Why Wait?

36

"Where have you been?" Austin demands as I get out of Sidney's car.

"Austin," Sidney says firmly. "Don't."

But he doesn't listen. "Where were you? And I suggest you tell me before I completely flip."

"I went to Starbucks with Sidney," I lie. His eyes narrow and his jaw shifts. I know he can tell when I'm lying.

"Where did you go?" he asks Sidney as she reaches us. Her arms were crossed as she shrugs innocently. "Starbucks."

His frown deepens and he looks at the folder I'm trying my best to hide with my jacket. "Then what's in that?" he asks. Before I know what happened, he grabs the folder from my coat.

I protest and try to get it back when he opens it. His shoulders tense as he looks through all the pictures. I shoot Sidney an exasperated look. She looks worried.

"You went back," he says after a very long time, rather calmly.

"I didn't take---"

He shakes his head furiously. "I don't want to hear it," he snaps, looking over at a blank Sidney. "You took her there."

She bites her bottom lip. "Baby, you weren't exactly being fair. You gave up your life to sing. And that's what she's---"

She stops talking whenever he shoves the folder against my chest, making me fall. Making me drop all the pictures. The pictures that were now covered in mud.

I really try my best not to lose my patience when Austin is like this - I know it will only make it worse. We both have very bad tempers, courtesy of dad. We are both very stubborn, courtesy of mom. We always clash. And, though I'm working on staying calm, he's not.

The pictures. They're completely ruined. Except for one. The one of me in a blue Pink sweatshirt with pink underwear. My eyes close and I bite my tongue to keep from saying something we will all regret later. I stand up, dust myself, and push past my brother. There was no remorse in his face.

Austin grabs me by the arm, pulling me back. "I told you not to step foot in that office again," he says in a low voice.

He's really scaring me. This has always been the side of my brother that I've never wanted to see. This is the side of my usually caring, fun-loving brother that he tends to hide from me. Like a monster waiting to come out, or a bomb that's about to explode.

He's gripping my arm so  hard, I know it's going to bruise.

Dating Cody kind of had it's perks. He would hurt me almost everyday and I'd have to stay in place and endure it or he'd get mad and start all over. Well, in time, I'd stop crying. I almost expected it to happen and felt confused when it didn't. Being with Cody has gotten me used to pain. I look him in the eyes. "Are you really mad enough to do this?" I ask in a low voice.

He just stares at me, the scariest expression I'd ever seen on his face.

Sidney finally intervenes right as he was about to say something. "Stop," she yells at him. "What's the matter with you?"

He looks over at her, his mouth slightly agape.

"Let her go," she says, pushing him away. I told you this would happen. I asked and pleaded with you that you would go to therapy with her because this is something the both of you need to work out. But you don't listen. You never listen."

By now he was making his way towards her. She was trying her very best not to cry, which I haven't seen her do since she got involved with John. "Baby," he says softly.