'Tis the Season

Chapter 27: Dreaded Relative

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Dreaded Relative

Connor doesn't move his eyes from mine. I don't move mine from his. Carson's flit between both of us as he explodes.

"What the actual hell are you talking about? Is this a joke?!"

Connor takes a deep breath and finally draws his eyes away from mine, facing his brother with a guilty look.

"Carson, I'm sorry. I tried not to, but I have really strong feelings for Naomi. I can't control it and it hurts me to see the two of you together when I feel so much for her. I can't keep it a secret anymore."

My head is spinning, my heart racing. My tongue has gone numb and I can't even comprehend the bomb that just dropped, let alone form the words I need to react to it.

Carson and Connor are yelling at each other but I can barely hear them. How did this happen? Did I do anything to give Connor the wrong impression? Does he really care about me that much?

"Did you know about this? Have you guys been canoodling behind my back?" Carson directs an angry shout at me as he picks me up off his lap and places me away from him on the bed, effectively snapping me out of my confused daze.

"What? Carson, no! How can you even think I would do that?!" I ask, upset. He's too far gone for me to pull him back; I don't think he can even hear me.

I understand his reaction, I'm not angry at it. Given his trust issues and the absolute shock of this confession- I would probably be undergoing tunnel vision too.

"Carson, don't blame her!"

"Don't protect her! She's not yours to protect! She is my girlfriend!"

"What is going on in here?!" Emilia comes running into the room, distraught. I look at her like a deer in headlights as her eyes flicker between the three of us.

"Ask the two of them, maybe they can explain it to you because I sure as hell don't know what is going on here."

With that, Carson gets off the bed and storms out of the room past his mother, slamming the door shut behind him and then slamming his own door as he goes into his bedroom.

"Well?" Emilia's voice is a tinge harder now and her arms fold protectively over her chest as she narrows her eyes suspiciously at the two of us.

"Mom, please. I need to talk to Naomi alone."

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Naomi?" Emilia directs her gaze to me and I desperately try to rack my brain for what to say but I can't find the words so I just shake my head.

"I... I... I don't know what's happening either," I finally confess and her skepticism melts into perplexity. "I... Connor, I'm sorry, I know that was a big bomb to drop and must've taken... courage, but I can't... I can't do this right now. I have to see Carson."

I hop off my bed and run out of the room too, before either of them can react.

I try the knob on Carson's bedroom door but it's locked. "Carson," I knock hard. "Carson, please. It's just me, please talk to me. Please. Just let me in." I knock hard enough that my knuckles begin to throb.

I wiggle the doorknob harshly but it doesn't open. "Carson, you need to believe me, I didn't know! I didn't know!" I'm near tears and I hear a muffled sound come from his side of the door so I pause, my fist halfway to the wood, ready to knock again.