I took one look at them and knew why they were here and angry tears began to fill my eyes.
“How did your date go?” Mum asked, her question faltering as she took in my expression.
“Awful,” I bit out and returned my glare to Braden and Adam. “He’s not asking me out again because of these two idiots. ”
“Good,” Braden responded flatly. “You’re too young to be dating. ”
Mum sighed. “She’s not too young. ”
“She’s too young,” Adam agreed. “And look at what she’s wearing. ”
“There’s nothing wrong with what she’s wearing. She’s got tights on. ”
“She’s fifteen,” Braden argued. “She’s got plenty of time to go on dates. She should concentrate on school. ”
“Oh you sound like an old fart, Braden. ”
“I can’t believe your attitude, Elodie,” Adam sighed. “I thought you’d be more careful about this stuff. ”
“Careful,” Mum spluttered. “It was a date. ”
As they squabbled on, my anger had time to grow and seethe, and the humiliation to fester.
The nicest, cutest, coolest guy at our school had asked me out on a date and my brother and his best friend had ruined it for me. “I liked him,” I suddenly informed them, quietly but with an edge that halted their conversation. They all looked at me and a tear slipped down my cheek as I said, “I really liked him. You both ruined it and you don’t even care. ” Chest aching with the pressure of my hurt, I whirled and raced for the stairs, ignoring Braden calling my name.
“I’ll get her,” Adam told him which made my legs move faster up the stairs. I banged my bedroom door shut behind me and threw myself on my bed, hiding my face in my pillow as I cried into it.
I heard the knock over the sound of my muffled sniffling and lifted my head just enough to growl, “Go away. ”
I tucked my head back into the pillow and waited.
Since I knew how tenacious Adam was it didn’t surprise me when he ignored my command. I heard my door open and the creaks of the floor as he walked over to the bed. The bed dipped on my right side and I heard Adam sigh.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, his voice deep with sincerity. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. ”
I didn’t say anything, my throat burning even deeper when it occurred to me this was the first time Adam had ever hurt me.
“Els. ”
I turned my face on the pillow so I could see him. I ignored the worried look on his young, gorgeous face and told him stonily, “Just go away, Adam. ”
He ran a hand through his hair, turning more fully toward me. “Look, I feel like shit, Els. I didn’t mean to ruin your night. Neither did Braden. ”
“Oh I’m sure when you threatened sensory deprivation you had no intention of ruining my chances with Sam. ”
“Jesus,” Adam huffed. “You are too smart for your age. It’s like arguing with a grown woman. ”
“How would you know what it’s like to argue with a grown woman? You never stick around long enough to do something to piss them off. ”
His mouth twitched at my response and he shook his head. “Jesus,” he repeated.
After a minute of silence, Adam turned his head to look down at me again. His expression was no longer amused. In fact he looked deadly serious. “If this kid dumped you because he’s not man enough to deal with some familial concern, then he’s not the kind of boy you want to be with. ”
The word “familial” pushed that little button inside of me and I knew when I glared at him this glare was colder than any that had come before it because it made him stiffen with surprise. “You’re not my brother, Adam. ” I snapped. “Stop acting like it. ”
I felt a slash of pain across my chest at the hurt expression in his eyes, guilt instantly making me want to cry even more. “I know that, Ellie. ”
Our eyes met and held, and my awareness of him caused my skin to flush. “Do you?” I murmured a little breathily.
Something flickered in his gaze and he stood up, looking uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you alone for a bit. I just wanted you to know I would never intentionally hurt you. ”
When I didn’t say anything, Adam exhaled wearily and left.
As he was closing my door I heard Braden’s voice right outside it. “She okay?”
“She’s pissed off. Let’s just leave her alone for a while. ”