Double Or Nothing // C.T.H

33 ~ Thomas

I swear I only blinked.

Just one blink and I went from watching some dumb movie with Mali on the couch, throwing a piece of popcorn into her mouth and our hands smacking in a triumphant high-five, to popcorn scattered across the floor and fists striking wildly with dangerous thuds.

I remember the laugh that stretched from my throat as Mali clumsily lost her balance, her small fingers grabbing the back of the couch to keep her perched in place, the playful glare she sent my way.

My eyes close momentarily, only for one third of a second, and the scene flipped miserably. Her eyes widened from her glare as she gazed over my shoulder, giving me a slight warning to the loud bang the door made as it swung open.

The bowl of popcorn that was once in my lap clattered to the floor as I stood, my mind condensed with worry as Calum curled his fists in the door way.

"Calum?" Mali's voice was soft and thin, her eyes giving me a short glance before she took half a step toward him. "Why are you back so early? Where's Valerie?"

A low sound emitted from him at the sound of her name, somewhere between a growl and whimper. His shoulders hunched and he bowed his head, shielding his face from us.

"Calum?" The question came from me this time, I held my hand out slightly and stepped past Mali.

This time, it was faster than a blink, my eyes didn't even have time to close before I heard the shatter.

"Calum!" Mali shrieked, her breath clumping in gasps as glass dispersed across the floor, like shimmering rain. "What the heck happened?"

His face twisted in a nasty way before a strangled shout forced it way from him. Calum threw his arms up in angered exasperation, saying something quietly.

I take another step forward, cautiously curious, "what did you say, Cal?"

Another blink and he wasn't at the door, he was inches from my face, causing a shocked sort of hiccup to burst from my lips as his face contorted in rage. "I KNEW IT! I KNEW, BUT YOU TALKED ME INTO ASKING HER," he pointed and accusing finger in my face and I shrunk back at the volume of his voice.

"What? I did-"

"IT'S YOUR FAULT," He screamed, eyes burning with the same fire as my fathers, and I shuddered, caving into myself. "GOD, IT'S ALWAYS YOU,"

"STOP," I screamed my breath hitched at his words.

He shoved past me, causing me to collapse onto the couch, stomach in my throat.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice wobbled and he let out a dark chuckle before his fist slammed into the wall.

"What happened?" His voice was cold, and I shivered as I stood from the couch with a small nod. "The same thing that always happens. Things finally seem great and then it all turns to crap," He says, his fists going through the wall rapidly, his breathing ragged.

"Calum, stop. STOP," Mail screams, grabbing his fist.

At that moment time seemed to slow. He turned violently and swung his other hand back threateningly. I cried out rushing forward.

Another blink and he froze before I even got there, his hand raised over his quivering sister, who's arms had instinctively folded front of her face in fear.

Calum's eyes glaze over with tears as he lowered his hand slowly, looking from his bloodied knuckles to our terrified faces before he crumbled.

"I'm sorry," his voice broke as did his face, his hands curled around himself. "I'm so, so sorry," he cried out, pain lacing his words.

Mali sunk down to her knees and wrapped her thin arms around his shaking frame. "Shh, its okay, you would never. I know that," She said, though her voice wavered with a slight unsureness.

"I'm not worth it, I'm not enough, Pathetic."

He sobbed and my knees buckled at his words, I fell next to them. My heart deflated as he broke, my own tears welling in my eyes.

"That's not true," I managed to say weakly. It was hard from me to see this, he's my rock. Watching your foundation crumble before you is not a good sight.

Calum looked at me and his tears fell faster, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean w-what I said," he choked. "I'm horrible," He screamed, tugging at his hair much too roughly.

His words played over in my mind and I had to remind myself that he was just angry. He didn't mean them. He didn't.

Mali instantly moved his hands from his head and ran her own fingers through his hair soothingly, "You're far from horrible, little one," She whispered, using the pet name she'd use for us years ago.

"I'm turning into him," he whispered almost inaudibly with a shudder.

I shook my head knowing just who he was taking about, and fire irrupted in my belly.

"No," I said firmly, my voice steady and eyes locked with him. "You- you are in no way even the tiniest bit like dad. You're kind and caring, you know how to listen and you're amazing at comforting people-or me at least. I- I don't know what I would have done, how I would have lived without you as my twin," I said, my voice breaking from its firmness with emotion, though my words still held the importance.

"Then how come she said no? Why doesn't she care?" He closed his eyes, and tears leaked from their edges.

It had felt like I'd been stabbed in the back, even though I wasn't the one rejected. The fire that was in my belly re-Kindled with ferocity. How could Valerie reject him we he so blatantly handed over his heart?

I stood, sharing a determined look with Mali, who's face was flushed with her own anger.

"I'll be back," I say marching to the door that was left open.

Calum eyes widened and he struggled to get up, his exhaustion and Malis arms holding him down. "Please, don't go talk to her! Please!"

I ignored him, my hand grabbing the cold handle, the night calling me with a small breeze of frozen air that wrapped around me, captivating me.

"Thomas!" He shouted, but was met will the closing of the door behind me. His muffled protests grew quite as I walked swiftly down the drive way and to the sidewalk.

My mind was buzzing, grasping the reality of everything.

Just one blink and everything shifted in a nasty way.

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A|N

I know, very dramatic but necessary.

Please, please tell me your thoughts. I miss reading them.

Reads dropped from 1k per chapter, to not even 100, so thank you if you are reading this.

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