𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧' 𝐆𝐮𝐲 ➺ 𝐵𝓇𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝑀𝒶𝓎 & 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃

(42) 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘯

A/N

Hello , it has been a while. I apologise about that! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Things are only just STARTING to unfold. Let me know what you think. I love you all so much, keep safe.

C x

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"Why was you shouting at mum?"

Chris was waiting for us on the landing when we got upstairs. I was hurt for myself – the child in me who relied on my father more than my mother, the child who unconventionally got along with her father more than her mother. But I also hurt for the confused expression mirroring back at me, only on a fifteen-year-old face. Whilst our parents were both his, biologically, our brother-sister relationship was always a special one, and he wasn't even aware we weren't from the same roots.

I know what you're thinking: Maria, it doesn't matter if you're blood related, you still have that special bond. You're right. But there's also a difference between being lied to for almost a quarter of a century, and knowing where you come from. Roots were always important to me. I liked knowing the line of people from which I came and to find out that my favourite side of the family wasn't even a decent passed on to me was like a million knives in the heart all at once.

Brian lingered behind me, holding onto my hand as I walked over to my brother with tears in my eyes. I had to let go of him, though, as I felt the instant urge to hold onto him and never let go.

Chris was never a huge fan of hugs, but he knew me well enough to understand when something was serious, or to know when I was upset. He reciprocated the hug. Then it hit me. Moments earlier, downstairs, I'd willingly separated myself from my family for good.

"We were just talking." I whispered, pulling away and pressing a kiss to my brother's forehead. "You know we don't get along." I smiled the best I could at him, even with my tear-stained face. "Just... Go back in your room, carry on what you were doing. Everything's okay." I lied through my teeth, and Chris probably knew that, but he just nodded, looking totally confused. "I love you. Please just remember that. Like, even when I'm not here, or if we're not talking to each other, I love you. You're my brother. And I love you." I rambled as he made his way back in his room.

"I know that. I love you too." He smiled at me, and it pained me to see the unintentional ignorance plastered on his face. He knew nothing. He was the most innocent one out of all of us.

When he disappeared into his den, I turned to Brian, who seemed just as exhausted as I did. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" I asked him.

"I shouldn't have gotten involved. I just made it worse for you." He scratched the back of his neck, eyebrows furrowing.

"Don't be silly." I shook my head, leading him into my old room and shutting the door behind me. "I could've handled it a bit better. I just wasn't expecting..." I couldn't finish the sentence, as the tears started to fall once again. Brian brought me into his chest, arms wrapped tight around me. He hushed me as I quietly sobbed into his clothes, probably leaving tear stains. I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and we remained in this embrace for at least five minutes.

"We can go home if you want." Brian mumbled into my hair as he rested his head on mine. I shook my head, pulling my head away to look up at him.

"No... You can't drive another five hours tonight."

"No, it's fine, I can do that if that's what you need—"

"Brian, it's okay. We'll go tomorrow. What I need is to sleep on what the fuck just happened." I brought my hand up to push some stray curls away from his face. He smiled sympathetically down at me, leaning in for a sweet and comforting kiss.