The Secrets That Free Us

Chapter 27

Hunter and I arrive back at my house both feeling a lot lighter.

A part of me hates the fact that Hunter did what he did. That he went behind my back and acted in such a hateful way.

The other part of me, the part that has hurt for years. She's glad. She hopes that Peter was made to answer partly for his sins.

I'm still not sure if I'm pissed at Cole or not but I guess what he was just doing what he thought was best for me at the time. I haven't exactly made his life easy for him.

The party's still in full swing when we make our way through the backyard. My Mom and Eva are in the middle of the garden participating in a typical Mom dance while Parker and Mia are doing karaoke to Love the way you lie, Chloe's in hysterics videoing them and Nate is watching on in utter horror.

As much as Mia might think she's RhiRhi after a few drinks, and judging by the slur in her voice as she belts out lyrics, she's wayyy surpassed that point, and Parker thinks he can rap like Eminem, the whole thing is making my ears bleed.

"What's all that about?" Hunter's voice drags my gaze from the class act in front of me to the top end of the garden where Cole and Joey seem to be having a heated discussion.

"I have no idea but I'm about to find out." I tell Hunter as I take long strides along the garden to reach them.

The scene before me baffles me, Cole looks deflated where as Joey is red in the face furious.

"..don't fucking pretend you don't." I hear the end of Joey's sentence as I reach them with Hunter hot on my tail.

"You don't know what you're talking about." Cole argues back, no emotion in his voice.

"What the hell is going on?" I demand.

Joey's face twists as he turns to face me, "Here she is, the princess herself." He slurs his sarcastic words, clearly drunk.

"Leave it Joe." Cole warns, suddenly alert.

"Look I don't know what's gotten into you two.." I begin before Joey cuts me off.

"No. You wouldn't know would you. Because as per usual your not paying attention to what's going on around you. The world doesn't revolve around you yano Grace."

Joey's words hurt me. He's never been mean to me. I mean sure, when we were kids he was a typical big brother who played pranks on me, but never mean.

He took a swig from his bottle and I noticed his glazed over eyes, "You know what you are Grace? You're selfish. You don't give a shit about anyone else."

I recoil from the heat radiating from his anger.

"Right Joey, you're clearly pissed but don't fucking talk to her like that." Hunter steps in front of me and goes to take Joey's bottle of beer from him.

Joey pulls his arm away from Hunter's grasp and laughs mockingly at him, "What are you supposed to be? Her knight in shining armour? Give me a break you've been gone for two years."

Brooke must have heard the commotion because she comes to join us, "Joey, now isn't the time or the place baby. This is Parker and Chloe's night. Come on." She slowly takes the bottle from his hand and he looks at her. The first time since this whole fucked up scenario began that he's actually displayed another emotion other than anger.

He looks me in the eyes, hurt shining in them and shakes his head before letting Brooke guide him back into the house, likely to his old bedroom.

Cole and Hunter both try to comfort me but I decide that this whole thing, whatever it is, with Joey has gone on long enough.

"I need to talk to him." I tell them.

"You want me to come?" Hunter asks me brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I give him a smile, "No, I should do this alone. Thanks though."

I make my way up the stairs and along the corridor to a room that hasn't been occupied since Joey went to college.

I knock on the door and Brooke opens it slightly, giving me a small smile. Through the gap in the open door I can see Joey sitting on the end of his bed, his shoulders shaking. Is he crying?

Brooke looks between us for a moment before placing her hand on my shoulder, "I'm gonna get him some water and aspirin. Go talk to him."

I walk into the room and close the door behind me. I sit beside Joey on his bed and take a deep breath.

"I'm sorry I ruined Cody's christening." I tell him.

"What?"

"I know you're upset with me because of the christening and I want you to know I'm sorry."

He looks up at me with red rimmed eyes in disbelief, "You think I'm upset about a goddamn christening?"

"Well..yeah"

He sweeps his hand across his bedside table, "It's not about the fucking christening Grace, I couldn't give a shit about that part." He yells.

"Do you understand that you almost died? Like, does that register in your brain or what because I'm struggling to deal with it and you seem blissfully unaware it even happened." He's still yelling but is slightly calmer.

"That was the plan." I mutter, more to myself but when his face morphs into one of fury I try to calm him down.

"I know, okay? I was in a really dark place and I couldn't cope anymore. I wanted it all to stop. I wanted the endless cycle of the pain and the nothingness to stop." A tear slides down his cheek and that's all it takes for me to start welling up too.

"I'm sorry I've been such an ass, I guess I haven't dealt with this very well and I've took my anger out on you. I just don't understand why? And I know Cole knows something. And I know Hunter does too. Why would you think that was your only way out? When I think about how much you were hurting. How alone you must have felt." His voice cracks. "It breaks my heart Grace."

I wrap my arms around him and bury my face into the crook of his neck as we both sob and take turns apologising.

"I know we haven't always been as close as you and Cole or whatever but you're still my baby sis yano, Cody would have never knew you."

"I'm sorry." I repeat. "I promise to plan my breakdowns better in future." I joke, trying to lighten the mood.

Joey places a hand over mine, his eyes burning through mine to display his sincerity, "I don't know what's going on with you, but I am always here for you." He places a soft kiss on my forehead.

It's funny, all this time I've felt so alone. It's a shame it took me almost dying for me to see I wasn't.