Opposites

Chapter Thirteen

I was woken up the next morning from someone banging on the door, I looked over to see that Kath's bed was empty. I groaned and made my way over to the door and opening it a crack to see who stood the other side. Hero. Hero stood there and looked like he hadn't slept all night, the smell of alcohol was so strong, it made me feel like I was getting intoxicated. 

"Hero?" 

He barges past me and into my room, I watch him as he throws himself onto my bed and sits up staring intently at me. 

"Have you been drinking?" I ask closing the door and putting my back up against the frame. 

"Yeah," Hero answered. He was swaying as he sat on my bed. 

"I didn't think you drank?" I asked not taking my eyes of him. 

"I don't, but I thought fuck it," Hero slurred. The room fell silent as we both just looked at each other. I was surprised to he even came here, but I was more surprised that Hero had been drinking all night when he was the only one I knew that didn't touch any alcoholic drink.

"You should get cleaned up, have a shower and get some sleep," I suggest. 

"I'm not going home," Hero states. 

"You can shower here, I'm sure I can see if there is something you can wear, then just sleep in my bed. Once you've slept it off, you can leave," I say. 

"Leave? I don't want to leave."

"Why do you want to stay?" I questioned. 

"Isn't it obvious?" Hero stood starting to raise his voice. 

"You're drunk. Sleep it off. Then we'll talk," I state pointing to the bed. 

***

I left Hero asleep in my bed whilst I went to the coffee shop to meet up with Josh, I just needed someone normal to talk to about everything that happened the previous night. As I walked through the door, Josh was already sitting at a table with two coffees placed in front of him. I walked over and he stood and gave me a one arm hug before we both sat back down at the table. I thanked him for the latte then took a swig. 

"Everything alright? You sounded like you wanted to cry on the phone?" Josh asked as he started drinking his coffee. 

"Nothing has gone right since I arrived here," I started. 

"Nothing ever does when Hero Thomas is involved," Josh chuckled. 

"You know him?" I questioned. 

"You could say that, he's my cousin. We were close when we were growing up, but when Hero's dad left, he changed, had resentment. Swore he would always protect his mum and sister. The only reason he's even here, in a America, is because Harriett wanted to go to Uni, and well she chose to move out here with us. Hero came just to look over her really," Josh explained and I listened intently. I had no idea he was that protective over his sister, that he would move countries for her.

"What about their parents?" I asked, knowing full well I was over stepping some boundaries but I just had to know more into why Hero was like he was. 

"Mums from England, dads from America. Their dad is my dads brother, but their dad moved to England the moment he found out that their mum was pregnant with the twins. I suppose he tried to make it work, but their dad just wasn't interested in their mum. He stayed for years but he abused Hero when he was younger and sexually assaulted Harriett. Once my dad found out all this, he instantly disowned his own brother. Of course, their dad moved back to America. But no one knows where. Harriett lives with us, but Hero chose the frat house because he resents my dad, just for being their dads brother. Hero, since he was about ten, has been the way he is, he sleeps with loads of girls and throws his authority around," Josh explained the best he could and I listened. I had millions of emotions running through my body. I felt sorry for the twins, I hated the thought of their dad, and I was glad that Hero would always protect his sister after everything they had both been through. 

"What about their mum now?" I asked.

"Still in England. Hero and Harriet are both very close with her. But Harriett wanted to come here, so Hero followed." Josh answered "I would advice staying about from Hero, Rose. Hero isn't the most friendliest of guys."

"That explains his bad attitude, and hatred for love," I thought aloud. 

"How comes you are so interested?" Josh quizzes. 

"No reason," I lie, thinking it would be best not to tell Josh all the details that have been going on later. But I did delve into telling Josh about Luke and his confession about sleeping with Emma from back home. Josh listened to me ramble on, and he was patient with me when I was getting lumps in my throat. Josh could tell that it was hard for me to talk about, but all the same he listened and he was there to comfort me. 

"I'm so sorry, Rose. I can't imagine how you must feel," Josh finally said as I finished telling him everything. 

"When you really think you know a person, but actually you don't know the first thing about him," I stated looking away from Josh and out the window so he couldn't see the tears leaking from my eyes. As I looked out the window I noticed Hero walking across the parking lot and to his car. Surely he can't be okay to drive yet? I thought. I watched him as he sat in his car and pulled his phone out bringing it to his ear. He was talking to someone on the phone, then seconds later he put his phone away and started making his way to the coffee shop.