Guarded

Chapter 2

I wake up to the sound of someone knocking on my door, I groan and close my eyes. I hear the door open and  I see my older brother Liam standing next to my bed with his arms crossed.

I sit up and Liam sits down close to me on my bed, "Mom says that you haven't been anywhere in a while. She says that you read the same book over and over again, you also never leave the property."

I look at my hands and bite my bottom lip, "Chris, I know it's hard to let go." He sighs, "You can't keep yourself locked in, you have your own life to live, go to uni and study business."

"I'm not like you, Liam." I look him in the eye, "I can't just go on with my life, dad was the only person who knew me. I was a lot like him so it's harder for me to go away from a place where he grew up."

"I know you too were closer than the rest of us, but he wasn't the only person who knew you." He puts his hand on mine, "Will you come out to town with me?" He asks

"I can't." I shake my head

"Why, you're not grounded and I don't think that you have any plans with friends."

"I just can't."

He pulls away his hand and stands up from my bed, "Well now you no longer have a choice, you're coming out to town with me."

"What?" He pulls me out of bed and walks to my closet

He hands me a jean, T-shirt and sneakers, I take it and put it down on my bed. I cross my arms and look at the clothes, "I'm still not going."

I ended up going with him and we climb into Liams car, he starts the engine and drives to the sea. I climb out first and wait for him to get out, "Someone's keen on getting out."

He locks the car walking over to me, "There's a nice little restaurant here where we can eat breakfast."

I follow him into the little seaside restaurant and we sit down at a table by the window. I look out and I can feel him staring at me, "Chris, when are you going to stop hiding?"

"I'm not hiding, I'm just not going out to see people."

"So you're hiding."

I sigh I turn to look at him, "There's nothing wrong with it." I say

"Come on! You can't actually believe that."

The waitress comes and gives us menus, I order a strawberry milkshake and Liam orders the same. She walks away from our table and Liam turns his attention back to me, "You're twenty one, you don't have to take care of mom. You can go to uni, have a life."

"I'm not going to uni, there's nothing there for me."

"There's plenty there for you, friends, new opportunities." He puts his hand on mine, "Don't throw your life away."

I take my hand away and look out the window. I look at the couples walking on the beach, that used to be me and my dad before...

I finish my milkshake and stand up, "Thanks Liam, I have to go." I walk out of the restaurant and go to walk on the beach

"Chris! Hey, Chris! Wait up!" I turn around and see Louis running to me

I wait until he's beside me before I continue walking, "Tell me I'm not crazy, but I just saw your brother Liam in town."

"You're not crazy, he's visiting...I think."

"I didn't get to talk to him, but why are you walking on your own?" He puts his arm over my shoulder

I shrug, we walk in silence looking out in front of us, listening to the seagulls and people laughing in the distance. There's a nice breeze blowing through my hair, I shove my hands into my pockets keeping it warm from the cold.