In a Heartbeat

Chapter 4 - I'm Not Better

Chapter 4: I'm Not Better

I'm really careful about these things, I swear I am. If I go somewhere without telling my Aunt, I most definitely cover my tracks.

So you can imagined why I was surprised to see my brother Jason, standing in front of me, as soon as I opened the door. His arms were crossed and his brown eyes looked concerned.

You need to understand that my brother took this whole accident a lot better than I did. I mean, of course he was upset, we were both dormant for a week after it happened. He was just able to move on before I was, but he's also grown up since then.

He was a normal teenage boy looking for trouble, sneaking beers every once in a while. Now, he's strangely mature and seems to have more of an interest in taking care of me than he did a while ago.

Which is probably the reason he's not at college like a 20 year old boy should be. Well that, and Haley. I'm almost positive my best friend and brother have a thing for each other, but if they did, I doubt they'd tell me. At least, not anymore.

"Aaren," He ventures. "Why aren't you holed up in your room like usual?"

 "And why aren't you off at college?" I shoot back.

He puts his hands up and says, "Alright fair is fair, but where were you?"

 I sigh. Oh, how I love my ever persistent brother. "I went to the park with Lex. They had this event, no biggie."

And, he reacts the way I knew he would. Exactly the way I knew he would.

A smile crosses his face and he closes in for a hug.

When he speaks, his warm breath ruffles the hair in the back of my head, "That's great Aaren, I'm glad you're going back out again, I really am."

And he gets the wrong idea. I'm not really better, he knows that. But I have the feeling my brother wants a normal happy family again, and so he just jumps at every word I say.

If only he knew about the scars. Boy, that would be something.

We release our embrace and that's when I smell something cooking from he kitchen. I loosely shake my head and we each pad into the kitchen side by side. My aunt never cooks, Livie has always been the "Let's just get some pop tarts for dinner!" sort of person. I guess that habit was vetoed while I was up in my room. Haven't I just missed everything?

My aunt has her honeysuckle hair up in a loose bun, and a cheery apron wrapped around her waist. A soon as I walk in, her expression immediately softens as she takes me in for a hug.

I sigh as I step into her open arms. Why is everyone giving me hugs today?

"Aaren honey, I was worried. You've been up in your room for months, you haven't come downstairs, you've been locking the door... I didn't want to say anything but I thought...oh sweetie, I thought...." At this point Livie has a good amount of tears welled up in her eyes and I hold her from me at arm's length.

Of course Livie was worried, I was so selfish. I didn't only lose a mom, Livie lost a sister and I should've been there for her. What was there to stop Livie from worrying if I was alright in my room all alone? All those times I angrily threw things at the door to make her just go away....

"Livie, I'm here now. And I'm okay." I manage to give her a tight smile, and although I know my aunt Is not satisfied, I know that her fears have been eased.

We retreat from our hug and Liv gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder after breaking eye contact. She then spins around to grab a cooking ladle before kneeling before us in a bow. "What shall you want me to serve for you today my prince and princess?"