Crash 》Hemmings

Chapter Twenty One

"Is-is this real life right now?" My brother asked.

"Yes Steven, this is real life."

Luke somehow convinced me I should call my brother. He guilt tripped me. He explained how he wasn't close with his brother anymore and I should try to maintain a relationship with my own to keep him in my life. Needless to say it worked.

"Why are you calling?"

Steven's voice got deeper in the past year. I could only imagine how much older he looked now.

"I just, you know, figured we haven't talked in awhile.."

I glanced at Luke, who was watching me. He gave me a smile and pressed a kiss into my temple.

"This is weird Pax," Steven said. He told me way back when that he would never call me Crash.

"I know," I mumbled. "I just..I guess I miss you Steven."

He snorted. "Sure you do Pax."

My eyebrows furrowed. But before I could yell at him he spoke again.

"I miss you too. Will you- please come home."

"I can't."

"It's been over a year, Paxton."

I glanced over at Luke. He was watching my every move. It wouldn't surprise me if he could hear my brother talking.

"I can't, Steven. I have a job and an apartment here. I can't just let all of that go. Plus, I don't think my car would make the drive back home."

"Where are you even? You never told us."

I bit my lower lip. I didn't have much contact with my family, but he was right. I never did tell them. I was afraid they would come find me and make me go back. I couldn't go back, especially now.

"I'm not going to tell anyone, Pax. You're nineteen now anyways. It's not like Kelly or John could do anything."

"California," I finally said. I had a giddy feeling from telling my brother that. Or maybe I was just happy to finally tell someone where I was.

Steven whistled. "Damn, you drove far."

I chuckled. "I know."

"This is weird. Could we like, FaceTime or something?"

I began to chew on my cheek. "I don't know Steven...maybe some other time."

"Why? What if I don't get another time? You aren't very good at keeping promises these day."

That hurt a bit, but I did my best to keep that to myself. I knew it was the truth. I wasn't very good at keeping promises when it came to my family.

"Please Steven, this isn't a good time. We can set a date to FaceTime though. And I will keep it. I need to see my baby brother growing up. You're going to be driving soon!"

"Already am, thank you very much," he said proudly. "I only got ten points on my drivers test."

It was weird to think of my baby brother driving. I always thought I would be there when he was. Then again, I always thought mom and dad would have been too.

"I gotta go Pax," he said quickly. "Aunt Kelly just got home."

I don't remember the last time I talked to my aunt or uncle. They were pissed at me for leaving. With the minimal amount that I did talk to people in New York, I talked to Steven the most, then Anna, and then Hannah.

"Okay, I'll talk to you later," I said, a little sad our conversation was cut so short.

"Don't forget about FaceTime!" He said before hanging up on me. I set my phone down on the table and looked over at Luke. He smiled.