My Best Friend's Brothers

2 years, 3 month and 5 days later.

Carley's life has improved drastically. Ever since her final run in with Rydel, she has removed herself with everything to do with the name Lynch or Ratliff, apart from one run in with Ryland which ended awkwardly with just a simple goodbye, no hug like they used to do, just their heads hanging low in regret of the ended friendship they once had. Carley told him that she hopes him and the others succeed with their new album and tour. Ryland wished her luck with the future. They haven't seen each other since.

For a while, Carley only associated with R5 through TV and Twitter. Occasionally seeing where they were going on tour, hearing about their new songs which she gave a listen to in her spare time, but stopped half way through the first song as the sound of his voice made her heart ache. Disney channel was soon banned from her TV in the rare case Austin and Ally came on. She was considering moving away to New York. So she could start again.

Today Carley's heart no longer aches at the mention of him. She no longer dyed her hair a strange colour every month. She stuck with a dark brown that looked sweet with her new bangs. Her style had toned down as well, getting rid of the harsh dark colours that no longer suited her. She took the move to New York. Starting a fresh new life. She listened to the Heart Made Up On You EP with joy, glad that her old friends were doing so well and creating such great music. A slight pang of guilt shot through her when she first listened to Stay With Me. Thinking that maybe, just maybe, it was about her, however, from the rumours she had heard over the TV, she realised it was most likely about Laura or Maia. But she didn't mind, she had moved on too. She was now dating Nathan. He was tall, handsome, sweet. Meeting at an under 18s club just under a year ago, she wasn't looking for a relationship, but he was just what she needed. Sweet, understanding, willing to let the world know that he loved her, unlike him. She was in love with Nathan. He was what she needed.

These days Ross still often thinks of Carley. Of her many hair transformations. He wonders if she still changes her hair colour every month. He wonders if she is happy, or if she still misses him as much as he misses her. He never told his family, but Heart Made Up On You was practically dedicated to her. Despite the rumours of him and Laura or him and Maia, she always held his heart. He never told his family that she still meant the world to him.

Rydel could tell. The way he sang the new songs with such passion. She could tell they were about her. She had forgiven Carley over a year ago when she realised how sad her brother was without her. The fans could tell he was sad as well, but he never said anything, he lied, saying he was just deep in thought. She wanted to tell Carley that she had forgiven her, that she wanted to be friends again, but she had no way of contact since she had moved house and changed her number. She felt slightly guilty over what had happened. She had been best friends with Carley for years, and in one night, it had been thrown away.

And this is why, on the 1st of August, she told Ryland all of this. She needed to let it out to someone. And that is why, on that exact day, Ryland told her where she had moved. Carley had told him during their last meeting, but not told anyone since he thought they never wanted to see her again.

On the 2nd of August, Stormie was informed of Carley's location. On the 2nd of August, 7 tickets were booked to New York. On the 2nd of August, the boys were told they had booked a small vacation for while they were off touring for a while, apart from Ryland who knew the true meaning of the trip.

On the 3rd of August, Rydel contacted an old friend named Laura Marano. After catching up, she slipped Carley into the conversation. Laura had recently got in touch with her since that had always been good friends. Carley told her that she now worked in a Starbucks when she wasn't busy with school work.

Today, on the 9th of August.

"Why are we here?" Ross said, collapsing on his hotel bed which was surprisingly comfortable.

"Because it's a mini holiday." Stormie replied. It had been hard keeping a secret this big, but she hoped that Rydel's plan would work and it would all be worth it.

"Annndddd…." Rydel said walking into the room. "I'm going to look around. You coming?" she asked her brother who was still laying on the bed, looking miserable.

"No, I think I'm going to get some sleep"

"Okay, let me rephrase the question. I'm going to look around New York, your coming with me" she said seriously, adding a cheeky smile on the end.

"Do I have to?" he wined.

"YES!"

As they walked down the streets of New York, Rydel had started to become nervous. Would this plan work? Would Carley want to see either of them? She had every right to hate her. Would she still be in love with Ross? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"I'm going to get a drink…" Ross snaps her back to reality. He starts to walk towards a small café.

"STOP!" she shouts, making him jump.

"What?" he says, wide at her.

"There's a Starbucks just down there, lets just go there?"

"… Okay" Ross replies, giving her a strange look because of the shouting and the strangeness of the situation.

He rolled up the sleeves of his leather jacket as he walked up to the counter, searching through all of the options. Rydel waited by the door, fingers crossed that she was here, she knew it was this exact Starbucks, but no idea if she was working.

"You want anything?" Ross shouts to her. She replies with a no, too nervous to drink anything.

The woman who is serving Ross is definitely not Carly. She's too old with murky red hair. Her heart starts to sink as she realises her plan is not working. She's not her, she thinks, wanting to bash her head against the wall for a second. But that's when she sees another girl walking out of the staff room. She has dark brown hair with bangs, wearing a floral dress and Vans under her apron. At first glance it looked nothing like her, but she soon noticed a face she could never forget, with a friendly smile. Its her! Its definitely her! She just hopes that Ross spots her now, but the staff seem to help…

Ross was leaning with his back to the counter while he waited for his drink, messing with a hole near the bottom of his t-shirt.

"Hey Carley" says a male voice. As soon as he hears the name, his head snaps up.

Carley picked up a drink and checked the name.

"That's one Chocolate Frappe for…" she took a second trying to work out the writing. "Ross" She didn't even realise as she said the name. She had served tones of Ross' while she had been working here.

He slowly turned around to see a girl further down the counter. She had dark brown hair with bangs, he didn't think it was her for a second, but as soon as he saw her smile, he knew. She had changed drastically, but still managed to look even more beautiful since the last time he saw her.

She scanned around the shop slowly, waiting for this Ross to come and get his drink.

"Chocolate Frappe for Ross" she repeats until finally a guy starts walking over to her. As she spots him, her jaw drops, along with the drink in her hand. She's speechless as he stands in front of her.