He ran in front of a car and his whole life flashed before mine and his eyes. Mark's eyes widened as I screamed his name with tears coming on. I could just see it happening. Me losing yet another person I loved dearly forever. Falling to my knees on the hard concrete floor, I turned away waiting to hear the impact of the car hitting my brother for the last few weeks.
But no sound came. Just the screeching holt of tires.
The car didn't hit.
Mark stumbled and tripped but got up as fast as the car came. He swallowed and made eye contact with me and then got off the busy street full of dangers.
I hit the ground so hard my knees were bleeding, but they didn't matter at the moment. Just Mark's safety. Wiping the fallen tears from my face, I got up and brushed the gravel off my disgusting knees. Cars honked at Mark as if yelling at him, but they continued on like he didn't almost die.
On the other side if the road, Mark was against a building catching his breath waiting for me. He looked like tears were coming on and as if he had been shot.
When the light turned red, I made my way over to him to see the tears had already arrived. He held his head in his hands and was sobbing. This was the hardest I've ever seen him cry, let alone a boy his age.
"Mark." I said quietly sitting beside him. "Mark look at me." But he didn't budge and still sobbed. He was getting choked up. "Mark." I said now the tears of his hurt seemed to be getting to me. But I was going to be strong for him. For us all.
"I should've known this would've turned out like this. Love sucks and I never should've fallen for her. This is the third time Cals. Tristan, Dylan, Carson..who's next in line to steal her from me?" He spilled out finally looking to me. "This was just a waste of time coming here hoping she would love me still. That gut feeling was right. She doesn't love me again." And by that time I took his hand and looked into his beautiful eyes Esther once fell for.
"Mark, somewhere in her heart, I'm sure she loves you still. My brother, you know him, he has always been a ladies man, Carson probably made the move."
"But she kissed back..well, almost did." He said, now standing up and bring me up with him. I remembered Esther almost kissing him back as well. Her eyes lit up, then she remembered someone or something, so she stopped.
"Yeah, but she didn't go thought with it right?" I asked. Mark nodded but then looked to the normal traffic flow now.
"Callie, there's no way me and her can go on like this. I think I've finally given up." Sniffling at this terrible outcome of events that just involved all of my loved ones, I nodded.
"Okay Mark. I can support you in that, but if Esther wants to fix things, at least give her room to talk." He nodded then took a deep breath in.
"Lets get out of here." He motioned toward the hotel not too far away.
"Yeah. Agreed."
***********************************
We were greeted by the receptionist at the front counter who said we had multiple guests asking to go to our room. Apparently, someone had already let them up.
Eli.
That's when I realized I had left Eli to deal with Carson. The guy he was charged with basically killing him. How did he handle it?
I prayed he was alright and my brother didnt pull any self defense moves out of no where. He could have the tendencies for it. Who knows?
Jogging quickly to the elevator, we noticed it was out of service. Grumbling to ourselves, we ran up the stairs four flights and down the hall to our room. Panting at the door, I hesitated before I knocked.
"You okay Callie?" Mark whispered, I pulled my hand down to my side and breathed in.
"Um." Was I really okay? I was about to see my brother who was supposed to be dead, my best friend apparently dating him and cheating on Mark, face Eli who I hope wasn't injured, and try and work things out. "Yeah. We have to do this. No turning back now." And with that, Mark gave me a half smile, and I knocked on the door slightly. That's when we heard the yelling start.
"Who else could that freaking be Esther? Another boyfriend of yours coming to visit you?" A unfamiliar voice said through the door. Mark and I turned to each other with questionable looks. Who was that? "Oh, or is it this douches many girlfriends cause I've heard he just broke up with someone like days ago?"
"Oh shut your.." And that was my brother saying some rather colorful choice of words. He didn't use to cuss around me or the family. "And just get out! No one asked you to come here." With that, Carson swing the hotel door open and looked at Mark and I with rage. When he saw me, his face softened and then he recognized me.
"Callie... You're here. You're actually here." Then he started to walk to me with his arms open. I side stepped and leaned into Mark earning a glare from Carson to one of his old best friends. Carson stiffed a laugh then said,
"Oh is this your 'big brother' now? For all I know you two could be dating. Well better than dating that guy." He said pointing to Eli who was standing next to Esther. Eli looked ready to fight and Esther on the verge of tears. When we made eye contact, by heart broke, but I wasn't exactly on great terms with her at the moment. One step at a time here.
"Actually. I am dating Eli." And I brushed past him and took my boyfriends hand. "He's an amazing guy unlike some people here." I said spitting the words out at my brother. He put his hands up and walked in with Mark.
That's when Dylan of all people walked out from the bathroom.
"Dylan?!" Mark and I yelled at the same time. He jumped back a little and hit his head on the door.
"What the heck? You guys too?"
"What did you think I wouldn't go on a trip to find my best friend?" I said with sass to that brat. Dylan just rolled his eyes and hit my shoulder as he walked by to sit on the bed nearby.
So in the room was awkwardly Dylan, Eli, Mark, Esther, Carson, Dylan, and lovely little me. All of us trying to work our problems out one by one.
Sighing, I let my hands hit my thighs and spoke up.
"If none of you will start, then I will. Carson. You left and that hurt first of all. We will talk about this later." He nodded and I continued. "Esther. You left and I truly don't know why. All of a sudden you were gone and we find out Tristan of all people is the one you call last."
"You didn't answer your phone Callie."
"I know I didn't, but Mark was crushed thinking you were seeing Tris again and freaked out. But when I told him you loved him very much and that it could never happen, I got his hopes up too much I suppose. So forgive me Mark for doing that to you, because your girlfriend over there is smooching on some other guy, who just HAPPENS to be MY brother. Convenient right?" I basically yelled at Esther who looked as shocked and hurt as I felt. Mark was looking out the window and Carson playing with his hands. "Then I don't even know why the heck you are here Dylan." He tried to explain but I held him off. "Not done yet! Shut it. Now right this moment, I say Mark and Esther really need to talk." Carson glared at Mark and I. "You and I need to talk Carson, and Eli? Please find out whatever reason this douche is doing here." I said pointing to Dylan who rolled his eyes (again) and flopped on my bed. "Got it everyone?" They nodded and I took Carson's hand and opened the hotel door.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do Car. And I'm not even going to promise I won't be mad." Carson laughed then looked down on me.
"I can expect that. Still as sassy and you as ever."
At that remark, I rolled my eyes and felt like Dylan for a moment. Then we went in the staircase and began our talk about everything.
