Learning All Things Owen Jackson

Chapter VI

The soul crushing sun light beamed through the curtains and I let out a groan, expressing my devastation as I gradually opened my tired eyes.

I felt like a newborn baby whose eyes were sealed up.

Memories of yesterday flickered in my mind and I instantly sighed heavily.

Owen Jackson may have been my brother's old friend but he certainly wasn't mine. He made my life a living hell, directly and indirectly. His impact on my brother affected my brother-sister relationship with him, destroying that special bond I had always cherished.

I couldn't forgive him. I just couldn't. Call me stubborn, but would you forgive someone who wrecked your whole relationship with someone you once loved?

Hearing my door creak open, I rotated my head around and saw Owen's head pop out from around the door.

"You're still here?" I croaked out before clearing my throat.

Rising from my bed, I gestured for Owen to come in.

Owen stepped into the room, hesitating with every step. "Sorry, I was, uh, just leaving actually. I came to say thank you and good bye."

"Well there you go then...you're welcome," I replied, stretching my arms and continuing to yawn from the exhaustion that I was feeling. 

Owen did not leave though. In fact he walked further into my room, staring inquisitively at my face.

"Do you know whether I'm allowed to see Leon?" He asked, his eyes darting anywhere but at me.

"You could," I drawled out before narrowing my eyes slightly. "But I would never allow it, neither would my parents so there's no point in asking."

His face fell in disappointment and then, like a light switch had been flicked, all aspects of disappointment had faded away. Instead, an expression which displayed so much anger washed across his face, hardening his features.

"Yeah," He replied bitterly, staring me down vehemently. "I guess you'd never let someone who poisoned him in the first place visit him. Why would you, huh?" 

Scowling at his tone, I lifted my chin up. "Exactly."

Owen backed away broodingly, stormed to the bedroom door and opened it. But before exiting he, looked back at me as he twisted around and ruffled his sandy coloured hair with frustration.

I shifted in my position and swallowed nervously whilst I waited for him to speak.

"You know Cameron, you can be such a bitch sometimes." He shook his head with a disgruntled expression.

"Excuse me?" I retorted, recoiling at his harsh words with a scrunched up face.

"If you got off of your high, almighty white horse, then maybe you'd realise that I wasn't the one who stuck a needle into your brother's veins."

My lips parted as I felt all of the air leave my body.

My face dropped, feeling ashamed and shortly after I felt my eyes begin to sting.

"I'll be running from my former gang if you ever need me," he chuckled out coldly. "Thanks for letting me stay. Good bye, Cameron."

Before I could utter a word, Owen threw me a brazen smile and disappeared out the door.

I let out a long breath of air, realising I had been holding my breath. Then, I clutched onto my chest and felt more tears spring to my eyes. A pool of guilt waved over my entire body and I immediately hated how forgiving my own conscience was. 

"He introduced him to those drugs though," I whispered to myself.

But no matter how hard I tried to point the blame towards Owen, I knew, deep down, that Leon was the one who voluntarily took drugs within the safety of his own home.

Under the roof where his little sister lay in her bed sleeping.

6 months ago

Once again I had woken up. I felt my eye lids slowly lift and I began to sit up, placing my hand against my forehead.

A flash of powerful light blinked from outside, glowing up my entire room. And soon after that, deep rumbles were heard.

My heart picked up its pace and along with my racing heart, I jumped up off my bed and sprinted to the door.

Roughly, I opened it, rushed to my brother's room and- without a single knock- I barged open his door.

"Leon!" I cried out. "Could I sleep in here with you..?" My speech began to trail off as I took in his limp figure which was flopped over his desk.

Widening my eyes, I blinked slowly at Leon who had his nose and forehead touching the desk.

Usually, my conscious state would have immediately picked up on the circumstances. However, I was half awake and ignorantly I assumed he had just fallen asleep at his desk. 

So with that assumption, I slowly started to make my way over to his slumped figure on his chair and began to shake him...

I shook my head, trying to push the resurfacing memories away. That day was tough. Knowing my protective brother couldn't be protected from harm was heartbreaking. Yes, he chose to harm himself but an addiction is an addiction.

It feeds on your biggest insecurities until you can't take it anymore and then it slowly begins to plague your entire fragile mind.

"Owen!" I called, rushing down the stairs to catch up to him.

Running into the living room, I scanned the whole room for him but it was no use; he had left before I had got the chance to apologise.