Chapter Ten

I always knew my brother had a bad temper... but never this bad.

"Kendall," I stood outside his bedroom door. I slowly opened it.
Kendall was sitting on his head, his head in my hands. He looked up, saw me, and gave me a look of disgust.
"This is your entire fault." He snarled.
"I know," I said, as calmly as possible.
"You've just put your whole family in danger." He narrowed his eyes at me.
"I'm sorry OK?" I raised my voice slightly. "I didn't know he was going to come and look for me. I thought that was it, he would accept that I'd left, and it would be game over."
"Robyn, he would never think that!" Kendall jumped to his feet. "He thought you were going to stay with him forever, and be his personal punching bag!"
"He never hit me, once!" I protested.
"How many times did he attempt to hit you?"
Too many. So many times, that I didn't even know how many.
"Exactly." Kendall said, bitterly. "If you'd left when Mom, Katie and I did, then we wouldn't be in this situation."
"I tried to stop him," I said. "I tried so hard to get him away from alcohol."
"Yeah, but you failed." Kendall snarled. "You failed, and now I'm left to pick up the pieces, as always."
I frowned. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Just because I couldn't stop our father from drinking, you automatically call me a failure, and then take pity on yourself?"
"The world doesn't revolve around you Robyn!" Kendall shouted.
"Where the fuck is this all coming from?" I shouted back.
"You're nothing but a selfish little bitch!" Kendall spat. "And also, quit the shit with James, OK? If you don't like him, you need to keep stringing it along."
"I'm not stringing anything along!" I argued. "You just can't take the fact that I'm friends with James!"
"No, I just can't take the fact that, you're a whore, you know that?"
Kendall's words stabbed me like a knife. His words, so similar to what my father had said to me the day I left. I couldn't hold it in anymore. This was the final straw. I broke down and cried.
Kendall's face went from red to pale. He'd never made me cry before, ever.
"Oh my God, Robyn, I'm so sorry." He said, trying to hug me.
"No," I protested, pushing him away.
He'd done it now. The damage was done.

I ran out of the apartment, and out by the pool, still crying. It was dark out now, so nobody could see me cry. I was trying to think of somewhere to go... the rooftop, perfect.

I sat on the roof all alone. I sniffled and wiped my eyes.
This was really the only chance that I had gotten to see LA's real night-life beauty. The stars twinkled on the busy city, the sidewalk full of people, the road full of cars. Everything was so un-calm, yet strangely relaxed.

"Hey," I smiled a little bit. I was so glad he'd followed me. James sat beside me and wrapped his arms around me. I huddled into him. He was warm. "What did Kendall say?"
"I don't really want to talk about it." I said wiping the tears from my eyes. James nodded.
"I just don't understand why my dad wants me back in Minnesota." I said. "None of it adds up at all."
"Just, don't worry about it." James said. "Besides, if he does find you, I won't let him hurt you."
I looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back.
"You know, you even look hot when you've been crying."
I laughed. "Thanks."
James smiled, and looked me. He wiped the mascara stained tears from my face. I stared into his eyes. I couldn't help myself, his eyes just mesmerised me. He caught my gaze, and looked into my blue eyes. Our faces got closer, until our noses touched slightly. I bit my lip slightly, before he pressed his lips to mine. I instantly kissed back. In those 30 seconds where we kissed, I felt like nothing else mattered. I suddenly became fearless. It became clear to me that I did like James more than a friend.
He smiled as we pulled away. I smiled back.
"Should I regret doing that?" James asked.
"No." I shook my head. "You shouldn't regret it one little bit."
"You're a better kisser than I imagined." He smirked.
I giggled.

"Hey," a voice said. We turned around there was Kendall. Had he seen us kissing?
I looked back at the city. "What do you want?"
"Look, Robyn." Kendall sighed, shuffling over. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"Yeah, you shouldn't have." I said bitterly.
Kendall sat down on my left. "I'm sorry."
I sighed and looked at him, smiling. "I can't stay mad at you. You're my twin."
"We're gonna get through this." He rubbed my back in small
circles.
"Stop that, it tickles." I laughed.
He smiled. His smile faded as he looked over to James. "You really like my sister?"
"Yeah!" James' eyes widened.
"And you like James?" Kendall asked me.
I nodded.
"OK," He smiled a little. "I guess I'll just have to live with that."
James and I smiled at him.
"But don't kiss in front of me next time."
"We didn't know you were there!" I said.
"Well... don't do it in front of me in the future."
I giggled and stood up, as did James and Kendall. James' hand locked with mine, and Kendall put his arm around me. I smiled.
"My two favourite guys."
"And my favourite girl." James kissed my forehead.
Kendall coughed awkwardly. I rolled my eyes, however I couldn't help but smile.
"Get over it!" I smiled, gently pushing my brother.
He laughed. "I'll try."