Stepbrothers (Paused!!) (Editting!!!!)

Chapter 25

Angel

She's all I wanted. She's all I had. Its still dark when I get out of the house (or should I say basement) to walk all the way to school. Its a 20 minute walk to be exact, but I don't wanna bother my aunt. More like I don't want her bothering me. She has a huge basement outside of her house and that's exactly where I'm staying at. I don't see her and she doesn't see me. Well, only when I need to use the bathroom or use her microwave. The cool air penetrates my hair sticking out of my brown beanie, which reminds me summer hasn't yet arrived.

My plan is to graduate this year and get out of here, maybe I can take Colleen with me wherever I go. There is nothing more that I could wish for. My dad hates me because I'm not his son, my mother is dead and my siblings don't know what it's like being the outsider of this family. I wanna make my own family and avoid all of the mistakes they ever made.

I arrive my destination. People stare as I enter the school. They all know I got kicked out and seeing me is a news update. A few papers fly out of my dumpster of a locker. A girl kneels down to quickly pick them up, she hands them to me. I have to look twice to realize it's Noelle. Her hair is straightened and back to black. She's wearing baggy clothes and her eyes are red from underneath as if she's been crying for days. They remind me of Colleen's sad ones.

"Here." She half whispers. I take them from her hand with awkward discomfort. I had completely forgotten about all of the memories we've shared together. "Are you... okay?" Without even considering it, I realize I had spoken. She hesitates to answer, "N-No. Travis left to New York without even telling me." She let out a shaky sigh and quickly wrapped her arms around me for comfort. I awkards let my hand rest on her back. I look around, but no one is paying attention to the fallen Angel hugging the girl who is silently breaking inside. "Thank you for being here for me." She says between sobs even though I haven't actually been there for her.

"N-no problem." I push her away slowly. The environment between us was getting uncomfortable. I look down at the wet stain on my shirt of her tears. Seeing Noelle cry reminds me that I was once supposed to be Colleen's protector, and she was fighting for me yesterday, I realize now that she has always been mine.

"No matter what others say, please don't let go of her." I turn to her confused for a moment. "If you care to much about what others think then you'll never find love." She looks around, I scratch my neck trying to figure out what she means. "I loved someone, and they loved me, but I messed up."

"T-Travis?" I stutter. She stares at me, "No, not Travis... He... he was just my boyfriend." She says carelessly  "Being with him distracted me from who I am and now that he's gone... I realize I'm... gay" I stare at her in silence,

"And she will never forgive me for what I've done. I bet its a real pleasure seeing me like this. I bet it feels nice for you too." I bite my tongue and choose my next words, "I once thought I loved you, but that doesn't mean I like seeing you like this." My hands rest on her shoulders. I give her a squeeze, "There is nothing wrong with being you." Tears build in her eyes again, "You don't know my mother do you?" She bites her lip and rubs my hands off. "I need to go." She picked up her bag and walked away.

On my way to class I spot Eli. He's alone. Where is Colleen? I hope shes okay. The urge of knowing makes me really uncomfortable. What does she see in him? Does she have a type? I question the person under my skin. Do I need a lip piercing? The bell rings again meaning I'm late for my first period. Eli catches me staring and jogs to catch up with me. I busy myself by walking to class. "Angel!" Eli yells. I turn a bit shook. He trembles in anger that faded, "I-I need you to come to my place after school." He sets his jaw and looks down at the floor. "What for?"

"Just... come." He turns to leave. As soon as he disapears into the halls Colleen and I both stop firmly in front of each other. So many words wanna come out of my mouth, but I can't say them. "Angel" I hear her mummble. My heart won't stop pounding in my ears. We are alone with no one around in the empty halls. We both walk slowly to each other unsure of what the next step will lead us to. I hug myself to avoid the urge of touching her and give her a weak smile, "Hey... How've you been?" I ask. "I've been better." She says bitting her lip. I nod and look away. "W-Well I'm late. Nice seeing ya." I walk past her.

***

I knock on the door and take a few steps back waiting for Eli to open it, but instead his dad opens it. "Hey, I'm-"

"Angel." He cuts me off "Yes, come in." He moves to the side and hold the door open for me. I come inside and look for the couch to take a seat. "Where is Eli?" I ask feeling awkward. "Upstairs." I get up but he stops me. "Angel... Do you know who I am?" I stare at him. His face looks painfully familiar but I can't locate it. "No sir." I answer and measure the distance to Eli's room with my eyes. "Angel.." His hand squeezes my arm making me really uncomfortable, "You don't remember me?" I shake my head, "of course you don't. you where only two." He looks to the side very thoughtfully. Discomfort builds up again, his words I cannot make out the metafor.

"Is Eli here or not?" I ask impatiently turning my back at him. "I'm your dad." Its crazy the way three words can change you forever. I sat on the couch and gave him a good hard look. DNA test isn't needed to know he's my dad. Knowing it makes it easy for me to find parts of me that came from him. Its like searching for something and then you realizing you've been searching in the wrong places. My eyes begin to water, but I don't move. We are just both frozen in place not knowing what to say next. Should we just hug it out? Where was he my whole life?

"Why did you leave my mom?" My words leave my mouth in pathetic whimpers. "Your mom and I where never together Angel. I was married." I look up at him and then I stand.

My fist burns with pain as it meets his face. I punched him. My real dad. I punched him. Eli walks just in time for the show. I almost invited him to have a seat.

"I have to go home. With my real father and brothers." I say realizing he hasn't been in my life enough to even be considered my father. He is still just a stranger whose life is still unknown. My hand touches the door knob when Eli whispers in my ear, "She's a good kisser isn't she?" Shivers run down my spine. I turn to look back at him. His face is twisted with pleasure that feeds from my reaction.

"She sure does have a type as well, bad boys that are okay with incest." I shove him down and begin to punch him in the face. Blood runs down his nose as he smiles with orange teeth smudged with blood. His dad picks me up from the floor and shoves me away. Eli rises, "She's not my step sister! She doesn't share our blood!" I yell trying to beat him again, but his dad's hands stop me. "She should be coming by soon. I'll tell her you stopped by my brother." He licks his lips. I turn my back and storm out of the house.

I can't feel the burning sensation running makes you feel. All I truly care about his getting home. Not the basement, but the home I grew up in. My stomach flutters as I see it. My house. I tap on Luke's window. He looks so excited to see me, "Angel!" I jump inside and give him a hug messing up his hair with my hand. "Hey there." Mark walks in with a bag of Doritos. "Hey Mark" He drops the bag and joins the group hug.

"Are you here for Colleen?" Luke asks. I nod, "She just left." I pat there backs and break away from the hug "I'll move back in soon. I promise."

I see Colleen in the far distance and I continue to run towards her. As I get closer Eli's words cross my mind. She's a good kisser isn't she. Yes she is, and I won't allow anyone else to share anymore kisses with her. "Angel! Oh its so good to find you." Noelle clings onto my arm and starts sobbing again. "I told my mom. She kicked me out. I need a place to stay in." She pleads. I look up at Colleen getting smaller and smaller in the distance and then back at Noelle.