Falling For You

Falling For You o1

Falling For You

I turned to this arrogant guy, hands on my hips. I was sneering at him. I knew it didn’t look that decent, but whatever, he totally deserved it! What a dude.

“What do you want this time?” I said, my voice spitting sarcasm.

He looked self conscious as he inched closer to us. Amanda and Kara were giggling quietly. “Um, I’m sorry but your friend is…still wearing the prom dress?”

My mouth fell open. I felt really stupid now. He’d rushed out to tell us about a dress and I’d treated him like crap. No wonder all store employees hated shoppers. Because they were horrible and arrogant and proud like me. I was an idiot.

“Sorry,” I uttered, turning away.

“Uh…no problem?” He turned to Kara. “Sorry, but will you come back inside and change?”

“Of course,” Kara said, face flushed with embarrassment.

We walked back into the store. Finally after a couple of fumbles with the dress, Kara managed to shrug out of it and give it awkwardly back to the store employees. Before we left Kara got a bad look in her eyes. She grabbed a sharpie out of her purse and grabbed the boy’s arm. She scrawled her number onto his arm and a name. My name.

“You bitch!” I hissed as we got out of the store.

The boy was watching us leave uncomfortably. He was rubbing at his arm with relish.

“Sorry!” Kara squealed.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it!” I said. “Why did you use my name and your number?”

“Um…I actually wrote your number,” Kara said trying to look abashed but failing horribly.

“Omigod, no way!” Amanda slapped Kara’s arm with a grin. “You dirty bitch!”

“He’d never call me,” I said rolling my eyes, “I mean, honestly, I’m just…Nia Rilin.”

“That’s not true. You’re more than that. You’re pretty and have killer curves. I’d kill for you eyes,” Amanda smiled gently at me.

“Kara, you gave my number out to a total stranger. Just because he’s hot doesn’t mean you can-”

“Aha!” Kara cut me off rudely. “So you do think he’s cute.”

I rolled my eyes, “Yes.”

“SHE THINKS YOU’RE CUTE!” Kara yelled, pointing at me and looking straight at employee boy.

He tried to pretend he didn’t hear or see it by turning away, but there was no hiding the red blush that creeped onto his pale face. He was kind of cute when he blushed…

****

I got back home to Rhys screaming on the phone. I slammed the door shut and ran over to where my schizophrenic 12 year old brother yammered on the phone. I grabbed it from him and slammed it down onto the receiver.

“What the hell!” I screamed at him.

“She’s a bitch!” he wailed.

“Who?”

“The lady on the phone.”

“Just ignore her! You can’t do this anymore, Rhys! I can’t do this anymore! Stop ruining my life! Everyone thinks I’m a freak just because of you already,” I said. I immediately regretted saying that. Rhys’ eyes broke into fresh new tears.

“F-fuck you, Nia!” He stuttered while sobbing.

I lifted my hand and watched as it got closer to his face. When I was an inch away I stopped. What was I even doing? I never hit my brother. Never in my entire life. I loved Rhys so much, but sometimes when I got overwhelmed…

I’m on medication.

When I don’t get my meds I’m as crazy as a rabid bear. I do stupid stuff, like calling a stranger cute and almost slapping my brother full on across the face. I dropped my hand and locked eyes with Rhys. We both stared into each other’s eyes.

Finally I started crying.

“Rhys?” I asked pathetically. “I-I’m a horrible sister?”

“Nia…I’m a freak,” he said, his blue orbs watering. A tear leaked down his cheek and I wiped it away before pulling my brother into a hug.

“I love you,” I said.

No reply.

Finally, Rhys ripped from my hug, tears full on streaming down his face now. He pushed himself away and ran to his room where he slammed the door shut and locked it. I stared after him, wondering what the hell had just gone on. It was like a TV screen and I didn’t like the channel. But this TV was stupid because I couldn’t change it. I just had to watch.

 I’m a horrible sister.

***

Mom got home at about 10 in the night. I was still up, even though I was tired. I had been waiting to see if Rhys would come out of his room. He hadn’t left since he’d ran into it. I felt awful and tired as crap.

“Mom?” I called hopefully as I heard the door gently open.

My mother is the best person on the whole world. She’s worked very hard to let Rhys and I live the lives we have today. She works enough hours to get enough pay to let me have allowance and to buy fancy dresses for prom. She gets paid enough to let Rhys get the occasional ice cream cone. She’s the best.

“Oh, Nia, you’re up,” she said in a whisper.

“Yeah, couldn’t sleep,” I said weakly. I didn’t want to bother her about Rhys’ and my fights. She didn’t need to be stressed about it.

“I’m going to go to bed now,” she said. She leaned down to kiss my forehead and her gray and white tendril of hair brushed against my cheek. She straightened back up and smiled.

She left me in my silence. Finally I just got up and decided to check on Rhys. He was sleeping, a pool of drool seeping out the corner of his pale lips. I smiled as I sat down beside him and stroked his blonde curls.

“Good night,” I whispered, backed out of his room and heard the door shut with a barely audible snap.

I loved Rhys more than anything.