My Brother's Best Friend

Prologue

"Yes, I promise," I spoke into my smartphone, listening to Mason's voice continue to ramble about nonsense we'd already been over.

"You sure Mom is okay with all this?" He asked for just about the millionth time as I rolled my eyes.

"Even though I've said yes about a thousand times, let me suggest asking mom for once," I replied as he sighed in annoyance.

"Fine..." He grumbled as I grinned to myself.

"I'm really excited to see you," I whispered, showing a small smile to no one except myself.

I was really excited to see my only full brother, Mason. My mom was a prostitute and my dad was an alcoholic. The two are divorced and my step-parents aren't too thrilling either. My step-mom is a 'stay-at-home-mom', but somehow she sees the urge to be an asshole with that job. My step-dad is abusive, sometimes towards me, but usually towards the child that he had with my mom.

You learn that being a shadow on someone's back is a lot easier than trying to stand out.

"I promised you, and I've been so eager for this day. The day I can finally get you out of that hell hole," He spoke as I smiled, sealing my eyes shut and hearing the sound of bottles breaking downstairs. I was at my dad's, and he was wasted.

"Why do you have to be such a goddamn asshole!" My step-mom screamed, alerting everyone in the house to stay in their rooms to avoid getting injured.

My dad and step-mom had two little girls and one boy, while my mom and step-dad had one son. God help his soul. With the abusive nature of my step-dad, I'm amazed that kid is still alive. He's only twelve and he's been through hell multiple times. He's seen so many strange, and most likely drunk, men enter the house in search of my mom.

Of course, life didn't always used to be like this. All this shit happened a week after my brother moved to America to go to college.

"I don't want to wait any longer..." I whispered as a tear leaked out of my left eye and skidded down my cheek.

"You don't have to... I ordered your ticket online. You can leave tonight if you would like to," He whispered as I nodded.

"Okay, I'll sneak out tonight. No one will notice I'm missing, anyways. I can't stay here another goddamn second. I'm slowly being driven into insanity with every second," I whispered, feeling my depression wash over me.

"Start packing up and text me when you get to the airport, alright?" He spoke in a gloomy tone as I nodded.

"Okay. See ya tomorrow," I spoke, slightly smiling at the idea of being away from here tomorrow.

"Bye, Lydia. I love you," He said as I grinned.

"I love you, too," I spoke, hanging up before beginning to throw all my possessions into a duffel bag. I was almost done when my phone went off.

'Just so you know, my friend, Nathan, is staying over for a month due to the fact that he's a foreign exchange student from Australia -M'

'Alright -L'

I just want to leave, and I don't care who will be living with me for a month.

Just anywhere but here.