Authors' Note: Expected reactions... got that. But the response was amazing! You guys are purely amazing! Well, we won't hold you back any longer!
PREVIOUSLY
"So we got the same score?" I asked her to clarify.
She nodded, eagerly.
"Well, congrats!" I pulled her in an embrace, but something felt off. It wasn't our usual full of feels hug, it seemed to have some awkward air in the mix. I hesitantly pulled away a quick second later.
"Thanks," she said as she shifted uncertainly before me, looking at her feet.
I looked at Trish and Dez. They shrugged, not knowing why Ally was acting this way. I turned to her as she spoke once more.
"I- I'm... Austin, I'm dating Elliot."
"Come on!", I yelled slamming my hand on my car horn frustrated. I've had a lot on my mind today, and I'm not in the mood to be stuck in this stupid traffic. I'm just trying to pick up Emilee; why is there so much stinkin' traffic anyway!?
As you can probably tell, I'm not in the best of moods right now. Want to know why, or you think you can guess? If you guessed that I'm mad-no, furious over the fact that my best friend/ the love of my life not only LIKES another guy, but is DATING him, you'd be 100% right. And it just had to be *shudders* Elliot. Seriously, what does she see in him that she doesn't in me!? First, my hair is way better. Second, we've been best friends for fourteen years, and they just met a few DAYS ago. Third, I'm completely, totally, 100% in love with her. I doubt Elliot would be saying that anytime soon...or ever.
And what really killed me was her reaction when she told me about this whole thing...
-Flashback-
"I- I'm... Austin, I'm dating Elliot."
"Wait, w-what? Did I just hear you correctly, because it sounds like you just said that you're dating Elliot", I said, hoping with all my heart that's not really what she said. Hoping it was just my stupid fears of losing Ally to that jerk. But apparently my fears weren't so stupid considering my hopes were about to be crushed into millions of pieces.
"I did", she said slowly. Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! This cannot be happening! This is ten times worse than her just liking him. I wanted to be her FIRST boyfriend! Not him! I wanted to be her first, and her last...not him!
"Austin? Are you okay?", Ally asked. She was looking at me all the time I was freaking out over this horrible event in my mind, anxiously anticipating my response. "Austin, please say something. You're starting to worry me."
"Please tell me this is a dream," I muttered, closing my eyes and pinching myself. Well, actually this is not actually a dream, its a living nightmare. "Please."
I opened my eyes to see Ally staring at me weirdly. "Um, you're awake," she said.
THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING! I inwardly sob, while pushing the corners into my lips into a smile. "Well, um, congrats to the two of you!" I force out. I'd rather throw up than say that!
"Um, thanks..?" Ally replied but it was more of a question. But I noticed her sigh and look down not knowing how to continue this conversation.
I didn't either. "So... um?" I furrow my eyebrows thinking how to continue. But it was just pure awkward! Believe me, it was horrible having to congratulate the girl I love on her first boyfriend. "So how'd you two get together?"
She smiled. Oh, no! She cannot be smiling at how they got together! That emptiness in my heart grows bigger and how it aches. I look at her again and closely figure out every aspect of her face. She looked tired due to the weariness her eyes showed. Her mouth had dropped to a grim smile. "He did a whole grand gesture. It was so cute!" she told me.
My inward sobbing continues, but heavier tears fall. I smile, but the happiness doesn't reach my eyes. "Well, congrats," I said again and dashed away. I cannot bear to keep that conversation going without real tears falling down my face. I-I just can't.
-End of Flashback-
I stare hardly at the road as I swerve multiple times, since I can't think straight. The tears begin to flow again, but I instantly wipe them away with a free hand. I hear horns honking and I turn into the parking lot of the middle school.
My heart aches and I can't concentrate, but I can't forget to pick up my little sister from school. She's the only comfort I have aside Ally and my parents. I sigh, slam the truck door and walk up to her. But instantly my eyes widen at the scene before me.
Emilee was being pushed and shoved around in the middle of a large circle of middle school kids! One of them shoved her so hard that she fell flat to the ground.
