Take My Soul

Chapter 1- Sophomore Year

"Leslie!" my mother shouted like any other day. "Your dad’s waiting for you; get your ass down here or you’re walking to school!"

Rushing down the stairs, my heart pounding with each passing second, I muttered under my breath, "Hold on, Mom!" It was the first day of my sophomore year in high school, and I was determined to look my best, especially to get under the skin of my brother, Noah. Our relationship was strained, and we barely acknowledged each other's presence at home. I couldn't fathom why he disliked me so much, but even so, I still loved him and looked up to him.

I couldn't shake the feeling of being ignored. I tried to talk to my parents about it, hoping they would understand, but their responses were always the same: "Don't worry, he loves you. He just needs his space" or "He's not good at expressing his emotions, but he cares for you." But I couldn't help but feel like something was off. I knew there was more to it than what they were telling me.

"Good morning, Mom! Morning, Dad!" I leaned in and kissed them on the cheek. "Morning, Noah!" I grinned at him, hoping to ease the tension, but he responded with a dismissive eyeroll. I suppose that's what I get for trying to be kind. He was dressed casually in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, his blonde hair falling slightly over his forehead while his piercing green eyes glinted with annoyance. Despite our one-year age gap, we shared a striking resemblance, from our blonde locks inherited from our mother to our emerald eyes passed down from our father.

I finished the last piece of my favorite breakfast—scrambled eggs—and called out to my mom, who was busy in the kitchen, "Bye Mom! I love you!" I quickly gathered my school supplies and made my way to the front door. As I stepped outside, the fresh air hit me, and I felt invigorated. I hurried towards our car, where my father was already seated in the driver's seat, ready to take us to school. I settled into the passenger seat beside him, and we started talking about my plans after high school. My father was full of valuable advice, and we discussed various options and possibilities. However, when my younger brother Noah was asked a few questions by my father, he replied with one-worded answers, seeming uninterested in the conversation. It was frustrating to see him act so indifferent towards our father's advice. I rolled my eyes at him. He's always so selfish and not interested in anything that does not involve him. As we finally arrived at our school and my dad parked in the parking lot, we all got up from the car, ready to start another day.

I hugged my father tightly and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Bye, Dad! I got this," I said with a confident grin. He looked at me with pride and said, "Of course you do, honey. Noah, come here for a second," and I knew he had faith in me. As I walked away, I felt a surge of determination and confidence. 

"Dad, what's up?" He leaned in to listen closely as his father whispered in his ear. "Alright, got it. No need to worry, Dad," he assured him with a confident smile.

"Noah, listen up! If you don't do what I told you, you're going to be grounded for life, son! So, let's not mess around and get this done, okay?"

"Okay, bye. Come on, Leslie, let's get you to your class," he dragged me to the school building. 

"What do you have now?" he asked.

"Uhh... history, class C13, by... mister... uhh..." I really couldn't read his name on the schedule table. 

"Mister Scardelton, he's the shittiest teacher," he answered in an annoyed tone.

"I hate history!" I let out a frustrated groan.

"Leslie, seriously, you shouldn't interrupt Mr. Scardelton with your pointless questions. It's not going to be that difficult to show some basic respect and professionalism. Get your act together in class and do not waste everyone's time," he said with an annoyed and impatient gaze.

"I'm not annoying, okay? And I'd like to know—what's your reason for helping me?" I said it assertively, meeting his gaze. He gave a nonchalant shrug in response and continued striding forward.

As I got to my classroom, a huge smile spread across my face. I turned to Noah and said, "Thanks, I love you!"

"Wait. About your previous question, I offered you help 'cause Dad asked me to help you. And just so you know, I don't need a reason to help someone. And by the way, you're just a random person living with me, so let's keep it professional, alright? I'm outta here, bye." He walked away to his class while I tried to hold back my tears and bit my lip to avoid crying. 

Since the day I was born, my brother and I have been inseparable. We grew up side-by-side and shared everything—our toys, our snacks, and even our secrets. But as we've gotten older, I've started to notice a shift in our relationship. It's like he's become more distant, and no matter how much I try to bridge the gap, I can't seem to get through to him. I've tried everything I can think of to make him see me as his sister and not just his childhood playmate, but nothing seems to be working. It's like our bond is slipping away, and I don't know what to do to save it.