After Time Passes

Chapter 5

     Skyler had enough of their behavior towards me after two years, and decided to stop hanging out around them. Jett did the same. It hurt me to see them apart they were brothers after all. I told them I was okay being on my own. That the boys needed them more, but they said no. It was too much for them to endure. They didn't really told me what happened between them, but only said that one day they will regret it and hoped it wouldn't be too late. I can only imagine what they really think of me. I have thought of every possible idea to mentally prepare myself, but I know it will still hurt no matter what they say. Whatever they thought of me I was just going to suck it up and accept it. No matter what the outcome. The same went to my father. I sighed. In other words I've been waiting for the day my brothers, Blue and Caden, and dad to finally say something about what happened and has happened afterwards. If they didn't, I felt like I was going to explode. Their hostility towards me will soon come to an end, and I wasn't going to let myself live like that all my life. I've had and still am given them time to lament for her death, but how long is enough? Couldn't they still do it with me by their side, supporting one another? Skyler and Jett have been on my side all this time. Continuously, teasing and treating me the same like they have always done. I was grateful. I did the same. Despite the fact, at first I would act as if I was happy, but now I won't pretend. I was going to move on with or without them. And if they were ever ready to talk I will listen.
      "Hey?" Skyler elbowed me on the side. "What's wrong?" He said sounding a little concern. AlI felt all eyes on me.
      "Oh, nothing's wrong," I said shaking my head.
      "I've been calling your name for a while," he told me.
     "Really? Sorry, my mind must of wondered off," I told him.
      "Are you sure?" my uncle Shawn asked next as he put a hand over my forehead checking my temperature. "You feel a little warm, maybe you're catching a cold," he said pouring me some orange juice into another cup. "Here, drink some," he said handing me the cup. I grabbed it and gulped down the whole drink down my throat. I was thirsty.       
      "Maybe, we should take you to see a doctor, so they can check you up," my aunt Juliet said this time as I finished my drink.
      "You guys, stop. I'm fine. You worry too much," I said almost letting out a laugh. They tend to go a little over board regarding my health. Last time I got the flu they had rushed me to the hospital creating a scene because the nurses there wouldn't take me in right away. I was so embarrassed. They even wheeled me in, in a wheelchair saying I might faint and didn't want me to get hurt. There were more seriously ill people there than me. I had to calm them down by telling them it was just a little sore throat and reminded them that the people here needed the assistance more than I did. We could have just gone to a pharmacy and pick up some medication, but they decided to wait just to make sure it wasn't anything serious. It wasn't. They gave me some pills and said I just needed to stay hydrated and have plenty of rest. "I was just thinking about something," I told them.
      "About what?...a boy," Jett said a little displeased. All eyes were focusing on me even more in depth. All the guys had this bothersome look and my aunt had this cheery look on her face.
      "What!...What made you think it's about a boy from 'I was just thinking about something'," I said a little annoyed. Boys were never a topic I liked to talk about. I have never had a boyfriend let alone kiss one. All my years at being at a school I have seen plenty of boys ask girls out to a school dance or something. No one ever asked me or even approach me. I don't know why. I guess I wasn't pretty enough. So I didn't let it bother me...much. It's not like they weren't never in my mind they were, but I had 3 guys I constantly kept thinking about. And besides I was just 15. I want to enjoy of what's left of my childhood.
      "I don't know. Isn't that what girls these days all they ever think off," he said.
      "Well, I don't know what girls you've been seeing, but I'm not most girls...but if you want then I guess I should start looking a boyfriend," I said playfully. My uncle's fork fell and glared at me. So did the other boys.
      "Oh, yes! Honey that would be wonderful," my aunt said clapping her hands together like a small child. "I can set..." she didn't have the chance to finish her sentence because my uncle Shawn cut her off.
      "Juliet, don't you think we should talk about this?" he said sounding a little mad.
      "Talk about what? Shawn, she's 15. She's old enough to date," she said defensively.
      "Well, I'm not going to let my little girl date. She is still too young for that," he rebutted. I couldn't help but smile internally. My uncle saw me as his own daughter. He probably has all his these years he has been taking care of me. And here I was thinking I didn't have a father that loves me. My heart clenched a bit. Then as if someone has poured a cold bucket of water a realization hit me. My aunt Juliet and Uncle Shawn have been second parents to me and all I've been doing was sulk around how my father and brothers 'don't care about me'.
