Just another Day in High school

Whispers In The Dark

Taylor stood in the doorway in a pair of boodie shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt. "Why did you help?"

"What do you mean?" I asked as she let us in and led us to her room.

"Why did you help in the fight? I had it."

"I had to. You couldn't of taken Ryan and Holly at once Tay."

"Says who?" She sat in her bean bag chair and River and I sat on her bed; my head on his shoulder.

"Everyone Tay. Ryan is not some preppy girl that's weak or some other dumb jock. (She beat up three linemen cuz they were making fun of me.) Hes dangerous."

"Still," she huffed. "You got hurt and Ethan's gonna flip."

"He's never gonna know."

"I'm never gonna know what?" An all to familiar voice said. I turned to see my brother coming out of the attached bathroom.

He looked just like me, the same raven hair, same silver blue eyes, same full lips. He was 6'2" as tall as River. "Nothing." I wouldn't look at him.

"Look at me Shell, please." I turned my face slightly to see him and his eyes widened when he saw my face. "Who did this?" He knelt next to me and moved my face gently to look at him. I wouldn't make eye contact, I couldn't. "Shell look at me, please. Who hurt you?"

I locked eyes with him and whispered, "Ryan Smith."

"I'm gonna kill the asshole. How, Shelby?"

"Holly and Tay were fighting over me and he went to step in and I had to help. I couldn't let her get hurt Ethan." My voice quivering at the thought of my best friend getting hurt.

"Did you hit him?"

I nodded.

"How many times?"

"Twice, once in the nose and once in the eye."

"I knocked him out. I couldn't let him hurt my angel," River said next to me. I turned to face him and placed my forehead against his. He pressed his lips to mine softly then pulled away and looked back at Ethan who was white.

"I'm gonna ask about that later but for now, thank you. Shelby I understand why but, I don't know what I'd do if you ever got hurt. I don't know what I'd do if something happened and I wasn't there to protect you. You're my baby sister and I have to protect you from everything that I can." There was a hint in his words. My dad that's what he meant the thing he couldn't protect me from.

"I know but, I have to make my own mistakes. I have to be my own person too. To make my own decisions. I'm sixteen years old."

"I know but, you'll always be my baby sister. Who has some explaining to do about said boy." He said pointing to River.

"He um, kissed me after he saved me and yeah," I said a smile playing with my busted lip.

"Well then." Was all Ethan said.

"I called it, I so called it!" Taylor said jumping up from her bean bag. "You wouldn't believe me, asshole. I sooo told you," she was shaking her butt and held out her hand.

"Fuck you." Ethan said playfully.

"Maybe tonight." She said winking.

I started gagging and River did the same. My mind brought back an image of earlier this summer when I went to visit Ethan at his dorm. I made it to the door and heard some very unpleasant noises originating from behind the door. I ran when I heard Taylor scream/moan my brothers name. "Can we not talk about that please." I looked at Ethan and saw his face red. "Can I now get a hug from little red?"

"Hey," Ethan said wrapping his arms around me and spinning me. My head felt like I was on one of those tea cup rides at Disney.

"Please stop."

"What's wrong?" I was set on the ground and nearly fell due to everything spinning.

"I hit my head pretty hard when he power drove me into the ground."

"Hold on one sec." Ethan ran to his bag in the corner pulling out a small flashlight. He came back over and said, "Look at my finger."

He flicked on the light and moved it from side to side. "Ugh," I said.

"Shell you have a concussion."

"Damn it," I said. Feeling my eyes wanting to close.

"Don't go to sleep just yet. You can after dinner okay?" Ethan said smiling at me.

"Okay. When did you get in?"

"This morning. I was gonna come and pick you up from school but, this one," he pointed to Tay, "Came home early telling me she got ISS for two days."

"You got two days?" I asked.

"Yeah it was so stupid. I was gonna get off for it but, Holly's mom and dad pitched a bitch fit about how, their daughters assailant, can not go walking free without punishment. So the AP had to give me it. God I hate them."

"Well then. I know I'm gonna get time." I said frowning.

"Same here."River took my hand in his.

"You never should have intervened."

"I had to save you." He kissed my forehead.

"How'd your mom take it?" I asked.

"She praised me." Tay smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah cuz I was helping you," she said to me. "She gave me money to take everyone to the movies."

"Sweet."

My head spun when I turned to look at Ethan who now sat in the desk chair. I saw black spots invade my vision. I caught myself on the bed and closed my eyes. "Shell are you okay?"

I gulped slowly. I felt like I was gonna get sick. "Trying to be bubby."

"Here lay down." He helped me stand. River held me up as Ethan pulled back the covers. "Tay can you help her get some clothes?"

"Yeah," she walked over and grabbed boodie shorts and a wife beater. She took me to the bathroom and I began to strip. I threw on the black shorts and black wife beater. I walked slowly to the bed. My head spinning as I took slow deliberate steps.

I climbed into bed and closed my eyes. "Angel are you okay?" River asked stroking my hair.

I merely nodded. "I feel like I'm gonna be sick."

"Can she stay here for a while until she has to go home," I heard River asking Tay.

"Of course, you gonna stay here too?"

"Like I even have a choice," he said with a chuckle. "Ow hey not nice," he said paired with the sound of skin on skin. Tay must have punched him.

And to answer my assumption, "That's what you get buttmunch."

"But you punched me."

"So what I've hit you before. You are such a wuss."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am. Not!"

"Are. Too!" They said getting louder. I groaned and rolled over placing the pillow over my ears. "Look what you did jackass."

"I didn't do anything."

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"Didn't."

"Did."

"Didn't!"

"Did!"

"Guys shut up," Ethan said as I groaned again and threw the blanket over my head.

"Did," Taylor whispered.

"Didn't."

My mind started to wander and I began to drift to sleep. When I wake up I hope it all just goes away.