Checking my watch I frowned as the hands hit nine- thirty. Usually some
one came down from the garage to help me do the final closing stuff. They
must have been really backed up tonight. Shrugging my shoulders, I began to
close down the store, straightening the isles one last time, sweeping, and
moping. I was in the back when I heard the door creek open slowly, the
bells gently jangling. Setting the mop aside I moved quietly to the front
scanning the area with my eyes. No way was it any one from the team, cause
they made enough noise when they entered to alert the whole neighborhood of
their arrival.
Coming around the corner, my heart leapt in my throat as I came face to face with my brother.
"You ass hole!" I said delivering a punch to his arm. "What the hell was that for?" He asked rubbing the now tender spot. "For scaring me half to death!" " What are you doing her any way?" I asked motioning him to follow me to the back.
The least I could do was hear him out. Seeing the team together made me long for what I had once had with him. "I wanted to talk to you," he said voice, lowering an octave as he suddenly became bashful. I couldn't hold back the smirk that crept on to my face as I saw how uncomfortable my brother was.
"So talk," I said continuing my mopping. "About everything Shy, Shy, I never meant to hurt you in any way, mom just thought it would be best if I disappeared." "Wait! Are you telling me she knew!" I asked feeling as if my whole world had just , once again turned up side down. "Yea baby girl, how else could I have had a funeral."
A fine tremble started in my legs, and I had to keep moving to stay standing.
"Shy you're the only family I have left, and I want to get what we had back." "I honestly don't know if we can," I said turning to him with sad eyes, still reeling from the news about our mom.
How could you ever trust someone who had lied to you about something so vital, for so long?
"We can at least try."
We were interrupted a moment later by Letty's arrival .
"Hey girl, sorry we were late, there was a spill in the garage."
Her voice trailed off as she spotted Edwin a few feet away. "Its ok Let, he was just leaving," I said turning to walk Edwin out.
"Come back next week, and we'll talk" I said knowing it would be petty to keep avoiding him. No matter he had done or why. He was still my big brother who had apparently never stopped loving me unconditionally. The least I could do was try and return the favor.
"What did he want?" Letty asked stepping up behind me to watch him drive off. "He told me my mom knew the entire time that he was still alive, hell they planned it together, and she insisted it would be better for me that way." "Damn esa, I'm sorry," She said throwing her arm around me in a rare show of affection.
"We're your familia now," She said making me smile up at her.
She was fast becoming the older sister I had always wanted. I ran through my past in my head numbly as we counted out the register; wondering what else I my life had been a lie. As I slid in the passenger seat that night I was convinced that my life could get no worse. Unfortunately I was wrong.
After dinner that night I found my self engulfed in a battle with Dom about returning to high school. Crossing my arms I rolled my eyes as Dom continued his speech on why I needed to complete my high school education. I had been in my last semester of senior year when the accident occurred.
"It would only be for a semester," Mia added wincing as I glared. "You're going back," Dom said with a tone that didn't give room for any disagreement. Snorting I rolled my eyes once more before speaking.
"Whatever," I said as I spun on my heel. It wasn't the school that I minded. It was going back to face all the people I had left behind. Everyone would be expecting the optimistic, perky prep, and I just wasn't her any more. Not to "Mention" he would be there too, and the thought of him alone made me shudder.
Coming around the corner, my heart leapt in my throat as I came face to face with my brother.
"You ass hole!" I said delivering a punch to his arm. "What the hell was that for?" He asked rubbing the now tender spot. "For scaring me half to death!" " What are you doing her any way?" I asked motioning him to follow me to the back.
The least I could do was hear him out. Seeing the team together made me long for what I had once had with him. "I wanted to talk to you," he said voice, lowering an octave as he suddenly became bashful. I couldn't hold back the smirk that crept on to my face as I saw how uncomfortable my brother was.
"So talk," I said continuing my mopping. "About everything Shy, Shy, I never meant to hurt you in any way, mom just thought it would be best if I disappeared." "Wait! Are you telling me she knew!" I asked feeling as if my whole world had just , once again turned up side down. "Yea baby girl, how else could I have had a funeral."
A fine tremble started in my legs, and I had to keep moving to stay standing.
"Shy you're the only family I have left, and I want to get what we had back." "I honestly don't know if we can," I said turning to him with sad eyes, still reeling from the news about our mom.
How could you ever trust someone who had lied to you about something so vital, for so long?
"We can at least try."
We were interrupted a moment later by Letty's arrival .
"Hey girl, sorry we were late, there was a spill in the garage."
Her voice trailed off as she spotted Edwin a few feet away. "Its ok Let, he was just leaving," I said turning to walk Edwin out.
"Come back next week, and we'll talk" I said knowing it would be petty to keep avoiding him. No matter he had done or why. He was still my big brother who had apparently never stopped loving me unconditionally. The least I could do was try and return the favor.
"What did he want?" Letty asked stepping up behind me to watch him drive off. "He told me my mom knew the entire time that he was still alive, hell they planned it together, and she insisted it would be better for me that way." "Damn esa, I'm sorry," She said throwing her arm around me in a rare show of affection.
"We're your familia now," She said making me smile up at her.
She was fast becoming the older sister I had always wanted. I ran through my past in my head numbly as we counted out the register; wondering what else I my life had been a lie. As I slid in the passenger seat that night I was convinced that my life could get no worse. Unfortunately I was wrong.
After dinner that night I found my self engulfed in a battle with Dom about returning to high school. Crossing my arms I rolled my eyes as Dom continued his speech on why I needed to complete my high school education. I had been in my last semester of senior year when the accident occurred.
"It would only be for a semester," Mia added wincing as I glared. "You're going back," Dom said with a tone that didn't give room for any disagreement. Snorting I rolled my eyes once more before speaking.
"Whatever," I said as I spun on my heel. It wasn't the school that I minded. It was going back to face all the people I had left behind. Everyone would be expecting the optimistic, perky prep, and I just wasn't her any more. Not to "Mention" he would be there too, and the thought of him alone made me shudder.