Beyond the Cameras

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I managed to get home without shedding another tear.

I made a beeline for my room once we made it, but was stopped by Aunt Carol.

She saw my distressed face and immediately questioned it.

"Sweetheart, are you okay? Did something happen at school?"

I tried to quickly respond before the real heartache set in, but I wasn't quick enough as the tears started rolling down my face.

"I had a really bad day at school and I just want some time alone if you don't mind," I told her trying to look everywhere, but her face. I hated crying in front of people and especially hated seeing their pity for me.

"Okay sweetie. Just let me know if you want to talk. I'll be here," she responded with a small smile.

I thanked her with a nod and fled to the security of my bedroom.

****

I don't know how long I cried for, but, thankfully, Cal only tried to talk to me once. He soon took the hint that I didn't want to speak and stopped knocking on my door.

I'd been trying to think of every possible reason Noland would have for giving my family secret to the press. Sure, I said the reason was because he wanted more popularity and he knew this would make him known, but not everything was adding up.

Finally, I decided to stop crying and to start thinking because I was really starting to get a bad headache.

Maybe I should take up Aunt Carol's offer and talk to her. Talking to my parents is completely out of the question since that would just end in me yelling at them for not telling me about Cal.

Even though my aunt knew, it wasn't her secret to tell and so I'm not mad at her like I am my parents.

I decided to get off of my bed and poke my head out of my door.

"Aunt Carol," I called with a hoarse voice.

I waited until I heard the soft padding of feet against the floor to say, "I'm ready to talk now."

After what felt like hours later (even though I know it was only a few minutes), I had spilled my guts about what had happened and probably freaked my aunt out with my erratic crying. In the end, I was left with a pounding headache and an aching heart. Like off of Frozen, the head I could fix, but the heart was not so easy. In this case, I only had one guy and he was the one that betrayed me.

Where was my Christoff when I needed him? Or better yet, my Elsa?

"Knock, knock."

There she was.

"Is it safe for me to enter," Cal joked, with a small smile. I could tell he was hesitant and probably a little scared about seeing me so I waved him over to where we were sitting on the bed.

"How are feeling?"

When I gave him a look that said how do you think, he humorlessly laughed and rubbed his neck.

"Stupid question. Sorry. I just..don't know what to say," he trailed off and I could tell he was feeling uncomfortable.

"You could start by giving me a hug," I said, with open arms.

He smiled and enveloped me in his large frame.

"For the record," I whispered in his ear, "I'm really glad you're my brother."