Stepbrother

Chapter 19

I fell into my bed happily. I have waited for this moment all day.

I heard Jeremy and Neil shuffling papers and whispering softly, but that didn't keep me awake.

I fell asleep about five minutes after laying down.

-

"Hey, Lendzie..?" Neil whispered. I looked up sleepily.

"What?" I asked, angry he'd woken me up.

"Get up," he said. "Somethings going on."

"What?" I asked again, sitting up slightly.

"I don't know. Jeremy left like five minutes ago and I haven't seen him since." My eyes widened and I ran to the door. I yanked it open and ran down the stairs.

I was thankful to see Jeremy sitting on the couch, until he moved his hand, revealing a large gash in the side of his head. "What the hell?" I yelled, running up and sitting next to him.

"Your mom hit me with a butter knife," Jeremy said.

My eyes widened as I wiped blood off of his face. "Neil, go get me a washcloth from my bathroom," I said, avoiding eye contact with Neil so that I didn't stutter.

"Where are they?" he called from upstairs.

"On the right!" I called

"Which right?" he called.

"The double ones!" Jeremy yelled.

"Ohh!" he yelled, running down the stairs. I rolled my eyes and took the cloth, wiping blood from Jeremy's head.

"Where's Mom now?" I asked.

"I think she's outside," Jeremy said, wincing as I touched the cut.

"Sorry," I said, putting the bloody cloth down.

"Thanks," he sighed, leaning back on the couch.

"How do you guys live like this?" Neil asked. We shrugged.

"I dunno. We just kinda do it," Jeremy said. "We only have a couple years left anyway."

"If they don't kill us first," I said. Jeremy sighed and nodded. I stood up and took the bloody rag to the laundry room in the back of the house.

As I walked back in the living room, I saw something I wasn't really expecting.

Neil had Jeremy by the belt loops, Jeremy's hands were on the side of Neil's face. They were kissing.

My jaw fell open as I stared at them. They pulled away, looking at each other. I cleared my throat and they both jumped, looking over at me.

"It's not what you think!" Neil yelled.

"Then what is it?" I asked, eyes still wide with shock.

"Uhm.." Jeremy began. "We were just saying goodbye."

"Who says goodbye with a kiss straight on the lips?!"

"We do.." Neil whispered.

"Am I missing something here?" I asked. Jeremy sighed.

"Look, we'll talk in a sec, okay?" he said, ushering Neil to the door.

I walked upstairs, sitting down on my bed and waiting for Jeremy.

Jeremy finally came in and shut the door. "Okay look, nobody else knows this, not even Neil, but I need to get it off my chest." I nodded

"Okay.."