In-between

Chapter 8

I climb down the stairs as fast as my legs could take me when I heard keys jiggling and Bruce’s voice whining about how his ice cream would’ve been better if it wasn’t so green.
“This is exactly why I asked you if you were 100% sure.” I hear mum’s voice tell the 5 year old toddler as he pouts.
“Mum…” I trail off as her head snapped up to see me leaning on the banister at the end of the stairs.
“Honey? What are you doing here? I thought you were…”
“AMBER. I misset you.” Bruce’s voice booms throughout the house once he was aware I was standing right there.
I looked down at him as he wrapped himself around my leg his voice muffled as he tells me how mum forced him to buy an avocado ice cream and it only reminds me the last day with Dylan at the frozen yogurt parlor.
“Yeah, change of plans.”  I answered her unfinished question as I bend down to pick up Bruce.
“Well you could’ve at least told me, I would’ve brought you something back from the restaurant.” she sighs as she looks around the house looking for something.
“It’s okay, I’m not hungry.” I smile as Bruce’s head lulls to rest on my shoulder.
“I know it’s only been a few days but I missed you guys.” I tell them as I look sideways at my little brother who was already on the verge of sleep.
my mum follows my line of sight; “He refused to sleep in the car, you know how he can be.” she smiles adoringly at the cute 5 year old as I do the same and I’m glad I came home to find comfort in the arms of my family.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” she eyes me slowly her hands coming to rest on the handle of the door, her posture slumped; she looked tired.
“Not yet, but I will. Why don’t you guys go to bed and I’ll come up after a few minutes, I need to make a call.”
“Sure honey, whenever you feel comfortable. Come up whenever you feel like it, but if I don’t go to bed now I might fall.” she chuckles and I nod as I hand her a sleeping Bruce. After all they’ve been gone all day.
It’s been hours since I’ve talked to Emma and Harry and the thought of Harry being somehow hurt wouldn’t leave my mind and I need to make sure he’s okay before I go to sleep.
Before I even realize what I was doing, I was dialing the number I never thought I would willingly call, it rings to the end until her voicemail answers and I huff. The one time I call her she decided not to answer. I force myself to think that this is something I have to do as I click on Harry’s contact and unlike his sister he answers immediately.
“Hello?” his raspy voice echoes around the empty room.
“Harry are you okay?” I ask trying to jump straight to the point.
“Of course I’m okay are you?” he retaliates.
“Why haven’t you been answering Emma’s call?”
“She called you? That girl.” he huffs. Shuffling is heard at his end of the line.
“Yes she called me, that’s how worried she is! Where did you go?” my mouth runs itself  before I can stop but it was eating me inside. Where could he possibly be driving to at10PM and not tell his sister about it?
“I didn’t go anywhere, what did she tell you?”
“Harry that’s not the point, why didn’t you tell her when you left? She’s worried about you. Are you still sleeping with belle without telling her?”I murmur tiredly.
“Would you listen to yourself? She’s not my mother Amber nor are you.” he snaps making me take in a stunned breath.
“Suit yourself, but man up and tell her where you are, if not for her, then do it for your mum.” I plead.
“Why are you making a big deal out of this, I’m a grown ass man I can take care of myself. I’ll call her alright!”
“It doesn’t seem like you can take care of yourself.” I lowly remind him and I can hear him huff.
“Did you call to throw insults at me?” he fires and I sigh.
“No Harry that’s not why I called you, it’s because your sister is worried sick about where you are and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” I lowly explain.
It was his turn to sigh, “Okay, I promise I’ll call her. You just go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.” he blurts out and my eyes widen.
“Harry, are you coming here? Are you coming home?” my voice was weak.
“Ummm…you should just go to sleep yeah? Good night.” he hastily remarks before he hangs up leaving me with a stunned expression plastered across my face.
I don’t know how I would react if he was driving this late to come back home. I know half of me would be extremely annoyed that he’s coming on behalf of me and I still have to figure the other half’s emotion. I roll my eyes at how stupid he could be sometimes as I make my way up the stairs to finally be in my bed and I pray that Dylan doesn’t show up in my dreams tonight.
***
I woke up with a start, my body jolting as a nostalgic feeling made my insides turn. For some reason I missed waking up in the cabin, waking up to the thought of Dylan being under the same roof.
My mind refuses to stop thinking about him, his black curly hair and his ocean blue eyes. Those dreamy eyes are going to be the death of me if they haven’t already. I shake my head to rid of those thoughts, knowing full well I’ll be sitting on my bed all day, daydreaming about his beautiful eyes if I don’t stop now.
I used to think heaven was just a kiss away until he kissed me and moaned her name.
My legs lead me to my bathroom, deciding on taking a shower before I go downstairs.
School isn’t for another 2 weeks so I better get used to staying home and sulking since Dylan was still in Hawaii. I couldn’t help but think that he didn’t even call to make sure I was okay and the mere thought twists the knife buried inside my heart even more.
