Oh Brother

Shot gun

Ethan

"Ethan, stop it!" Bailey cry's out, swatting my hands hands away from her.

"Bailey, please. I know you've been cutting." I murmur

Tears roll down her face and I feel some gather up in my eyes too.

I open my mouth and look up trying to find words to say, there were none.

"Okay, okay fine. You don't have to show me, but tell me where you're keeping your razors so I... So I can try and help you." I say as my voice croaks

"I don't have to tell anyone... I won't tell anyone if you help me work this out just between us." I add

"Fuck you! You fucking did this to me and now you want to help?" She screeches storming away from me.

The next morning
Bailey

"Why... do you look so funny today." Ethan chuckles, lingering near my door.

"W-what?" I asked, looking over to the door after I found out he was standing there.

"Nothing." He blurted and then left.

What the fuck.

"GRAYSON! BAILEY! Let's GO, come on!" Ethan shouts from down the hall.

I was the first to walk down the stairs followed by Ethan's loud footsteps.

I had grabbed my school bag off the counter and walked out the door before I realised I left my Science homework in my room. I spun on my heel and ran directly into Ethan.

"Where are you going? We gotta go now." He said way too urgently considering we weren't running late.

"I gotta go back in to get-."

"I seriously don't care, dude. Get in the car, I'll let you ride shot gun." He bargains. He hadn't offered me shot gun in a long time.

I sigh, the Science homework doesn't matter, it's not worth it.

I walk around to the passenger seat and pay attention to the faded scratch and dent on the side door: it was actually my fault.

One summer day, my old friend Sarah and I decided we wanted to go to the store but didn't want to walk. With Ethan gone and Grayson asleep we took Ethan's keys and I had hopped into the passenger side not knowing how to drive too well, and we left. Sarah, also not really knowing how to drive either, had crashed up a curb and scratched along a pole.

After, we decided to park it back into the garage, I let Sarah flee the scene and go home. I remember walking up the steps that night thinking it would be for the last time.

I woke up the next morning to Ethan yelling, I still remember how terrified I had been as I walked down the stairs and forced myself into the garage.

"P-Please don't be mad at me." I croaked, giving myself up.

His face dropped.

"While I was at Ryan's... did you take... my car and do this to it?" Ethan had asked

"It was an accident-." I had spat trying to save myself.

"Fuckin Sarah was over too!" Grayson shouted

"I was driving!" I blurted, Saving Sarah.

So then I ran. Ethan caught me by a chunk of my hair he had reached out and grabbed, using it to pull me backwards onto the ground.

Then, until his anger only slightly wore off, I was the victim of an hour long session of a harsh beating that finished with a hanging wedgie from inside his closet which he had locked shut.

He told Mom someone had done it while he was out of the car and didn't snitch on me so he could use it as an excuse for a week long coupon of valid torture on me in exchange for saving my ass from Mom.

The next week at school Sarah avoided me after I had earned many bruises and a big black eye for her. We hadn't talked since.

It was overall a very traumatic experience.

I snapped out of it and put on my seat belt.

Ethan shot out of the driveway and onto the road. I clutched onto the side of the car as his loud music flooded the car.

He turned sharply and the tires squeaked horrendously.

"Slow down, E-Ethan." I squeaked.

He purposely hit the accelerator and drove in a wiggly line. Before I could convince myself we were gonna die, he stopped.

I heard Gray let out a sigh of relief.

Ethan looked down at the clock,

"Hey we're actually really early." He laughs.

"ETHAN!" Grayson screamed.

A slow rhythmed beeping rung through my ears. My mouth was dry and tasted horrible, my eyes fluttered open and I was in hospital.

I tuned into someone speaking "Are my siblings okay? Ma'am-ma'am! Is my little sister, Bailey Dolan... Is she okay?" A groggy voice slurred.

I knocked out again.

I woke up and first noticed a clock across from me, it was only just passed 10 am.

"Mom?" I groaned

"She's awake again." An unfamiliar voice says, I see a nurse at the end of the bed writing something down.

"I'm here baby, Im here." A sweet voice says as a hand pats my leg gently.

I look over, it's my Mom. Sitting next to her with bandages on his cheek is Grayson, the voice I had heard before I knocked out.

"Wheres Ethan? What happened?"

"Sweetie please don't move, you're in a lot of pain because you're injured. You were in a car crash on the way to school." Mom says, with sorrow all over her face.

I start hysterically crying, wanting the tears to wake me up from this nightmare.

"Is Ethan awake yet?" Grayson madly asks the nurse.

"He is still not responsive at the moment. We're running tests and doing all we can, but there is a chance he might not come through. He is very badly injured."

What is happening?