Why Wait?

33

     ~~~Strike's home~~~

I stumble backwards but Luke catches me. "You're okay," he says, helping me back up.

The girl who had just walked in kisses Alex on the lips. "I missed you so much," she gushes, kissing him again. "I couldn't believe whenever Luke invited me."

Everyone in the room turns to glare at Luke and he shrugs. "It is your birthday."

Alex looks at me and I force a smile. He turns back to her and gives her a smile. "I missed you too, Brooke."

Brooke? I thought they broke up.

Chance passes around some kind of food thing and I grab a few, shoving them in my mouth. It doesn't settle very well with my stomach but I don't care.

"Do you want to help me in the kitchen?" Margaret asks me and I nod, grateful for the distraction. The kitchen is literally the most adorable thing I'd ever seen. She hands me a few cups and I hold them steady for her while she pours the drink in them. "I really don't like that girl."

I look at her. "Why? She's gorgeous,  she's seems like she's nice, and everyone around here likes her."

Margaret shrugs. "She is very... dramatic."

I look at the way Brooke talks to him, with wild gestures, as if everything she says is very important that you understand. He nods at everything she says then they both turn to look at me. I look back to the cups Margaret had given me and she smiles. "You look sick, darling."

"I'm good," I promise her. "I think I am going to go find my brother." 

My stomach feels like it's going to explode. I find Austin with Chance, who is still holding the plate of whatever it is he just poisoned me with. Austin smiles at me but then it quickly fades. "You don't look too good."

I point at the plate. "What are in these?" I ask Chance and he shrugs.

"I think these are peanut butter rolls. Peanuts, maybe and a chocolate chips."

Austin looks over at me. "Did you eat these?" he asks and I nod.

He groans and turns to Ty, who was starting to walk over. "Do you have a bathroom?"

He nods. "Come on, I'll show you."

Austin hands me my crutches and I walk with him and Ty to the bathroom. Austin nods at Ty. "Thanks, man. We'll be right out."

He shuts the door behind him and I take a seat on the toilet. He always carries a mini Epipen with him just in case something happens. I do too but I left my purse at home. He hands it to me because he always feels queasy when he does it. I wrap my around it and push against my thigh but am too weak to press the button. 

I lean my head against my hands and let out a sigh. If I do this, we go back to the hospital. If I don't do this, we go back to the hospital and I could die. Either way, I end up in the hospital. I find the strength to push the button. I hear it click and let it drop to the floor.

Austin kneels down beside me. "Are you feeling any better? Did it work?"

I nod. "It worked."

He helps me off the toilet seat and we go back to the party. 

Ty walks towards us right as I take a seat on the couch. My head feels like it's throbbing and I want to replace my stomach for an airpump. 

"Are you okay?" Ty asks. "You look sick."

I am about to throw up.

"Here," Margaret says, holding out a cup apple cider. "Take small sips and don't down it all at once."

I take the drink and slowly bring it up to my mouth. "Thanks," I croak.

The drink is sour but it at least helps settle my stomach a little. I hand it back to her and she smiles, taking it back.

"I'm sorry, Kelli," Chance says. "I didn't know you were allergic to peanuts." 

I shrug, looking over at Alex - who didn't bother to notice I was nearly dying. "It's not your fault. I should've asked."

     ~~~dining room~~~

"Do you think he'll hear me out?" I ask Sidney, looking through the pictures.

She nods. "Kelli, theses are great. You've been accepted for about a month now. You need to tell Austin now that you absolutely know for sure you're good at this."

Austin walks in the room with Alex following behind. They smile before going into the hallway.

"Can we talk to you?" Sidney calls out.

He comes back slowly, a worried frown on his face. "Depends. Will I like it?"

I bite my lip. "I'm not sure but you need to know."

My eyes find Alex's and he smiles at me.

  I let out a nervous sigh before giving Austin the portfolio. My portfolio.

He stays silent as he looks through all the pictures. In a certain one, his eyes narrow. Probably because this Victoria's Secret and wouldn't let me do just sweatpants and a sweater. It also may include underwear as well as other this I feel uncomfortable showing my brother - and Alex, who was looking over his shoulder.

When he's done, he just looks at me, not uttering a word.

Sidney looks at him for a while. "Isn't she good?" she asks softly.

I'm blushing fiercely at the moment. This is a part of me I chose to show him because he's my brother and I promised I would be honest with him. But now I kind of wish I'd kept it to myself. "Say something," I beg. "Anything."

"What was that?" he asks, a little too calmly, which kind of scares me. That usually means he's getting warmed up.

I play with the ends of my hair and Sidney has to elbow me. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," I say quietly. "Their company called about a month ago and asked me to model for them. And I loved it, Austin."

He drops the portfolio on the table - rather he slams it - before storming out of the room.

"Austin, wait," Sidney says, following him out. Soon after, I hear a door slam.

My eyes prickle with tears but I blink them away. That's obviously a no.

"You're actually really good," Alex says, taking a seat beside me. "He's just not used to seeing you doing your own thing like that."

I look at the pictures in front of me and let out a deep breath. "I don't regret it. The company says I have real talent. That I could actually have what it takes. I'm not just letting that go. I can't."

Alex nods. "And he'll come around."

I sure hope so.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! I HOPE 2015 WAS A YEAR OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER AND WISH THE SAME FOR 2016.

THANK YOU GUYS SOOOO MUCH FOR READING - EVEN IF IT IS ONE IN THE MORNING.