The Green-Eyed Peasant

Chapter Sixteen: Brother Where Has Thy Been?

My brother had returned from his two year trip to England. I yellled and jumped into his arms, wraping my legs like a vice around his waist and almost strangling him with my arms.

He chuckled and patted my back.

"Hello love." He grinned. I stared at his face. He had an accent!

"Man, I'm glad your back!" My grin was so huge I couuld have swallowed New York City.

"I should think so. It's be far too long." I smacked him playfully on the shoulder. There are certain parts of my that show only in the presence of certain people. My brother brought out the kid in me, which is very rare for me.

"Stop sounding so proper, it doesn't suit you."

He set me down and nodded at Mayhem. I ignored their chatter and gave Mayhem one last squeeze on the hand before letting him go.

My brother and I looked exactly opposite in everyway, except our eyes. He has the build of a young man who has seen much but not enough. Short thick blond hair that curls around his ears and shokingly bright green eyes. He has stubble now, a light brush acrose his chin and jaw. The day had become cloudy and cold wind pushed us inside the house.

"So how long are you staying?"

He shrugged.

"I'm done with collage and I plan on getting a job and staying here awhile." He glanced at my face again.

"What's happening, Ari?"

"Dad's back." I whispered and snuggled into his chest.

"What!" His calm, quiet voice now became harsh and angry. "How did he get past mom?"

"She's under his spell, Dillan. You should see her. She basically fawns over that monster."

"After all he put us through she allows him back into this family?!"

"I don't know why. He just turned up one day and nothing has changed except he's gotten worse."

"I won't let him touch us again. We're not little children anymore, I'm a grown man." I nodded and wrinkled my nose at him. So apparently flying without taking a shower makes you smell bad.

"I do need a wash." He said glancing down at his shirt.

"Yeah, you stink." I said pinching my nose. And the moment passed and we tried to forget it.

"Yeah you would to if your flight got cancled twice and you had to wait twelve hours. I was planning to wash when I got home but you showed up and were practically crushing that poor boy. I didnt want to ruin the moment. I was hopping I'd get to see your first kiss but nooo you guys had to be mature!"

I laughed.

"Sorry, but you missed it. I've already had my first kiss!"

His eyes popped in mock indignation.

"You little skank! When? With who? How did it happen? DETAILS! DETAILS!"

I rolled my eyes.

"You sound just like mom when she found out."

"You didn't bother to call your favorite older brother at any point!"

"Technically you can't be my favorite since you're my only brother. I can't choose when I only have one option."

"That is besides the point!"

For the next half hour we talked. He told me about a boy he had met, who worked at the icecream shop downtown. I forced him to tell me what he looked like.

"Tall, skinny. He's shorter than me though. Brown hair and pale blue eyes."I loved my brother no matter what and I didn't care if was gay. He could marry an octopus and I'd be fine with it. He hadn't told anyboy but me. I wouldn't tell anybody if that's what he wanted, it was his life.

I told him about Mayhem. Sade's crush on a bisexual boy but thought he wouldn't ever like her. Riley was as boring as ever, no drama, no new crushes or old boyfriends.

When the car pulled into the driveway, I felt both our bodies tense with anxiety and fear. Mostly me since Dillan wasn't afraid of anybody anymore. A brave but maybe not the most brillant quality of his.

Mom basically did what I did and jumped him. Dad just stood there shocked and angry. I quirked my head in his direction, nervous. What was he thinking?

"Hey mom! Oh Dad, you're back." He said with a little bit of irritation.

Dad just nodded and stormed off to the bedroom.

A lot later that night I crept downstairs to get a glass of water and I heard them arguing.

"As long as he lives hear without a paying job he's dead weight."

"Robbert, give him a chance! I'm giving you one."

"And Ari, she seems to be out of the house a lot."

"Well, she's having trouble agusting. You have to let her warm up to you."

I croutched on the steps and cried. I loved my mom, truely I did. But she was an idiot. She was just too stupid. How could she have trusted this man! Didn't she remember? All the pain he had put us through! How stupid could she be to trust this man.

Dillan came downstairs, thirsty too. He heard their talk and came to sit with me.

"No matter what, Ari." He whispered, "I won't let him hurt you. You're not alone." How odd and how funny it was. Mayhem had sad almost the exact samething...just with a lot more words. I felt for once like I was truely safe. Like maybe god had said I had been put through enough. Maybe I could be brave and shove back.