The Bad Ass: Nerd

15: Blake

****Christaina**** 

The end of school happened. I was nervous, not only was Lucas meeting Blake, but I was seeing him. I haven't seen him since the night... I've been talking to him via mail, that's how I sent him the money, and was talking to him. I haven't seen him, and it was bothering me. We've been talking about today for about 2-3 weeks. It horrible really, he's eight, he should be playing around with pretend with his guns, not setting up an escape plan with his sister. 

"Ready?" Lucas asked me. We were outside Blake's school. Whoa, when did that happen. 

"Hmm," was all I said. I got out if the car telling Lucas to stay. I went behind the school, where we were supposed to meet.

My breath caught in my throat. It was him. Blake. He still had darkish brown hair, and those stupid Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shoes that he got two years ago, he needs a new pair but dad won't buy him any, but he had grown a good three inches, and new clothes, probably from our neighbor's kids so in other words hammy-downs from strangers, but otherwise he seemed fine. But I knew if I lifted up his shirt, different story. 

"Blake?" I half whispered. His head snapped my way, his whole demeanor changed, from bored and agitated to happy and excited. 

"Christy!" He ran towards me. He hugged me like he hadn't seen me in a while, a long while. Which he hadn't.

"I have someone who would like to meet you," I told him softly, refusing to let go of him. 

"I thought it was just gonna be us Christy.." He said sadly. My heart broke a little at this. My brother has always really been my only soft spot. 

"I know.. But you'll really like him. Okay?" I told him. 

"Okay..." he said in a way that said 'it's only okay, because I don't know when the next time I'll seen you will be.'

I finally let go of him, but instantly grabbed his hand, and walked to the car. I started breathing heavily when the car came into view, "It's okay," I reminded myself, "its okay."

Lucas head went up when he saw us, he gave me and Blake a small smile. "He won't kidnap me, right?" Blake joked without looking at me. 

"Ha! No. Only if I let him," I joked back, nudging his arm. He laughed back. We made it to the car and to my surprise Blake took the front seat. 

"What do you think you doing kid?" I asked. 

"Sitting," he replied simply. 

"Well why don't ya' take a seat in the back?" I told him. 

He playfully glared at me, "Guur..." He hopped of the seat and into the back. I got in and shut the door, and Blake being Blake, had asked Luc tons of questions already. He was eight, and he's small, yet he's still acting as the protective brother.

"So what are your plans for the future with my sister?" He asked leaning in between the two front seats. 

"Get your seat belt on, Blake!" I chastised before we had to answer. He groaned but did has told.

"Hey. Christy, do you love me?" He asked in a serious tone. 

I looked up at him in the review mirror, "Of course I do, hun'." 

"Then put your seat belt on," he smirked. I glared at him playfully, but did has well. I never tried to me a 'motherly figure' towards my brother. Sure I protect him to the best of my abilities, but I like to try and be equal. Like with seat belts.

I look over at Lucas, he put a pair of sunglasses, and from what I hoped he was looking at the road, but he was smiling. 

"What?" I asked him. 

"Nothing I'll tell you later." The rest of the ride consisted of catching up, questions, and getting to know one another on Lucas' and Blake's part.

"So where are we going exactly?" Blake asked. 

"Er.. Where do wanna go?" I asked. He gave it some thought. 

"The CD store?" He asked. 

"Okay, sure!" I replied. I rather spend ten-eleven dollar CD's then spend fifty bucks for the water park or something. 

"Do you know where it is? I asked Lucas. 

He nodded, "I think so yeah."

***

We spent a great deal of time in the small store. This place use to be my home away from home before life went to shit. I even got discounts because the owners knew me so much. I smiled at the faint memory. When we walked in the owners were the same, and they talked to me as if I only haven't been in since yesterday, they said the discounts still stand.

We bought Blake tons of material, from Lady Gaga to Suicide Silence. This child is the best, no wonder we were so close.

We had to get Blake home before seven. And that's when he gets home -been that way since I was five. I was already tearing up at the thought of leaving him with that monster.. Why don't I just call CPS? Because then I'll probably never see Blake again. Only two more weeks..

We got to the house, it looked dark and gloomy. Not a place you want children living. Well in my prospective. But if you had no idea, then well, it'd look like the usual middle class house. I walked in with Blake, leaving Lucas down the street -in case my dad comes home.

The place was clean, like nothing negative  ever happened here. There was a red stain on the carpet, "What the hell is that from!" 

"Calm down. It's marker... I got hit pretty bad from it. It doesn't hurt so much anymore," he says dully, like it's nothing, like it was normal. At that tears sprung up in my eyes. He shouldn't have to not feel it. He shouldn't of had to get use to the pain. 

I sighed,  "Do you have enough money to get through?" He paused to think. 

"Uh... yeah. I have enough.." He assured me. I nodded. I walked upstairs with Blake in tow.

I went into my old room. The lamp was tipped over, the light bulb shattered, my pillows and blanket were in disarray, my bookshelves knocked on the ground, nice. I grabbed an old backpack. I put CD's and clothes in it, but not so much so he wouldn't notice. I turned around, Blake was crying. 

"Oh bud..." I walked over to him, "Everything will be okay. I promise, maybe not right now, tomorrow, or next week. But soon. I swear. When I turn eighteen in two weeks I'm going to fight okay? I'm going to fight for you.. I will.." I trailed off hugging him close and tight on my old bed, crying together. 

"We still have each other, remember that, Blake."