Family is Complicated

Chapter 6

As Carina drove, quick glances at the streets she passed, it was so similar yet so different to how she had remembered it. Had it really been that long? Maybe it was because Carina was used to this as a child, not seeing her brother but the silence between them for so long hadn't felt different or awkward. Instead, normal as if that was her normal life, which a lot of people including herself may agree.

The phone call prior still played over and over in her head, what if he was right? What if her staying would ruin Andrea's life? What if she really couldn't be loved, no one could love her?

Her own father didn't love her, and her mother might as well not. If the two people whose genes and blood she shared couldn't love her then what made her think someone like Maya could?

Her thoughts shadowed her mind, attempting to shake them off as she spotted his house. She could feel her breathing her faster yet somehow she couldn't possibly catch a single breath, struggling to breathe she closed her eyes, remembering what she had told Maya that one time they had been on vacation. Carina was always so good at that; telling others what to do, thinking of solutions to other people's problems but when it had concerned her, it was impossible for her. Maybe that was her weakness among other things, always giving and helping even to those who didn't deserve her selflessness.

As her breath caught up to her, finally returning back to its normal state, she steadily got out of her car, locking it as she walked to the front door. This whole time, since Andrea had asked her to come to his house for dinner, she wondered weather he asked out of obligation or weather he actually cared about his sister. Well whatever reason, it didn't matter now, she was here and about to have dinner with her brother whom she hadn't had a proper conversation in months.

As she knocked she felt the hairs on her arm prick up, her nerves take control.

A: hey

Carina had heard him, but for whatever reason she couldn't understand him, she had been on autopilot all the way here, her thoughts taking control, she felt the world around her spinning, or maybe it was her head that was spinning, either way she didn't have the ability to stand still, as she tried to find her balance she ultimately failed, and she went down.

She had expected to hit the cold, concrete ground below her, but instead, warm hands held her up, as they carried her inside and into a bed.

Carina? Carina?

The voice brought her back into reality, fluttering her eyes open she glanced around the room, one photo had pulled her attention towards it.

Andrea looked around 14 in that photo, but to her knowledge he could have been older or younger, since the last time she saw her brother as a child was at 3. Next to him was a woman, their mother. Carina focussed on her mother, she looked so different yet the exact same. Her looks were the same but there was something that was different about her, Carina couldn't quite place her finger on what that was. Her mother was smiling, Carina couldn't remember the last time her mother had smiled. When her and Andrea were living in Italy with Carina and her father, her mother was constantly crying or yelling in frustration at her husband. Maybe that was what was different, her mother was happy in that photo and possibly everyday she spent living in The States away from her husband and daughter. A wave of sadness resurfaced knowing that fact, however conscious of Andrea being in the room she stopped herself from the tears of falling out.

Hey, you're awake

C: Andrea?

A: yea it's me

Carina slowly got up, sitting up in bed, with Andrea giving her a glass of water, as she chuckled asking her what had happened. How could Carina explain it if she had no idea either? She never fainted, especially not because she felt overwhelmed.

Carina managed to mutter out a quiet "nothing" as she took a small sip of the water.

A: you still want dinner or nah?
C: don't be crazy, of course
A: ok good, because I spent hours cooking

As Carina rolled her eyes at her brother, she felt a sense of serenity, a familiar feeling she only had with Maya. She felt peace, nothing more, a calming effect. She smiled to herself, Carina didn't know what love was, she hadn't grown up with it to know however, if someone were to ask her what love she was would say it was this, someone who when around them, no matter what was happening, you felt a sense of serenity, a sense of peace and calm.

A: ok well, I've already set the table, so let's eat and maybe we can talk properly?

The moment Carina had dreaded, she knew Andrea would mention their parents, her father and after that phone call, the moment she'd have to mention his name aloud she knew she would cry. Reluctantly Carina agreed.

A: so

Both awkwardly shuffled in their seats, not knowing exactly what to say to each other

C: this tastes amazing, Andrea

A: grazie...Carina

C: hm?

A: I know I already said this but I'm sorry, I really am

C: Andrea it's ok, really, I wasn't even angry at you, honestly I was angrier at papa than you

A: papa? Why?

C: it's his genes, it ruined his life and then passed it down to you

A: Carina...the bipolar didn't ruin his life, he did, he was too stubborn to get help no matter how hard everyone...you tried, that's on him not you. But the difference between me and him, I got help because of amazing people who love me like you.

C: he called me before

A: who papa?

C: yeah, told me to come back to Italy

A: well...will you?

C: I don't know, Italy doesn't feel life home, it hasn't since I was eight

A: why eight?

C: because the one good thing about Italy left Italy and moved to The States.

A: I'm sorry

C: no, it isn't your fault, I'm the one who told mama to take you, besides it's good. At least papa never made me quit dancing, no matter how much he hated it

A: you danced?

C: seriously?

A: I'm sorry

C: stop apologising Andrea, it's annoying

As the Deluca siblings ate their dinner, talking and teasing each other, they both could sense the awkwardness leaving the room, and it felt life old times once again.

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Notes

I'm sorry for taking so long to upload a new chapter, I had no motivation to write lmao 

Hope y'all like it

- Ashita