Until Next Time [COMPLETE]

Chapter 3

"Yes, I know I'm late. I don't want to hear it."

Jace was leaning against the back exit doors, his arms crossed over his chest, sarcastically glancing at his watch.

"Whoa, settle down there, little lady!" He joked, a smile breaking across his face.

"I'll let it slide this time," he continued with a wink.

I could see he was trying desperately to lighten the mood, but I couldn't pretend everything was ok with my brother. Especially, not these days.

His smile slowly dissolved as he began to read my face.

"...I got a second warning from Caldwell..." I muttered shamefully to the floor.

"I dozed off in his lesson again. One more incident and I'm done."

I raised my eyes up to see Jace sighing slowly, undoubtedly trying to think of how to respond. He never knew what to say, so he had a standard answer:

"The stress is just getting to you, that's all..." He began.

"...I still think you should talk one on one with your prof's about what's going on... "

I rolled my eyes almost to the back of my head.

"That's easy enough for you to just say, Jace!" I snapped.

"I think you're forgetting none of them are a fan of me!"

The weight of everything was really starting to get to me now.

It was so easy for Jace to forget how different we actually were. He didn't have the same problems I did in this college. He was the "scholar in the making", and not to mention the sparkle in my father's eye. People didn't even believe we're related half the time.

I could see Jace's face had fallen like he was at a loss for words- and I immediately felt guilty for snapping at him. He was getting a lot of that from me lately.

"Look, I'm sorry" I choked, avoiding eye contact.

"I just...can we just go? I have to see mom today."

I didn't wait for an answer from him before quickly putting my coat on and hastily pushing the door open to escape outside.

The air in London had a chilly and brisk touch against my skin, and the grey clouds that blanketed the sky looked ready to burst with rainfall. I stood on the edge of the pavement and took a moment to breathe in the calming scent of the weather; it was one of the few things loved about living here.

Jace met me at my side, buttoning a black designer peacoat and peering to both sides of the road, looking out for the car.

My father insisted upon Jace and I being chauffeured everywhere we went- by our own personal driver. Another one of his ridiculous ploys to let people know how 'well off' he was.

A few short minutes later a glossy black Bentley with dark tinted windows stopped precisely at our feet. Seeing my reflection in the windows made me shift uncomfortably, tugging at my clothes to try and make myself look more presentable.

At 19 years old, it seemed I still hadn't grown into my body. I wasn't tall and always wore the bulkiest clothing to try and hide how skinny I was.

"Good afternoon, Andrew." Jace politely greeted the driver as he began to take our bags from us.

I looked at Jace's reflection next to me, and it was almost like he was the image of how we should have turned out. We shared the same light blonde hair and pale blue eyes, but he was still towering a whole foot over me while carrying his muscular build.

Once in the car, I laid my head back on the cold leather seat, rubbing my eyes under my glasses once again.

"Where to, my young friends?" Andrew asked, directing his question through the rear-view mirror.

I could see Jace looking at me through the corner of my eye.

"Are you sure you're up for this today?" He whispered to me under his breath.

"Of course I am, Jace," I replied, a touch of defense in my voice.

He sighed sharply before speaking again.

"Royal London Hospital please, Andrew."