Love Is Easy

Chapter 4

A/N

Hi guys! As usual, thanks so much for the response from the last chapter, I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) Here is chapter 4! I was a bit rushed in writing it so if you pick up any typos I'm really sorry and would appreciate you letting me know.

Enjoy and pretty please leave me lots of comments and feedback xx

— GEORGIA — 


"I want to help you. You just need to give me a chance. Stop pushing me away!" I sat down on Andrew's bed with my head in my hands. I'm trying to keep myself together, I really am but right now it seems like I'm getting nowhere. 
"I'm sorry G." He told me quietly, almost whispering. "Stop saying sorry," I lowered my voice before I continued, "I know it's hard. It was hard for me too, trust me. But you can do this." He looked at me for a few seconds before shaking his head and leaving his room.

I sighed loudly before following him back out of the room, "Just come with me to my shack." He turned his head and gave me a look with wide eyes and I realised my mistake, "Our shack." I corrected myself before continuing to pitch my case.

"We will go up there for 2 weeks just spending time with each other and friends like we used to do." I said somewhat convincingly hoping that he would be thinking back to all the great memories we shared at our shack and that maybe, just maybe, it was a place he wanted to go back to.. "Don't do this for you." I said. "Do it for us. Do it for me. I've lost one brother and I feel like I'm losing the next."

As soon as those words left my mouth I realised just how harsh they were, but I knew he needed to hear it.I knew that Andrew felt guilty. Guilty for being sad and guilty for not being good enough for everyone but more importantly guilty for making me feel like I just can't stop losing people in my life.

He looked at me for what felt like forever and I looked straight back, not wanting to break the moment as I knew he was considering it. He said nothing. As my eyes stayed fixed on his, a tear streamed down his face and I understood just how hard this was for him. 


I was pushing him. Nothing angers me more than when people dismiss Andrew's depression. They tell him, "just be happy" or "stop complaining, nothing is wrong." I tried my hardest to be understanding and it worried me that Andrew may think of me as one of those other people. 


"Okay." He said rather bluntly. I slowly walked up to my big brother and wrapped my arms around him. He was reluctant but wrapped his around my body too. Andrew and I never hug and we never show how much we love each other even though we know we should. Times like these are rare and are the times that I cherish most.


-

We decided together that we would go up in six days as it already took me a few days to convince Andrew to come with me and I couldn't wait any longer to be back up there. If it was up to me we would have left right then and there when Andrew finally said "okay" but I knew that I was going to have to do this under Andrews conditions.

Throughout the six days, I prepared to go back up to the shack and see the place in an absolute mess. Although Charlie is amazing at many things, keeping a house clean is not at all one of them. Along with the state of the shack, I told myself to be ready for getting rightfully told off for leaving Charlie alone for almost a week but I knew that once I explained the situation, she will move on in a heartbeat.

Finally, I thought about Mitch... We haven't talked since our date a week ago, which shouldn't feel long but for some reason it really does. He messaged me Christmas morning but it felt wrong to reply. I was in such a state from dealing with Andrew and the last thing I wanted was to bring Mitch into my mess. I messaged him later that day just saying the usual 'Merry Christmas, have a good day" message and when he asked me how I was going I ignored it, wanting the conversation to end before it started. Although I was pushing Mitch away in some ways, I still felt like I needed him.

On the 26th of December, I finally headed back to our shack with Andrew. Andrew and I celebrated Christmas at home with my mum's family, as planned before all this drama occurred, and it was actually quite nice. Normally my family makes a big fuss over Christmas. They buy more than we need or want, cook more than we can eat and finally they drink more than they should. Thankfully this year, everything was kept on the down low.

I only got a few presents which I had asked for as they were things I really needed, we had a perfect amount of food to feed everyone who attended our Christmas lunch and everyone had a bit of alcohol without getting stupidly drunk. There were times when questions came up like, 'You seem happier now Georgia' or times when relatives would come up to me and whisper 'What happened to Andrew?' Times like those I just wanted to throw my drink and kick over the table while screaming 'Can't you just give me one day to be happy' but instead I reacted in a more civil way.

I was driving up to our shack, thinking about the good ol' times, not only the Christmas just passed but all other Christmas' prior to that one. Our family used to be so happy and so united and now driving for 2 hours with my brother with absolutely nothing to talk about and no other noise than the low rumble of the radio, it was as clear as glass as to how much we have changed.

