Brothers aren't real

Part 21

Ainles pov
Everyone looks happy, Duke and Emory are out in the back garden and Leo is sat with me with his arm tightly around my shoulders. I'm snuggled into Leo's embrace and I'm watching him do really hard maths. Everyone's been very nice to me since I got back, no ones yelling at me or okay fighting. It's nice but I also want my old brothers back. I've been told I'm too young to understand why my brothers are mean to me. They do it to 'toughen me up'. Sure I'll still get upset but I'll never hate them for it.

Dad is out of the house for the first time this week, he stayed home to make sure I'm okay. Dad says I'm going to go see a person and talk to about what I feel. I don't really know how I feel. I guess that's why m going to see the rapist. No that's not right, dad said not to say that, it's...therapist. Apparently they will help me understand everything that has gone on between my mam and dad and candy man.

"Ainle? Do you want something to eat?" Duke and Emory had come back inside and where making sandwiches. I nod in response and start to remove myself from Leo's lap. Tomorrow I have to go to school which I've been doing all week, but I'm not in the mood. School is tiring, I'm not smart enough for most of the lessons and I don't have many friends. I know how to cook, clean and bring people things, not maths English and how to read.

I hear the doorbell ring and I already know who it is. It's Emory's girlfriend, she's nice to me and never really understood why my brothers where mean to me. Emory's happily bounds over to the door with a sandwich half stuffed in his mouth. I can hear jasmines exited voice greet Emory and then I watch as they reappear round the corner.

"Hello boys, how's everyone doing?" She looked at me and smiled, chucking a bag of sweets at me. I love jasmine, she has long braided hair and is only just shorter than Emory. She has beautiful black skin and has the best sense of style.

(I tried to find a reference photo but they where all of young women killed in hate crimes or by the police and I don't feel comfortable using one of those photos. It just shows you how much racism still affects us to this day)

"Hey Jaz, do you what a sandwich?" I watch as Emory puts money on the counter and then Leo sigh as he gets up. Duke roles his eyes and I feel two arms pick me of the ground and begin walking towards the door. I look around and see Leo is carrying me and my bag of sweets. It's like they all just had a silent conversation without letting me know. Almost like a machine, Duke called the dog over and put three sandwiches into zip lock bags. What is going on?

"Duuuke..?" Leo dragged out Dukes name, he wants something. When he's speaking like that, he'll probably get it. "Can we go get ice cream?" Oh I like that idea. If also prefer to be on the ground but it doesn't look like Leo's letting me down any time soon.

"By jazzy! And yes please can we get ice cream?" Duke headed out of the door and Leo moved quickly after him and soon we where outside. The streets where almost empty except for a few people walking their pets or going to the shops. The sun was blinding and it's was boiling. I forget how amazing air conditioning was. What are we doing out here anyway? And how the hell did everyone decide to leave without a word being said? I'm very confused.

"Why are we out here? Where are we going? Did I miss something?" Duke smirked and began walking. I'm not getting any answers am I? Leo puts me down, not so gently may I add, and starts jogging to keep up with Duke. Before I can move up to walk with them, three boys from across the street start jogging over. One of them playfully pushed Leo and another raps one arm around Dukes shoulders. There friends. Great.

"Where where you two ey? All week at school you haven't said a word about it?" The one who has his arm around Duke asks while jumping up and down pulling on Dukes neck.

"Yeah, rumor has it, the whiny brat was carried into your house after the pigs took away a screaming woman." The small blond kid who pushed Leo joined in with The teasing. Suddenly the kid in front turns around and starts walking backwards. His voice is high pitch and loud.

"I'm gonna call the others, we can go to four guys. Where's Emory?" It's like I'm not even here. Am I? Am I just invisible. I pinch myself and conclude, I'm definitely awake. I don't want to annoy them so I guess I should just keep my head down and follow the group. I guess this means no ice cream and Leo has my sweets. I don't have my phone to listen to music and I don't have a book to...look at pictures in. I really need to learn to read.

After half an hours of mindless wandering I hear some shouting ahead of me. I look up and am taken a back when I'm met face to face with seven strangers. How has this happened? They look angry almost. I look around and see it's getting dark and I have no idea where I am. This isn't familiar.

"What the hell do you think you doing? You've been following us for an hour and a half. Are you lost? Should we call the police?" Where am I? Who are these people? Where's my brothers? I'm hungry. Oh wait, I need to answer these guys questions.

"Umm, I'm lost, sorry I thought you where someone else and I don't need the police. Or pigs...isn't that what there called? Where am I?" They somehow got even angrier. What did I say? Are they angry or am I reading this wrong? Maybe I should just leave.

"Pigs! Do you know how offensive that is? They protect us and keep us safe. Don't you dare call them that" I just heard that kid say it earlier. It's not my fault. Duke said the police are corrupt and systematically racist whatever that means. Maybe it's good. I thought pigs where good. There cute. So don't call cops pigs because they protect us and are systematically racist and corrupt. Okay noted. Still these strangers are mad at me and I've now been quite for an awkwardly long time.

"Sorry. I'll leave, I didn't mean to make you angry. My brothers will be getting annoyed so I have to get home." I turned around and began walking in what I think is the right direction

Jay🦊🧡