Bionic Chaos [Leo Dooley]

Chapter Thirteen

Since I have come to the revelation that I do actually have feelings for Leo, I have decided to distance myself from him and the others. Leo really didn't question me when I told him I have to spend some time to myself; he understood when I explained to him that since my older brother got home, I needed to think about things dealing with him. I'm thankful that Leo understands me. I don't think I would have been happy if he didn't.

Bree was a different story, though. She was excited that I wasn't talking to Leo anymore or trying to video them using their bionics. However, I noticed when she was talking to me the last time that she was a little down, like she didn't want to stop talking to me. Like she told me once before, I'm her only way to the real world, but what about Chase's girlfriend, Emmie? I wanted to ask her if she could hang out with her, but I didn't have the chance to.

My skin crawls when I think back to what Caitlin told me. She was quite angry with me for quitting on her, and she didn't even listen to me when I tried to tell her that I just couldn't do this right now. My feelings are conflicting with each other, but Caitlin doesn't understand. Sure, she's friends with Bree, but Bree is expendable to her. Caitlin can manipulate anyone into being her friend, so she really doesn't need Bree. The only reason why she needs Bree is to get to her and her brothers bionics to reveal to the world that they are freaks. 

I shudder slightly at those thoughts. I've always disliked Caitlin, so why did I ever agree to working with her? We've been basically enemies for years, ever since we went head-to-head back in elementary school for the same role in a play. I ultimately got the part, but ever since then, she's been after me, trying to slither her way into my life. Maybe that's why I befriended Janelle, or tried to, at least. Now that I'm thinking about it, I really don't know all that much about Janelle or Reese or the other girls at school. I don't know much about anyone. Honestly, I don't know much about myself.

"You look constipated."

A small scream curls out of my lips as I glance up. Kian is standing in front of me, his hands on his hips. "Kian, what are you doing home? I thought you were out with Mom and Dad," I ask, hopping up from my spot on the couch. The TV remote falls to the ground after my movement, but Kian beats me to picking it up. He clicks the TV off, making me frown. "Seriously? I was watching that!"

Kian's lips turned downward as he crossed his arms over his chest. He looks so much like Mom right now that it's hard to look at him. My heart jumps in my chest when he says, "We need to talk."

He knows. Of course, he knows my secret. Somehow, he found out that I'm trying to sabotage and ruin people's lives. He has to know that I like Leo Dooley, that I cannot do this to him anymore. And he knows that I am so, so guilty about doing this, about hurting these people even though they've never done anything bad toward me. 

"You don't have to look so afraid. I just want to talk to you about me being home."

I let out a sigh, collapsing onto the leather couch. Kian gently sits down next to me, setting the remote behind him. His dark hair hangs in his gaunt face, and I realize that I haven't gotten a good look at my older brother since he's been home. He's much skinnier than when he left, his T-shirts hanging off of his boney shoulders. His brown eyes used to have a mischievous spark in them, but now they are dull. His hair is longer, long enough to be pulled back into a small wolf's tail. 

"What happened to you?" I whisper to him. 

Kian sighed, brushing his long hair out of his eyes. He looks so scared right now, and I have the feeling that our roles as younger and older sibling have switched. "Maggie, I don't know what's wrong with me. I just . . . I don't know what I'm doing with my life. I'm so lost that it's like there is nowhere for me to run. Every time I try to correct something wrong that's going on in my life, I end up making it worse."