Stepbrother

22: Won't Come Back

My hand quickly holds onto Jordan's hand, immediately stopping him from running away. I can barely see him, only the outline of his body is clear to me, since the tears in my eyes are making my vision blurry. Why is he running away? I know he heard what Kendall said, but why is he so upset?

"Let go," he grumbles, and I reach my other hand to wipe my eyes, and I can clearly see the anger on his face. Jordan's red eyes are also filled with tears, and he quickly pulls his hand away from me, stomping away with his fists clenched.

"Jordan! It's my fault!" I look behind me, and Kendall is shouting from the door. "I shouldn't have told her that. Don't get mad at her for something that she had no control over." Kendall's lower lip is quivering, and her eyes are overflowing with salty tears.

"I just need space," Jordan says angrily, glaring at both of us as he turns again to walk to his car, and I run forward, attempting to grab his hand again. I fail though, and I trip and fall onto the ground, feeling a sharp pain in my knee and ankle.

"I'll leave!" Kendall yells again. "I promise, I won't come back." Her voice is pleading, and every word that left her mouth was wavering. Kendall runs out of the front door and down the steps, towards her car. "S-See? I'm already going! Please, Jordan! Just don't do this to Maya."

Jordan pauses in his steps, the anger in his eyes fading slightly, and his clenched fists loosen a bit. I get up, ignoring the stinging pain on my skin and hold onto Jordan's hand reassuringly.

"Don't go, Jordan," I whisper. "Don't leave me."

Without realizing it, I heard Kendall's car engine turning on, and she drives away. My heart rate is quickly pacing, my heart banging against my chest. A chill runs down my back, remembering what Kendall had told me only a few minutes earlier.

I love you, Maya.

Within moments, Jordan and I walk into the house silently, still being affected by the after-shock of Kendall's confession. At this point, I had no idea what to say to Jordan. Kendall has been my best friend for so many years, and I never expected this from her.

There's nothing I can do to change the horrible environment around us, and to make it worse, this is the first time I've seen Jordan cry. I can't help it but feel like it's all my fault. I shouldn't have been pushing Kendall at all. I shouldn't have slapped her.

I watch Jordan pick up the shoebox from the floor, without making eye contact with me, not even for a second. Then, he walks up the stairs, not a single word coming out of his mouth. I can feel guilt washing over me, and I furrow my eyebrows, frustrated with what I had just done.

Without thinking I suddenly say Jordan's name out loud, and he stops at the top of the stairs, staring at me with still slightly angered look on his face. "I'm sorry, alright? I never knew that would happen. She never told me before."

"Do you love her back?"

A look of surprise appears on my face. "W-What?"

"Do you love her back?" Jordan repeats, his voice a serious tone.

"Why would you even ask that? You know I don't."

Jordan's gaze drops down to the floor as he continues to walk down the hallway, disappearing from my sight.