Surviving Stirling

Chapter Twenty two

The air felt sombre and I wasn't exactly sure why, apprehension tightened in my stomach like a knot, preparing me for whatever bad thing went down here while I was college.

"What happened?" I came up behind Kingsley and rubbed his arm in a comforting way.

He was watching Sandy cry in the kitchen. Her two hands shoved into soapy marigolds as she scrubbed the dishes and wiped away tears on the sleeve of her brown cardigan every now and again.

"Oh nothing my love, I'm just being overly sensitive." She sniffled back at me.

"He has said something to her but she won't tell me what because she knows I'll kick him to the curb whether he has broken ribs or not."

"Leave it Kingsley, don't get involved. He's in pain right now, it's understandable that he's bound to be a little snappy." Sandy defended, trying hard to dry her tears and rein back her upset.

"Sandy that doesn't give him an excuse to disrespect you or make you feel uncomfortable in your own home. Would you like me to talk to him?" I offered.

"No, I'm fine honestly honey. I don't need him taking it out on you as well."

"He's drinking now too."

My brows drew downward, "drinking?"

"Yes Rae, he's knocking back pain meds with sips of vodka. His tongue is viciously sharp and his actions will no doubt turn violent soon too. We should just stay out of his way, if he wants to treat us all like shit then he can rot in his bedroom alone for all I care. I'm done helping him."

He stormed off and Sandy gave me a small but thankful smile. "I'm sorry love, I suppose this isn't what you imagined when you came to stay here. You don't really need this kind of tension in your life when you're having your own family grievances."

"Don't apologise for him Sandy, you've done more than enough to help me and I'll be forever grateful you offered to let me stay."

She released a shaky sigh, "go now, don't let me keep you here." She flicked water at me, playfully splashing me and I laughed. I think she wanted to cry alone and I made myself scarce granting her that privacy.

I followed Kingsley up to his bedroom where I found him pacing the floor in a rage. His blue eyes hiked up to meet mine and then he shook his head.

"Don't dare defend him to me."

"Why would I defend him?"

He stopped pacing, "because for whatever insane reason, you like him."

I blurted out a laugh at the same time I squealed,"what?!" The noise sounded inhuman, it was horrific. "I don't like him." Kingsley rolled his eyes at me. "I don't. What are you even saying?"

"Whatever Rae, let's just forget about him now."He bounced down on his bed and lay his head back with a deep sigh built up from the gut.

I forced him to scoot over and lay down next to him. We sat in a comfortable silence, just cuddling.  Eventually all of the tenseness in his body relaxed.

I lifted my head off his shoulder to look at him when I asked, "why do you think he has such a strong dislike towards Sandy?"

"I think — and I'm about to get phycological here because I've given it plenty of thought and have a fair few theories."

"Okay, shoot."

"Theory number one, it was always just me and him. We have never, ever been close - just two brothers living parallel but never actually merging together. We were given the same opportunities, lived the same life experiences and knew the same people. Kids came and went. Staff came and went. Nothing was constant. Nothing was secure. Except, him and me. Separately together."