Oh Brother

Ice cream and pain killers

I went back to school a week after the crash. Ethan hadn't returned so Grayson and I were back to catching the bus: I sometimes walked when I felt up to it. Grayson had become nearly as big of a dick as Ethan so sometimes he walked with me snd sometimes he didn't

The halls were flooded with everyone whispering about the latest gossip (Being the car crash and Ethan's absence.).

Some people didn't only whisper, some people were very loud about it.

On my first day back I walked into science where the teacher welcomed me solemnly, as if I was a new student. But he also had a look on his face like someone had just died.

"I thought she was dead." Someone said loud enough for the class to hear.

As Grace and I walked to lunch a senior came up to me slowly.

"I'm really sorry about your brother- About Ethan."

"Why? I'm the one who has to live with him." I scoff

"Didn't he die? I heard he died at the crash."

Grace looked at me

"No he's okay, he's alive. He's just at home resting." I mumble.

"Oh my god i'm so glad." She smiles "Are you doing okay?" She asks.

"Yeah, I'm f-fi-fine." I smile

"That's good, I'm glad. I always thought the three of you were really cute, the boys are so protective of you."

'You have no idea.' I think to myself and laugh.

She tore a page out of a book and scribbled something on it

"Here's my number." She smiled

"Did you want me to give this to E-ethan?" I ask, immune to it.

"Oh I was just trying to be nice, like if you need anything theres my number- Ethan's also been struggling in Math so if he needs help tell him to call me- I'm Alice." She smiles. "I have Ethan's Math homework, our teacher gave it to me so it's lucky I saw you."

She hands me a booklet which I take from her.

"Nice to meet you, Alice. I'll give this to Ethan and tell him he can thank you for it." I smile

That afternoon Grayson and I walked home together. He didn't talk much anymore so I thought of something to say.

"Do you know Alice- Shes in your grade, has long hair and r-really nice brown eyes?" I ask, making myself sound like a creep.

"Alice Wesley?" He asks. I shrug

"Said she was in Ethan's math class." I add

"Oh yeah, what about her?"

"Just came up to me asking about him, gave me her number and E's math homework he's missed."

"Was her number to give to him?"

"She didn't sa-say, she seems super nice."

"Your stutters coming back again." Gray says looking at me.

I roll my eyes,

"Yeah- gee thanks I couldn't tell." I say defensively.

Truth is, it had come back pretty bad after the accident. Ethan and I had also started talking more and he couldn't go without making fun of me everything I stuttered.

"I didn't mean it like that, stupid. I'm not making fun of you." He says nudging me.

I kicked my shoes off at the door and headed straight up the stairs. Knocked on the door of the twins room and went in after a groan.