Stepbrothers

Chapter 4

 Introducing a new character! Yay!

 I was just starting to think that living here might not be as bad as I had previously assumed, but it still sucked. I woke up early again today, and had nothing to do. 

 I left my little room and walked down the stairs. Deciding to skip breakfast, I walked straight out of the door without addressing anyone, and walked the short distance to the mailbox down the street. I had the key on a string around my neck so I opened our little compartment. Inside was mostly junk mail, but also a grubby looking envelope. It was a thin envelope, so there was only one letter inside. I set the other mail back into the compartment and locked it.

 I checked my watch to see the time- three AM. I couldn't sleep, I guess. I walked even farther down the street and turned a corner. I kept walking until I had left the neighborhood. Eventually, I had made it into the little wooded area pretty far away from the city. I don't know why I went here, but I did. I walked a little past the edge of where the trees started. I walked just to where the moss started and the trees could be found lying on the ground. I sat down on the nearest moss covered log and used what little light the rising sun provided to read the letter inside

 'Dear Noah,

Things over here are getting pretty bad, but I'll definitely be there for the wedding. I bet this is pretty hard for you, having to live with a stepmom and three stepbrothers! Three guys there to bug you- without me! I think that thought may scare me more than whatever's happening over here.

They'll only let me send the one letter- so tell dad I'm okay. Speaking of dad, he sent me a picture of you from a few months ago- you're growing so much, you might catch up to me soon! I can't let that happen, you better still be shorter than me when I finally get to see you again. 

Your birthday is only in a few months, and I know that you hate it, but I'm getting you something whether you like it or not. I still can't believe that you're turning fourteen! I could have sworn you were like nine a month ago. I won't tell anyone about it, though. And I won't let dad or Claire do anything. Because who wants people to celebrate them on their birthday? [That was sarcasm]. 

I miss you so much, little bro. I can't wait until I get to see you again, and I promise I'll be careful, and won't get myself shot [unless you do]. 

Love,

Danny."

 I whispered the whole thing to myself, and was in tears by the end. I don't cry a lot, only at Danny's letters. I can't believe I thought he hated me just this morning- I don't know why I would think that. 

 I checked my watch, and saw that it was a considerable amount later-five nineteen to be exact. I knew I had to rush home before anyone woke up. I'd be in deep shit if I didn't. I was miles away from the house, so I had to sprint it. Luckily, the coolness of the early morning kept me from sweating too much. 

 After miles of sprinting I had made it to the house. I checked my watch- fuck. It was already six forty five. My dad and Claire woke up at six. So basically, I was screwed. 

 I jogged up the front steps and hesitantly knocked on the door,  because I didn't have a key and the door locked itself after you shut it. I was just about to leave from the front door and attempt to scale the house when the door opened. 

 "Noah!" It was Josh. "Guys! It's Noah!" He called into the house. 

 "Hey Joshy." I said, going out of my way to look as normal as possible, because I had already come up with a lie and I needed to look as innocent as possible without seeming too suspicious. 

 "Where the fuck were you?" He asked, looking pretty angry. I had to admit, I was kinda scared of him right now. 

 "On a run. Why?" I asked, internally crossing my fingers that he bought it. I mean, it wasn't really a lie, I was running.

 "Actually? You're athletic?" He asked, seeming astounded. Oh, that feels nice on the depression, thanks, Josh. 

 "I guess. Again, why?" I asked, not changing my tone much. 

 "We were so worried, dude. I thought something had happened to you. We all did." Josh said, looking serious. His mood changes scare me. 

 "Noah!" My dad called angrily. I winced from instinct, because my bullies always used that tone when they were about to beat me up. My dad must have noticed this because he dropped the angry tone. "Where were you?" He asked, seeming pretty calm, which actually scared me more. 

 I didn't answer because I was still a little scared, so Josh answered for me.

 "He was on a run." Thank goodness for Josh. My dad's eyebrows lifted a bit in surprise, but he looked honestly pretty proud that I had gone on a run. 

 "Why didn't you tell the boys? They would have ran with you if you had." My dad told me.

 "Didn't want to wake anyone up." I shrugged.

 "Why didn't you leave a note, then?" My dad kept asking questions. Ugh.

 "I totally forgot. Sorry." I said. "Can I go upstairs now?" I added, not wanting to answer anymore questions. My dad nodded. 

 As soon as I made it upstairs, I breathed a sigh of relief. I totally dodged a bullet there. I walked into my cramped room and closed the door behind me. I lied flat down on my stomach next to my bed and pulled the covers up from the bottom, where they were brushing the floor. I pulled out the squished, brown, cardboard shoe box from underneath and took off the lid. Inside were dozens of letters held together by an old rubber band. I slid the new letter on top of the other ones, underneath the rubber band. I stuffed the stack of letters back into the box and pushed it under my bed. I got up and pulled the blankets back down to hide the box. I was pretty tired so I decided to take a nap. 

 When I woke up, it was only like two hours later, so I decided that it was still sociably acceptable for me to get breakfast, so I went downstairs. I trudged down the stairs like I did every morning, then walked into the kitchen. I got my cereal bowl and was walking into the dining room when suddenly, out of nowhere, the door was swung open to reveal none other than the one and only...

... Daniel.