"Come on, get up loser! You're pathetic! No one likes you, so why don't you just go live with all the other rats in Miami. Wait, I'm sorry, did they already kick you out?", the little jerk that pushed her yelled, and the rest of the kids standing around, watching the scene burst out laughing. Emilee had tears streaming down her little face.
"Come on mute, speak up. We can't hear you", another kid said. I can't believe these little brats. How can they be doing this to Emilee!? And why aren't her friends sticking up for her when-wait...She doesn't have any friends, does she!? Why am I so stupid!? I should've seen this from the beginning.
"Awe, does the little baby not have a comeback?", the kid that pushed her teased again. That's it!
"Hey!", I shouted. All heads turned towards me, and Em's eyes widened as she tried to get up quickly and act like nothing happened and she just fell or something. Uh, not happening little sister
"Who are you?", a snobbish looking kid asked.
"Yeah, who are you? You're in high school; you shouldn't be here", the one that pushed her said.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I came here to pick up my sister. But it seems to me that all I found was a bunch of little brats picking on an innocent little girl", I said angrily. The kid had the nerve to laugh.
"Innocent? She's nothing but a nerd, loser, and a waste of space. She totally deserves it", he said. "Hey, you wanna join? We'll make sure the teachers know she just 'fell' when she goes crying to her Mommy and Daddy." The look in Emilee's eyes made me want to cry. Does she actually think I would ever do that to her!?
"No I do not want to join you little bulling freaks! Do you not know what she's been through!?", I yelled. By this point, Emilee was balling her eyes out. Oh no way would I let them keep doing this to her! "She never gets a break from the horrible things going on! Can't you tell how much you're actually hurting her!? She can't just run 'crying to her Mommy and Daddy' because she got beat everyday for just being there! Why do you think she's so quiet!? Did you ever bother to ask!? No, so leave my little sister alone, or you'll have me to deal with", I finished. I walked past the gaping middle school kids and helped Emilee pick up her stuff.
"Come on Em, we're going home", I said grabbing her hand and helping her as she stood up shakily. Suddenly, she wrapped her little arms around me tightly.
"Thank you Austin. You're the best big brother ever. It's nice to know at least one person doesn't think I'm a waste of space completely", she said loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Wait, it talks?", that kid had the nerve to ask. I seriously want to punch him right now...maybe even more than Elliot, which is extremely hard to beat right now.
"Yes, she does. Now shut it, because you're the first I'm coming for", I said still hugging Em close to me.
"Is that a threat?", he asked trying to sound intimidating, but I could hear the fear in his voice too. Ha, serves him right.
"No, that's a promise."
With that Emilee and I walked back to the car with the kids still gaping after us in shock and confusion.
She climbs into the passenger seat throwing her backpack first. I know she's in a mood, so I leave her alone. It's best. I silently follow her and get into the driver's seat and start the engine.
"You want to talk about it?" I ask, hesitantly.
"No," she simply relies, staring out the window.
I respect her decision. But she'll have to talk sometime... just not now. "Okay," I answer. I study her sad, sorrow, and exhausted face. I turn my attention back to the road and place my thoughts back to Ally and Elliot. The rest of the road home is silent.
"Hey Mom," I greet as I open the front door and let us in.
"Hi to you two!" she calls from somewhere in the house. "In the kitchen!" she adds.
"Want some food?" I ask her.
She grimly nods. "You're a great big brother," she repeats.
I would have said some smart-aleck reply, but I know now is not the time to retort with cocky answers. "And you're a wonderful little sister, no matter what anyone says," I reply.
Her bright smile returns. We walk into the kitchen where my mom was baking! Ohhh, cookies! I do a little happy dance and reach for a few. My mom laughs at my reaction as I shove my mouth with cookies.
"What?" I ask with a mouth full of cookies. "They'we gwood!"
"Austin Monica Moon, how many times over the past seventeen years have I told you not to talk with your mouth full?", my mom scolds. Emilee's giggling from beside me as she says this.
"At least one more", I shrug, smiling sheepishly.
"Very mature. I thought you were supposed to be older here", Emilee laughed. Hey, I just saved her butt back there at the school.
