air. Brooke pulls her close, their chests touch. She kisses along Vanessa’s neck, softly bites along her collarbone, and sighs with content as her hands land on Vanessa’s ass.
Vanessa pushes Brooke onto her back and straddles her waist. She leans down and presses soft kiss after kiss to the other girls lips. Brooke’s hands are sliding up Vanessa’s sides and about to land on her breasts, her nipples so inviting, when the door opens.
“Brooke Lynn? Vanessa? Are you guys-”
The girls freeze.
No, no, no is all Vanessa can think, she knows that they’re caught.
“Out.” Brooke’s mom’s voice was cold, “now.”
Vanessa scrambles up and grabs her things.
“Mom, it’s not what it looks like.”
“Oh, nonsense. This little whore was using your poor brother, wasn’t she? Out, Vanessa, and you’re never to see either of my children again. Go.”
Tears well in Vanessa’s eyes, she’s really fucked everything up, she knows it.
“Vanessa, don’t go!” Brooke pleads, tears in her own eyes begin to spill over, “mother, it’s the middle of the night! It’s cold and she didn’t drive! She can’t just walk home.”
“She should have thought of that.”
Vanessa gives an apologetic look to Brooke and rushes out of the room, down the hall past Brock, who’s standing in his doorway shocked, and down the stairs to the door.
Brock retreats back in his room where Jose is still on call.
“J, you need to come get Vanessa. She just- I can’t- They just got caught. By my mom.” Brock’s voice was hollow as he heard his mother yelling at Brooke about the ‘sins’ she’s committed.
The color drained from Jose’s face.
“Shit.” he whispered, “I’ll call you back.”
Brock nodded and hung up the phone. He could still hear his step mom yelling.
“What were you thinking, Brooke?”
“Mother, you don’t understand.”
“I understand plenty, what you were doing is wrong. You’re not to see her again, and neither is Brock.”
Vanessa ran. She ran off the porch of the Hytes-Hayhoe house and in the direction of her own house, knowing she was easily an hour away by foot. She had made it a few blocks when she had to sit. She was cold, tired, and it was the middle of the night. She sat on the curb for a moment under a streetlight. The road was empty and dark, much like she felt inside at that moment. She was so screwed. She had ruined everything. She ruined things for herself and Brooke as well as her brother and Brock. She was selfish, and now the most important people in her life probably hated her. She wiped away tears that she didn’t even know had fallen and stood up, grabbing her bag and continuing her walk.
A few more minutes passed and she was met with headlights. The driver was slowing down to stop right next to her. She got her keys out, ready to stab someone if she had to, but relaxed when she saw it was her brother.
“V, get in the car. Brock told me what happened. Let’s get you home.”
Vanessa let out a sob as she slid into the passenger seat.
“Jo, I’m so sorry.” Vanessa cried, “I’m so sorry.”
Jose reached over and held his sister’s hand, “shhh, Vanessa, it’s okay. It’ll be okay. We will get through this.”
Vanessa wanted to believe him, and maybe she would, but right now, everything just felt dark.