My Step Brother's Obsession - Carly #2

Conflicting feelings

Evan

I watch as early storms off boy she's pissed I tried to stop her but she was on a mission and damn I was so glad I didn't stop her. I'd never seen my father shrink into himself, especially as he was a sergeant major. It took one girl: Carly Evans. And I was here to see it. Unlike when her mother took him in at camp and beat him. Carly did one better at the dining table no less. I was so proud of her. No one has ever stood up to my father like she did. I've tired but got a backhand or an uppercut. He sat stunned. He's never been shut up so quickly.

I think this was finally the wake-up call he needed. I've never had anyone stick up for me apart from my mom who got the brunt of whatever I had from the pompous prick. But this was the first time she had admitted to being bullied in front of me, I knew Alijah had something against her. But I never expected it to be this bad, so bad she self-harmed.

Had no one taken any notice of her cry for help? From what she said she only had her brother and her boyfriend, the one Elijah tried to make out cheated on her. I could still see the anger radiating off her because of that.

I needed to talk to her and tell her it was okay. I wasn't mad at her and I would deal with the repercussions later.

"May I be excused?"

"Where are you going?"

"To talk with Carly."

"Don't you think she's done enough damage?"

"No one I don't." I said sliding out of the chair. "I've lost my appetite."

Carly's mom smiled and nodded. I slipped out of the office room heading upstairs following the crying. Damn, she's crying.

I knocked on the bedroom door.

"Go away."

"It's me Carly, Ethan."

"I want to be alone Ethan."

"I'm coming in, Carly."

I pushed the door open, slipping into the darkened room closing the door behind me. "I'm coming over Carly and I'm going to sit on the bed okay?"

"Whatever."

I smiled, still, the cocky girl I had met at camp, good they hadn't taken that away from her.

I strode over carefully just in case she decided to throw something at me. She didn't

I sat on the edge of the bed. "Well the shit definitely hit the fan tonight."

She turned to look at me, her eyes are puffy and red.

"I'm so sorry Ethan I just lost it when he kept going on and on."

"It's okay Carly."

"No it's not you tried to warn me to keep quiet I didn't listen. I was just so mad that I.."

"Let it all out. I understand I wish I could you're so damn brave Carly. He has it coming to him. This is the first time he's been stuck for words."

"He'll take it out on you and it will be all my fault."

I placed my hand in hers. "None of this is your fault Carly. It's his, it's always been his and I'll deal with whatever he dishes out."

"You shouldn't have to."

"But I will, the shit is on repeat." I smiled.

"You shouldn't have to deal with the backlash."

"Neither should you." I looked at her and she seemed surprised at my admission. "How long has it been going on?"

"What?"

"You self-harming, the bullying?"

"Since I went to high school it just got worse when Alijah began. He and his minions never seem to let up that I'm different."

"Everyone is different, Carly. We don't all have to be a statistic to fit in. None of us are normal even if we think we are."

She pulled herself up damn she was beautiful. "What happened between you and Alijah?"

"I'm not sure I'm not even sure how it began. He made friends with the kids who bullied me and became one of them and it solidified from there. Never got any better, just worse. He thinks I'm a freak and a psycho because I stood up for myself. Down one moment I thought we could be friends and I was wrong. You saw what he did at camp he somehow managed to get photos back to Aiden, the guy I'm with the photos were of me with Kyler and bulldog jr. The way they'd been taken it was like I had cheated on him just like the I'd in the cabin he threw at me."

"I'm so sorry, Carly. I'll protect you."

"How can you, you're going away. You're in the army you can't protect me from wherever you are, Aiden tried he really does but it doesn't stop the bullying if anything it makes it worse."

"Were friends Carly and I don't like you hurting over a prick like him I know I was one but I didn't know you he does yet he still does it."

"I'll be glad to leave school at least I won't have to see his sorry ass."

I checked. "No you won't."

"Evan come down, we're leaving now."

I sighed pulling myself up off the bed taking my hand off hers leaning forward pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you soon Carly Evans."

"And I'll see you soon too, Evan Holoingway."

I pulled her into a hug. I'm going to miss this fire cracker. She's taught me so much in very little time. I hope we meet up again someday once I'm back to the rank I am supposed to be or better. "I'll see you soon."

"Count on it."

I pull out of the hug and smile before I leave her room, closing the door behind me, time to face the asholle that dares call himself my father.

I thank Carly's mother for having me out of politeness if nothing else.

She smiles and apologises for the way Carly acted but she acted out of instinct and my father is a grade a fucking liar and she saw straight through his facade.

She closed the door behind us and we got into the car. He pulls away waving to Carly's mother. We sat in an awkward silence until we turned off their street when his back hand lashed across my face cutting my lip. "You're unbelievable, you really are. How dare you tell a complete stranger she's my friend."

He scoffs. "FRIEND! FRIEND? You have no friends apart from your little possey who are nothing but fucking followers. And how the hell can you call a girl your fucking friend when you ripped the poor girl to shreds because I'm in love her mother and not yours."

"We got over that and thanks for reminding me that you don't give a shit about me and my mother, leave her already cause you'll never be happy with us we both disappoint you."

"I'll leave when I'm good and ready. I do everything for you and this is how you fucking thank me, your own fucking father father you should show me some fucking respect."

My turn to scoff. "I'll never show you any respect, old man, 'cause I have none for you. You've never showed or treated me with any respect so who the fuck should I?"

"You've spent too much time with hooligans that you've forgotten who to respect. You'll have to prove so much to earn your respect now boy. The Sergeant Major won't stand for your bullshit attitude."

"Respect is earned not given, isn't that what you taught me daddy dearest?"

He glared at me again, his fists turning white at the wheel.

Damn I have so many conflicts with the feelings shit deep inside of me. Maybe the time away will give me time to sort them out and sort my shot out and become a better man. One everyone will look up to.