A House Full of Brothers

Chapter 20

The car ride was packed of questions but the only answers I had were "no" and "I don't know". That was a lie since I did now know why I was called to the office, but it would be easier to tell them all as a whole - which was what I had to do as soon as I stepped into the house.

"Why were you in the office?" Justin panicked as soon I as walked into the door.

"Yeah, nice to see you too." I blinked at him.

"Brooklyn, now isn't the time." He rubbed his forehead.

"I think she was called down to answer questions about Blake's fight." Chase put his opinion into the conversation and walked away to get a soda.

"I wasn't even there." I shook my head at Chase but he waved me off.

"Blake was in a fight?" Alex asked, surprised.

"That's why we don't want you hanging out with him." Jackson pointed at me with a water bottle hanging from his hands.

"Why? So I won't get into fights and drugs and alcohol like you dipshits? Besides, I'm five feet tall,  what am I gonna do? Scratch your ankles? Climb your back to reach the bowls? Wow, scary." Cole held back a laugh but continued to write in his journal when Justin shot him a warning glare. "How did you guys even know I was in the office anyways?"

"Jason called." Justin answered. I turned around to glare at Jason.

"Wow. So you can snitch on me but you can't talk to me?" I rolled my eyes at him while he stayed silent and I scoffed, "Pathetic."

"Brooklyn we only tell you to stay away for your own safety." Jackson tries to explain, like he has many many times before.

"That's bullshit and you know it! It's only going to hurt me in the long run." I look at them all with brown eyes that were lined with tears.

"What has been up with you, Brooklyn?" Alex scoffed. I gave him a confused look. "You used to just listen. We tell you to do something, you do it. You were quiet and obedient. Now you just argue and can't listen for the life of you." He explained. Cole, who was silently doodling in his journal, finally looked up with wide eyes at Alex. Cole was the only one that could understand me, he still was just as strict and protective, but he listened.

  "Are you serious?" I scoffed, "I'm not a dog, Alex! That was only because I was too scared to get more of my rights taken away from me. My Mom died - which no one has helped me with in the first place. I'm still struggling with that. My brothers are psychotic helicopter 'parents' that don't let me out of there sight for two seconds. My best friend is going to be leaving for college in less than a year. Lastly, you guys have made my life miserable. In some senses I'm so lucky and privileged but then my mental health comes into play. If you guys even had the audacity to listen as to why I was in the office, you'd be proud to know that I was asked to graduate early." I hadn't noticed during my rant, but my voice grew weaker and I felt a few tears spill over the edges and down my cheeks.

  My brothers all stared at me guiltily, even Jason. A few of them opened their mouths to defend themselves but their mouths shut soon after. I shook my head as if it would make me stop crying.

  "I'm going to Kyle's." I mumbled. No one said a single word and let me walk out without the slightest argument.

I did intend on going to Kyle's house but I ended up much further at Blake's. I knocked on his large door and he answered with nothing but black sweatpants on.

"Hey- oh. What's wrong, baby?" He rubbed his eyes, he was probably awoken from a nap. The nickname he used made me feel a bit better but it can only do so much. I gave him a look as a cue to tell him I didn't want to talk. I walked into his chest and he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, lightly closing the door.

"Do your brothers know you're here?" He spoke, his attempt to be quiet made his chest rumble. I shook my head to his question.

"They think I'm at Kyle's." I hiccuped and sniffled.

"Okay." He mumbled more-so to himself and he lifted me up bridal style and I just hid myself into his neck. I opened my eyes when I felt him slow down and remembered the surroundings as his room. He leaned down and I was placed into his bed and he crawled in next to me. He pulled me closer so I was nuzzled into his chest and he soothingly rubbed my sides. "You're okay, Baby." He gently kissed my forehead and I noticed that I was the most content I had felt in a long time.

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