Damaged

Chapter Three

“It’s not what a person tells you that matters. It’s how they treat you that reveals their true feelings. Their character is revealed not by the promises they make, but the promises they keep.” – Unknown

I’d walked all the way to the town before my phone started to ring. “Anna where the Hell are you, we’ve been looking everywhere for you, I’ve left you a bunch of messages!” Sophie shouts frantically down the cell. “What d’you mean? I haven’t had any calls, this is the first one!”
“Anna I’ve called you over a dozen times, everyone’s looking for you, you’ve been gone ages!”
“I’m sorry, I… I only went for a walk…” I rub the back of my neck and take a seat on a nearby bench. Sophie sighs emphatically. “Oh… It’s okay, as long as you’re alright, that’s what matters… Just, next time let us know where you’re going before you go okay? Dante’s worried out of his mind.”
“Dante?!” At the mention of his name my stomach rolls. “Yes Dante, he’s out looking for you just now.”
“He’s looking for me?!”
“Yes, he’s looking for you, did I forget to mention the fact we’ve been looking for you?!”
“We?”
“Yes, ‘we’, all of us, everyone’s searching the park for you. Bryan and Hunter have just left in the car to drive to town for you. Where are you anyway?”
“I’m in the town. I just… I thought I’d take a walk up here.”
“You walked all the way to town?”
“Yeah I… I needed to get away, to clear my head…”
“Anna, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah Soph I’m…” I sigh. “I’m fine.”
“Okay well-” Sophie’s cut off with Dante’s voice in the background. “Did you reach her?”
“Yeah, eventually. She’s walked up to the town. That’s probably why I couldn’t get a hold of her, you don’t get a signal from here to the town.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah she’s… She’s fine.” I can tell Sophie’s shaking her head, telling him otherwise. I roll my eyes and curse the fact that Sophie is the only one besides her brother who can tell when I’m lying. Even on the phone she can tell I’m lying. “Can I speak with her?” Dante’s voice says from the other line. “No.” I tell Sophie firmly, frantically, panicking. “Uh, well, we know she’s okay, so I was just about to hang up anyway…” I’ve put her in a position. Ugh, I hate this. “Look, I’m fine, I’m at the town centre. It’s a sort of square place I-” Just as I say this I see Bryan’s car come round the corner, Hunter madly searching from shot gun. “Oh, I’ve found Bryan and Hunter.” I start waving to alert them of my presence and Hunter points, shouting at Bryan to pull over. “Oh good, right well we’ll leave just now okay? See you soon.” I hang up just as Bryan throws himself out of the car in a nearby parking space. I get to my feet with great effort, groaning and rolling my eyes before he’s even said a word to me. “Anna!” He panics, gripping me by the shoulders and looking me over, making sure I’m not hurt. “What the Hell were you thinking?!” He fumes. “Anything could’ve happened!” He shouts. “You could’ve gotten kidnapped or hurt or anything and we wouldn’t’ve known about it! What the Hell were you playing at, coming here on your own?! You’ve never even been here before, you don’t know the place, or what the people are like, Anna!”
“Bryan calm down for God’s sake,” I push him away from me, his anger hurting me enough without his man hands wrapping round my upper arms. “I’m fine okay. Jeeze would everyone just chill out.” He folds his arms. “Chill out?” He echoes. “Chill out? How can you say that?! You’ve been gone for over an hour! You wouldn’t answer your phone! Nobody knew where you were! I was this close,” He pinches his thumb and index finger together. “To calling the police. Don’t you realize how much you frightened us?!” By this time Hunter has locked the car and slowly approached us a few feet away from the parking space. “Yeah, well I’m sorry okay! You want me to have a personal body guard from now on so nothing can harm me ever again? D’you want that, huh? You want me to check in every five minutes and alert you of my plans? I’m not your daughter, Bryan, I’m not some kid you baby-sit, and I’m not a child. I’m big enough to look after myself and I will never answer to you.” The pair of us breathe deeply in our anger, standing a foot apart with rage obvious on our faces. “Fine.” He states simply. “Fine what?!” I spit as he turns to walk away. “If that’s how you feel, then fine.” He says calmly. “What does that even mean?” I shout as he turns to walk away again. “It means fine, do what you want.” My jaw drops. “How can you say that to me?! After everything I’ve been through, you’re treating me like I have no control over my own life! When the Hell did you turn into my adopted-dad?!” He turns slowly, knowing how much that took me to say. He bites his lip apprehensively, knowing he’s been a jerk. “I’m sorry, okay… You frightened me… I… I didn’t know what to think.” Well judging by the last time no one could get a hold of me, I can’t exactly blame him for freaking out. “Just… Please stop treating me like a kid?” He smiles and grips me tightly in a hug, squeezing me like a brother. “Deal.” He breathes against my hair. It’s then I realize that no matter how much I’m ever attracted to Bryan, I know that in my heart of hearts nothing could ever come of it… He’s been a brother to me since I moved; a relationship with Bryan raises sick in my stomach. Literally.