*Geek Boy*
I woke up to the sun streaming through the window. I tossed my arm over my face, shading my eyes from the light.
My entire body ached. I was exhausted. I'd woken up at 3 am from another nightmare. It had taken me an hour to relax enough to go back to sleep. The entire hour I'd surfed through Ellie's Facebook pictures, allowing her smiles to seep warmth back into my chest.
The remnants of my more recent dream, one that involved a certain Ellie Kent's beautiful face, floated away, dissipating like a comforting mist.
Sigh.
I missed her already.
Which was ridiculous, because I had no right to miss her. As Catherine had explained so astutely, I wasn't her boyfriend.
I sat up, shoving a hand through my hair.
I knew I shouldn't let Catherine get to me. But she was honest, bluntly so. If she said it, it meant she believed it. She had been right about so many other things.
Exhaling, I stood and made my way downstairs.
I rubbed my head in attempt to assuage the headache pulsing behind my eyes. My body froze as I entered the living room.
I'd almost forgotten that Jed was home.
He was standing at the stove, humming as he shifted eggs in a frying pan. He didn't look up as I walked in.
"Morning bro," he called.
He didn't turn.
At least he's learning. Maybe he'll just stop talking to me all together.
"Where's mom?" I asked.
"Work," he replied. He paused, his hand freezing over the pan. I could see the tension tighten his shoulders. "Does she always work this much?"
My eyes honed in on an insignificant speck on the ceiling. "Yeah." My voice was icy. "Ever since The Incident."
Jed stiffened. Then, abruptly, his shoulders relaxed. He hummed as he stirred the frying pan. As if he'd just brushed off the pain.
It irritated me.
The way he could just brush off something that had haunted me for the past seven years.
Another thought nudged my mind.
"Have you spoken to dad?" I asked so softly that I was sure he hadn't heard me. The word dad felt unfamiliar on my tongue.
Silence.
His hand tightened around the handle of the frying pan. He worked his jaw, the muscle next to his chin clenching and unclenching.
Finally, he replied, his voice casual. "Yes."
The name came out without my permission, "James?" Have you spoken to our brother?
This time he didn't respond. His entire body stiffened.
Guilt.
He felt guilty.
That's what I'd felt every day of my life for the past seven years.
"No," he replied.
The smoke detector began to screech.
"And that's when you know it's cooked," muttered Jed as he pulled the frying pan off the stove and chucked the blackened eggs on on a slice of bread.
He still didn't look at me.
I glanced at the clock. 8:30. I frowned. It was rare for me to sleep past 6:00 am.
What was Ellie doing right now? Was she about to head over to school, or was she already there?
"I heard there's some event at your school today," Jed said. "They sent Mom an email. Activity day or something?"
I didn't respond, informing him that this short spurt of conversation was coming to an end. He didn't glance up. I turned to leave. A sigh filtered through the silence.
"Will--"
The sound of the doorbell cut him off.
I frowned. Who would that be?
I headed to the door, pulling it open.
Standing on the driveway was Catherine. She was wearing black, her hair loose on her shoulders.
My frown deepened.
Hooked over her forearm was my leather jacket.
My jaw clenched. "Catherine," I stated.
I frowned again when she didn't say anything, she just stared. Her eyes, wide, were focused on my chest, her mouth slightly agape. Red bloomed on her cheeks.
"What...?" I glanced down, realising I wasn't wear a shirt.
"I'll be right back," I muttered. I jogged up the stairs, heading to my room.
I pulled on a random shirt before making my way back downstairs.
Catherine was standing in the hallway, in front of the open door. Her eyes were unfocused. She blinked out of her daze as I came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
Her eyes were still wide. "I knew you worked out, but not that much," she muttered.
I sighed. "What is it Catherine?"
I didn't want to speak to her now. Not when her words from yesterday were still bouncing around my skull, taunting me.
Catherine blinked. "Oh, yeah, I came to give your jacket back."
She handed it to me and I took it, avoiding skin contact.
But she was still staring at me. She pursed her lips. A rare burst of sympathy hit her gaze. "But, Will, those scars..." Her words trailed off as she just stared at me.
My eyes widened. Had she seen them?
"On y-your chest and back. I had no idea...." Curiosity morphed into her expression, eclipsing any sympathy. "Are they from--"
"Catherine? Is that you?"
I sighed with relief as Jed peered around the living room entrance. His gaze flitted to me, and I suddenly knew why he'd interrupted. He was changing the subject. He was trying to help me.
That irritated me even more.
