My Brother.

Chapter 6. Wednesday.

When I wake up today, I wake up to the sound of my alarm buzzing and Eli must've left my room when I was asleep,thankfully. Getting dressed I had already planned to wear one of my favourite dresses but after last night I feel shame and want to hide in baggy clothes so I throw on a white oversized hoodie and some pink cargo pants. I go to do my makeup but feeling flat and low I can't be asked,I barely have the energy to brush my hair so I throw it into a messy bun and then head downstairs to throw on my shoes and get my bag. I think about having breakfast but remember what mum said yesterday and decide I can do without, I pop into the kitchen and see mum there alone,I say bye and then leave for school managing to avoid anyone else.
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I just want to hide away from the world today, but I can't,I have to get through this lunchtime,the last lessons of the day and then the afterschool musical rehearsal. I've met up with Clara and Ryan we go to the cafeteria to find somewhere to sit and I see Eli with some of his bro-ish mates,he sees me and starts to lurk over, I quickly turn to Clara and Ryan asking if we can go sit outside they look at me confused before agreeing and we rush out managing to avoid Eli.

Me,Clara and Ryan sit on a patch of grass outside the school building, "Hey so I'm fine with sitting outside but I do need to go in the cafeteria and buy some food,I'll grab something then come meet you guys out here,okay?" Ryan stands waiting for an okay from us "okay"Clara nods "see you in a minute" I smile at Ryan. Clara gives me a questioning look as she asks "so why are we sitting outside? You seemed a little frightened in there,are we avoiding someone?" She is so quick to pick up when anything is wrong, claras mum died of cancer a few years ago and she's spoken to me about how her mum would always try and hide how much pain she was in and what she could and couldn't do when she was weak, and Clara must've picked up on it, because she's become really vigilante at reading people's facial expressions and body language since. "It's nothing, I just, wanted to sit outside today...its a pretty day,isn't it?" I try to deflect so I don't have to go over what happened last night,I feel embarrassed even though I know Eli should be the one feeling embarrassment. I shouldn't have woke him and tried to get him to leave, I should've just left as soon as I woke up, I should've struggled harder to get out of his grip maybe then I would've got out. "Ellie I know it's not nothing, you looked frightened in there,and no offence but your hair's messy,your not looking your usual self,what's going on?" Clara reaches out to me and rubs my shoulder, I twitch at the sudden touch not expecting it as it flashes my brain back to Eli grabbing me. "I wanted to avoid my brother" Clara looks confused for a second and then nods "oh yeah,he is a bit much, like when he accused me of shoving him,and didn't want you to have a sleepover,I understand" she smiles and then takes her lunch out of her bag and starts nibbling on a muffin. Ryan comes out of the school building with a sandwich wrapped in plastic packaging in his hands as he plonks next to me on the grass and asks what's up and as Clara starts to speak I hear my phone ping, I reach into my pocket and read the new messages that have just came in,

Eli: Hey I just saw u. u took off fast are u avoiding me?

Eli: u didn't look well,not your usual self, r u ok?

I roll my eyes at him pestering me and go to respond with a I'm fine but instead have a brain wave as I text back,

Ellie: I don't feel well, give me some space so I don't get you sick too.

I smile at the clever reply, if Eli thinks I'm sick and it could be contagious then hopefully he'll give me some space and not be so invasive in my privacy. Clara notices me grinning as I put my phone away "ooh a text from Jessie is it?" Since I told Clara and Ryan about joining the musical and meeting the new student Jessie they have it in their heads that I may have a slight crush on him, "it's not Jessie,it's no one important trust me" I tell Clara.

We've been sitting out for a while and lunchtime is nearly over, Ryan has already finished his lunch and just as Clara goes to take her last bite she notices I haven't eaten anything yet, "Ellie,are you not hungry?", I shake my head, I was supposed to buy lunch from the cafeteria today but because I diverted us away from Eli I missed the chance to,and besides I'm still thinking about what mum said yesterday during dinner,and then there's that letter she got Eli to give me,the one that said about having my bmi,weight and height measured. Even if I'm hungry clearly mum thinks I could do without a meal or two,maybe she's right.
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When I arrive at the afterschool musical practice I'm 10 minutes late,today I've been slugging my way through the whole day after being so uncomfortable last night that I could barely get any sleep. By the time I enter the hall people are already auditioning and I notice Jessie coming down from the stage with a big smile on his face he looks my way and walks over with a surpised expression "Hey, Jessie did you audition yet?" He nods and points up and down to the outfit "were you in a rush this morning? You look..."
"Messy? Yeah, I just don't have the energy to make an effort with my look today" I laugh awkwardly tugging at a strand of hair hanging from my messy bun. I notice the teacher gesturing me towards her, god I don't want to audition today,I barely want to be here but I don't want to be at home even more.
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When I get home I'm greeted with the sound of yelling,mum and dad are arguing again. Aggressive shouting echoes from the kitchen. I put my bag on the hanger in the hall and turn around to Eli in my face. I shudder at the scare "god don't sneak up on me like that,what are they arguing about?" I gesture to the kitchen where the loud shouting is coming from. "I didn't sneak up on you" he grins stepping closer to me,his aftershaves so strong it burns my nose "they're arguing because mum wants us to do a marathon and dad doesn't want to take part because of work commitments and being tired or something" he rambles off. Ugh not a marathon
"do we all have to do the marathon?" I moan, Eli nods "yeah sorry Ellie, but hey" he grabs my shoulder and smiles widely "atleast we can do our training together" I push his hand off me and run upstairs slamming my door and searching my room for the heaviest object in my room. I heave a heavy chest full of shoes from the corner of my room to the door incase Eli tries to get in.
I can still hear my parents yelling at each other, I sit on my bed and breathe a deep sigh. Looks like I've got to start training for a marathon.