Chapter Eight: Forgetting Anthony
A car came for Anthony at eight o'clock am the next day. I was in my room watching out the window. I didn't sleep at all the night before. All I could think about was how I had been so blind to how Anthony really felt. I felt so responsible for his breakdown as Maxine called it. Trevor went to bed soon after he learned of Anthony's situation. He didn't seem to care at all that the twin brother he had only just met was leaving again. This situation truly helped me see how selfish Trevor was. I regretted telling I loved him and felt awful about myself for doing what we did last night. I wanted to wipe that memory away for now I disliked Trevor for becoming so nonchalant and cold. He might be loving towards me, but that was not all that mattered, he had to be kind to the people I loved, not jealous. I lay down in bed after watching Anthony's car disappear and cried. I had lost my brother twice in less than a year and I felt like I was the one to blame for everyone else's sorrow and mine. There was a knock at the door. I sat up quickly and wiped my eyes. "Come in," I called. Trevor entered my room looking happy and refreshed. "You ready to go the mall?" he asked as if nothing had happened. I stared at him in shock. "No Trevor, I'm not going," I growled. He narrowed his eyes at me and scowled. "Just because Anthony went insane doesn't mean we have to sit at home and mope around," he said cruelly. I stood up, "I am not moping and I would think you would care a little more about your brother and if not about him than at least respect me enough to realize how much I will miss him." I said angrily. I went into the closet and got dressed quickly. I didn't know what I was going to do, but it certainly wouldn't be with Trevor. "C'mon Skye, he was crazy, forget about him!" Trevor cried. "You are still jealous aren't you?" I glared at him. I had never been angrier about anything in my life. Even when Pop had hit poor Tyler I had not been angrier. "You know what Trevor, I don't think we should date any longer, it's already going to be hard enough living in the same house with someone so heartless and cruel," I pointed to the door and told him to get out. "Fine if you want a crazy person then suit yourself!" he screamed and stormed out of the room. I slammed the door behind him. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet just in time. I threw up all the wonderful food that I had eaten last night at my birthday party. Even though I had gotten dressed I didn't leave my room that day. I sat by the window and wished that I could turn back time and go back to being happy in Monkton. Pop might have been abusive but at least there was always love between us kids. I missed the way Anthony had been and how I used to be able to tell him anything. Coming to La Vie had not made my life better as I thought it would, it had made it ten times worse.
Everyone at school heard about Anthony and they stared at me when I walked down the halls. I kept to myself for the rest of the year. I just didn't want to talk to people and know that they were thinking about the love triangle between me and twin brothers. I rarely spoke to Trevor. He ignored me at school so I did the same everywhere else. Gregory became a shell of his former self. He never left his room and he even quit his job. I was very worried about him. I went to his room one day to talk to him. He was sitting up in bed staring off into space. His dark hair was tangled and dirty. He had bags under his bloodshot eyes. "Gregory," I said sitting beside him on his bed, "look at yourself, you have to do something about this depression you are in, he has been gone for three months, you have to get back to normal," He stared at me accusingly, "Anthony will never be normal, and maybe it's both our faults," Tears prickled my eyes. "Everyone that comes to live here is unhappy and withdrawn," he continued, "I see that now, I see what this house has done to even me," I took his thin hand into mine, "Gregory, it isn't your fault, it isn't this house's fault either, it is fate," I said somewhat bitterly. "I don't think there is such a thing is fate, everything is someone's fault, I just wish I was strong enough to save my own son," at that he lay down and turned away from me. A letter came from Anthony's grandparents the next day. It said he was slowly improving but it would still be awhile. I cried when I saw his message on the bottom of the letter.
