Revenge[√]

Mark the good listener

Favourite Character nominee: Mark

...

Knock knock!

'Go away!' I screamed.

The door opened and in came Mark. He had his headphones on so he probably hadn't heard me.

'Hey dad wants-' he took off his headphones and frowned at me. I probably looked weird sitting on m,y bed with Austin's towel around me.

'Nothing,' I said through chattering teeth.

'Why don't you take a shower? You're freezing!' he grabbed me and carried my stiff body into my bathroom. He gently sat me down in the glass shower and opened the hot water.

'Hurry up.' He walked out, closing the door after him.

Told you he was overprotective. Standing up, I rinsed myself off, enjoying the hot water running over my body.

I put on a fluffy white bathrobe, left my hair wet and walked out to find Mark lying on my bed.

'What do you want?' I asked, all the energy drained from my voice. I was grateful for the shower but I still wanted to be alone with my feelings.

Mark sat up and looked at me weirdly. 'Please tell me it wasn't that dirt bag or I will kill him,' he said so calmly it terrified me.

I remembered how good he was at fighting so I definitely wasn't going to tell him what was bothering me.

'No, no nothing. Uhm, its just that-' I stumbled over my words, struggling to hold onto one of the lies that floated around in my head.

Mark held his hand out. I took it and he laid me in his arms.

He stroked my wet hair. 'Nini just tell me whats wrong. I don't like seeing you like this - I prefer your annoying self,' he whispered in my ear.

I smiled and soon I was telling him everything. No matter how weird and anti-social my brother seemed, he was a good listener and a great cuddle buddy.

'The worst part is that Rosalie likes him. I told her I don't like him but now I actually think I do. Does that make me a bad person?' I asked, pulling away and looking at his face.

'No, not at all. It just-'

'Nica we need to talk,' Austin burst through the door, startling us both.

Marks eyes went stone cold. I could almost see the image of Austin and Mark beating the hell out of each other on my floor so I jumped off Mark's lap and held him back before he could do something stupid.

'Mark don't move." I said, hoping my voice sounded super bossy.

I turned to Austin. "My name is Veronica not Nica -now tell me what you want in my room.'

His face fell and I felt a bit sad at hurting him but I was way too pissed to care. He wasn't worth destroying my sisters trust.

He looked me up and down. I was suddenly very aware that i was only wearing a short bathrobe. His eyes turned to Mark who still sat on my bed, looking like a bull ready to charge.

'Why is he here?' Austin spat.

I quickly blocked Mark from breaking his face even though I desperately wanted him to and turned back at Austin.

'He is my brother ok? So if you want to tell me something you can tell him too. He is way more welcome in my room than you.'

I felt so powerful being sandwiched between two guys. Even though one of them was my brother-well my adoptive brother.

Austin hesitated but realised I wasn't going to change my mind.

'Look I'm sorry for what I did back there-I wasn't thinking. I wouldn't do anything to ruin this but...but..'

He pulled at his hair and walked to the door and back.

'The thing is: I like you. A lot." He eventually said.

Wow,  shocker (rolling my eyes).

"I've had a crush on you ever since I realised how pretty you were."

Is it bad that the entire time he was talking, I couldn't help but just stare at him? I literally only noticed just how cute he was as he stood there, struggling to find his words.

"When you left my 8-year old heart broke. I doesn't help that you jump on me when you see me or that we sing certain songs together. The worst part is that i like you but you'll never like me back. You know what? I'm leaving."

Reality suddenly snapped me out of my reverie. He liked me, I liked him but he didnt know how I felt. And I couldn't tell him because it felt wrong to.

I really liked Austin and I couldn't do anything about it because I was too freaking loyal to my sister.

He stood there, staring at me for a few seconds, begging me with his eyes to say something, before walking out and leaving the door open.

My body forgot how to function for a full minute whiley brain registered the fact that I might've just lost my best friend. My body suddenly felt too heavy for my legs and I fell.

Mark caught me and held me while I cried for what seemed like hours but was most probably just minutes.

'What am I supposed to do now? Both of them hate me,' I sobbed.

'Wait here, I'll talk to Austin,' Mark got up.

'No!' I pulled him back. Don't hurt him please!' I begged, tears smearing his designer shirt.

'Calm down sis. I won't hurt him. At least not yet. I promise,' he gently pried off my fingers and shut the door softly behind him.

A few minutes later, I heard voices in the hallway. I stood up from the cold floor and opened my door so I could see what all the yelling was about.

Mark was talking to Austin who looked like he'd been crying.

'Man she doesn't know what to do now! What would you do if you were in her shoes?' Mark hissed at him.

They were the exact same height.

Hmmm I notice the weirdest things.

'Dude I love her! You don't know how angry I was when she told me about this Mystery Man. Do you think its easy being her 'friend'?' Austin cried, tears running down his face.

I was just about to step out when Mark laughed. He sounded like an evil mastermind.

'Friend? I'm her brother and I have to deal with idiots like you that break her heart. You know what? You're being selfish. Think about what she must be feeling. Have you any idea that Rosalie likes you? Stop crying and get yourself out of this mess. You are supposed to be a man- start acting like one!' Mark stomped off in the direction of the elevator, leaving Austin standing there.

Austin looked back, directly at me. He looked beaten and fragile-I almost went out but then I remembered Rosalie. No way-I loved Austin but my new family came first. I closed the door.

#PLAYLIST SONG...I Hate you, I love you by Gnash and Olivia O'Brien.