A Brother's Love

Chapter Three

AN: Got a pic Lilly on the side like I said!! Jaxston should have one the next chapter. Enjoy!

God Bless.

~SaraLiepe

The first day that Jaxston got home was a very good one. Him, Mom, and I went to the mall and hung out for a while. We bought a few things, not that Jaxston had much money on his college-work-part-time income. Mom went to Bath & Body Works while my brother and I walked around looking at all the displays in the department store windows. We didn't actually go inside them, which is weird, I know. But I didn't mind. No matter how much those black pumps begged me to be bought...Now, Jax and I only have one place in mind to go. I don't have to ask where we're going. I already know.

Barnes and Noble.

Before our dad died, Jax, Dad, and I would come here every Saturday morning. That'd be the time where we got to really connect with Dad; He worked a lot of hours of the day. I always loved when we came and talked for an hour or so. We'd talk about our teenage school troubles, I'd talk about track and Jax would talk about baseball... When it got back to the time when Mom wanted us home, we'd stop and buy Dad's newest novel he wanted to read, and then leave. The drive home was always my least favorite...I didn't want to leave.

The drive home.

Unwanted memories bombarded me before I could stop them.

Before Jax headed off to college our dad, Trent Austin, died from a car accident after he was put in the hospital with a concussion and internal bleeding. I was at school when it happened. I was sitting in Algebra class when the teacher's phone rang. I sighed and concentrated on my work, and I didn't think much of it when Mrs. Moore called my name. Then I looked up. I remember feeling my stomach clinch a little.

With a grave and uncertain expression on her face she said, "Lilly...you're needed at the office."

My cheeks had heated when everyone turned to look at me. "For what?" I didn't do anything to get in trouble for...

Mrs. Moore looked really uncomfortable then. "Be quick now."

Everyone was still looking at me and I didn't know what to think of the situation. So I just grabbed my Algebra book and backpack and left the room. I didn't know why Jaxston was checking me out of school, but with his being eighteen and on the list of people authorized to check me out, I knew he was allowed to. I hurried down the hall not bothering to put my book in my locker. It was less than a minute later when I saw Jaxston pacing the hall by the office window.

"Jaxston," I called as I got closer. "What--"

That's when I really got scared. Tears were in my brothers eyes. He looked up at me then broke eye contact.

"Come on." Was all he said before dragging me out the front entrance of the building.

I had to practically jog to keep up to him as we headed to the old pick-up he had at the time. I didn't know what was happening and tons of scenarios were galloping through my head. Did something happen to mom? Is Grandpa in the hospital from another heart attack? I couldn't think straight. I climbed into the truck and Jaxston was pulling out of the parking space before I even had my door all the way shut.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Jax, what's going on? What happened?" That's when I realized I was shaking.

My brothers red rimmed eyes glanced at me before he glanced back at the road. Much like they did today. "Dad got in a car wreck." He swallowed hard. "He's in the hospital."

I gasped as my eyes and nose started to sting with tears. Daddy... No! "He's okay, isn't he Jax? Is he okay?" I didn't know why I asked that question. If he was fine why was my big, strong brother crying? Why was I leaving school when I had a huge exam later that day? Why was I shaking so bad I thought I'd puke? My tears came in earnest as I whispered, my voice filled with raw emotion and tears. "Jaxston. Tell me. How bad is it?"