      "I agree," Skyler said. My aunt Juliet scoffed.
      "Well, if I remember correctly most of you boys started dating younger than 15. Why can't she do the same?...don't tell because she is a girl," she mocked.
      "Exactly! We know what those boys are thinking!," Skyler shot back. This was falling out of proportion. They arguing about who I should date and not and that I was allowed to make my own decisions and stuff. Yes, I wanted to date...eventually maybe in a year or two. Maybe, even have a boyfriend, but not now. The truth was I wasn't ready and didn't want too anyways. Not until my relationship between my brothers and dad was repaired. How did we even get here? Brunch, started off so great.
      "Guys...guys!...Enough," I said a little more loudly. They all stopped talking and faced me. "I'm the one who you should be asking whether or not I want to even date someone."
       "Your right, honey. I apologize," my aunt said.
      "Do you even want too?" my uncle said after.
      "Want too, what?" I said.
      "Date," he said in a huff and crossed his arms little a four year old. I threw my head back and laughed.
     "Do I want date?...No, not really. I'm too young for that anyways," I said smiling. My aunt frown and it was her turn to act like a four year old. The guys sighed in relief. "I was just teasing when I said that earlier. I really don't want to out with boys and...catch cooties. They're yucky!" I joked and scrunched up my face. They were all laughing. Good. I wanted that. I don't like to see them argue.
      "Yes," my uncle said agreeing with me. "They have cooties. You should stay far away from them as much as possible until your maybe 30 or 40," he said with a smile.
      "Well, that is going to be hard," Caden spoke up this time.
      "Why?" our uncle Shawn asked.
      "Because 70% of our school population is boys. The school sports really attract a lot of guys," he stated.
      "Hmm?" our uncle Shawn thought. "Angel, how would you feel about going to an all-girl school?" he asked me seriously.
"Sorry, tío but no. I'm going to be joining the girl's field hockey team at school soon and I don't want to transfer almost 3 months into school," I said smiling.
       "But, I bet they have a field hockey team there," he said trying to persuade me.
       "They probably do, but I like Knightly Academy High. The staff and few students there are kind and the programs they have for the students are really educational and entertaining. Beside I get to see my peepaw at school, and once a Dragon always a Dragon," I explained my reasons into staying at Knightly Academy High. I like it there, and have been going to Knightly school since kindergarten. I went to Knightly Elementary School (K.E.S), Knightly Junior High (K.J.H) and now I was a freshman at Knightly Academy High (K.A.H). See, I've been a Knightly all my life. It would be weird if I was anything else. I happen to be a very loyal person.
      "Fine...," he said grumpily "but if I hear about any boys pestering you I'm transferring you. Got it?" he raised an eyebrow and gave me a stern look. I smiled and put my hand over his hand.
     "Yes tío, but you really don't have anything to worry. I'm a big girl now. I can handle myself. Trust me," I said. I'm only one belt away from a black belt in karate. I have been taking karate, kick boxing, and self-defense classes since I was 13. At first I only took those classes as a distraction, but I ended up loving anything that had to do with martial arts and I'm still practicing them.
      "She's right, Shawn. I'm sure if any boy tries to bother her she will put them in their place. She is a Halliwell after all," my aunt Juliet agreed with me.
      "I'm sure she can, but it's those...pest I don't trust," he said making a face.
      "Don't worry dad. You have nothing to worry about. We always take good care of her,'" Skyler said with a grin on his face, and shared this look with all the boys.
     "Yep, no matter guy or girl no one will be touch a hair of that pretty little head of hers. We don't discriminate," Jett said the last a little sassy. I'm afraid to ask, but now that I think about it when I was younger every time someone bullied me the next minute they came running back to me and apologize and promised never bother me again. I wonder if that had to do anything with them.
      "I bet you guys have," my uncle Shaw said. Now I think they did have something to do with them. I didn't like anyone else fighting my battles, so they must have done it when I wasn't watching. And here I thought I was wise beyond my years, and my words really got to them.
       "What did you guys do to those poor kids?" my aunt said in horror.