Chapter 14

I sunk down to the step and clutched my coffee. I know that I had only known Jared for a week, but we had become friends or at least I thought we had. But he left me. People always leave me.

"Hey, are you ok?" A masculine voice asked interrupting my moody moment. Paul. He really was everywhere.

"I'm fine," I replied stalking to the kitchen to spend my final day with Olivia.

"Kelsey! Jared is going to take me to the beach today! It is going to be so much fun because he is my best friend. Can I go? Please, Jamie said I had to ask you," Olivia yelled running over to me. I turned to Jared.

"Do you know how to watch a six year old? You need to be responsible and keep a close eye on her. Don't let her-"

"I will never let anything hurt her," he replied. His eyes were filled with so much sincerity that I had to believe him. I turned back to Olivia.

"You can go, but only for a little while because I have an afternoon planned for us"

"Yay! Thank you so much Kels! I love you to the moon and back," she screeched hugging me.

"Yeah, yeah go on kiddo." And with that she left with Jared.

"Let's go out for coffee," Jamie said behind me.

"Lead the way, dear brother of mine." We walked to the diner on the reservation and sat down at a booth. Jamie interrupted the silence.

"I heard Jared today. Are you ok?"

"I am sick and tired of hearing that. Yes, I am fine. I am not a whiney bitch who cries over some guy she knew for a week and kissed once. I thought you knew that about me," I ranted. I was already in a bad mood and didn't want to talk about Jared.

"Woah easy tiger. I was just looking out for you"

"Well, I don't need you to look out for me. I am not a little girl anymore"

"You will always be my little sister even when you are old and wrinkly"

"I will have you know that I will never be old and wrinkly," I replied with a smirk. It was hard to stay mad at my brother. Our banter continued for an hour or two before we remember our responsibility - Olivia. We got back to the house and saw Olivia chasing Jared around the yard. Jared seemed genuinely happy every time she giggled.

"Sorry to interrupt your game, but Olivia it is time to go shopping," I said. I knew Olivia would never be able to resist new clothes. She was such a girly girl.

"Can't I just play with Jared?" she pleaded with her puppy dog eyes. I looked up and saw Jared pleading with the same eyes. Olivia would rather spend time with a stranger than her own sister. I couldn't help but feel hurt.

"Sure yeah ok" I replied and ran towards the house only to collide with a solid warm wall. An arm reached out from the wall and steadied me. Paul. A shirtless and very good looking Paul.

"Are you ok?"

"Stop asking me that like you care"

"Kelsey, listen to me. Your sister is just amused by a shiny new toy. You know that she loves you and misses you. Don't be upset by her." It was like he read my mind and could see exactly what was bothering me.

"You heard the conversation? I didn't see you"

"Yeah well I uh yeah I heard," he stuttered.

"Eavesdropping?" I smirked.

"No, I was just walking outside"

"Sure"

"Are you still upset over your sister?"

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I replied evading his question.

"Answer the question"

"How can I not be? She chose a stranger over me. I get to see her for two days and she wants to spend our precious time with him. I just ugh," I choked out. I don't know why I was telling a stranger these things, but Paul seemed to absorb everything I said. I was so comfortable with him.

"I don't think she understands that she won't be seeing you for a while. She is only a kid." He was right, and I hated it.

"Weren't you going to do something when I ran into you?" I asked changing the topic. My emotions are something I don't like broadcasting.

"Uh yeah"

"Then go," I replied walking away from him. Paul made me feel so good, but he acted so strangely. He seemed to really care about me, but he was so violent and angry. I could not figure him out. I walked into the house to be met with a very cheerful Emily.

"Kelsey, I made lunch. Why don't you come and get something to eat?"

"Emily, save it"

"You are going to eat something"

"Make me"

"Don't test me"

"Em what are you going to do? Nothing. Let's forget this whole situation ever happened"

"No, I will not. You need help"

"What does Kelsey need help with?" Jamie asked walking into the room.

"A paper for hist-" I started.

"Did you know that you sister is anorexic and bulimic?" Emily asked turning on my brother. I gasped and waited for a surprised face from my brother. I was completely wrong.

"I uh had my suspicions. That is part of the reason I sent you here. I thought a female influence would be good in your life," Jamie replied.

"You knew? How? I uh I-"

"You never really ate anything, and when you did you would always run the bathtub water afterwards. We both know that you hate baths because you feel they are unhygienic." He was way too observant. I should have known that I wasn't fooling him.

"Why didn't you confront me?" I asked. I was stunned by his honesty.

"I didn't know how. I'm not a girl. I couldn't relate to you. I figured Emily would be able to find the cause of it and help you overcome your problem"

"You really thought I would open up to some stranger. You must not know me"

"I thought that once you had stayed here for a while that Emily would be able to take your guard down enough to help you"

"You mean that you were going to keep me here until I opened up. I would have been here for years"

"I just want you to be happy and healthy"

"What if I promise to eat normally again? Will you let me come home? Please Jamie please"

"You and I both know that is a promise you cannot keep," Jamie said before walking out the front door to join Olivia and Jared.

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