It took Harold an extra 5 minutes to get down to the back yard where the basketball hoop was set up. We had already cleared the snow away and warming up our muscles for the game. Regardless of the fact that it was going to be boys against the girls, I knew it would still be pretty competitive. I figured Brian would still be out to win, even with our new found relationship. I didn't expect anything more or less from him.
Harold came out finally and made some excuse. We knew he was on the phone to his girlfriend, but I was inclined not to torment him about it now. Now that I knew what he was feeling.
The game was coming along as it usually would. The scores were close, the guys just ahead. Every now and then Brian would bump into me, and apologise a little more than usual, taking the time to make sure I was okay, using plenty of contact. I didn't mind, but he was making me want to run away with him and just hold him, with no one else around. I didn't think Jac and Harold would appreciate that right now. I could already see Jac laughing at us.
Jac was trying desperately to get the ball off Brian at one point and he lobbed it over her head towards Harold. He was unprepared and it whizzed over his head, lodging behind the bushes in the back section of the yard. I ran to get the ball. Not to be out done, Brian raced me to it, the competitive nature in him not wanting me to get to it first.
I yelped when I realised how close he was and grabbed for the ball. He came charging in to do the same as I did, but I had my hands around the ball first. He barrelled into me, knocking me to the ground with a thud.
"Ouch Brian, that hurt."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Honest I didn't." He looked truly remorseful.
I reached up to his face and lay my hand on his jaw. "It's okay Brian. No worse than any other time we have played before. I don't want you to change the way we were."
"But I don't want to hurt you."
"I'm okay, honest. But you could kiss me better," I winked at him. He smiled and I could tell he was happy to oblige.
He leaned further down and kissed me on the lips. It was a soft sweet kiss but I was caught up in the sensations going through me. Each time he kissed me it was more intense than before. Now, laying on the ground in Brian's backyard, him semi laying on top of me, kissing me, it was making me forget the cold ground I was laying on, because I was getting warmer by the second.
In the back of my mind I could hear Jac yelling. Why was she yelling and at who. But I didn't want to hear her. I just wanted to keep kissing Brian.
"What on earth is taking you two….. woah. Would you look at this," Harold said as he came barging back to where we were. "I KNEW you two would finally get to this. You finally using some of the girl tips I showed you little bro?"
Brian looked up at him, not letting me go. "No big bro, I am using my own. I don't need your help." He looked back at me and smiled. I grinned back, knowing the jig was up. Now Harold knew, everyone would. Somehow, even though this was very new to both of us, I felt sort of proud that everyone would soon know about Brian and I. He leaned down and kissed me quickly again, not caring that his older teasing brother was watching.
"Gawd look at you. Would you just get up so we can finish this game?" Harold said as Jac came up behind him. "Before Kevin gets here."
"Oh No! He isn't coming is he?" Jac groaned.
"Well, he is our cousin, and it is Christmas," Harold said sarcastically.
"Smart Alec," Jac said poking out her tongue at him. "Lets get this game going and finished before he gets here then. He knows nothing about b-ball and sport." She grabbed the ball laying beside us and bounced it as she walked away. "And you two better get off the ground before he gets here or you will never hear the end of it." She shot back over her shoulder at Brian and I.
"What's up her nose all of a sudden?" Brian asked. We all knew Kevin was into sports in a big way. She knew it too.
"I dunno, but she's right. Kevin will stir us like crazy."
"He aint the only one," Harold mumbled.
"What was that bro?" Brian said jumping up and holding his hand out to help me.
"Nothing at all little bro."
Brian ran towards him and tumbled him to the ground. It looked so funny, Brian being a lot smaller than Harold, but Brian had the upper hand in this case, telling him something about the merits of not teasing. I wasn't sure with trying to contain my laughter at the sight. I trotted off to where Jac was waiting, casually having a little shooting practise.
I was still laughing when she looked at me through squinted eyes. "Jac? What's up?"
"Nothing. I just want to play some ball. That's what I came here for."
"Okay, we'll play ball. Come on you two, lets finish the game." I yelled out as they came running back over.
