"Do you tutor here today? I thought tutoring was on Wednesdays," I said. "Yeah it still is. Don't worry Millie, nothing's changed since you left." The time at home passed by agonizingly slowly. Guilt ate away at me and every time I saw my mum, disappointment was on the tip of her tongue. That necklace. The only positive, is that I read Taming of the Shrew. So that was good. The book sat on the couch beside me. And I was sitting next to my sister, who was watching TV. The doorbell rang. She looked at me. "Well? Are you going to get that?" I sighed and didn't bother to argue. I got up and opened the door, though I immediately regretted it. I should really look through the eye hole before letting anyone in. Flora looked to see who was there and sighed. "Is this still a thing? It's like watching a TV show and replaying it all the time. Can you just move on from this already?" Jake and Luke were at the door. Neither of them were smiling. "I don't know what you see in her," Flora continued, eating chocolates as she commented, "Seriously, you could date any girl in our school-" Luke walked past me and took the remote out of her hand. He switched the TV off and said, "Could you give us a moment?" She stared, chocolate midway to her mouth, and dropped it. "Y- y- yes, of course. I'll be in my room if you want to join." "I don't." Flora scurried out of there and I stared at the two brothers. There was so much conflict between them and I really didn't know why they were at my door. Luke walked back towards me. I hadn't budged from the door and neither had Jake. "What's this about?" I asked. "We got into another fight," Jake said. "Jake still thinks he's got a shot." "At what?" I asked. They better not be talking about me in this way. "I mean," Jake confessed, embarrassed, "I just want you to know how I really feel and if you'd consider giving me a chance. You don't know me or my brother that well. You haven't committed to any one of us. You haven't dated any one of us-" "We're asking you to choose," Luke finished the sentence. "Once and for all," Jake added. I stared at them. I stared from one handsome boy to the other and then back again. "Did you hear us?" Jake asked. I nodded, slowly. And then I grabbed Luke and pushed him out of the door. He stumbled onto Jake and they fell back before I slammed the door shut. ** The doorbell rang again. ** And again. ** And again. "Answer the damn door!" Flora screamed from upstairs. I sighed and opened it. The two boys were still standing there, looking ashamed. "Are you seriously coming here to give me an ultimatum in my own home?" I asked, "I will not be put in a situation where you give me a deadline. If I take more time than you want, you don't have to stay here. And I refuse to treat either of you in such a terrible way. Imagine what rejection feels like. You're brothers. You shouldn't compete like this and I won't take part." It's twisted. Jake accepted my words with a nod of his head, but he also asked, "What's holding you back though? We've both told you we liked you, but you haven't jumped on either one of us." Luke walked into the house. He wasn't about to be pushed out by me again. "Truthfully, you came like a breath of fresh air, Jake," I said, though my eyes were on Luke, "You've been kind and warm to me and I want to thank you for that. But I can't follow through with the date we agreed on because I'm in a situation with Luke-" "Is that what you call it?" Luke interrupted, "A situation?" "You think it's been a walk in the park?" I retorted. He shrugged and casually leaned against the back of the couch, "I think it's been a slice of pie." Minnie's pie. I blushed at his reference. "Ok," Jake brought the conversation back on track, "You and my brother have history, I can see that. It doesn't mean I think it's going to last, but I can back off if you want me to." "Great," Luke answered, happy we wrapped this up quickly. Is this really the way we had to have this conversation? I had wanted to thank Jake for being a gentleman. I wanted to ask for his friendship. I wanted to apologize for being a mess of emotions at times. And then I remembered. Do you have moments when you flip a switch and change moods? That's what happened. I wish I was saintly in my behavior. But the reality is, that I'm not. I'm flawed and I can change my mind. I remembered that I actually did have bones to pick with each of them. "Yes, I want you to back off," I confirmed, "But I also want to tell you something. Jake, I did not give you any cues before you kissed me that day. It was a surprise and honestly you shouldn't go around kissing people like that." "I shouldn't have done that," Jake agreed, "I've regretted it ever since." Both boys were suddenly on edge. They could tell that my tone of voice had changed. "And Luke, I hope you're not one of those guys who insult girls and then hooks up with them," I said, "Because that's how we started. I haven't forgotten the good moments we've shared since this summer, but I also can't forget how I felt when you first insulted me. You called me ugly, clumsy, crazy, a dying cat... and I have more respect for myself than to just forget it when you smile at me." Though he had a nice smile. The expression on his face was timeless. He was caught out - he's usually quick to reply with a smart ass comment, but not this time. He couldn't twist reality. Those were words he had said to me, and that was the way he used to behave. "I'm sorry, Millie," he apologized, "I never meant to make you feel bad and I should never have made fun of you like that. I was on a high horse, thinking the world revolved around me, when it really doesn't. I'm sorry." An apology. I'd never heard him say it before, but it's always the first step. "I know you haven't behaved like that in a while," I said, "but I need to be certain of it. I look around and I don't see many relationships that stand the test of time, so I want to be cautious." The truth is, that I do believe he was different now. And I can accept an apology when someone knows they've been wrong. I won't stand for it again though. "Thank you," I said, "I needed that. And I believe you." Jake began to back off. This moment was for me and Luke. Luke started to walk towards me and said, "I'm looking forward to our date tomorrow. This isn't a fake-Jake-date. You and I are going out and it will be special." "You keep saying that, Luke, and it's just raising my expectations even further." "Oh, don't you worry. It'll be worth it," he smiled and pulled me into his arms to kiss me.