Skye, I think you must hate me, but that won't last forever, I will always love you. Tell Trevor that he might have won the battle but he won't in the war. Love always Anthony
I was surprised that his grandparents had let him write that. He didn't know that Trevor had not won the battle and I would not write back to tell him. I feared that would make him even more obsessed with beating his brother and winning the prize that was I. School would be over in a few months and I was grateful for that. People had finally stopped whispering about me in the halls but still no one talked to me. I hated living in Toronto. I could not stand the awful memories and the secrets that I still new haunted La Vie. I actually dreamed about being back in Monkton leading a simple life taking care of Tyler and Erin. I wrote a letter to them explaining everything that had happened and I got one back a month later. Erin wrote how Pop was doing better with his drinking. She thought losing two children had been hard on him and he wanted to be a good father to her and Tyler. Tyler was doing great in school and so was she. She confessed how she was actually jealous of me and she did send Frankie Bellows in to my shower stall on purpose. She told me Frankie had left the trailer park to look for me. That scared me a little until she said that he was killed in a hit and run. Just another person whose life I helped ruin. True, his life was already crap but it was because of me that he was killed. I was relieved that Erin and Tyler were doing Okay and Pop was finally stopping his drinking habit. During the summer I swam a lot. Trevor had many pool parties but I wasn't invited. Trevor had taken the breakdown of his brother much better than I had. I guess that was to be expected. They weren't close at all. I couldn't even remember a time when they had said more than two words to eachother. I was downstairs getting a snack one day in July. Trevor was having one of his parties in the back. I heard people coming. I didn't want to have to deal with their awkwardness at seeing me so I slipped out the door into the dining room. I peeked through the doors to see who it was. It was Trevor and his friend, Derek. "Let's get the drinks and go back out," Trevor said. "Hey, where's Skye," Derek asked quietly. Trevor looked angry for a moment that people were still asking about me. "Probably in her room pining after my brother," he said bitterly. "Don't you even care about her anymore?" Derek asked. I was surprised that he would say that to Trevor. He seemed to genuinely care if I was OK. "She doesn't care about me," Trevor said sounding like a five year old who wouldn't share because his friend wouldn't share. Derek just shook his head and they left the kitchen and went back out to the pool. That conversation made me wonder if Trevor was the only one who disliked me and he was just influencing his friends who wanted to take advantage of his money and pool. As I stood in the kitchen remembering how much fun I used to have with my friends I realized that I had to make an effort to be normal again. I didn't want to fade away in this house like Gregory was. I would be strong. I went upstairs and put on my bathing suit. I marched outside to the pool and everyone turning their heads towards me and became silent. "What?" I asked, "I live here too, can't I swim?" They all stared at me as if I was crazy. Trevor was glaring daggers at me. If looks could kill, I thought smiling. Everyone went slowly back to their conversations as I dove in the pool. There was a volleyball game going on so I asked if I could join. They looked at me strangely and then said yes. Eventually everyone stopped staring at me and went about their business. I was lounging on a chair a little later when a shadow fell over me. I opened my eyes and stared up at the person who was blocking my sun. It was Derek. "So you finally decided to join the land of the living," he said smiling. I could tell he was only joking. "Well, I thought it was about time that I showed Trevor that he's not the only person around here who can have parties and friends," I said. I noticed that Derek was very good looking. He had blond hair that was kind of messy from swimming and the wind. His eyes were hazel with long lashes. He had perfectly shaped lips and his nose was straight. He had a strong, square jaw that made him look more mature. He was tall, probably 6 feet at least and lanky. But I could see he had muscles in his arms. "I agree," he said. He left me staring after him thinking about how cute he was. I shook that thought out of my head. I had had too may bad experiences with guys like Derek. I knew he was rich just like Trevor and he lived in a huge mansion just down the street. Trevor didn't say anything to me about the pool party, he pretended like everything was fine and he hadn't even noticed I was there. That was fine with me. For the first time since Anthony had been taken away I felt happy and normal again. I was almost asleep that night when I heard a commotion outside my door. I got up and peeked out the door. Dena and Arthur were hurrying past my door. "What happened?" I called after them. Dena turned around, a frantic look on her face, "Mr. Jamieson has attempted suicide,"
