The Death of Me

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

            It was Friday night when I learned something very important about Jay, something that most people didn’t know, not even Gabby.

            I had just finished getting ready for the date, wearing my favorite pair of blue jeans that I actually agreed looked good on me (albeit, my butt did look a little big… but it usually did), a fitted, plain gray T-shirt and colorful cardigan. The cardigan was borrowed from Gabby, but the T-shirt was mine. She always said that my fashion was too plain, whereas she went with flashy clothes that showed lots of skin, I opted for T-shirts and plain shorts or pants.

            My blonde hair was in a single French braid, which Gabby kept griping at me to put down, but my hair always got in my face, and I figured my hair back was more attractive than the image of me spitting out pieces of hair from my mouth.

            I passed by my window, which faced the side yard, when I heard hushed talking. The voices were deep and intense, and had that sharp edge that emerge when you’re on the verge of yelling.

            I cautiously neared my window, which was blind-covered, but I could vaguely see two outlines against the window.

            I peered through them, slanted sharply downwards, and I noticed Jay standing there with who I assumed was his older brother. Isaac was taller than Jay, about a head taller than me, whereas Jay was barely taller than me. He had hair almost the same shade as Jay’s, but it was darker and more brown. He didn’t have freckles as much, and he looked older. In fact, he looked older than barely seventeen.

            Isaac’s expression was dangerously furious, like he was about to explode with rage. His fists were clenched by his sides, and his eyes were narrowed in utter and complete hatred. I almost gasped at how angry he looked— it wasn’t like how I would whine at Gabby when I was annoyed, or how she would scream at me when I stole her eyeliner. This was legitimate detestation.

            I carefully looked over at Jay, to see that his expression was much the same, with his jaw clenched. It almost looked like he was grinding his teeth together.

            Suddenly, Isaac snapped, stepping forward so that his face was only about an inch away from Jay’s. His arms shot out, shoving his older brother backwards. I gasped, about ready to pull up the blinds, push open the window, and yell and pull back flying fists. But instead what I saw was Isaac close his eyes, take a deep breath, and push past Jay.

            I tried to catch Jay’s angry callings after his brother, but the window was solid, and I couldn’t make out what exactly he said. My jaw dropped.

            That was when I first learned how much Isaac and Jay really hated each other.

            I suddenly felt someone tug on my hair, and I felt my hair loosen and relief on my stretched scalp. I turned around, my mouth open, and saw Gabby standing there smugly holding my hair band.

            “Gabby!” I whined, reaching forward to snatch it up. She dodged me, already expecting my attack, and giggled as she raced to the door. Too late, my hair was too loose, so I worked my fingers through it and let it hang about my shoulders.

            I glanced in the mirror on the way out of my room and saw that my hair actually didn’t look that bad— wavy and shiny, although slightly frizzy.

            The doorbell rang, and I was hit with nerves. If Isaac was half as angry as he looked out there, I wasn’t so sure this night would be enjoyable.