Chapter Twelve

Since before he could remember Chris could never wait for his birthday. He found that the night before he was always so excited that he couldn't sleep. Every year he had always wished for the one present that he never seemed to get, his father and brother back. It was ironic to think that the first year that he had really gotten what he asked for, they had forgotten him.

He had always been able to rely on his mom and aunts to make his birthday special; they had always spoilt him rotten, maybe partly to compensate for Leo's absence, but they had always made the effort. That was until this year! This year no one had remembered.

Chris felt like an outsider in within his own family. It seemed like everybody had forgotten about him, like nobody really cared. And this was all because of Wyatt! The perfect twice-blessed boy, Chris spat, downing some more of the cider he had stolen. When he had found his brother, he had believed that it was the beginning of something better, of happier times. He had hoped that the discovery of Wyatt would bring him and his father closer, whom was he kidding! Leo wasn't around all these years because he was looking for his son; it was because he couldn't bear to be around his youngest son. He was damn sure that Leo wished he'd been the one taken, not his precious Wyatt. Why? What was so wrong with him that his own father didn't even want to be around him?

And his mother! What about her? All these years he had thought of himself as her baby, her special boy but it had all been an act. As soon as his darling brother had returned it was a different story. He was pushed to the sidelines, forgotten! He had served his purpose as substitute for his brother and now he was relegated to the bench like in a football match. Was he really that unloved? The thought of being so, hurt that much that itwas hard tobreath.

He was so lonely. He didn't really have any friends and he was still getting grief from Tommy and his Neanderthal mates. And now his home life was hell too. Matt was always around the manor and Chris had began trying to avoid his brother at every available opportunity. There were times that he didn't have a choice, and he had to be in the company of his older brother, but with Matt's magic training schedule and the fact that he still had another life with the parents that raised him, he found that he could avoid him more often than he initially thought.

Chris downed the last of the cider and lay down watching the waves gently lap the shore below where he sat. Lying on the embankment he could see out into the Pacific Ocean. Being dark the only light was from the moon shining down into the sea. Curling up in a ball and closing his eyes as tight as he could he began to sob loudly and uncontrollably. He sobbed for all the pain he was going through at both home and school. He sobbed for all the times his father hadn't been there and hadn't cared, for his mother's betrayal. For not having any friends and being alone. He cried for the idea of his brother, who didnot live up to his expectations. But mainly he sobbed for the family that he hoped for but never seemed to actually get. His birthday had just been the final straw.

The cold harsh windstirred Chris from his sleep as he woke up shivering. The sun had come up and he could hear the sound of people on beach. Chris sat up and rubbed his eyes, which still felt, tired and swollen from all crying he had previously done. Looking at his watch he noticed that it was way after nine. Hopefully his mother would think that he had gotten up and left for school before she got up and he wouldn't be busted. "Oh man," he thought, "I hope she's already gone to work cause I really can't deal with her right now. My heads killing me!" He had never drunk before last night and the pounding in his head made damn sure he never thought of drinking again.

Looking around to see if anyone was watching he quickly orbed home.

Reforming in the hallway Chris made it part way over to the stairs before he heard the wrath of Piper's voice. "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" His mother screamed

Chris winced at the volume of her voice, his head was still pounding from all the alcohol he had consumed and his mouth felt like the inside of a bird cage.

"AREN'T YOU GOING TO ANSWER ME?" She asked her voice still as loud as before. Noticing that he flinched at the tone and volume of her voice Piper realised what her son had been doing while he was out. "You've been drinking, haven't you," It was more a statement than a question.

"So what if I have?" Chris answered back.

"Don't talk to me like that young man," Her voice wasn't as loud as before, yet it was still as menacing. "I'm your mother and you will treat me with respect, do I make myself clear,"

Again Chris didn't answer, he just stared at the floor. "I don't believe you Christopher. I have been up all night worrying about you. Your father and brother have both been searching for you all night along. Why were you blocking them?"

"I didn't want to see anyone," Chris answered truthfully

"Well we wanted to see you," Piper snapped "You've been missing all night. I was worried sick,"

Chris just rolled his eyes and huffed "Yeah right,"

"I'm warning you Christopher. I am not going to put up with you acting like a spoilt brat. You were out all night, we had no idea where you were and you were drinking. Drinking, your only fourteen,"

Chris shook his head "I don't believe you. You really don't know me at all, do you?"

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing," he sighed, "It doesn't matter,"

"Chris please. Everything is going right for once, we've finally got your brother back and…"

"I don't believe this," Chris snapped angrily "Why does everything have to revolve around Matt,"

"It doesn't,"

"Yes it does! Matt is the centre of everything," Chris could feel himself getting more and more worked up every second "You know what, I wish I'd never found him,"

"You don't mean that,"

"Yes I do," Chris, yelled, "I wish he'd never been found,"

"That's a terrible thing to say," Piper answered shocked. "I'm really disappointed in you,"

"Well then maybe it should have been me who was kidnapped,"

SLAP!

The moment Piper's hand connected with his face, she regretted it. Seeing the shell-shocked look on Chris' face made her feel even worse. "Oh god Chris," she whispered putting her hand over her mouth "I'm sorry," she went to pull him into a hug, but he stepped back from her, a look of hurt evident upon his features. Chris turned from his mother and ran up the stairs leaving Piper feeling guilty for what she had done.