The Bad Boy's Sister 2

Chapter 18 - You Said Yourself You Owe it to Me

As soon as I get home, I run up to Jace's room and knock on the door. I have loads of apologies to make him and I want to get it off my chest as soon as I can, especially before Brighton shows up. I texted him on the way home, apologizing for "getting off work later than I expected," but he hasn't texted back, so I'm hoping he won't come over just yet.

"Who is it?" I hear my brother sigh. There's some shuffling in his room and just as I open my mouth to speak, his door opens and he peeks out to see what's going on.

"Oh, look. It's my long lost sister. I thought he would've taken you down with him to purgatory by now, but I guess I was wrong," he says sarcastically, running a hand through his messy hair. A little fireball of anger lights inside me, but I quickly put it out; I'm here to apologize, not to fight with him. 

Taking a deep breath, I continue, "Jace, I know I've been stupid. I know I've been a jerk to you and even more than all this, I know I've been wrong and I want to make it up to you. Please, let me in. I owe you a much deserved apology."

His face, once looking quite angry, becomes very surprised and squints a little at me as if he's studying me. He wasn't expecting that at all, especially since we haven't spoken to each other at all for a few weeks.

"Please, be my guest," he says, moving away from the door to let me pass. I wander in his room, looking around casually before plopping down on his recliner. He does a belly-flop on his bed and shuffles, getting comfortable. I watch him curiously until he looks like he's done moving around before I decide to start up again.

"Jace, I'm so sorry for how I've treated you and for putting you through this. I'm sorry for being a jerk. I'm sorry for going out with Brighton even when you warned me about him. I'm sorry. Jake told me everything and I believe him, I really do. Will you please forgive me?"

He doesn't respond right off, only studies me as if he's trying to read some unknown message from my apology. I become very fidgety and start bouncing my right leg up and down while I watch him, waiting extremely impatiently for his answer. 

"I will forgive you on two conditions," he says after a very long silence. He has a "let's get down to business" look on his face, so I know whatever he's thinking, it's been thought over a few times and he won't let this opportunity pass up. 

"And what are they?" I demand. 

"The first is to tell me why. Why did you go with him? What was in it for you?"

"I was so heartbroken that Jake would break up with me-"

"Which he did to help his family," he interrupts, sitting up on his bed, "you know that, right?"

"Yes... anyway, as I was saying, I was so upset about that and when Brighton was comforting me, I was so desperate for love that I saw right past him and only saw the good in him. He satisfied the empty hole in my heart. That's why I did it."

"You were willing to let him take advantage of you and possibly do bad things to you so you could have someone there for you?" he asks, tapping his fingers on his bed. I look at him and down at the floor, shrugging my shoulders. 

"Well, if you put it that way, I guess so...," I mumble, not meeting eye contact with him again. 

"Come here," Jace gestures for me to come sit next to him, so I scoot off my chair and go sit on the edge of his bed. He pulls me into the biggest bear hug and I smile, hugging him back. There is no better feeling than being in the arms of your best friend. I could stay here for a long time. 

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed it," he says, looking down at me. "I should have done more."

"Jace, don't beat yourself up for that," I sigh. "You did all you could."

"Obviously, I didn't. I didn't protect you from Brighton."

I don't respond, but I know he knows I forgive him. He leans his cheek on the top of my head and we sit there for a while having some good sibling bonding time. I know what everyone has been telling me is true; I have the best brother in the whole entire world.

Sitting here makes me realize just how blind I was to this whole situation. Brighton wanted me to believe that Jake thought I cheated and he wanted my relationship with my brother to become nothing so he could take advantage of me. I don't know why he wants me or what I have to offer him, but the fact that that I was gullible enough to fall for the trick makes me so angry with myself. I know I have to make this right, and I almost have. 

Except for one thing...

"Jace?" I break our long lasting silence.

"Yes?"

"What's the second thing?" I wonder. He looks in front of him and stares as if he's trying to decide whether he wants to go that way or not. I guess he decides he does because he speaks up. 

"Break up with him," he says in a tone that sends adrenaline to my heart. I sit up straight and back away from our hug, shaking my head quickly. 

"Jace, I can't," I cry. "Not yet, at least. I will eventually, I promise, but I can't just do it right now."

"Why not," Jace demands in more of a command than a question. I stand up from his bed and start pacing the floor in a panic. This can't happen, at least not yet. I don't want to know what Brighton would do to Jake if we ended it early. 

"It's not part of the plan. Jake says that the deal he made with Brighton will only last another week and a half, so I need to stay with him until then so their deal can last," I explain, my hands expressing my frustration as I speak. "I'm doing it for Jake."

"Okay, now hold up here," he says, pulling my arm back down so I'm sitting on the edge of his bed again. "You need to calm down. Look, you may be staying with him a little longer for Jake, but Jake doesn't have to be the reason you break up with him. Break up with him for me. Right now."

"Jace, I-"

"You said yourself you owe it to me," he cuts me off, not wanting to hear any more excuses. "Honestly, I think you owe it to both of us to break up with him. Please."

"I don't think you realize what this will do to Jake," I push my hair away from my face to get some air flowing. "Please, Jace. I'm just trying to do the right thing." 

"And the right thing to do is to break up with him now," Jace murmurs, trying to calm my frustrations. "Jake's deal shouldn't effect the way you live your life. He made that deal on account of his own life. It was selfish and sorry to be frank, but it was also stupid. You, on the other hand, have the freedom to live your life the way you want to live it. Now it's time to make the right choice. Are you going to spend anymore time with that worthless piece of junk, or are you going to break free and start living your life the way Samantha McFarland should be?" 

My glance goes from him to the floor as guilt washes over me. I know he's right, but I also know that Jake is going to suffer because of what I'm going to do. I can feel Jace's eyes burning a hole into my side while I try to win a staring contest with his carpet, but it does no good in trying to sort my tornado of emotions. 

"Alright," I say, looking back up at my brother, knowing that my decision is the best. "I'm breaking up with him tonight."