○ TWO ○

"Mum? What's wrong?" I asked as I flipped my keys onto the kitchen table.

My mother turned around, her eyes red. I noticed him as my mother moved out of the road. "Chris!" I exclaimed as I saw my brother's face.

His left eye was swollen and brushed but his bleeding lip cracked into a grin as he saw me. "Hey little sis" he said, standing up.

I ran around the table and into his arms. Hugging him, I thought I was dreaming. He squeezed back. "How's school?" He asked patting my hair as I moved back.

"Forget school, what happened to your face?" I asked, grasping his chin.

He winced but grasped my hand and pulled me into a hug again. "Nothing, I'm fine" he said.

"Christopher, I swear if you don't tell me what happened, I will be your worst nightmare" Mum said as I moved to stand beside her.

"I got into a bit of a fight but I'm fine, I just wanted to see my mum and sister" he said, standing up straight.

I smiled as he gave me a wink. "I'm so glad your home, this one has been driving me crazy" my mum said, giving up on trying to get information out of him and gesturing to me.

I glanced at her in mock horror. "Yeah she tends to do that" he replied.

Mum moved away to the bench and collected her keys. "I really would love to stay and talk, if you are up when I get home from work, we'll talk" Mum said, giving her oldest child a bright smile.

"Don't worry mum, I'll take care of her" Chris replied, resting an arm on my shoulders.

He towered above me and waved as she stepped out the door. I crossed my arms when I heard the car engine start. "So? What really happened?" I asked, gesturing to my own face.

He shrugged one shoulder. "Like I said, it was a fight, my friend got involved and I stopped it" he replied.

I tapped my foot against the floor. "Well welcome back, literally nothing has changed" I replied, gesturing to the house.

"Oh I don't know, I don't see lover boy hanging off you anymore, where is he?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow and glancing around the room.

My arms fell back to my sides and my brother looked at me as my face fell. "You've been gone a really long time" I replied.

My brother frowned. "What happened?" He asked, concern in his tone.

"It's doesn't matter, you're back and that's what matters" I said giving him a grim smile.

"You matter me to me and I know you very well" he said, crossing his arms.

I sighed. "Matthew and I are no longer friends" I replied, shrugging one shoulder.

Chris frowned. "But you guys were practically inseparable" he protested.

"That's what happens when you push everyone away" I muttered, mostly to myself.

"Why did he push you away?" Chris asked.

I glanced at my brother. "His parents died" I replied softly.

Chris looked down. "I didn't know" he said, uncrossing his arms.

I shook off the thoughts. "Do you want to go out tonight?" I asked, wanting to hang out with my older brother.

He smiled. "Just you and me?" He asked, grinning.

I nodded. "Okay, I'd love to hang out with you little sis" he replied.

"But I'm going to go take a shower and then take a nap" he said, before yawning.

"Well I'll be either here or there" I replied. 

My brother nodded before walking off to his room. He hadn't changed much, still the lovable brother who always made time for his little sister. We were quite close when we were young and although most parents would tell you that siblings separate as they get older.. my brother and I didn't. 

It wasn't until he moved onto his campus that we stopped talking. He was busy, being an adult. Although I was 19, my 22 year old brother seemed to have his shit together.

I pulled out my phone, my thumb tracing the crack on the screen before putting it in my pocket. Closing the front door behind me as I stepped out onto the driveway, I looked up to see Matthew's car pull into his driveway across the street.

Ignoring it, I pressed play on my music and fell to my knees in front of the garden. I started to pull at the weeds, ignoring the stabbing pain in my shoulder. "I never thought I'd see the day when you finally did chores" a voice said.

My blood ran cold as I looked up to see the ass himself, leaning on my gate. "Then you must be blind" was all I replied.

Looking away, I pulled out another weed. Imagining it to be Courtney's head. "I sense hostility" he said.

My fingers clenched and my jaw tensed. "What are you doing? Why are you here?" I snapped.

Matthew's eyebrows shot up. "I live in the neighborhood and thought I'd come say hi to my neighbour but it seems she's in a bad mood" he replied, his eyes growing distant.

"Hmm I wonder why?" I asked sarcastically and glaring at him.

"Well it's not my fault, I just came over to say hi" he replied, like he was deliberately riling me up.

Well it worked. "Get off my lawn, Matthew!" I snapped.

The expression wiped off his face, leaving a blank canvas. "And here I thought we could act like adults and have a civilised conversation, guess I was wrong" he said, pulling away from the fence and started to walk back to his house. 

"I'll act like an adult when you stop being such an asshole!" I yelled out to his retreating back.

He just gave me the finger over his shoulder and I threw the garden weed I had in my hand, on the ground.
"Real mature" I muttered.

I pulled out my phone. 

Alana.
We're going out. Brother might tag along. Shelby x

She replied almost immediately.

Bitch.
I knew you would. No one can say no to me. Pick you up at 5 so we can watch Matthew perform.
Love ya hoe x

I rolled my eyes.

A/N

I like Alana. She reminds me of a few friends I used to have. Sometimes friendship just grow apart but the best feeling in the world is when they want to talk to you.

Matthew attempting to make conversation. I smell something..fishy.

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Love, T xoxoxoxoxox