Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 16

(Angel's POV)

I couldn't believe we were finally free from our punishments after a week of non-stop chores. My friends and I were all glad to be done with the endless scrubbing and cleaning, and we celebrated with a quiet night in the common room. As we sat around the TV, watching a mindless soap opera, my mind kept wandering to Hendrix. I was still angry with him, but he was my priority. I needed to make sure he was okay, and we needed to talk. "I'm so glad we can finally hang out again," Hande said, smiling.

"Me too," Cylan agreed. "I was starting to think we'd never see the light of day again."

Charlotte sighed. "I am happy, we don't clean this place first before we watch TV."

"Right? Ugh! I can't believe that was my life for two whole weeks. This center is turning me into something I am not." Hande replied. "Has anyone seen Dilada?" She suddenly asked, looking around.

Charlotte shrugged and shook her head and Cylan spoke up, not looking away from her phone, "Maybe she's using the restroom. That girl's too shy to say it if that's where she is." They laughed at that.

I noticed that Dilada was missing, but I didn't give it much thought. My mind was preoccupied with Hendrix. I needed to make sure he was okay. I had been thinking about him nonstop since our last confrontation, and I knew I needed to talk to him.

I wondered what he was doing, if he was okay, and if he had listened to what I said.

I knew I couldn't shake off the feeling, but I didn't know if I should share it with my friends.

"Earth to Angel!" Cylan joked, waving her hand in front of my face.

I snapped back to attention, momentarily shocked.

Hande noticed my distant expression and asked, "Angel, what's wrong? You seem a little spaced out."

"Oh! What? Nooo! I'm cool. I'm fine." I blabbered.

avoiding their eyes, unsure if I should confide in them. I trusted my friends, but I didn't want to plant any seeds of doubt in their minds about the center. They had come

mind me." I said finally, "I'm just tired, that's all," I said, trying

that's all? You can tell us

my doubts. Not yet, at least.

trying to brush off their concerns. "Yeah, really, it's nothing. Let's just enjoy our night,

"Okay, so anyway, where were we? Ah yes, the latest episode of

but I could tell they were skeptical. I hoped I was just being paranoid, but my

there that I would meet Hendrix and talk things over with him. I would meet Hendrix and fix things with him. Considering what happened with Dr Nixon and Miss Stefan, he

the common room, and our eyes met. I felt a rush of emotions as I got up and walked towards him. We stood facing each other, the air thick with

other, neither of us saying a word. I could see the regret in his eyes, and

and opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it. I

I thought I knew what to

uncertainty. He took a step

settled for a

simultaneously, we said,

burst out laughing, and the tension between us dissipated. We decided to sit outside, away from the noise, and gaze at the stars. It was a quiet, peaceful night, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me.

unsure

for a moment, watching the stars

grown up together, finishing each other's sentences, knowing what the other was thinking. But things changed since we grew up. It had started when he began keeping multiple girlfriends at the same time, and his reckless behavior with women had left me feeling sad and concerned. I had promised myself never to give up on him, no

I looked at him, I realized that I

him deeply, and I wanted to help him find his

silence again, the only sound being the crickets

the silence again. "Do you remember when we were kids, and

just a sweet little boy. We were so close back then, we would look at each other and laugh like we did

again, lost in our own