Beautiful Things

Chapter 28 - Tissues

BRIAN CAME BACK TWO minutes later. He walked right up to me, hand raised in a high-five, but I didn't move.

He raised eyebrows at me. "Come on, Bailey, I saw him leave holding his face. He looked defeated. I want the details! " He motioned to his raised palm with his other hand. I sighed. He really wanted that high-five.

"You are relentless," I mumbled, standing up. I high-fived him, then shot into the 'details'. When I was done, Brian broke out laughing.

"What?" I asked angrily. "This isn't a laughing matter. I punched him!"

"Exactly!" Brian stopped laughing. He said with a completely serious voice, "I should've recorded it." I couldn't help but thinking he should have. Though in order to seem like a decent human, I slapped his arm. He bounced away, looking frightened.

"I'm not next, am I? "His eyes widened.

"Fuck you," I hissed. "If you don't shut up, you will be."

He actually looked scared for a moment, then he laughed. I rolled my eyes, sick of his antics. I brushed past him, aiming for the door, but he stopped me. I crossed my arms.

"I'm just proud," Brian confessed, grinning. "He deserved it, and you, my dear sister, let out your anger on the person who deserved it, and not your poor brother, for once."

"Oh, yeah, my poor brother," I blew out the air in my mouth, throwing myself back onto the couch. "Now get me ice cream and root beer, please." I stuffed my face in a pillow, shutting my eyes. I wasn't all that sad, I just wanted to milk this situation for all it was worth. If I was right, Brian would shoot out the door to get me anything just so that I wouldn't cry... if I just reached for the tissue box-

"I'mgoingBaileyberightback," he shouted all at once, face turning paper white. He jogged out the door, not giving me a second glance.

He really was a good brother. I had to give him more credit. I smiled. Love you, Brian.