I climbed down the stairs walking straight to the kitchen when I heard mum’s voice scold Bruce for spilling the juice. I smiled at the familiar vibe of our house in the morning,
“I’ll get it.” I tell him as I grabbed a rug from the counter and wipe the surface.  “Good morning honey.” mum’s cheery voice awakens me from my thought stricken mind as I watch the blue rug absorb the liquid. 
I smiled at her and replied as my hands pull at the plate full of pancakes and place 4 on my plate. I gave her a smile when she playfully glared at me.
“What? I missed these.” I pout as she casts me a disapproving look. “That’ll only add to the few holiday pounds you’re carrying.” she announces as she filled my cup with hot steaming black coffee.
“I don’t mind.” I announce as I took a huge piece of pancake in my mouth and look at her. “Of course you don’t.” she sighs as if giving up on giving me a lecture on my body, it has never worked before and we both know that my body wouldn’t look like this if it actually showed the amount of  food I devour.
“You’re lucky you have a fast metabolism or you would’ve looked like a cow by now.” she insisted as she took a sip of her coffee and I giggled.
“Is that what it is? Fast metabolism?” I chuckle at her as she shakes her head and continued sipping her coffee.
“How are your friends? Are they still in Hawaii?” she changes the subject and the pain in my heart multiplied at the mention of my “friends”.
I shrug, not knowing for sure if they’re still there, I know Harry’s on his Way and I can’t help but cringe at the thought. “Harry will be here soon.” I announce and her face splits into a huge grin.
“Harry is coming?” Bruce who’s been quiet for some time asks me and I look down to stare at his wide eyes. I smile, nodding and he let out a loud scream as he bounced on his chair excitedly.
I looked back at mum who was watching me study my brother and smiled when she met my gaze.
“Is his sister coming too?” she asks and I can hear the disapproval in her tone; her eyes pleading me to say no. I’m glad she also sees the bitchiness Emma possesses and it kills me that I wasn’t able to show Dylan that he’s in love with the wrong girl.
“No.”
“I missed him, great lad that boy.” she nods her head and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“What’s so loveable about him? He’s just some annoying little…” I trail off as I sensed my mum tense. “No Amber, don’t speak poorly of him, he’s a sweet boy. Now eat your breakfast and take Bruce to his friend’s birthday party I have a meeting with Mr. Rodriguez” she sighs as if she’s already dreading it.
Mr. Rodriguez is a partner of mum’s and she hates him with passion because he’s simply a jerk, handsome but jerk all the same.  Once he demanded to have Mum be his personal assistant even though they have the same job, in the same field and threatened to get her fired if she refused.
And there was this one time where he saw me at her office and asked mum if he could ask my hand in marriage.
I know he’s driving her crazy and she would’ve fired him if it was up to her. She swears he’s only there because he’s sleeping with the boss.
“I feel sorry for you, I wish he’d just go away.” I sigh as I can’t help but compare him to Harry.
“If only it was that simple… anyways, Bruce is going to attend Mary’s birthday today. Buy something nice with the 50 on the coffee table okay?”
“I’ll try mum, best of luck on your meeting.” I smile as I gulped the rest of my coffee and leave the remaining 3 pancakes on my plate.
***
“Aren’t you excited about the party B?” I ask my brother who was sulking at the backseat of my car as I drive us to the nearest store to fetch something for the birthday girl.
He shrugged but kept his gaze outside the window.
I frowned.
He was usually very vibrant when I dropped him off to some birthday party of his friends.
“Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?” I watch him through the rearview mirror and spot his pout.
“Did you want mum to take you instead?”
“I don’t want to go.” he finally admits as he met my gaze on the mirror.
“Why not?” I stop at a red light and take the opportunity to turn around and inspect him from a closer look. His shoulder was slumped and his face had this huge scowl he actually looked scary.
“I don’t like her, she’s mean.” he whines and I start the car but fixated my gaze on him through the mirror.
“Why do you say that Bruce?”
“Becaust she sait I have cooties and she dowsn’t want to sit by Me.” he sniffs and I feel for my brother to be rejected at such a young age.
“Don’t worry about her B; she only likes you that’s why she said you have cooties, only you.” I try to calm my brother’s wits but only end up making him pout even more.
“Look; girls are complicated, I like Dylan but he also have cooties.” I offer and he looks even more confused.
I just realized I’m bad at giving advice, even for a 5 year old. Especially for a 5 year old.
“Who’s Dylan?” he asks out of pure curiosity.
I sigh not wanting to label our relationship but voice it nonetheless.
“He’s a friend?” I say but it came out more like a question.
“Like harry?”
“No, Bruce, Harry is not a friend. He’s definitely got cooties.” I giggle and Bruce laughs that huge scowl no longer on his face.