Chapter 4: Brother

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For some reason, I couldn't get her out of my mind. I even dreamt of her last night. Maybe it wasn't her, maybe it was only a blonde girl with green eyes that really looked like her. But deep down, I knew it was her.

It wasn't that I was in love with her or anything, I knew I couldn't stop thinking about her because she had said no to my date. She intrigued me, I wanted to know more about her. And Riley wouldn't tell me a thing. I wanted to know why was she always so stressed, why did she have to go to physical therapy that much, why did she bring her bag with her every time.

I didn't even know how old she was.

I had physical therapy on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Just like her. That I knew. It may seem creepy that I knew her session days, but we happened to coincide.

With some black skinny jeans, a black T-shirt and my sunglasses, I left home. I wanted to cover my neck since it was full of hickeys, but Riley didn't sleep at ours, so there wasn't any make up around, and it was too fucking hot for this end of September afternoon to put on a scarf.

So there I was, looking like I had been attacked by a vampire, thanks to the amazing human being that was Linda.

I parked not too far away from the clinic. I got out and walked slowly, sucking on my bottom lip, thinking about how I could approach Cara today and not sound annoying.

Maybe she needed to know me a little bit more before going on a date with me?

Weren't dates made for that purpose?

I saw her in the parking lot, she had a spot for her car, I needed to investigate how I could get one for mine. I was already tired of looking for a place to park. Her high ponytail and sportswear making her unmistakable. Taking a deep breath that filled my lungs, I approached her as she grabbed her bag.

"Hey."

"Oh my god." She put a hand in her chest as she breathed out. "You need to stop scaring me."

I chuckled. "You wouldn't get scared if you weren't doing something suspicious."

Cara shook her head confused. "I wasn't-"

"It was a joke." I smiled tightly.

"Oh." She laughed nervously and glanced down at my neck. "Darn, what happened to you?"

Putain. I knew she would notice. "Uhm- I- I bumped into something."

"Ouch." She grimaced rubbing her neck. Did she really fall for that?

We began to walk side by side. It was a start. The other day she almost ran away from me.

"So, Cara-"

The green eyed girl stopped and frowned. "How do you know my name? I don't know yours."

"Nico." I blurted out nervously. "Riley told me."

Why was I so nervous? I was calm all the time. I was literally born quiet and chilled. I didn't even cry. My mother thought something was wrong with me.

She nodded in understanding. "I- I really can't be late again." She apologized as she started walking faster, getting inside the clinic before me.

"Great job, Nico. You didn't even get her number." I mumbled to myself. Well, at least she knew my name now. I sighed and got inside, ready for a little bit of suffering. I was glad I changed therapists. I feel like I couldn't get mad at Riley before. Now I can get mad at the guy that makes me writhe in pain.


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When I got out, Cara's car was already gone, but some yelling made me stop before I turned right and started walking towards my car. The skater was yelling at some dude in a tow truck. That's when I saw it. Her red car had been towed.

"But I've parked here every single week for the past two years!" She kicked the floor in frustration.

"Then you're lucky you got caught just this once." The guy sighed when he saw her face, she was about to cry. "This is an emergency exit. Call the number in that sign and they'll tell you what to do."

Turned out she didn't have a spot for her car. The guy left and I took that at my turn to approach her.

She was running a hand along her face, staring at her feet. Taking her phone out of her pocket, her hands trembling a little, she dialed the number in the signal. She noticed me and gave me a tight smile as she waited. I waited patiently too, leaning on that sign since my hip hurt like crazy.

Cara talked for a while, she seemed to struggle understanding what the person on the other side was saying. She was really nervous.

I took a step towards her and extended my hand. "I can help." I whispered. She bit her lip and nodded quickly, handing her phone to me.

She basically had to pay a tow charge and bring her license and the car's info to the tow lot. I explained it to her and she listened to me shaking her head.

"I don't have time for that, I gotta- I gotta go home. My mom-" she paused pacing and stared at me, horrified, a hand in her forehead. "Did you say I have to pay?" I nodded slowly. "Oh my god, my brothers are gonna kill me. My mom can't know. Where do I get the money from? I-"

"I can lend you the money. I can go with you to the tow lot." I reassured her. "If you want. Nobody has to know."

Cara stared at me skeptically. "But I- I don't know you."

"You have anything better planned?" I asked with a sympathetic smile.

"No." She searched my eyes frantically, not really knowing if she could trust me or not.

"Come on. If we get there on time, it'll only be around fifty dollars." I nodded behind me so we started walking. Cara bit her lip and grabbed her bag from the floor, following me quickly.

I opened the door of my car for her, she got inside right away. She breathed in and out as if trying to calm herself down as she clutched her bag. I put the address in my gps and started the engine.

Sensing her nervousness while she stared out the window, I tried to reassure her. "It's gonna be okay."

"I'm supposed to be home in 15 minutes." She mumbled.

"It won't take too long, you can always blame it on the clinic." I shrugged.

"Yeah." She let out a little laugh as if trying to relax, her legs anxiously bouncing up and down.

