Chapter 7 : Forgiveness

I sit on the wooden bench, watching him as the last seconds on the scoreboard ticks Down to 0:00. only 10 more seconds left and we'll make it.

"7! 6!" The crowd cheers loudly as Damon, our schools' basketball team captain, dribbles the ball to the other end of the court dodging the other team players.

3.. 2.. 1!

"And he scores! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Winners of the state basketball championship... The Lincoln high panthers!" The man yelled through his Econ as we all stand up, cheering loudly for our winning team.

I jump down the bleachers making my way towards Damon, who has his arms wide open ready for me to jump onto him. I jump into his sweaty arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and hugging him tightly.

"You did it, baby!" I yell over the loud noise, holding his face.

"No.. we did it," He winked at me. My smile grows bigger.

Damon looks into my eyes, leaning in slowly as my heart starts to race. I do the same and feel his I—

*DING*

Who dares to disturb my peaceful dream?!

Opening my eyes, I rub the sleepiness and let out a small groan. I sit up hearing my phone go off, which is still surprising to me.

I lean against my headboard and pick up my phone off of my nightstand, Squinting my eyes from the brightness as I read the text message.

Brett:
I'll pick you up in 20. Just send me your address.

"Shit! Shit!" I quickly get up, sprinting to my closet.

I seriously forgot I agreed to hang out with Brett today. Looking through my closet, and replying to his message.

After throwing my phone on my bed, I continue to search through my closet. I end up wearing navy blue tights and a navy blue hoodie that says 'I'm a nerd, deal with it.'

I straighten my hair and wrap it into a high ponytail then slip on my white Adidas.

It was stupid to straighten my hair since I just put in into a ponytail.

After getting ready, I let out a sigh before checking the time. It is currently 5:39 pm.

So I have enough time to go talk to Harley like I promised mom.

It's not going to be easy but I'll try.

Wrapping my fanny pack around my waist, slipping my phone and some money into it, I walk two doors down on the right side of the hallway and knock on Harley's door.

"Not now mom!" He yelled. I open his bedroom door and walk in. I see him laid out across his bed, throwing his basketball up into the air as it lands back into his hands.

"Mom I said I'm not— Oh, it's just you," He turned his head away and rolled his eyes, continuing to throw the ball into the air.

"Nice to see you too," I mumbled while rolling my eyes at him. He just scoffs.

I sigh. "Harley, please can we talk?" He ignores me.

"You can't ignore me forever you know!" I throw my arms into the air and back down to my sides flatly.

"Watch me."

That's it, I've had enough of his bullshit.

I stomp over toward him and snatch the basketball from his hands, throwing it on the floor. It bounces near his green bean bag chair.

Harley stands up and walks up to me angrily.

I flinch but held my head high."What? Gonna punch your own sister?" He sighed and sat back on his bed.

I sigh in relief. I was actually kind of scared.

Harley may be my brother but he has a problem when he—

"What do you want?" He grumbled, running his hand through his messy hair.

"I want to talk and make things right between us. I don't get what I did wrong here," I said truthfully with a sigh. Harley shakes his head and chuckles emotionless.

"Please tell me what I did wrong in this situation. you get mad at me because I have a 'Crush' on someone which, I told you I didn't. Why do you care if I did or not? I don't get it—"

"It's Because of dad," He blurted out and I freeze.

"What?" I frown my face up in confusion.

"Because of what Dad did to mom, I don't want the same thing to happen to you or Harmony. that's why," He stared at the floor, running his hands down his face. I sigh and sit next to him.

"Why didn't you just tell me that?" He removed his hands and folded them, still staring at the floor.

"Because I know how you are when I talk about him. I hate his guts and you still have love for him," His face looked furious yet confused.

It's true I still have love for our father.

I mean, he's our dad. Why wouldn't I?

I hate him for what he did to our mother but I just don't know why I still care for him. After what he's done to this family, I don't think mom could ever forgive him.

Although he was her first love and High school sweetheart.

Cliche is what that is but it's cute.

My mother had love for our father and I saw it all the time when they were together. Her eyes would glow and she'd smile more than ever.

He made her really happy then broke her.

He broke our family apart.

I'm great full for the love he gave me. It was amazing while it lasted.

I just wish I knew our time together was limited.