He shot Catherine that charming grin he used to hypnotise girls with back when he was a teenager.
"It's been so long," he mused, still grinning.
Catherine stared at him with wide eyes. I watched her gaze drink him in. "Jedaiah?" she asked.
And then she blushed.
I wanted to roll my eyes.
It brought back memories. Nine years ago, Catherine's family used to come up to Colarado to see. Jed, sixteen, would wink at her and ruffle her hair. He'd been amused by her reactions. It was no secret Catherine used to have a massive crush on my brother.
Brother. I flinched at the thought. I didn't want to call him that. Not anymore.
Jed cringed at his full name. "Jed, sweetheart, Jed."
Sweetheart was one of his favourite pet names for girls. Now her face burnt as red as a fire hydrant.
This time I really did roll my eyes. "Catherine, are you done?" Can you leave please?
Catherine blinked out of her daze, her eyes falling on me. "Oh, yeah...I just wanted to know what you were doing today?"
Is she joking?
I just stared at her. After everything she'd said yesterday, she wanted...what?
Catherine rolled her eyes. "You can't still be upset about what I said. Will, I was just being honest."
I know. That's why it hurt so much.
My hand tightened around the jacket.
"I'm going to study by myself," I replied. The words came out through gritted teeth. I cleared my throat and attempted to speak more calmly. "Why don't we talk later?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Fine," she huffed. She blushed as her gaze touched Jed. "S-see you guys later," she managed to stutter before she shuffled out of the house.
I shut the door behind her.
"That was pretty cold."
I ignored Jed, who now leaned against the door frame leading to the living room. I turned to head up the stairs.
"That's not like you," he continued. "What did she say that got you so upset?"
Read over the notes for next weeks' university class, I told myself. Spend the entire day in your room. You don't have to talk to him.
"Something about that pretty blonde cheerleader?"
My hand clenched around the stair railing. "Don't call her that." As if that's all she is, those three words, when I know she is so much more. Besides, pretty was a ridiculous word to describe her when beautiful barely sufficed. "Don't talk about her."
"I see," he said, sounding amused.
I gritted my teeth. I wanted to ask him what that was supposed to mean. Instead, I sighed, and just kept walking up the stairs.
I paused as I reached the top.
If Catherine had seen the scars, then...
I didn't look back as I murmured the words. "Did you see the scars?" I asked.
The silence was heavy.
"Not since the court case," he said just as quietly.
I clenched the banister.
"I don't want to see them." Then he laughed, the sound harsh. "Just think. If I'd looked up when you came downstairs, I would have seen it. I was that close." The way he said it, it sounded like he was talking to himself.
I clenched my fist.
"I don't like them much either. But I didn't really have a choice in the matter did I?"
This time he didn't respond.
Satisfied, I headed to my room, slamming my door shut.
I felt guilty. I felt it gnawing at me, taking huge chunks out of my chest.
I felt guilty for not forgiving him. He's always been good at that. Making people feel guilty. Manipulating people. No matter what he did, they let it go, they forgave him.
Until he overstepped and ruined our lives.
Funny, despite that, he was still being forgiven. My mother, who should be the angriest, who somehow hasn't forgiven me, has forgiven him. And if he's spoken to dad, then my father has probably forgiven him too.
And that just leaves me.
The immature little brother who felt like Jed had destroyed our lives.
The only one who wouldn't just let it go.
I sighed as I headed to my bag, dumped beside my desk. Studying. That's all I needed to do. I didn't need think about anything. I frowned as I rifled through it, searching for my textbooks. Nothing.
Then I remembered how I'd stood by my locker. How I'd seen Ellie. Then how I'd been too distracted by that adorable smile to pull out the right books.
All my books were still in my locker, at school.
I glanced at the clock: 8:45.
Finally, I sighed and headed to the shower.
After I was dressed, I swiped my car keys off the desk and headed downstairs.
Collect your books then come right back, I ordered. No distractions.
*
Guess who's gonna get distracted? XD
Hi guys, I'm back :) At least for now. I've missed wattpad but I've been working on uni applications and mock exams so I haven't had time to update. I'm currently working on my personal statement. It needs to be perfect so my target uni (The University of Warwick) offers me a place. I hope you guys are all ok and I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
Also, I know you guys want their relationship to set off soon. Don't worry, good things are coming soon... hint hint ;)
This chapter is dedicated to a new reader who was kind enough to vote and leave wonderful comments :) Thank you so much :)
God bless and I love you
xxx
Yemi Everest