"Oh shit no, look at the time. I have to go anyway. Mom said dinner was at 5-30. I have 5 minutes to get home." She looked at me and Brian. "I'll see you later. "She winked at me. "Much later." I knew what she was getting at. She thought Brian and I would want lots of time to make out. I grinned at her and shook my head. There was no denying our Jac. She was a one of a kind friend.
She turned to leave, only to run smack bang into Kevin's chest. He had grown taller since I had last seen him and Jac had to look up at the barrier in front of her. She took one look at him and started to run. "See you all after dinner tonight. The whole family is coming over." She was trotting away as she spoke, leaving us wondering what happened.
"Hi Kevin." I said to him, giving him a hug. Kevin hugged me back and I heard Brian make a noise behind us. I turned to look at him and he was frowning. I smiled to myself and went back to his side, slipping my hand into his. This wasn't lost on Kevin and I saw the interested look he gave us, the raised eyebrow, but he didn't say a word. They all said their hellos and I could tell Kevin wanted to get away with Harold. Probably do some scheming between themselves like they always did. Tim and Jerald always joined in and Brian and I always copped it.
"It's okay," Brian said as they left. "We can handle them."
I looked up and smiled at him. "Yeah, together we will."
He reached over and curled a lock of my hair around his finger. "Jac will help us. I don't think she likes Kevin much."
"I'm sure she doesn't. He turns up and she gets all testy. What did he ever do to her?"
"I don't know, but lets not worry about them. They can fight their own battles." He tugged my hair softly. "Come here."
I moved my head closer and his lips found mine softly. "Ahhh. I want to kiss you all the time now. Is that wrong?"
"If it is wrong, then I am wrong too." I looked up at him. "Kiss me again Brian." I said to him.
He leaned down and gave me a sweet short kiss then put his arms around me, holding me close to him. Then he groaned but didn't move. I was about to move out of his arms to see what was wrong when he told me not to move.
"Why Brian? What's wrong?"
"Ummm, Mom, looking out the window at us."
"Oh no, is she?" I went to move again and he held me still.
"Just pretend we never saw her."
"Does she look mad?"
"Uh uh." He said chuckling softly. "On the contrary. She has this huge smile on her face. Good thing she doesn't see me watching her through the corner of my eye. I bet Harold told her to look out the window."
"So. What do we do now?"
He moved away and took my hand in his, leading me to the swing in the yard out of view of the house. He sat down on it and pulled me on to his lap. He shrugged. "Nothing I guess. Just act normal. Play it by ear. When we get the chance we will tell her." His hand framed my face. "You know what though?"
"No, what?"
"I don't care who knows. I want everyone to know."
"You do?" I asked him cautiously.
He looked me right in the eyes before answering. "Sue, I have known you all my life. All our lives. We are only weeks apart in age and grew up together. I think I have always loved you. I just never knew how much."
"You love me?"
"Yes. Don't you love me?"
I just looked at him like he was stupid. "Of course I do. I just never knew you did."
"Well I do. I see us spending our lives together."
"Wow." I said thinking about what he said. "But you are going away soon."
"Maybe not. I'm not sure yet."
"Brian, You have to take up that scholarship. You have to sing. You sing so beautifully, and that singing scholarship is important. It's what you want to do. You told me so."
"I know. But you won't be with me."
"We can still visit each other. Cincinnati isn't that far away." I looked down at him. "You wont get rid of me that easy you know. Remember when we were 12? We made a pact to always be there for one another and then sealed it as blood brothers." I stopped. "Well brother and sister anyway."
He chuckled. "Yeah. I remember that. I don't want to get rid of you Sue. Don't ever think that."
"Okay." I said simply and kissed him on the cheek. "Think we should go in?
"Yeah. Might be a good idea. It's getting pretty cold out here."
"Sure is." I said getting up and jumping up and down on the spot.
Brian wrapped his arms around me in an attempt to warm me, then we headed towards the house. I thought about what he said, but knew later that night I would do a whole lot more thinking. I arrived at the house knowing I liked Brian more than a friend and now things had changed dramatically. It was a very special Christmas.