There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate

There's a Thin Line Between Love and Hate (35)

"I don't trust that guy."

"Will you just go back to France?"

Austin grinned at me, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. "I wasn't in France. I was in--"

"Not the point," I continued, crossing my arms over my chest as well. "I'm getting out of the hospital in like an hour. Jesse's going to pick me up. You need to get back to Rachel, wherever she is in Europe."

"I still don't trust him," Austin continued to pout.

"You haven't talked to him since last week when you were freaking interrogating him," I reminded my older brother, as if he had somehow forgotten. "You've practically scared him away so he never comes by when you're here, which is way too much." 

"You'd rather have your boyfriend spend time with you than your own brother?"

"Kind of."

"You're so mean to me."

"Go... back... to France."

Austin rolled his eyes at me before pushing himself away from the wall and walking toward my bed. He patted the top of my head and ruffled my hair, annoying me greatly. My hair was bad enough since I was in the hospital, but now he had to make it even worse.

He bent over and kissed the side of my head, ruffling my hair once again before straightening himself back up. "I don't know about you, JoJo, but I've had a great time this week."

I stared up at my brother, fixing my hair. "You haven't called me that since we were kids."

He shrugged. "Well, I haven't almost lost you before."

In the eighteen years that I had lived, I couldn't remember a time when Austin had really tormented me like older brothers were supposed to. He had always been supportive and sweet ever since before I could even remember. He would let me play with him and his friends when we were little, no matter where they went or what they were doing. Dallas, though he was two years older than my brother, was always a part of the group as well, along with about two or three other boys that were Austin's age.

I felt like one of the boys until I entered middle school, and sometimes I kind of missed that.

Speaking of Dallas, he had visited me earlier on in the week, much to Jesse's dismay. All we did was talk, but I could tell that Dallas still felt something for me, and I couldn't have felt guiltier about it. He was there when my parents had visited as well, and they were overjoyed to see him.

"You're going to miss your plane," I told him quietly, now staring down at my lap. I felt like I had been so mean to him during the week, all because I wanted to be with Jesse. I hadn't seen my brother in person for two years, and now when I finally saw him again I was sarcastic and snarky. I just felt so bad.

"I love you, Jordan," Austin smiled, patting my head once again. "Don't you forget that, you squirt."

I smiled up at him. "I won't. I love you, too."

He smiled at me, ruffling my hair one last time before turning away and heading out the door, leaving me alone in the white room. It was the first time I had really been alone during the day in the hospital, and even though I was upset that my brother was leaving for who knows how long, I was glad to be alone for once.

I let out a breath, leaning back in my bed a little. I had gotten so used to it, and I was kind of upset with the fact that I had to leave in only an hour. Sure, it was boring as hell in the hospital, but the bed was super comfy. And I was glad that the pain in my body had subsided. I was still covered in bruises, but they didn't hurt as much as they had the week before.