We arrived in Port Wakefield, which is halfway to our shack and is the closest main town, and I asked Andrew if he wanted anything for lunch. He rudely ignored me as if I wasn't the one doing him a favour. I rolled my eyes as I usually do and hopped out of the car, slamming it behind me to highlight my mood.

I knew more than anyone that he didn't want to be here and that he thought he was happier sobbing in his room all day but I couldn't not try to mend him. I have to try, I know I do, but boy he was making it hard for me, but then again who am I to judge... I have no idea what he is battling within his mind right now.

I walked up to the counter and bought a vegetarian pasty and an iced coffee. I paid a price which was expectedly way higher than it should be and then I took my items to go sit alone on one of the tables. I grabbed out my phone and scrolled through Facebook. I tried my best not to use social media much as I used to as I find it to be so toxic but as a 20-year-old I still find it necessary to keep up to date with what is going on.

I went through all my apps, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter until I got bored so I looked at my messages to see if I missed anything. All my recent messages were read and I had replied to them all so I continued to scroll down through people. I came across a message from Mitch where he asked if I'm okay. I went to text back, finally, saying everything is fine, when it really isn't, but instead I decided to call him.

I waited as I heard the phone ring loudly in my ear but just to my luck I had to listen to the charming voice of the message bank. After listening to his voicemail, 'Hi what's up! It's Mitchell. Sorry, I couldn't get to the phone, I'm probably playing basketball or eating something. Please leave me a message and if I think you are important enough, I will reply." I smiled at his goofy message and waited until the phone beeped to signal it was recording my message.

"Hi Mitch, it's Georgia. I was just going to call to see how things are. If you have any time, maybe call back. Thanks, bye." I hung up feeling slightly disheartened as I felt the need to talk to him now, and by him, I do not mean the pre-recorded him on voicemail. I walked backed to the car and jumped into the driver's side. I got the Ice Coffee out of my bag and passed it over to Andrew. He looked at me before saying, "I didn't as-" "I know you didn't ask for it but you wanted it. I know you did."

— MITCH —

Faster, faster, faster! I thought to myself as I ran down the path 'Walk the Yorke' which is set out behind all of the shacks, away from people's sights. I liked running here when I have a lot on my mind as I can run as fast and as hard as I can without the distraction of getting looks from people like I would if I was on the beach. I got to the end of the path and I didn't bother stopping to stretch, I just turned around and continue running.

This last week has been messy and any chance had to run away from reality I took it. By the time I arrived home the sun had gone down and I had no idea what time it was or how long I was out for. I walked in the house to see James, Matt and Adam on the couch watching a movie, each of them having a beer in one hand and their phone in the other. I closed the door behind which made the boys look around.

"Where have you been?" Adam asked standing up. His angered voice startled me, "I just went for a run." "Do you know what time it is man?" He began to raise his voice and the other guys looked back around to continue scrolling on their phones, not wanting to be in Adam's firing line.. I shook my head and he quickly told me, "It's 12:36am." "Shit, sorry man. I really didn't know it was that late." He shook his head before sitting down again. He scoffed, "I sound like a pussy," He continued without fixing his eyes on mine, "but man you've been pretty rough lately."

Even though to anyone else he would be sounding overprotective considering I'm a 22-year-old bloke, and he's not my mum, I got where he was coming from. Seeing your mate leave without notice and not come back until the early hours of the morning would shake anyone up. Especially with the past, I've had. "Sorry man." I said one more time, Adam nodded to acknowledge me before dropping the topic "Oh and this chick called you." He chucked me my phone and I didn't hesitate to unlock it.

I swiped down to view my notifications and saw 'Missed call from G' and a text saying 'You've got 1 new V-Mail.' I stepped outside before looking back at my phone and listening to the message from Georgia. The message was short and blunt and I could tell something was wrong.

In the message, she sounded distracted and distressed as well as simply not herself. I went outside and called Georgia but she didn't reply. I sat down on our dinner table, looking out onto the water. The wind was cold but it didn't bother me anymore. After ten or so minutes I rang her again, and to my delight, she picked up.

"Mitch? What's wrong?" She asked before saying anything else and it took me a while to realise just how late is was by now. "Nothing, I'll see you soon."