Her Safe Haven

Chapter 29 - Brother's Gotta Do What Brothers Gotta Do

Previously on Her Safe Haven: Winter and her friends were again hit with another incoming drama of a Love Polygon (see Chapter 28) between their group of friends. Winter and Seth thought that Dylan knowing that Riley liked Kai and Kai liking Helena might jeopardise all of their their friendships, so Rohan gave Winter an idea to erase "The Trail" to make sure Dylan didn't find out about any of these. In midst of all these, Winter injured her hand during arts class because there was mysteriously a cutter blade inside her painting sponge...

Between schoolwork, the Love Polygon, and the mystery of the cutter blade in her sponge, Winter had neither time nor energy to deal with another drama right now.

Though naturally, the universe was never in her favour when it came to these sort of things. Because now, on top of those, she needed to deal with an overprotective Gray.

'Oh would you calm down? I've been doing this every week for the past months!' she motioned hurriedly as she packed her wallet and lunch sandwich into her small bagpack that Sunday morning.

Gray chased her down the stairs, his hair still bearing its morning messiness but his eyes fierce with no hint of negotiation. "Well, then maybe it's time for you to stop! You've been coming home late every weekend when you only need one hour there! What have you even been doing in the hospital?"

Rohan was already here and they were running late for his 9 a.m. session with Dr Switzgerald, but Gray chose this exact moment not to leave her alone. She glared at him annoyedly. 'It's none of your business! Just go back to sleep and leave me alone! You never made such a fuss before, geez.'

"You got injured in arts class! It's my job to make sure you're safe!"

'What does that have to do with me hanging out with Rohan?'

"Well for all we know he could be the one trying to hurt you."

She snorted. 'Oh, yeah. Because he drove two hours to Lakeside High just to give me a paper cut.'

"It's not a paper cut!"

'Caleb, Gray's acting crazy!'

"Alright, that's enough. Gray, let your sister go, and Winter, be careful, I'll pick you up at five, okay?" Caleb finally stepped in after he finished his and Gray's scrambled egg, ruffling Gray's messy hair even more and kissing Winter on the forehead. "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?"

Winter looked at him incredulously. 'No, Caleb, he is literally right here!' she pointed annoyedly towards the window, with Rohan's black convertible waiting just outside on their sidewalk. 'You two are unbelievable. I'm leaving!'

The sound of the front door slamming close was the last thing they heard before Gray shifted his glare from his sister to his older brother. "Good job, Caleb. You gave our sister away to a nut case. And you're supposed to be the adult in the house."

"Gray, we're not giving her away, and he is not a nut case. Leave Winter alone, she's old enough to make her own decisions."

"Not if it jeopardises her safety!"

"Gray, look," Caleb finally sighed, motioning for Gray to sit across him on the breakfast counter. "Sit. I know you're stressed because she injured herself—"

"She didn't injure herself! Someone tried to—"

"Yes, I've heard the story," Caleb said strictly, and the tone of his voice quieted Gray and commanded him to sit quietly. The older McHalen sighed and his expression softened a bit. "Yes, I know. Something's going on in your school, but it might just be an accident or a mean prank, so you shouldn't be too over-possessive of her... or she's going to hate you."