"Brooke, you haven't been coming to the park for the past few days. What's up? You look like you haven't slept in weeks?" Boomer hissed as I made my way towards my French class. It had been three weeks since my dream. I tried to ignore him. I really did try. I went home with mys sisters right away after classes to avoid Boomer's temptations. I traded seats with Mitch in algebra so I didn't have to sit near him. I knew if I was near him, I wouldn't be able to resist talking to him. Because he was too nice to be bad. But he was bad. It was only a matter of time before Boomer caught on. He was smarter than he looked.
"I just don't think we should be seeing each other anymore. It's just I-"
"You don't trust me." I stopped mid stride and chanced a look at Boomer. Hurt was evident on his face, but I tried to ignore the gnawing guilt in the pit of my stomach. "Why?" I shook my head. I don't know why I had expected Boomer to be okay with my sudden disappearance. It wasn't like me. "Did you tell your sisters?" Despite the tears blurring my vision, a bitter laugh escaped me.
"Like I would ever tell them about us. There is no us anymore." It was harsh and I knew that all too well, but I needed to force him away somehow. That way I wouldn't be blamed if all this time I had been wrong. Wrong about Boomer. Wrong about myself. I quickened my pace and left a stunned Boomer in my wake. This was how it had to be. I needed to keep my sisters safe. But more importantly, I couldn't keep hiding this anymore. If it stopped, I could act like it never happened.
"Brooke, you look exhausted. I think you should stay home today," Bridget stated softly as I made my way into the kitchen the next morning. It had been another sleepless nice of gnawing agony and guilt. I had thought ignoring Boomer would make things better, but I only felt worse. Whenever I saw Boomer, he always looked like a kicked puppy. "Have you been sleeping?"
"I'm fine Bridget, just leave me alone," I mumbled as I bent down to grab the frying pans from the cupboards. A thin hand slapped me away from the handle and I met Bridget's gaze moodily. Her pink eyes were harsh, but they quickly softened and she placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You should stay home today. I'll grab any homework from our teachers, you can catch up on some sleep." She turned away without another word and I frowned. There was no arguing with Bridget, not that I was complaining about taking a sick day. Without another thought, I turned away and made my way back up to our room. Maybe I needed a break more than I realized.
I had spent most of the morning in bed. I couldn't sleep, there was no use really trying, not with my mind as jumbled as it was. The house was unnaturally quiet, with both my sisters at school and the Professor away on a business trip, it was nice to have silence for once. I settled back under my covers and glanced up at the ceiling. There was nothing particularly interesting to look at, so I let my mind wander.
Before I could get too deep into my thoughts, a tap on the window brought me back. Startled, I glanced over at one of the circular windows across the room and my heart immediately sank. I jumped out of bed and hurdled across the room to where Boomer was hovering just outside. "What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed as I pried the window open. I knew he could hear me. Boomer blushed and rubbed the back of his neck as he drifted closer to the window.
"I wanted to talk about, you know-"
"No-No I don't know." I crossed my arms over my chest and gave Boomer an unamused glare.
"About us, and why you've decided to just blow me off like your sisters are blowing off my brothers. Something happened that you aren't telling me. I want to know because-" Boomer stopped mid sentence, a troubling look glossing over his face. It almost looked like he was in a mental battle with himself, as if he wasn't sure if he should continue. "-because I miss you."
"What?"
"Don't make me repeat it Brooke. Ever since you've stopped talking to me I can't help but think it was my fault. What did I do?" I frowned and looked away from him. I was completely torn. My head was telling me this was a trick, it echoed with Bridget and Blaire's voice. But my heart told me something different. It told me to trust my instinct, to let Boomer in. Because Boomer was the only person who understood. I sat on the windowsill, battling with my two halves. My sisters or my instinct. I didn't want my life to be run by my sisters, but could I really trust Boomer.
"You didn't do anything," I replied softly. Boomer looked up, surprised. "I was just doubting my choices. I was letting my sisters get to me. I shouldn't let them do that." Boomer smiled softly.
"No you shouldn't, because you can make the right choices on your own." He drifted away from the window. "If you've made your own choice then I'll talk to you tomorrow. Rest up, you look absolutely horrible." He stuck out his tongue and with that he was gone. I went to close the window, but before I did, a small smile flitted across my face. I hope I was making the right choice. If I wasn't, then I was putting everyone in danger.