A car came for Anthony at eight o'clock am the next day. I was in my room watching out the window. I didn't sleep at all the night before. All I could think about was how I had been so blind to how Anthony really felt. I felt so responsible for his breakdown as Maxine called it. Trevor went to bed soon after he learned of Anthony's situation. He didn't seem to care at all that the twin brother he had only just met was leaving again. This situation truly helped me see how selfish Trevor was. I regretted telling I loved him and felt awful about myself for doing what we did last night. I wanted to wipe that memory away for now I disliked Trevor for becoming so nonchalant and cold. He might be loving towards me, but that was not all that mattered, he had to be kind to the people I loved, not jealous. I lay down in bed after watching Anthony's car disappear and cried. I had lost my brother twice in less than a year and I felt like I was the one to blame for everyone else's sorrow and mine. There was a knock at the door. I sat up quickly and wiped my eyes. "Come in," I called. Trevor entered my room looking happy and refreshed. "You ready to go the mall?" he asked as if nothing had happened. I stared at him in shock. "No Trevor, I'm not going," I growled. He narrowed his eyes at me and scowled. "Just because Anthony went insane doesn't mean we have to sit at home and mope around," he said cruelly. I stood up, "I am not moping and I would think you would care a little more about your brother and if not about him than at least respect me enough to realize how much I will miss him." I said angrily. I went into the closet and got dressed quickly. I didn't know what I was going to do, but it certainly wouldn't be with Trevor. "C'mon Skye, he was crazy, forget about him!" Trevor cried. "You are still jealous aren't you?" I glared at him. I had never been angrier about anything in my life. Even when Pop had hit poor Tyler I had not been angrier. "You know what Trevor, I don't think we should date any longer, it's already going to be hard enough living in the same house with someone so heartless and cruel," I pointed to the door and told him to get out. "Fine if you want a crazy person then suit yourself!" he screamed and stormed out of the room. I slammed the door behind him. I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet just in time. I threw up all the wonderful food that I had eaten last night at my birthday party. Even though I had gotten dressed I didn't leave my room that day. I sat by the window and wished that I could turn back time and go back to being happy in Monkton. Pop might have been abusive but at least there was always love between us kids. I missed the way Anthony had been and how I used to be able to tell him anything. Coming to La Vie had not made my life better as I thought it would, it had made it ten times worse.
Everyone at school heard about Anthony and they stared at me when I walked down the halls. I kept to myself for the rest of the year. I just didn't want to talk to people and know that they were thinking about the love triangle between me and twin brothers. I rarely spoke to Trevor. He ignored me at school so I did the same everywhere else. Gregory became a shell of his former self. He never left his room and he even quit his job. I was very worried about him. I went to his room one day to talk to him. He was sitting up in bed staring off into space. His dark hair was tangled and dirty. He had bags under his bloodshot eyes. "Gregory," I said sitting beside him on his bed, "look at yourself, you have to do something about this depression you are in, he has been gone for three months, you have to get back to normal," He stared at me accusingly, "Anthony will never be normal, and maybe it's both our faults," Tears prickled my eyes. "Everyone that comes to live here is unhappy and withdrawn," he continued, "I see that now, I see what this house has done to even me," I took his thin hand into mine, "Gregory, it isn't your fault, it isn't this house's fault either, it is fate," I said somewhat bitterly. "I don't think there is such a thing is fate, everything is someone's fault, I just wish I was strong enough to save my own son," at that he lay down and turned away from me. A letter came from Anthony's grandparents the next day. It said he was slowly improving but it would still be awhile. I cried when I saw his message on the bottom of the letter.