When I turn back to my mom and Em, they're both just staring at me. Emilee's eyes were wide open, and my mom just looked confused. "What?"
"Seriously Austin, you have to learn to separate what you think and say", Emilee whispered. Wait, what?
"What did you have to save her from?", my mom asked. Oh crap, I was thinking out loud again! "Austin, answer me", she demanded.
Um, should I be truthful or just lie? I ask myself. Then my eyes widened as I wonder if I had said that out loud. I look at my mom and Emilee. They both weren't looking too pleased. "Um... I, uh... "
"Austin," my mom says in that tone, I can never escape from. "Tell me, what happened?"
I look at Emilee. It's not like I can't make her say what happened to her, that'd be too harsh. I sigh. I might as well tell the truth. I closed my eyes and say it very fast. "IsawEmileebeingbulliedtoday. Iintervenedandhelpedherout."
My mom looked at me. "Repeat that, please?"
I sighed and repeated what I had just said. "I saw Emilee being bullied and I got mad and I just had to help her out."
My mom looked between the two of us. "Emilee, is this true?" She nods in response. "How long has this been happening?"
"For several months, now," she mumbles, barely audible.
"Have you told anyone, not even your parents?" My mom continues with her questioning. Emilee shakes her head. Then she turns to me. "Exactly what happened today?"
I turn to Emilee. "It's okay. You can tell. I trust all of you," she says. I nod and launch into my story.
"Then they sad that they'll make sure that her parents will find out that she just 'fell' to cause the injuries that they actually caused. It angered me so much that I told them that Emilee is so nice and she never gets a break. Then I said that its not like she can go home to find the warmth of her family since she gets abused at home! Then... oh." I shut my mouth and look at my mom and Emilee who had their mouths open. Oops. Dang, my big mouth!
"Abused!?"
Now, you would've expected that to be my mom since she was 'supposedly' the only one in the room, but no. My dad just picks the perfect times to walk in on our conversations.
"Austin!", Emilee exclaimed.
"Sorry Em, I forgot", I whispered.
"Austin, did you just say Emilee's parents have been abusing her?", my mom asked. I looked over to Emilee who nodded with tears in her eyes.
"Yes mom, that's what I said, and it's true. I've witnessed and experienced it first hand", I sighed. I could see Emilee cringe when I said that. "Em, how many times do I have to tell you that was not your fault?" She didn't say anything in response.
"Is that why you've been staying here and why Austin had to sleep over at Ally's house the other night?", my dad asked.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Moon! Please, please, please, don't be mad at me! I promise I'll go get all my stuff and leave so I wont be any more trouble!", Emilee exclaimed.
"WHAT!?", we all yelled at once, startling her a bit. I grabbed her hand and pulled her close to me where I had a firm grip on her, but wasn't hurting her.
"Emilee, I don't want to hear you say anything like that again. You will not be going back to that place", I said firmly.
"Austin's right Emilee. You're welcome to stay here, you know that", my mom said. Em had tears streaming down her face again.
"I didn't mean to scare you sweetie. I was just trying to fill in all the blanks of the story that didn't make sense to me", my dad said. I don't think that's why she was scared of him. I think he just reminded her of her own father when he was questioning her. Poor kid.
"Emilee?" I ask. She's been quiet for a few minutes now and I was getting worried. "Are you okay?"
She nods. "Yeah... It's just that... I've never been at a time where a family loved me. I don't know how to react. I've... I've never really known the actual..."
"Actual feeling of love," I finish for her. She nods in reply. I smile and pull her into a hug. "Don't worry anymore, Emilee. You've got a family who loves you with every inch of their being. You're my little sister and I love you."
She smiles in my arms. "I love you too, big brother," she says. Then my whole family piles into one giant group hug. It's been a while since my family had a group hug, but I loved it. I felt like I was 12 again and that feeling is just amazing. I finally have the support and love from a sibling I never had. But I'm glad for it. My family is now complete.
A/N: awww... A sense of family. We loved it. Didn't you? Give us your feedback.
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daddysgirl11, writermeAL