My New Boyfriend (Sequel to My New Brother)

Part 9

When my parents picked me up they didn't even look at me. They just nodded at the principal and acted like they were listening. They acted concerned and then proceeded to say they didn't know what had gotten into me and that I never acted this way before.

When we got into the parking lot my mom slapped me across the face, saying she didn't raise me to be this way. It hurt really badly, and it was on the side that Monica punched me on but I tried to suck it up because I knew Braden has been through much worse.

The whole car ride home was a conversation about not being able to go out anymore for a month and just doing my school work while I was suspended. Oh, and I had to go to therapy again. What the hell?!

Then my parents said they had no idea where Braden was, which worried me. He wasn't at school or home obviously which was a scary thing to think. So much could happen to him. I just hope he's okay....

I went straight to my room and just laid there. I started on some school work for the day. But I didn't really understand it very well. I had barely paid attention on the first day, worried about Braden and we were called to the councilor's office, which took up time and now I basically had to teach myself and it was challenging.

So I skipped that and went to language arts, something I could always do, no matter what the level was. I speak English after all. So I spent the remainder of the day doing my language arts homework and classwork for the whole week, which I finished by the end of the day. Then I went down for some dinner, since it took me that long to do everything.

Mom and dad weren't down there though. They took my cellphone so I couldn't call them. Then I noticed a note. 

It said:

"Went to look for Braden. Stay out of trouble. Make dinner. Call if Braden comes home." -Mom and Dad

Sighing, I picked up the house phone and ordered a pizza. I don't cook and I had some extra money lying around so why not?

Taking advantage of my parents being gone, I turned on the TV but could barely pay attention because Braden being gone was giving me anxiety. Where was he?

About an hour after my pizza was delivered my parents came home. And...Braden wasn't with them!

I quickly turned off the TV and just sat there, eating my pizza as innocently as possible.

They eyed my pizza but I could tell they weren't going to comment because they were worried about Braden as well.

"I think we should call the police." My dad said.

I didn't reply because I just didn't care anymore. I wanted Braden home and that was it.

I went up to my room and laid down. I tried to recall our last conversation. It must have been the one where I was pushing him to tell me about his eating patterns. That was just about 24 hours ago. I hadn't seen Braden in 24 hours...

Eventually I fell asleep. And I had nightmares.

~Later~

I woke up to someone touching my face. 

"Braden?!"  I said, looking up at him.

"Hey Hallie." He said softly.

"Where were you?! I was so worried, I-"

"Shhh." He said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Is that a bruise on your face?"

"Probably." I said, wincing. I hadn't bothered to even look in a mirror so I wasn't sure.

"What happened?" He said, sounding full of concern.

"Monica-" 

"I'll kill her!" He said angrily.

"No, Braden you know that's just what she does. And then mom...added to it a bit."

Braden looked pissed. "She does that shit to me too. I put up with it but when she does it to you...that's not okay."

"It doesn't matter, it wouldn't hurt that much if Monica hadn't done anything. But not the point, I got suspended until next week from school and Monica is out for the rest of this week."

"What the fuck?! Why did you get suspended, you didn't do anything, did you?" He said.

"Um...well she said you could've committed suicide and that is why you weren't at school. I was already worried about you and it just made me angry. So I-er I punched her in the nose."

Braden started laughing. "Alright Hallie!" He said. "The bitch deserved it!" He said between laughs.

I smirked. "Yeah...so where were you?"

He stopped laughing. "Well...I was with some friends."

I raised an eyebrow. "Friends? You have friends?"

"Hey!" He said, shoving me lightly. "I've got a few."

"How come you never talk about them then?"

"Um...well when I need them to do me favors and stuff they are there."

"What are you talking about?" I said.

"Look, just don't worry about it, okay? Are mom and dad going to work tomorrow?" He said.

"Why wouldn't they?" I said.

"Because you got suspended and they don't trust me to actually go to school. They don't even know I'm here."

"What time is it?" I asked suddenly. 

"5 a.m."

"Oh my god, and you just got here? What could you have possibly been doing for the whole day and night practically?"

"I would've gotten here earlier but the police slowed me down. I was trying to avoid them."

"That was mom and dad's doing. They wanted to find you."

He nodded. "Well, I'll let you sleep. You look tired."

He turned to leave. "Wait!" I said.

He spun around, looking at me.

"Uh, can you-um stay with me?"

He smiled and nodded, climbing in my bed and laying next to me.''

He kissed me and wrapped his arms around me. He smelled like alcohol but I didn't acknowledge that it the moment. All that mattered was him holding me. And then we fell asleep together.