I Choose You

Paradise

Unedited

***

"Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night, she'd close her eyes
In the night, the stormy night, away she'd fly"

- "Paradise" by Coldplay

***

After taking a bite of a Twizzler, I wondered what else I could say. With a shrug of my shoulders, I sighed. "That's really all that has been going on since you've been gone," I confessed, resting my head on the back of the couch. My eyes focused in on my brother, Walker, as he sat across from me on the other side, slowly eating a Twizzler too.

Walker's baby blue eyes locked with mine as he halted eating his sweet treat. His eyebrow raised, "Really? That's all you have for me, G.?"

My mouth stretched into a smile as I watched the hunger for more news swim in Walker's eyes. "I'm sorry, Bro. I'm not that in touch with the gossip. I get all this from Maggy but, when she tells me all this, I try not to show my interest. Truthfully, I really could care less about the gossip." After admitting the truth, I took the last bite of my candy. For a brief moment, my eyes drifted over to the coffee table where a bag of more Twizzlers laid. I considered getting one more, but aside from having previously stuffed my face with multiple Twizzlers, I did not have the energy or willpower to get more.

"Why have these talks with me then?" Walker inquired, resuming his destruction of the Twizzler in his hand.

I gave another shrug, not liking how we were entering an emotional conversation. "I like talking to you," I told him as I pulled the green wool blanket that was in my lap up and over my shoulders. "And," I continued, fiddling with the hem of the afghan, "you like talking about other people."

Walker chuckled as he ran a hand through his short sandy blonde hair. His thin lips were expressing a wide grin, which showcased dimples on each side of his face. "I like talking about other people because I thought that's what you like talking about, G."

I lifted an accusing eyebrow at Walker, seeing through his words. "Really? You're saying that you don't enjoy learning about all of the juicy news that's been going on while you're away?"

The guilt was present on Walker's face. He had been caught, but that did not mean he was still going to confess right off the bat. He had to sweat it out for a second, but he would crack on himself. "I could care less about the scandals," Walker replied as he tried to give me a neutral expression. 

Failing, Walker gave a short laugh, "Alright, alright, alright. I do like being filling in on the talks of the town. Don't go telling people," Walker's eyes held mine with seriousness. "No one is allowed to know I'm a high school girl on the inside," a smirk broke his facade. "Plus, according to the sibling code, you aren't allowed to tell anyone."

I chuckled and nodded, "Oh, right. The sibling code. How could I forget about that? My lips are sealed. Obviously."

Walker's smile remained as he inhaled deeply. "So, how are William and Maggy doing?" He questioned before finishing his candy.

At the mention of Maggy and William's name, I was reminded that I had plans with them on Sunday to hang out. I made a mental note to not forget about Maggy and William when making my plans with Icarus. "They're both doing good in school."

"Maggy still being weird with her obsession phases?"

Rolling my eyes, I responded. "She's still the same but now she's wearing these overalls -- wait, nevermind, I forgot. She just changed her obsession. Now, she's into origami."