𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝...

Chapter 29

"Why were you sitting with Jackson?" 

Rosemary rolled her eyes as she heard Will approach from behind her. "What?" she asked, turning. 

"Why were you sitting with Jackson?" Will crossed his arms, his lips pursed. His eyes were narrowed. 

"Why not, Will? What do you have against him?" Rosemary threw up her hands. "There's nothing bad about him! He's sweet. And funny. And charming..." She paused, her eyes widening slightly at the way her stomach fluttered. 

She had felt it with James before, but now she didn't. Maybe she'd liked James in that way for a bit before it faded. But now the butterflies seemed stronger, more alive. 

Will's lips parted and he looked at her in shock, almost betrayed. "Rosemary..." he whispered. "Are you...are you falling for him?" 

Those were words that described the butterflies, and for some reason, it made Rosemary's cheeks turn pink, a soft pink of a rose that described her name. 

There was something strange in Will's eyes, and he glared at her. There was hate, betrayal, sadness, and anger—no, fury—that swirled into his sudden dislike on the situation that was unfolding in front of his eyes. 

"How could you?" he mouthed, and Rosemary struggled to read his lips. 

"What?" she asked. "Will...?" 

"No." Will scrambled backwards, turned, and fled out the door. 

"Will!" 

---

He stared out the window, tears tracing down the sides of his face. His parents weren't home, having gone out shopping together. Rosemary was upstairs, and he could hear her light giggles. Deep down within him, he knew she was talking to Jackson. 

It made him sick. Jackson was clearly manipulating her, and Rosemary decided to trust Jackson over him, her own brother. It hurt. Badly. 

He buried his face in his hands, tears mingling with his curls. He hadn't told Rosemary about Jackson beating him so that it could protect her, but Jackson had found a way to hurt her anyway, using Will's weakness as his advantage. 

Will hated Jackson. 

No, he despised Jackson Crowle.

"Don't hurt her," he pleaded to Jackson, though he couldn't hear him. "Don't hurt Rosemary." 

He wanted to protect her. 

But he still felt angry.

The anger brewed like a storm, battling his insides and reaching his heart. It was anger he felt for Rosemary. Anger and sadness, but mostly anger. 

Why doesn't she just listen for once?

Jackson was going to hurt her. He was going to make her fall in love with him, and then break her heart. 

And Rosemary wouldn't listen. And so Will would have to watch every moment of Rosemary's laughs and giggles, which would turn into heartbroken sobs. 

But he wouldn't have to, if...

If...

He took a breath, and mentally created a barrier between him and his sister. 

---

"It was stupid of me, ignoring you like that," he said. "I saw you all the time, alone. I should've tried to speak to you.

"But it's too late for that, isn't it? You wouldn't have listened. You never did. You turned your back. You walked away to your friend. You forgot about me. And so I had to forget about you." 

His shoulders shook. "I love you," he whispered. "Every calamity and argument we ever faced, you were my other half and I love you. Not loved. I still do." 

"I hope you still love me, too." 

~ Lyn 

Words: 555 

Some dangerous games are being played here, friends. Beware. 

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