Stebrother's Inheritance

I closed my eyes and prayed it would be over soon. I knelt and started to gather up the mess trying to clean off my books.

"Don't."

I knew that voice but it couldn't be. He wouldn't get involved.

I looked up and there, surrounded by a shining halo of fluorescent light created by my tears, was Ben. Massive, strong, stable Ben. He reached a hand down to me. I took it without thinking and he helped me to my feet then he turned on the two boys.

"Hey Brandt, what your problem?" one of the boys said.

I wiped at my tears, knots in my stomach as w

aves of nausea passed over me.

"Leave her alone," Ben said. Ben was never loud.

"Why?"

I didn't clearly see what happened then. There was a blur then the one who spoke was on the ground screaming and blood ran between his fingers. The other guy backed off with his hands up. Ben just looked at him.

"Hey, sorry man. Keep the loser!" he said while slowly backing away.

"She's not a loser, she's my stepsister."

She's my stepsister. I smiled so wide my jaw hurt and my braces shone.

That was the single greatest moment of my childhood. The day he stood up for me. After that Ben was always around. All the way to the end of his Senior year.

When he left, he never looked back. Just like my mom.

I put the picture down in its place and return to sorting. After a few moments I look at it again. I walk back over and place it face down so I don't have to look at it anymore.

Chapter two

Hours pass. It seems strange a person's life comes down to this. Their remains placed in memoriam, the rest of their life a strange collection of objects that held meaning for them but now serve no purpose. Piles of clothes surround me making it hard to walk through the bedroom. Another hour and I should be done with this room.

A siren echoes through the quiet house. It draws closer until I'm sure it's passing right by. Navigating my way through the clothes, I make my way to the window so I can look outside. More sirens approach and they keep getting louder. Lights flash through the large bay window casting the walls in red and blue neon.

Pulling the curtain aside there are two police cars parked in front on either side of a limousine. Cold chills run down my arms. He wouldn't! I shake my head as disbelief floods through me. The driver gets out and almost runs to the rear door. Standing to one side he opens it.

Ben steps out of the limo. His sharp gray eyes look at the house as he frowns like seeing his childhood home is distasteful to him. His hair is slicked back but the waves of it still show. He's tanned, even more so then I remember. He's dressed in tight fitting jeans with a t-shirt that does nothing to hide his abs and seems to cling to each individual muscle. He reaches in to the darkness of the limo and pulls out a sports jacket that he throws over one shoulder.

He smiles at the driver and clasps him on the shoulder in his oh so friendly manner then he reaches in his pocket and pulls out a roll of money, pulling off several bills that he hands to the man. The driver tries to refuse but Ben insists. I can hear him in my head.

Take the money, you need it.

Oh, no sir, I can't take your money sir, the driver will be saying.

Ben smiles and nods but then as I watch he slides the bills in the man's shirt pocket under his jacket. Ben can do that with anyone. No one's a stranger to him and no one seems to stand up to him. You'd think he'd never been told no in his life, people just welcome him into their space and their lives.

My hand shakes as I let go of the curtain. He isn't supposed to be here. Dad said he wasn't going to make it back. Breath comes in short ragged gasps as I try to think calming thoughts. He'd barely shown up for the funeral and I'd been able to avoid talking to him then. How am I to avoid him now? The house is empty, it'll just be the two of us. Why is he here?

Why do I see that shirt clinging to his tight abs when I close my eyes?

Nervously I lick my lips, suddenly parched. I walk into the kitchen filling a glass from the fridge. The front door opens and closes. Casual. I have to keep this casual. All I have to do is pleasantries, then get the hell out of here. The rest of the sorting can wait.

"Hello Vic," Ben says leaning against the archway.

My heart skips a beat. Gray eyes pierce me and I'm a little girl again. Torn between wanting to run to his strong arms for protection and my anger that he left.

I hate you.

Except now he's the one walking out the door instead of my mom. I was standing in the hallway, knowing he would turn back, that he wouldn't leave me too. He shook his head slightly with his eyes so sad and then walked away. My dad stood there shaking with anger, his mom was crying but no one said a word. Ben just left.