I woke up with the sound of shouting outside, I couldn’t hear clearly but I recognized their voices.
I went out to see my parents fighting about something I couldn’t understand.
“No! I don’t want to!” My dad shouts at my mom
“Please Richard.” My mom begs
He sighed and finally, he went into their room and went out holding two bags.
“Daddy!” I shout and ran towards him
“Please” My mom begs him
“I’m sorry” My dad says and he left with the rain pouring.
I ran out to catch him as I get soaked in the rain crying and begging him to come back but he went off just like that. The rain pouring, it felt like I was drowning.
My knees went weak and I kneeled on the road, I saw my mom running towards me and hugged me right there in the middle of the road, while we were both crying.
“Kristen!” Kyle shouts at me
“Huh? What?” I ask, blinking my eyes
“You were spacing out again” he says
“I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
He sighed “I was just wondering and hoping if you say yes, about me asking you out”
“You know my answer to that” I say
“Well, I tried. Trying, actually. I’ve been what, asking you for 5 years?”
I laughed “You deserve someone better. Someone, more stable and surer and of course someone who loves you” I say
“I know, I know. You always say that when you reject me” he says and I shake my head
Then silence fell between us.
“Were you thinking about the incident with you when you were 5?” he asks and I nod
“Whenever it rains, memories of that come in series of flashbacks. Plus, of course, the guy I dated who cheated on me with my best friend. I wasn’t even mad, but the fact that it was raining again that time” I sighed “Rain makes me feel different”
“It’s just a coincidence. It’s raining today and not one bad luck came to you” he says
“The day isn’t over Kyle. Well, anyway, I need to go home” I say and closed my locker
He raised his eyebrows.
“Why? We have one more class?” He says
I can’t tell him. I took a deep breath, close my eyes and open them.
“I’ll skip. Tell Ms. Montgomery that I felt sick and needed to go home” I tell him
“Fine. If only I don’t love you” he says and I chuckled
I went home. I lock myself in my room and started pacing around trying to calm myself.
I rub, play with my bracelet on my wrist causing it to bruise again.
“Stop panicking, Kristen. You’re always alone, you can do this. You have to help yourself. Stop it” I tell myself
But I couldn’t bring myself to stop. Until I found a scissor on my table, I was about to take it but then I was disturbed by a sudden knock on my door.
My hands shaking withdrew with the attempt to take the scissors. I went to the door and found Ian standing there soaking, with a large bag on his hand.
I pursed my lips. “What are you doing here?” I asked in a cold voice
He stepped inside and walked past me going to the other room. “I don’t like where I was, so I decided to crash here, with my dear step sister”
I rolled my eyes “I know when you lie.”
“I’m not lying. I’m tired of your dad and my mom always fighting about something, and I don’t even know what is it all about, they won’t tell me” he says and running his fingers through his hair frustratingly
I sighed. I don’t really hate him. It’s just my dad for leaving me and marrying his mother. While he left us, after my mom died, I hated him to the core.
The good thing was, I started being comfortable with him ever since he started showing up before I could do something to myself. I couldn’t thank him straight to his face but I am really thankful.
“So, what do you want to eat?” I ask
“I ordered pizza; it’s already paid for” he says as he unpacks
I nod even though he can’t see me. I started to walk back to my room when he talks
“You should stop hurting yourself” he says and my eyes widen, I stopped.
“I---I’m not.” I say as I try to convince him and myself that I wasn’t
“The first time I went here, I brushed it off. But every time I do. I notice it. And I only see it whenever it rains. So, what happened in the rain, did something happen?” He asks turning to me
“Nothing” I say in verge of crying
He sighed and hugged me.
“I’m sorry” he whispers
“Thank you” I say
He let’s go of me. “You are my little sister and I should always be there for you. Even though we are not related at all, my mother still married your dad. Meaning We are still responsible for you’
I nod.
After that confrontation. We went to the kitchen as the pizza arrived.
“I know you are here to look out for me” I say
“It’s really because they were fighting” he says and I narrowed my eyes at him
“Fine. The first invasion…” he stopped and chuckled at the term he used “It was about them fighting but now, ever since I noticed. I wanted to make sure you’re okay” he admitted and smiled
“So, where do you plan to go after college?” I ask changing the subject, as I took a bite on my pizza
“I have no plans yet. Mom and Dad doesn’t pressure me at all”
I pursed my lips “Why are you comfortable with calling my dad, dad? No offense but I was just curious”
“He became my father since my father left me when I was a kid. He was always there for me, supported me on my game nights. He was more of like my relative than my mom. Mom was always busy with her designing stuff” he says
“Dad is also busy. I’m glad he made time for you” I say feeling sad and envy.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” “It’s fine. I made it all on my own you know. The first time I met you, I admit I was mad but then, you always save me, even though it’s not intentional. I need to thank you for that”
“Well, in that case, it wouldn’t be a problem if I accept the job offered at your school then. It’s not a major job since I am not a graduate yet but it’ll do” he says and I shake my head
“Hell no, I don’t want you constantly running around to look out for me” I say and handed him a can of soda
“I’m not going to follow you. What? Stalker much? I’m just going to be the student body assistant to the adviser” He says, my mouth parted in shock
“I’m the president of the student body! I can’t believe this” I threw my hands up in the air
“Oh, what a coincidence. I’ll see you often then” he smirks evily
“I hate you now again” I say
“Oh come on. It’s not that bad.” He says
“Easy for you to say. No one knows about you being my step brother and if you keep on acting like that, everyone would think you’re my boyfriend. I don’t want any trouble Ian” I say
“Then I will tell them that you are my sister. I see no problem with that?”
I took a deep breath as I don’t know what to say. I guess I don’t have choice.
“When will you start?” I ask
“Tomorrow. The Adviser will be out of town and I’ll be taking over. A new student transferred by the way what was his name again?” he asked himself and thought about it for a while, I rolled my eyes.
“Sebastian Harris, son of the mayor. Who got transferred because he didn’t like his old school anymore? I’m fully aware” I say
“Ahh yeah, that guy. I heard he doesn’t talk much and when he does, nothing comes out good from his mouth” Ian says
I sighed “As long as he doesn’t stir up trouble then nothing to worry about. I’ll get Abby to show him around”
Ian nods. After that we cleaned up and decided to go to bed. But before that Ian went in my room and took all sharp things he could find.
“I’m not going to do it you know” I say
“Better to be safe than sorry” he says and he leaves my room taking everything.
I sighed. When he got out, I laid down.
I stared at my bruised wrist.
“I should take my bracelet off” I tell myself. But I couldn’t take it off. It was my mom’s.
It’s the only thing that I could hang onto. Well, maybe this house and everything in it but it makes me feel that she’s always with me everywhere I go.
I sighed. I should be asleep. I need to prepare myself physically, emotionally and mentally for tomorrow, as I feel its going to be a long day.
Author's Note:
IMPORTANT: There are some triggering words, lowkey words that might trigger self-harm, please please, do not read if you are easily triggered.
Hey guys! Five chapters will be uploaded today, I hope you like it. I just can't stop writing stories! Feel free to comment your thoughts on this book, I will reply to all of them, after taking care of stuff at home. Enjoy!