Other sections of the code are more basic agreements, like lending a couch to crash on when your bro is in need, or playing wing man during critical moments.

The strongest friendships are backed by following code with no exceptions, and Mackiah has seen that first hand. He took these rules seriously. Since the age of fourteen, he had vowed that he'd never catch himself breaking the sacred code. He was smarter than that—cared enough about his friendships to think of the consequences before falling for someone off limits.

That's what he thought, at least. He's not sure where all the logic has fled since he met you. You are a type of off limits that shouldn't have even been entertained for a second. An ex-girlfriend of one of his friends would have already been toeing the line, but a younger sister was running across it with reckless abandon.

Unfortunately, it's rather impossible to backtrack once one crosses that line.

He still doesn't know how to tell Brian that he caught feelings for his little sister almost two years ago, or that he's been not-so-subtly flirting with you for nearly eight months, or that you've been secretly dating for three.

As time goes on, Mackiah knows he's only making the moment he finally comes clean harder on himself. Anyone would be pissed to find out their best friend started secretly dating their sister without even a mention of it beforehand. No consent, and certainly no blood oath. Not even a word or warning about it.

Hiding it for months on end was the equivalent of squeezing lemon juice on an open wound; a rather brutal slap in the face that says not only do I not care if this tears apart our friendship, but I'm also too guilty to tell you before it starts.

Mackiah is royally screwed, and he knows it. But none of the possible consequences can even cross his mind when he looks at you, even from across the room. It's silly, stupid, and slightly fucked up, but Mackiah is willing to risk it all for you. Even the four year long friendship that he's had with Brian. It could all go down the drain for this chance.

Maybe he'll live to regret it, or maybe he'll look back on this moment fifteen years from now and crack jokes about his nerves. He's prepared for either option, but he certainly hopes its the latter, because Brian has been nothing but a good friend since the start.

Maybe if you weren't so pretty, or kind, or had such a nice laugh that Mackiah quickly got addicted to, he would be able to save himself from the confrontation. Maybe if your eyelashes weren't so captivating, or your lips so inviting. Maybe if you weren't so easy to talk to or if you didn't have so many common interests. Maybe if your humour wasn't the exact same as his.

No. Mackiah can't blame any of this on you—perfect as you are. It's his fault, and he'll take responsibility. He was the one who flirted with you first, who spent months making eye contact from across rooms and finding excuses to talk to you that didn't sound too desperate. And he's the one who had ample time to reconsider the possible outcomes and turn back while there was still time.

But he didn't. And he can't now, either. Breaking your heart is a million times worse than the thought of a betrayed Brian. He's promised you that he'll make this work. There's no backing out now.

"I wish I had told him at New Year's. I could've used your parents as a distraction, and he would've been forced to act normal about it for at least a few hours over dinner. The wrath of his emotions would have had time to cool down," Mackiah mourns the lost opportunity, threading his fingers through his hair and tugging on the ends slightly.

He's drawn you aside to the hallway, obscured from the view of those in the living room. You agreed last week that today would be his best bet to spill the news to your brother finally. Now is your last chance for a small pep talk before the showdown. Of course, you still think he's making a bigger deal out of this than necessary.

You cross your arms. "You're overthinking this. There won't be any wrath of emotions."

"You don't know that! It's bro code. It's like the foundation of life itself!" he insists.

"What's the worst that could happen when you tell him?"

"He could beat me to a pulp?"

You crack a smile. "He can barely throw a punch, come on. I spent my entire childhood bullying him. If he really fights you, I'll kiss all your bruises better."

"Sounds like a pretty good deal, actually," Mackiah glances around the corner, checking to see whether Brian is still engrossed in conversation with Kamden. Despite the relaxed atmosphere of the hangout and the promise of magical healing kisses, Kiah is still jittery with nerves.

"Hey, stupid," you whisper, hands sliding to cup his cheeks and turn his face down to yours. "You better just get it over with. Then we won't have to hide us anymore."

Mackiah's eyes soften, palms covering your hands in their warmth as he nods his agreement. He'll own up to his faults, do whatever he needs to make it up to Brian, and then look to the brighter future. No longer holding a secret as explosive as this will be a massive burden off both your shoulders.

"Alright. I can do it. We can do it."

He smiles, a little uneasy still, but you thumb over his skin until his gaze relaxes. He leans down, lips brushing over yours in an action that has become familiar in the last three months. When the taste of your lips is fresh on his tongue, he can pretend there never even was a bro code to break. You're worth it, no matter the consequences.

"Mackiah, either I'm hallucinating, or you just kissed my sister?"

Perhaps he's still screwed.

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“I’m gonna look like a troll next to you. Or a goblin. No wonder Kamden has no idea how you’re still friends with me,” Mackiah said, studying you in the mirror, arms crossed. You blushed. Your best friend was usually flirty with you, and you had even kissed once before. However, your relationship still wasn’t defined. You were sure he liked you, and there was no way there was any other girl he was seeing. The unlabelled situation didn’t bother you, though. 

“I can change if you want,” you offered, setting down your makeup.

“No. You look stunning, please don’t change,” Mackiah fumbled over his words, perhaps even more flustered over your appearance than you were over his words. “I’ll just have to figure out how to match this…” 

You laughed, “Come on, Kiah, you look good all the time. We’re just getting lunch.” 

“But you’re wearing a really pretty dress, and you look really good in it, so I should at least brush my hair,” he clarified, making his way to the bathroom to fix his appearance while you were still laughing. You were just finishing your makeup when he came back out, now with styled hair, blue washed jeans, and a graphic tee. 

“How do I look? Matching up to you now?” he asked. 

“You looked fine before,” you muttered, concentrating on applying your lip tint before you looked at his outfit. Your eyes traveled over him, head to toe, before you smiled. “Very handsome. I don’t know what you were worried about.”

“Perhaps that some guy will see how pretty you are while we’re out and steal you from me. I need to fight them off,” he joked, fake sparring. You laughed. 

“No one is gonna steal me from you, come on.” You stood up, walking towards the door where Mackiah was waiting for you. As you passed him, you pressed a kiss to his cheek. “No one else gets free kisses from me for compliments either,” you said gleefully, watching his ears tint pink. 

Maybe you were toeing the line of best friends too much, but when it was Mackiah, you didn’t care. It was only a matter of time before you were his girlfriend.