Misconception

23: Back to School

Clementine's POV

After reading Chris' note, I finally reply to the countless texts Vinny has left me wondering where I am. I only text back so he doesn't rat on me to our parents. I just tell him I'm fine and that I'll be back home tonight.

I want to talk to Chris in person about his note before I leave, so I just wait for him to get back from work.

I must've dozed off again, because I'm woken up by Chris gently shaking me. 

"Are you alright?"

He asks, as I sit up, rubbing my eyes. I nod sleepily. 

"I wanted to talk to you about your note before I left."

"What about it?"

He asks as he sits beside me.

"I forgive you, and I wanted to thank you for being honest with me, and for keeping my secret."

I say, looking into his eyes. I lean in to hug him, which must catch him off guard because he stiffens, but then he relaxes and hugs me back.

"That's good to hear."

He replies as he rubs my back. We break apart from our hug and he asks,

"Would you like to stay for dinner? I can take you home after."

I nod and ask with a smile,

"What're we having?"

Turns out Chris makes an absolutely delicious fettucine alfredo and I'm completely stuffed when he drops me off at home that night.

My parents eventually return from their trip and I talk to them about going back to school in person and they're all for it, Vinny on the other hand, not so much. My parents and I are sitting at the dining table, and Vinny's in the fridge, and when he hears them agree with me, he slams the fridge door and storms out of the kitchen. My parents exchange confused glances before looking at me,

"What's gotten into him?"

My dad asks. I just shrug and ask them how their trip was, and my mom shows me pictures from it on her phone.

Later that night, I finally muster up the courage to talk to Vinny. I'm sick of tiptoeing around my own house and I'm annoyed at how snippy he's been lately. I knock on his bedroom door and it swings open.

"What?"

He asks, annoyed, taking a seat on his bed. I finally snap. I storm into his bedroom, slamming the door behind me.

"What's your problem?!"

I practically shout, standing in front of him, poking a finger into his chest.

"You are."

He says, grabbing my wrist and looking up at me before continuing,

"You're kissing all my friends like you have to collect them all. Who's next? I don't think you've shoved your tongue down Ryan's throat yet."

I yank my hand away from him.

"What are you, jealous? Last I checked you were doing Delilah in every corner of this house!"

I yell. He stands from the bed as he says,

"What if I am?"

I take a step back from him before I say angrily,

"You shouldn't. You're my brother."

He steps towards me and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear as he practically whispers,

"Me being your step brother has never stopped you before."

He looks me in the eyes and then searches my face.

"That was before I knew you had brainwashed me..."

I say as quietly as him. I look down at my feet, but he places his index finger under my chin and forces my eyes to his.

"I love you, Clemmie."

I feel unwanted tears well up in my eyes before I say,

"If you love me, then quit sheltering me and let me live my life, Vinny."

"I was only trying to protect you..."

He whispers. I wipe my eyes with the backs of my hands before I say,

"I can fight my own battles."

I turn and leave his room before he can say anything else.

The next day is spent filling out paperwork so I can go back to school, and dropping it off and picking up my uniform. The day after that is when I'm finally able to go back.

I'm getting ready in my room when I hear a knock on the door.

"Come in!"

I say. Vinny pops his head in.

"Mom and Dad asked if I could drop you off today."

He says, looking at my uniform.

The ride to school is awkward as Vinny tried to make small talk that I kept shooting down. I practically sprint out of the car as he pulls up in front of school. When I get inside I immediately bump into someone and both of our papers and books that we're holding scatter everywhere.

"I'm so sorry!"

I say, bending to start gathering the papers.

"It's okay."

I hear a familiar voice chuckle. I look up to see Ryan crouched in front of me also gathering papers. He's wearing my school's uniform.

"I didn't know you go here."

I say. His eyes flicker up to me and then back down to gathering papers.

"Today's my first day actually. I just got transferred."

He replies. Once we're done collecting all our papers we stand up. 

"I think these are yours."

I say, handing him some of his papers that got mixed with mine. He takes them from me.

"Thanks, you wouldn't happen to be heading to Mr. Cloud's class first, would you? I have no idea where anything is."

He says. We start walking down the hall as I say,

"I am, actually. Follow me."

Luckily for Ryan we share a lot of the same classes so he doesn't get lost trying to find them. When lunch period rolls around we sit together.

After lunch as we're walking to our next class, somebody walking by knocks my books out of my arms. It doesn't really phase me because stuff like this always used to happen to me, so I just crouch and start gathering my stuff. Ryan on the other hand turns and grabs whoever did it by the back of their shirt collar and pulls them back. Still holding the boy's shirt collar he calmly says,

"Clementine, stand up. This gentleman's gonna pick up your stuff for you."

I stand up and Ryan shoves the boy onto his knees. The boy quickly picks up all my books and hands them to me, before turning and hurrying down the hall. Ryan and I continue walking to class as I say,

"Thanks..."

I don't think people picking on me at school is going to be a problem anymore.