"How old are you?" I asked out of curiosity. It really made me wonder why was she always so nervous about her mom finding out she did something bad, or she arriving home late... Besides, she still lived with her parents. I don't know, maybe I was driving a sixteen-year-old and here I was, thinking to take her to bed. Riley would have said something about it, right?

"21." Thank god. She looked so innocent though, sometimes she seemed younger. My question seemed to distract her. She turned her head towards me and cocked it. "You?"

"27." I muttered.

Cara opened her eyes wide and gasped. "Wow. You're my oldest brother's age." She bit her lip, studying my face. "You look younger, though."

"Thanks?" I laughed as I turned the steering wheel.

"Yeah, yeah. It's a compliment." She chuckled and stared back at the window. We stayed silent for a few moments. "It's far, isn't it?"

"Just ten minutes." I informed glancing at the gps.

She unblocked her phone and puffed. "I don't have data. Is it too much to ask if you come with me home after all this? You have your gps and stuff, I won't know my way back." She talked fast as she observed all the technology in my new car.

I nodded, the corner of my lips curling up a little.

"Did you have plans?"

I shook my head.

"Do you play sports? Why do you-?" She bit the corner of her mouth as she frowned at me.

I knew she was talking about physical therapy. "I had a car accident."

"You don't talk much, do you?" She asked amused.

"You don't, either." I smirked.

"Trust me, I talk even in my sleep." She chuckled. She had seemed to let her guard down a little. "What happened?"

"I was 22. Uhm... I was drunk." I said taking a deep breath, trying not to deepen too much into the story. "I had multiple surgeries and stuff. My hip was fractured but they could only replace it partially, and now I need exercise therapy and massages to keep the pain away. That's why I..." I glanced at her and licked my lips pensively. "How do you say boiter? Uhm... limp?" Cara nodded, she seemed to recognize that word. "Just a little, though."

"Oh." Cara nodded once again, she surely had noticed the way I walked. I tried not to show it, but it was really painful and hard. "I thought that was your 'I'm French and cool' way to walk." She deepened her voice and moved her shoulders as if she was walking before giving me a silly smile.

I threw my head back and laughed. "Oh yeah, that too."

We arrived five minutes later, she filled in all the documents and I payed for the charge. It turned out to be sixty dollars. I didn't get why. Cara didn't either. I found out she sometimes had difficulties trying to understand what people were explaining to her. She got nervous and overwhelmed. I even had to help her filling her information.

We walked towards her car slowly while she kept the documents inside her bag. "I- I have a problem with words sometimes. I get a little distracted." She let her eyes wander around. "Thank you, by the way. I'll pay you back, I just need to... I need to figure some things out."

"Whenever you want. It's nothing, really."

Cara smiled tightly and looked around. "You should leave now, I'll just follow you to my house." She went to open her door but I stopped her, grabbing her arm again. She shook it off quickly, this time she tried not to show it, but I had noticed it.

"I don't know your address." I gave her a little smile.

"Right. I'm so dumb."

"Here." I handed her my phone. "You should save your number, too. That way we can stay in touch, you know, so-"

"Yeah, so I can give you the money back, good idea." She took my phone and filled in her information. Just how she had done a few minutes ago.

I smiled. I couldn't believe that had worked. "I'll wait for you at the entry."

I made sure she was following me when I started the engine. Her house was half an hour away for the place. The change in scenery came after we crossed the bridge that separated the city. Lots of trees, vegetation and big houses made their appearance. Although they were big, I could tell it wasn't a really wealthy neighborhood. The front yards were full of children playing. Beach chairs, barbecues and other stuff that wasn't in concordance with the style of the houses were scattered around. Her house was on the corner of a street. It once was white, now it had faded a little, even giving the house a grayish color. There was a big tree where a rope had been tied up, holding an old tire. A blond boy around three years old, wearing just diapers and drooling all over his torso as he licked on a blue lollipop, watched as another boy, around two or three years older swung. The boy's clothes were dirty and he looked as if he had been crying. There were also some weights and other equipment  to work out next to the tree.

I stopped the car and lowered my window. I watched as Cara parked outside the garage, glancing at me quickly before waving goodbye. I frowned. I thought we would talk or something before she got inside. She really seemed in a rush. I hadn't noticed before, but there was a really bulky guy beside the steps of the house. He had really short brown hair and vibrant green eyes. Just as Cara.

He seemed mad as he approached her, arms crossed over his chest. He asked something and she mumbled a response back, trying to pass him by. He then looked at me straight in the eyes with a disgusted face. I could hear him from where I was. "Who's that?"

Cara glanced at me for a second, a weird expression in her face. She shook her head and shrugged. I could only read her lips, as she muttered. "No one."

The guy then looked back at me and if looks could kill, I would be in hell right now. He clenched his jaw and fists, making his biceps, that could be seen under his white T-shirt, look bigger and veiny. I then decided it was time to go and started the car, leaving the place with a bittersweet feeling in my chest.

What was that all about?

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