More Than A Game

Chapter 48

"Hi."

Still keeping my attention on the familiar figure's rather sorrow expression as I let out a shy escape my mouth. My heart beat rapidly, wondering what my next move should be. Would it be better to just dash out of the shopping centre or just face up to my fears?

I decided to force away the negative feelings I currently had and faced the music as I replied back to Brayden who I wasn't sure if another fight is what he was after.

"Hi."

"Can we talk? I heard you got back a couple of days early and I wanted to make things right with you but of course, I was freaked out."

"Freaked out?"

"Maybe we should go some place less public?"

"Yeah, like that sounds very logical Brayden. Please explain to me how we're going to be able to find a less public place in a damn shopping centre?"

"Okay. I'm not here for a fight, I swear. Let's just go for a walk. Carmen please, since the day you went to Melbourne, I was dying to talk to you after everything that happened."

I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing as I fixed the strap of my handbag over my shoulder and grabbed my phone off the table, making my way along side with Brayden.

Walking through the passages of the massive shopping centre, I felt anxious as this was the first time I had a decent conversation with Brayden since our fight. This whole time, I tried my best to want to sort out the tension between Brayden and I, but with everything that was happening during the argument, I never actually got a chance to properly tell Brayden my side of the story.

At this point, we were well away from the food court when we turned the corner and saw the larger crowd from behind us had condensed into a few passer bys in this section of the centre.

We continued walking as Brayden distracted my constant glares all around me when he began one of the most serious conversations I knew I was going to have within my lifetime.

"I don't know how to do this but I. I wanted to properly apologise -"

"Brayden, you don't need to apologise for -"

"Carmen please, let me finish. I know I've apologised to you already and you've said all is forgiven but I hardly doubt that's the truth. And before you say anything, I can tell that you still aren't convinced about the conversation I had with you a couple of weeks ago."

"There isn't any need to continue this conversation anymore Brayden. Yes, what you said was harsh but I've learnt to deal with the fact that you were talking irrationally. I've forgiven you, why you do you need the fall to go through this process again?"

I quickly stopped in my step and turned around and stared at Brayden rather angrily. I was annoyed that he would think this was important to bring up. I thought I'd forgiven him, what more to it was there?

"Because I don't want go on in life regretting the day I lose my sister." He said in a bellowing tone. I was taken back as his words rushed through my mind. How could he think he was going to lose me?

"But.. But you know you can never lose me."

"Oh yeah? All we do is keep fighting and auguring and I know that's what siblings are meant to do but when we fight, it's like a battle between us. I don't think you realise how scared I am when the day comes that I might say something so stupid and shallow without even realising and then, that's it. I watch you walk through that day and ignore me, forever."

"I never realised you felt that way. Why didn't you tell me, why didn't you speak to me that our fighting was scaring you?"

"How could I? With the constant meetings with different coaches that I don't even think they give one damn about me, I had trouble trying to get one decent conversation with you. Football had gotten in the way of our relationship and then you were preparing for The Brownlow's and your uni coursework -"