Delgado

Chapter 15

A/N - I'm back, I'm back 🌟

~~~

Caleb

Sweat poured from what felt like every inch of my body as I jabbed the punchbag repeatedly, taking out all of my frustrations on the dangling piece of gym equipment in front of me.

My chest was heaving up and down, my pulse racing to an unsteady beat as I pictured my brother's face on the punchbag.

Fucking Scott.

Not only had the dick punched me and probably broken my nose, he'd taken our sister and made every memory of our mother doing the same thing resurface- he was just fucking like her and I hated him for it.

I hadn't had a nightmare in at least three years but I'd be fucking lying if I said that last night wasn't one of the most traumatising nights of my life. I'd woken up three times sweating, panting, with the sounds of my sister's screams tormenting me as she pleaded for me to help her and not let her go anywhere.

So by the time got to 4am I was wide awake with no intention of going back to sleep whatsoever; and as soon as the sun had risen I'd called Theo. We'd been at my gym all day trying to 'take my mind off of things' - but it was only making me more and more angry.

"Can you chill the fuck out?", Theo grabbed my shoulder and hauled me back, he was nowhere near as sweaty as I was; his grey tank top was still a lighter shade while mine was nearly black, "you're stressing- stressing me out- me out". I paused, pushing my damp hair out of my face and glaring at him.

"I'm stressing you out?", I frowned, "well piss off then".

"You don't get to do- to do- to do that", he shook his head, "don't push me away". I closed my eyes and sighed, the guy was right- he usually was- I was usually the one telling him not to push me away and here I was, doing exactly the same thing.

"I'm sorry", I pressed my fingers against my temple and huffed, "today's a fucking mess".

"Don't apologise", he rolled his eyes, "talk to- to me". I was apprehensive for a moment, then I remembered this was fucking Theo, the guy who had been by my side since we were six and hadn't left since; I lowered myself onto a nearby bench and began to unwrap my hands as he joined me to my right.

"I had a shit night last night", I kept my gaze fixed on my hands, "really fucking shit". He stayed quiet for a moment, I didn't know if he was trying to think of what to say or if he was stuck on a word, I just waited either way.

"What happened?", he asked, "your nightmares uh, came- came back?". Fucking psychic.

"Yeah", I confirmed, "I went back to sleep three times and they just got fucking worse- this is all fucking Scott's fault".

"Shit", he breathed out, "you really should get that nose checked out, by the- by the way". Not in a million years.

"I'm not setting foot into another hospital unless it's a matter of life and death", I declined, "my nose is fine".

"My mum can look at it", he offered, "she's home". Delilah worked at the local hospital; I couldn't remember what she did exactly but growing up she'd been the one to bandage me up and clean my cuts after a fight.

"Later", I gave in, "let's get food". A smile appeared on his face and he stood, extending a hand to me and hauling me to my feet.

"She'll be- be home before you know it", he told me seriously, "and until then, you know- you know you can come to me day or- or- or". He stopped, snapping his mouth shut and running a hand through his hair frustratedly; I only spoke up when it appeared he wasn't gonna try again.