As soon as Sloane and Layla reached their seats, they couldn't contain themselves. They quietly whispered back and forth trying catching up. If it hadn't been for the guests rising for the bride's grand entrance, they would've undoubtedly continued throughout the entire ceremony.
As Sloane stood to watch her future sister-in-law descend the aisle, she couldn't hide the smile that crept across her lips as she thought back to when she first met her...
6 ½ years ago...
Sloane's eyes opened to a sideways view into her kitchen. Noticing the scattered papers and opened textbooks she groaned realizing she fell asleep while studying with Nick, star forward on the basketball team. Though he was a star on the court the same couldn't be said for the classroom. He had to pass the final on Monday with at least a C- or his scholarship would be useless. The two had gotten close during their studying sessions. She was surprised to find out that he was gay, he was so gorgeous that it seemed like such a waste for the female population. He also confided that the scholarship was so important because it was the only way he and his boyfriend could be attend the same college together next year. The last thing she remembered was trying to keep her eyes open while they were going over algorithms.
The loud knock on the door startled her upright causing her to rip her cheek off of the page it was previously stuck too. She checked her watch and groaned - "2:13 am" Rubbing her cheek, she put on her glasses and headed in direction of the front door.
Who is knocking this early? She thought before the knock sounded again, more urgently this time.
"Hold on...I'm coming!" she heard herself yell before she slapped her hand over her mouth. With her three brothers in college and her parents out of town, she was alone in the house.
What if it's a psycho killer? She thought as she frantically looked around for something to defend herself with. Spotting her brother's old baseball bat, she grabbed it and slowly reached for the doorknob.
"Sloane, will you hurry up? If I was a murderer, do you really think I'd knock first?" The male voice yelled from the other side of the door.
She groaned inwardly when she recognized the voice. Gabriel Jennings, her older brother Dean's cocky best friend. Gabe had moved in next door when she was 6 years old and had been a pain in her ass ever since. Her brothers embraced him like a long lost brother and Gabe eagerly joined them in torturing her childhood. They made fun of her, didn't let her play with them, and excluded her from their "Boys Only Club".
She would've welcomed the isolation once she reached high school. Gabe and Dean were seniors her freshman year and would threaten any guy who would do as much as even look her way. Sloane never understood the double standard, because Gabe and Dean were notorious for their womanizing ways.
"Don't pretend to know what I was thinking." Sloane hissed as she swung the door open.
"I think I know you better than you think. Judging by the bat I was right." Gabe responded as he flashed that smile that so many girls claimed to be their undoing.
To avoid his smile, Sloane made the mistake of looking up and down his 6'4" frame. His dark hair looked disheveled as though he had been raking his hand through it. His dark washed jeans hung low on his hips and outlined his muscular quads. His well-toned biceps were accentuated by the tight white t-shirt he wore. When her mouth dried and tongue swelled, she blamed her tiredness.
"Whatever." Sloane managed to respond rolling her eyes, "You're lucky I was home, for all you know I could've been out on a date."
"Ha! Like you'd be doing anything but studying with finals being around the corner." Gabe scoffed as he checked his watch, "Plus I don't take you as the type of girl that stays out this late."
"You sure about that?" Sloane was responded staring him straight in the eye trying her best to look seductive. "It's been a long time Gabriel...you couldn't imagine the type of girl I am." She finished her voice a little lower than she intended causing the response to come out sultry.
She couldn't believe that she was trying to flirt with Gabe and she couldn't figure out why she said that. Of course it wasn't true, but she was irritated by his accuracy and wanted to put him in his place.
His eyes darkened as he opened and closed his mouth trying to form an appropriate response, but no sound came out. "Who the hell is that?" Gabe said suddenly. Not quite the response Sloane was going for, but realized he was moving inside the door to push her behind him.
Sloane whipped around in time to see Nick come out of the bathroom. She saw the color leave Nick's face when he saw Gabe and now he was just standing there like a deer caught in headlights.
"Jesus, Gabriel. It's just Nick." Sloane explained pushing Gabe to stand between them.
"What the hell is he doing here so late?" Gabe practically yelled at her staring at her accusingly. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He said in a low, deadly tone pinning Nick in place.
"Gabe!" Sloane cried before turning back to Nick, "Ignore him, he's just being his usual asshole self."
"It's okay Sloane. We did lose track of time, I guess I should be leaving." Nick said as she noticed the mischievous look in his eyes "Call me tomorrow, babe."
Babe?
"Uh, okay..." Sloane answered dumbly watching Nick slow to approach her. He slowed in front of her bent to kiss her on the cheek facing away from Gabe.
"Good luck." He whispered quietly enough so that only she could hear him. Confusion hit her when she took in his grin as pulled back.
What the hell is going on? Sloane thought as she watched Nick turn and give Gabe cautious nod not breaking eye contact. She saw Gabe's jaw twitch before he nodded back.
As Nick walked down the stairs she saw a woman she didn't recognize pass him.
Maybe she's lost.
"Gabe?" she said.
Maybe not.
"Shit. "Sloane, this is Brodie. Brodie, this is Sloane."
Sloane chose the precise moment that the girl stepped into the porch light to hate her. She was had long dark red hair and piercing hazel eyes that almost seemed to sparkle. She was petite with big boobs - Gabe's type. Sloane looked down and cringed. She had on one of her dad's oversized sweatshirts, plaid pajama pants, and her hair was tied on top of her head in a messy bun.
"Sloane? Sloane! It's nice to finally meet you." she exclaimed as she rushed by Gabe to hug her.
"Nice to meet you too." Sloane responded awkwardly, tugging at her sweatshirt self consciously.
"I've been hearing about you for MONTHS!"
"Sorry to interrupt the girl talk, but your brother is passed out in the car. There was party at The Drop and he got..." Gabe hesitated, glancing at Sloane before finishing, "a little out of control."
"I heard about that, Layla called earlier asking if I wanted to go with her. Did you see her?"
"Oh...I saw her alright." Gabe said but his eyes gave away that he holding something back.
"Layla? Isn't that the girl who Jack-" Brodie started before Gabe silenced her raising his hand.
"What?" Sloane snapped irritated that Gabe's new girlfriend knew something about her best friend that she didn't, "Oh please, I'm 18 I know what happens at parties."
"I think she'd better tell you herself." Gabe stated quickly changing the subject. "Help me get Dean out of the car and into his old room. We'll crash here tonight and head back to campus tomorrow morning."
