Deal With It

thirty seven

Eek! My exams begin this week! I will really try to update because I don't want to keep anyone waiting but college is still my first priority! ¤♡

Aside from that, I hope you like it.

Enjoy!

Chapter 37

Arissa's POV

"Why do we have to go now? Can't we go in the morning?" I asked her.

I glanced over at Tyler, who was still shirtless, and he was looking at his feet, trying to mask the annoyance and anger he was feeling right now. I clutched onto his hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"You may have forgotten but your brother is leaving tomorrow, and I'm sure he'd appreciate it if his family spent his last night at home together," she snapped at me. And here I thought the whole getting along thing would last a while at least.

"Of course," I said. It had slipped my mind that Drew was leaving tomorrow. It was probably because I wasn't ready to accept it and wanted to avoid the whole matter.

My big brother was being deployed to Afghanistan and I couldn't do anything but worry and pray. I wished I could beg him to stay home and find a new job, a safer job, but he always had an interest and passion for this field and I knew any attempt I made would be futile. He was a brave man and took pride in what he did.

Tomorrow.

The day I wasn't ready for was so close and I wished I could stop time for a while. Rewind it even. So I could spend more time with someone who meant a lot to me, cherish every moment before I had to see him off, knowing it would be months and months until we met again.

"I'll get my things and come downstairs," I told her and she smiled, disappearing into the hallway.

I padded over to the cupboard and opened it, taking out my black bag and shoving all my clothes that had piled up here whilst I stayed over with Tyler, inside.

"So you're going?" Tyler asked as I zipped up the bag on the bed. He was leaning on the wall beside the cupboard, his arms crossed over his bare chest as he kicked his feet about moodily on the ground.

I stood before him and hooked my arms around his neck, leaning in. "I really should," I said.

"I know, your mum's right," he sighed. "I'll come by tomorrow morning." He leaned down and kissed me intensely. I cupped his face and nodded, planting two small kisses on his lips before slinging my bag over my shoulder and leaving the room.

I said my goodbyes to everyone else before sitting at the back of the car for the drive home.

It was around 10pm when we got home.

Dad unlocked the front door and we stepped into the darkness. It was lighter outside believe it or not. I was the last one to step inside and followed the rest of my family to the main room. Just as I was looking for the light switch, the whole house illuminated.

"Surprise!" a bunch of strangers shouted. Drew looked shocked and my parents laughed whilst I was frowning. A few of them came forward, including Drew's girlfriend Abigail, who was probably the only person I recognised amidst all the others.

He instantly began to interact with his friends and I was left standing in the corner with my parents. I turned to face them. "Did you know about this?" I asked.

I expected them to be a little annoyed since Mum had told me it was going to be family night. But happiness was the only emotion I was able to draw from them. "Of course we did," Dad said.