No, I'll never forget what he did, but I still have love for him somewhere in my messed up and cracked heart.

"I know what he did was absolutely wrong. Yes, but he's our dad. He's the other half of us, how can we just throw that away?" I softly said, playing with my fingernails.

"Yeah, like he threw us away for his new family?" He said, getting heated and got up. I sighed deeply while closing my eyes and reopening them.

"Let's not talk about him right now, please?"

I didn't want to get into the topic of our father and his new family.

It always hurts my heart when it's mentioned. It's like he forgot about us.

He promised he would never leave.

Promises are made to be kept not broken right?

That's not the only thing he broke...

"See. You protect him in every conversation, why Hermione?!" Harley balled his fist and I was afraid he would punch something.

It wouldn't be the first.

"Not now!" I raised my voice and he groaned in frustration.

"You're my baby sis, I love you, I can't let the same thing happen to you or harmony. I don't want some guy coming into either one of your lives, make you fall in love with them then he leaves you like trash," He clenched his jaw and stared out the window. I sighed and stood up.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt that way," I walk toward Harley and wrapped my arms around his waist since he's really tall. He hugs me back immediately and kisses my head.

I sigh in relief and hug him tighter.

"I love you too har," I smiled.

"I love you too. I'm sorry I overreacted. I just don't want none of you hurt, You, Harmony or mom," He squeezed me once and pulled from our hug.

"It's ok. I understand why you got so mad, just next time tell me. You're basically my twin," He Rolls his eyes playfully.

"Oh please, just because your birthday is a week after mines doesn't make us twins," He fake gagged and I raised an eyebrow.

"Aw, you still can't get over the fact that I'm smarter than you, can you?" I tease and stuck my tongue out at him playfully.

"Whatever. Where are you going?"

"To h-hang with Scarlet.." I lied. if he found out that I was going out with Brett, he'd actually kill him this time. Then have ten babies.

"You sure?" I nod and smile.

"Yup," I popped the P.

I cringe at my own cliche-ness.

"Really? Because Damon is with Scarlet right now, so how is that possible?" He glared down at me and I bit my lip nervously.

"We're um— W-We are all Going somewhere to hang..?" I said more like a question. Ok, I'm really bad at lying.

"Yeah right, you and Damon can't stand breathing the same air. What am I stupid?" He scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Eh, most of the time," I shrug as he glares. I give him an innocent smile.

"Cut the chase, Harry Potter. where are you going? It's not like you have other friends."

"Well, that's not offensive at all," Sarcasm laced in my tone.

"You have a date with the librarian or something?" He laughs at his own ridiculous joke.

Crickets. Crickets are what I hear because that joke was ass.

"I hate you."

Harley stops laughing once we hear a fate knock at the front door. I bite my lip nervously, again.

Why couldn't he just texted me he was outside?!

"Hermione there's a sweet young man down here for you!" Mom yelled from the bottom of the steps as Harley glared at me.

"I knew you were full of shit," He sprinted downstairs and I chased after him.

"Stop!" I jump onto his back as we reach the front door. Standing there was mom and Brett.

"Guys, no play fighting. the last time that happened, Hermione almost broke her wrist!" Mom folded her arms and gave us a look. I jump off of his back.

"Sorry," Harley and I say in sync.

"Really?" We say again and glared at each other.

"Come on, Stop copying me!" We say together once again.

"Wow, it's like you guys are twins," Brett's voice broke us from our staring contest.

"Yeah, Hermione is actually one-year younger then Harley with a birthday a week just after his," Mom smiled.

"Mom you say it like it's a good thing," Harley scoffed while folding his arms.

"I've always wanted twins and you two are basically close to being twins." I roll my eyes.

"Mom this is Brett, Brett this is my mom and you already know Harley, " I awkwardly pointed to Harley.

"Well, we are just hanging out as friends. I'll see you later mom," I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and grabbed Brett's arm, dragging him away from my protective of a brother and hyperactive of a mother.

"Don't be out too late!" Mom called.

"You better not come home with a baby In your stomach!" Harley yelled and I blush of embarrassment.

Fucking brothers!

"I hate you!" I yelled back while giving him the finger.

Well, it wasn't actually the middle finger...

It was my ring finger.

Shut up.