Skye, I think you must hate me, but that won't last forever, I will always love you. Tell Trevor that he might have won the battle but he won't in the war. Love always Anthony
I was surprised that his grandparents had let him write that. He didn't know that Trevor had not won the battle and I would not write back to tell him. I feared that would make him even more obsessed with beating his brother and winning the prize that was I. School would be over in a few months and I was grateful for that. People had finally stopped whispering about me in the halls but still no one talked to me. I hated living in Toronto. I could not stand the awful memories and the secrets that I still new haunted La Vie. I actually dreamed about being back in Monkton leading a simple life taking care of Tyler and Erin. I wrote a letter to them explaining everything that had happened and I got one back a month later. Erin wrote how Pop was doing better with his drinking. She thought losing two children had been hard on him and he wanted to be a good father to her and Tyler. Tyler was doing great in school and so was she. She confessed how she was actually jealous of me and she did send Frankie Bellows in to my shower stall on purpose. She told me Frankie had left the trailer park to look for me. That scared me a little until she said that he was killed in a hit and run. Just another person whose life I helped ruin. True, his life was already crap but it was because of me that he was killed. I was relieved that Erin and Tyler were doing Okay and Pop was finally stopping his drinking habit. During the summer I swam a lot. Trevor had many pool parties but I wasn't invited. Trevor had taken the breakdown of his brother much better than I had. I guess that was to be expected. They weren't close at all. I couldn't even remember a time when they had said more than two words to eachother. I was downstairs getting a snack one day in July. Trevor was having one of his parties in the back. I heard people coming. I didn't want to have to deal with their awkwardness at seeing me so I slipped out the door into the dining room. I peeked through the doors to see who it was. It was Trevor and his friend, Derek. "Let's get the drinks and go back out," Trevor said. "Hey, where's Skye," Derek asked quietly. Trevor looked angry for a moment that people were still asking about me. "Probably in her room pining after my brother," he said bitterly. "Don't you even care about her anymore?" Derek asked. I was surprised that he would say that to Trevor. He seemed to genuinely care if I was OK. "She doesn't care about me," Trevor said sounding like a five year old who wouldn't share because his friend wouldn't share. Derek just shook his head and they left the kitchen and went back out to the pool. That conversation made me wonder if Trevor was the only one who disliked me and he was just influencing his friends who wanted to take advantage of his money and pool. As I stood in the kitchen remembering how much fun I used to have with my friends I realized that I had to make an effort to be normal again. I didn't want to fade away in this house like Gregory was. I would be strong. I went upstairs and put on my bathing suit. I marched outside to the pool and everyone turning their heads towards me and became silent. "What?" I asked, "I live here too, can't I swim?" They all stared at me as if I was crazy. Trevor was glaring daggers at me. If looks could kill, I thought smiling. Everyone went slowly back to their conversations as I dove in the pool. There was a volleyball game going on so I asked if I could join. They looked at me strangely and then said yes. Eventually everyone stopped staring at me and went about their business. I was lounging on a chair a little later when a shadow fell over me. I opened my eyes and stared up at the person who was blocking my sun. It was Derek. "So you finally decided to join the land of the living," he said smiling. I could tell he was only joking. "Well, I thought it was about time that I showed Trevor that he's not the only person around here who can have parties and friends," I said. I noticed that Derek was very good looking. He had blond hair that was kind of messy from swimming and the wind. His eyes were hazel with long lashes. He had perfectly shaped lips and his nose was straight. He had a strong, square jaw that made him look more mature. He was tall, probably 6 feet at least and lanky. But I could see he had muscles in his arms. "I agree," he said. He left me staring after him thinking about how cute he was. I shook that thought out of my head. I had had too may bad experiences with guys like Derek. I knew he was rich just like Trevor and he lived in a huge mansion just down the street. Trevor didn't say anything to me about the pool party, he pretended like everything was fine and he hadn't even noticed I was there. That was fine with me. For the first time since Anthony had been taken away I felt happy and normal again. I was almost asleep that night when I heard a commotion outside my door. I got up and peeked out the door. Dena and Arthur were hurrying past my door. "What happened?" I called after them. Dena turned around, a frantic look on her face, "Mr. Jamieson has attempted suicide,"