Faking It

Chapter 8: Dylan Revealed (For real this time)

Chapter 8

   I hear someone awkwardly clear their throat. Then I remember Zayn. Dylan’s grip tightens protectively. Zayn looks at us, “Hope, who’s this?”

   I smile at Dylan, “Zayn, this is my,” I give a small laugh, “real b-“

   A voice yells, “HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?”

   A light shines towards us and I shield my eyes. My hearts speeds up and I tighten my grip on Dylan’s arm. Dylan glances at me and says, “Don’t run.”

   I look back at the figure walking toward us and then back at Dylan. Dylan sees my hesitation and sternly says, “Don’t.”

   I look away and nod. Dylan says, “Sorry, officer. We-“

   The person reaches us, “Dylan?”

   Dylan laughs, “Mike?”

   Mike clicks off his flashlight, “Hey, man, how have you been.”

   Dylan shrugs, “I’ve been better. How are Stacey and the kids?”

   Mike nods, “They’ve been great.”

   Dylan smiles, “Liking the house?”

   “Loving it. It’s great.”

   “That’s great to hear… Well, hey, sorry for the trouble. I promise it won’t happen again.”

   Mike waves his hand, “Oh its fine. You kids just get on out of here.”

   “Thanks so much, Mike. Sorry for the trouble.” Dylan looks at me and Zayn, “Let’s go.” We walk to the road and Dylan hails a taxi cab. The three of us get in and Dylan says, “6834 Firefly lane.” The cab driver nods and Dylan leans back and runs his finger through his hair and sighs.

   I look down at my hands, “I’m sorry.”

   Dylan looks at me, “What? No, this is not your fault.”

   My bottom lip trembles, “Dylan, I can’t go back.”

   He pulls me into a hug, “Hey, it’s going to be okay. Isabelle will take care of all this, alright?”

   I nod and Zayn speaks, “Soooo… How do you guys know each other exactly?”

   I look up at Dylan and back at Zayn, “Dylan is my brother.”

   Zayn laughs and then stops, “Wait you’re serious?”

   I glare at him, “Why would I lie?”

   Zayn raises an eyebrow. I sigh, “I have no reason to lie to you.”

   Zayn looks a little surprised when I say that but doesn’t say anything. The cab comes to a stop and Dylan says, “We’re here.” I look out to see the familiar large house. It wasn’t average but it wasn’t a mansion either. Dylan and Isabelle were pretty well off but they weren’t super rich. We get out and walk up the steps. Dylan unlocks the door and wee step into their large living room. Izzy sat on the floor in sweatpants, a tank top, and her hair in a bun with papers scattered around her and a video on the screen. She looks up and sees Dylan, “What are you doing home? You had the business meeting didn’t you?”

    Dylan steps to the side to reveal me standing there. Her eyes widen and pauses the video. She looks over to Dylan, “You mean-“

   Dylan tosses his jacket onto the back of a chair, “Yeah.”

   She stands up and walks down the to her and Dylan’s room. Dylan yawns, “I’ll go make tea. Hope, Zayn, do you want any?”

   I suddenly remember Zayn is here and he says, “Yeah thanks.” I just nod and he walks off. I take off my jacket and walk over to the couch. I sit on one side Zayn sits down right beside me. I give him an odd look and he says, “What?”

   “Why are you sitting beside me?”

   His eyes narrow, “Fine I’ll move. Geez.”

   He goes to get up but I quickly grab his arm, “No, it’s fine.”

   He slowly sits back down eying me. I take my hand off him and I hear a door shut. Isabelle comes walking down the hall with a file in her arms. She sets it on the coffee table. “Sorry for the mess I’m on a case and we have the closing statements tomorrow.” She says picking up papers off the floor. I shift in my seat, “I’m so sorry, Isabelle.”

   She looks up at me suddenly, “Oh no its fine. I’ve got them convinced enough already.”

Zayn’s P.O.V.

   I hear a scratch on the back door and I look to see a basset hound standing on the outside. Hope’s voice rings out, “Snickers!”

   She runs over to the door and opens it. She bends down and the dog starts licking her. Isabelle says looking through the file still, “He’s missed you.”

   Hope smiles down at the dog, “I’ve missed him, too.”

   Dylan comes back in with two cups of tea and sits them down in front of me then goes back into the kitchen. Hope walks back over and sits beside me and takes a sip from her tea. Snickers jumps up on the couch and walks over me to Hope. She pets his head and he turns around a few times before laying down with a groan. Hope laughs and smiles. Dylan walks back in with two more cups of tea, “Snickers, off the couch.”

   Hope sighs, “Come on, Dylan.” Dylan turns and looks at Hope then Snickers then Hope again, “Fine.” He hands a cup to Isabelle before taking a sip from the remaining one. Isabelle thanks him and pulls a sheet of paper from the file, “As you know I’ve been keeping up with her and she has had 3 more arrests in the past 5 months.”

Hope stops petting Snickers and slowly sets her cup don on the table and putts her hands in her lap. She licks her lips, which I’ve noticed she does when she’s nervous.

   Dylan glances over at Hope and whispers to Isabelle, “Let’s go talk in the kitchen.”

   Isabelle looks over at Hope and then nods. When they’re gone Hope puts her face in her hands and then notices me staring at her. She looks away from me and says flatly, “Where's your gavel? Your jury? What’s my offense this time? You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me sentence me to another life.”

   She turns to face me giving me a hard look. I look away from her, “Paramore.” I nod, “Nice.”

   I look back at her and the edges of her mouth twitch and she looks away, “Thanks.”

   I clear my throat, “So Isabelle is a lawyer?”

   Hope nods, “Yeah. Dylan took over out dad’s real estate business after he died. Dylan says that if I graduate high school and go to college we can share the business.”

   “If?”

   She looks down at her hands, “If.”

   I shake my head, “Why do you keep doing that?”

   She looks at me, “Doing what?”

   “Doubting yourself. Doubt is an illness that comes from knowledge and leads to madness.”

   She squints, “Gustauve Flaubert, Memoirs of a Madman.”

   I smile slightly surprised, “Wow.”

   She smiles to herself, “Didn’t think I would know it did you?”

   I shake my head, “No I didn’t actually.”

   Her smile fades, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

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I FINALLY UPDATED!!!! I think writer's block should be considered a terminal illness just for the record. Anyways, So you all found out Dylan was her brother. What do you all think about that?! I WANT TO KNOW! So comment and the first commenter will have the next chapter dedicated to them! Love you all!