Bittersweet Moments

33 | Ginger Ale

33 | Ginger Ale

This might be the last time I'll be stepping in here.

Gently letting my finger caress the wall beside me as I walked, I headed from the door to the kitchen. My goal was 'stealthily' take the things in my possession from this house, particularly from Jackson's bedroom. I had left clothes in there, plus various whatnots.

I had rushed out of school right away so that I wouldn't catch Jackson in the house and avoid the tension. I also had hoped Brennan wasn't home yet. Just a smooth in and out and the Dales didn't need to worry about me anymore.

Wish not granted when I stopped near the kitchen opening, hearing voices.

I waited and pressed myself flat against the wall. Crap, how did Jackson get here before me? And Brennan? And why did they have to be inside the kitchen?

I decided not to leave and listen for a while. It sounded like they were shouting at each other. This could be good.

" . . . How could you do that to her?" Brennan burst out, "She's my little sister and you broke her heart!"

"She lied to us. How could you still see her the same way? It could've been all an act!" Jackson retorted back. That hurt, man.

"An act?" Brennan scoffed, "All of that was an act? Do you even hear yourself? Why are you so angry anyway?"

There was no joking around. It was serious if Brennan was pissed.

"I don't know what you mean." I imagined Jackson looking away from his brother because he was lying. Lying liar.

"Why are you so mad at her? You're even angrier than Dad and he doesn't even fully blame her for it? Why?"

Since that day, I haven't heard anything from Maira or Walter, but it was pretty clear that I was fired. They're not going to be that merciful. I only guessed they were both too busy supporting the company. But I made me feel guiltier that Walter wasn't all out vengeful towards me.

And I haven't even seen Brennan until now. It hurt me to think that he was angry at me, but I felt relieved knowing that he was irritated by what his brother did. Brennan had done many idiotic and reckless things, and each time I never left him or really hated him - especially when he broke Montana.

He was doing the same for me now.

Jackson wasn't answering Brennan. So Brennan answered for him, "I know why. Because you're afraid your relationship will not work out so you just decided to break it off. That's a sissy move if you ask me."

Jackson still wasn't saying anything. A silence swept on them, so thick that a blade couldn't cut through it. There was nothing more intense than these brothers in a serious showdown.

I took the time to peek carefully behind the wall. There they were, each boy occupying one side of the counter and facing each other. Faces hard, jaws clenched and hands fisted.

I took shallow breaths just in case I was breathing too noisily.

Again, Brennan spoke up, "When you found out, you didn't have to shout at her, you know? You didn't have to yell and accuse her and make her feel like trash. If you wanted to break up, maybe you could've just said, 'Hey, our situation is a bit complicated so will you mind if we took a break from each other for a while to sort things out in this riot? Thank you.' That's it! Plain and simple!"

Hold on, how did he know about the fight?

It must've been the cameras in the room. Maybe.

"First of all, I do not talk like that," Jackson scolded, "And second, is that what you're going to do? After all she did? Forgive and move on?"