What it all comes down to |Chapter 9|

Around ten the next morning there was a knock at my bedroom door followed by a voice. I wasn’t sure who it was because I was still half sleep, but I was sure I had to get up soon. I turned over on my bed and was pressed against something firm.

I blinked my eyes open and gasped. “Oh my God!” I hissed as I sat up. “You’re still here?”

Kevin smiled. “You’re even beautiful when you’re sleeping.”

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it. I turned away from him and smiled. He’s cute… so cute.

I looked back down at him and then shook my head. “Yeah, you can compliment me all you want but if you get caught in here it’s not going to be pretty.”

He glanced over at the clock on my nightstand. “It’s almost 10:00 am.”

“Does climbing out of my window sound good to you?”

He laughed and I covered his mouth. “Are you trying to get us caught?”

“No. But, you were making much more noise than that last night.” He said after pulling my hand away. “I doubt anyone heard me.”

I smirked. “Okay smart guy… out.”

He dressed quickly and then climbed out of my window. I watched to make sure he made it all the way down and as soon as he did there was another knock on my door.

“Yeah?” I called.

“Open the door!” It was Courtney.

“Oh… hold on a sec?” I threw on a shirt and hurried to the door. I swung it open and smiled. “Sorry… I just woke up.”

She eyes me warily. “Why is your hair so messy?”

“What?” I asked. I was caught off guard. “Oh! I uh, forgot to uh… wrap it.”

She cut her eyes at me. “Oh really?”

I nodded.

She shrugged. “I don’t even think I want to know… your mom says come and eat.”

“Food!” I went and put on my black flip flops and we made our way down the steps. “Good morning everyone.” I said.

Courtney was behind me, she sat down too.

“Good morning… Sweetie, could you please explain to me why your brother got into a fight last night?” My mother asked.

I looked toward Chris and laughed nervously. “How should I know?” I asked. “Chris didn’t say it was about me… did he?” I asked skeptically.

I turned back to my mother and she frowned a little bit. “No… but he’s refusing to tell you. You guys know how I feel about fighting… especially since…” She stopped and looked down at her plate. “Well… you know.”

Chris cleared his throat. “It wasn’t a real fight… It was a misunderstanding.”

I pressed my lips together to try and keep a straight face while he lied. It was hardly a misunderstanding, but if that’s the story he wanted to tell then I guess I could play along.

“A misunderstanding with you?”

“It was—”

“—a friend of mine from school… Chris thought that he was trying to attack me. He’s very sensitive about me these days,” I paused. “For obvious reasons.” I added on.

I was sure she would know what those reasons were so I decided not to push it and explain them.

“Oh.”

I saw Chris look toward me but by then I was already eating and making as little eye contact as possible. My mother was rambling about something she had done the previous day and Courtney was trying desperately to get my attention by kicking me under the table; I refused to look up.

“Okay so what’s up?” Courtney asked as we got into my car later that day. “You’ve been acting weird every since you woke up this morning.”

I took a deep breath and turned the key in the ignition. “If I tell you… promise me you wont tell anyone?”

“Of coarse I promise.”

I pulled out of my driveway and suddenly I was smiling. “I slept with Kevin last night.”

“You did what?”

“Okay before you say anything more… you have to know why I did it.”

“You slept with him for a reason?”

“I slept with him to take my mind off Chris,” I said. “I did it because Kevin is the only one who helps me forget my feelings for my step brother.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. I was sure I could read the disgust in her expression; I was just waiting for her to express it in words.

“You… like… Chris?”

I nodded slowly.

“You… like… your brother?”

“Step brother.”

“What difference does that make?”

I chuckled, even though the situation was far from funny. “It makes a huge difference. I don’t feel bad that we kissed, either. I mean… it’s not like—”

“—you kissed your brother?!”

“Oh yeah I forgot to mention that…”

“Oh my God Shayla!”

I glanced over at her and saw her crossing her arms over her chest and looking out the window. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I mumbled.

“I’m glad you didn’t… I wish you hadn’t!”

“What’s the problem?”

“This isn’t exactly normal, shay!” She yelled. “You need to get yourself together!”

I sucked my teeth and turned on the music. I started speeding down the streets and making sharp turns. I was ready to be alone and the sooner I got Courtney out of my car, then sooner I would be.

____________________

see authors comments