Baby Fat

twenty-seven

Everyone has their choices to make, and the people around them have to live with them. Bradley likes the believe that the world would collapse based on the choice of one person, that one person being him. It makes all of decisions seem so much more important—pressures him to make the right one.

But right now, the whole world isn't on his shoulders. It seems that all of that is in his sisters.

"Did I make the wrong decision? What was I supposed to do?" she sobs hysterically. Her face is blotchy and red.

Bradley holds her in his arms as she trembles.

"No, he gave you and ultimatum. You had to chose," Bradley attempts to console her but he doesn't think it goes over that well. She just sobs louder.

He hates touching, but for her he makes the exception.

"I think it's all my fault! I mean, I should've known ballet would drive us apart. He was so unhappy," Julianne wipes her tears, leaving her face streaky. She pulls out of Bradley's grasp, trying to pull herself together.

"He shouldn't have made you choose you career over him, it was unfair," Bradley explains tenderly. He originally called her over to tell her about their mother's less than condonable affair, but when Julianne collapsed on the floor in a heap of tears, Bradley's whole plan had to rethought out.

"It was unfair of me to keep a hold of him like that. I knew he didn't want the life that I had, and I asked him to stay anyways." Julianne's mascara has ran down her face with the tears.

Bradley thinks aloud by accident, "you really love him, don't you?"

"Love?" Julianne laughs as if anything is funny, "love isn't enough. Mathematically speaking, it just isn't enough to describe how much I—I can't even explain it."

Bradley nods his head hesitantly, not really knowing what to say. He finally mutters, "what are you going to do" in hopes of changing the subject.

It obviously doesn't work as he hopes because Julianne narrows her eyes. "Really? You think now is the right time to do this?"

Bradley cringes, and says, "sorry. Thought it might take your mind somewhere else."

Julianne nods her head. "I heard Mom's heading out to Santa Monica? Am I right?" Julianne's pathetic attempt to change the subject brings Bradley back to why he called her over here.

Their mother's affair, and what to do about it.

But seeing Julianne so miserable over her split with Xander, he doesn't think he can go through with it. Julianne isn't much for her mother, but it'd devastate her to know that Graham is being cheated on.

All Bradley wants to do now is protect her from the secret. That's why it's a secret, it keeps the important people from getting broken. And God knows that Julianne is important to Bradley.

"Yeah, her studio is opening up down there. I just found out the other week. Completely shocked me," Bradley comments. He takes a gulp of water, soothing his dry throat.

"She never fails to surprise me," Julianne replies, humming. "She should get out of Michigan, everyone and their fifth cousin knows she's unhappy here. Maybe she'd be less of a drag in Cali."

Or maybe she'll be a bigger whore, Bradley's subconscious thinks.

"I'd hope. If California's sunshine and ballet doesn't make her happy, I'm convinced nothing will," Julianne looks at her acrylics unhappy. The navy blue polish has already started to fade.

Yeah, maybe Jack Coats will, Bradley's mind adds. It will never shut up, no matter how convincing Bradley sounds.

"Probably not," Bradley shrugs his shoulders. "Nothing really makes her happy except ballet."