My Brother.

Chapter 23: The first day back.

I wake up, my head in a hazy daze of anxiety as I begrudgingly get myself ready for school.

"How are you feeling? If you start to have a panic attack again just ring me and I'll come and get you-"
"Dad! I'm fine,honestly" I try to give my dad a comforting smile as I uunbuckle my seat belt in the car.
"Do you want me to walk you in?" He lowers his head and smiles at me in a reassuring yet nervous way, I shake my head,I'm anxious as hell but if my dad walks me up to the school gates im gonna have more eyes on me and feel embarrassed.
"It should be fine dad,but if I have a panic attack I will call you to pick me up" I nod and grit my teeth anxiously as I push the car door open and step out with my bag.
I walk up to the gates and wave bye to my dad but his smile and wave stops suddenly at the sight of something,or rather someone, infront of me.

"What are you doing here!?" I stutter  anxiously and shout furiously as I cross my arms over my torso trying to hide myself from my abuser infront of me. Eli turns his body towards me and locks his eyes onto me as he looks me up and down "YOU might be slacking off,hiding away because of...your lies,but mum actually wants me to go to school you know" his face makes a snarky look and then a concerned one as he takes in my even thinner figure, he shouts but twists his body around as though he doesn't want others to hear.
As he takes a step towards me I step back and hold my breath nervously trying to stop my heart from racing,he looks mad,he looks...like he hasn't slept for days. "You know-" I look around me in case anyone is listening in before quietly whispering "they're not lies".
Eli rubs his forehead and let's out a scoff and then goes to shout but before he can an arm grabs his, my dad must've seen Eli,got out the car and marched over. "Get away from her!" He pulls Eli from my face and I watch Eli try to squirm his arm out of dads grip. "Get off! She came up talking to me!" Eli shouts so loudly that I notice some students stop,stare and whisper, I lower my head embarrassed. "YOU stay away from her.What are you doing here anyway? Your mother was supposed to be sending you to another school!" My dad loosens his grip on my brother but his anger beams from his eyes, "Where am I supposed to go? my friends are here,I'm 16 and have my GCSE's coming up too you know!" Eli looks intimidated by our riled up dad and then looks at me, his lip is quivering with fear, his eyes sheepish and remorseful as though he is looking at me with hope that I'll do something, "Dad stop it,please" I mutter quietly and as my dad let's go off Eli and gives me a slightly disconcertingly look I step towards them both "I don't want you to make a scene out of it, if mum isn't going to move Eli out of school,then I guess..." my dad looks at me puzzled, whilst Eli rearranges his jacket. I take a deep breath and think carefully about my next words.
"Then I guess we'll be in the same school until he gets thrown in prison" I stand my ground and stare my eyes down at Eli,trying to show him I'm not afraid anymore,even though I very much am quite afraid. My dad eases up a little and although he doesn't look like he likes it,he croses his arms and gives me a strong nod of approval. Eli fiddles with his bag strap and looks between me and dad before gazing over me and my body "I won't be going to jail, the police said already its your word against mine,that's it. It's over Ellie, you've torn apart mum and dad,you've broken this" he points between me and him and I see my dad flinch to go to grab him until I shake my head "you've ruined this family and for what..." I see my dad huff with rage and Eli confidently bite his lip and smile mockingly at me, "no,no,NO you don't get to do that! You don't get away with this" I gesture around my body with my hand  "YOU dont get to walk away after how you've messed me up, you've even got mum not speaking with me! No, it's not just your word against mine anymore Eli. Because we're going to court, your going on trial for what you've done,and I can't WAIT,to never,see you,again." I feel my eyes well,my words come out sqeakier and angry after each word and my lips curl as I try to hold back tears. Eli looks at me shaken and with heartache "You don't...you don't mean that, that you never want to see me again?" He sounds jumpy suddenly and speaks in a soft tone "you don't...we were close before, weve always been there for each other growing up" his voice is shaky and quiet as though he was speaking through fragile glass that he didnt want to break.
My dad chimes in throwing himself between me and my brother "You should start worrying more about court mate and stop bothering your sister,seriously, stay away from her" then Eli leaves walking into school, giving me one last look back on his way in,and then my dad heads back to his car to go home and as I'm stood there I look around me.
Throughout my emotional yelling I hadn't even noticed a small group of people gathered around us and they definitely heard all of that, shit.