Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 34

(Angel's POV)

I had been trying to talk to Thomas for days.

Every time I got close, he brushed me off or changed the subject like he was avoiding something. It started to feel strange.

I found him in the common room, and he sat alone with his eyes glued to the TV, but I knew he wasn't really watching.

"Thomas," I started, but he barely glanced my way.

"Not now, Angel," he muttered without looking up. His fingers tapped anxiously on the armrest of the couch.

"Then when?" I pressed and stepped closer, refusing to let him slip away this time. "This is important."

He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. "Look, I don't have time for this."

But I felt it in my gut that he was hiding something, something that could help us. "We need your help," I insisted and lowered my voice so no one else could hear. "You've been here longer than anyone. You know more about this place than we do."

For a second, his expression shifted and something dark crossed his face. Then it was gone, replaced by that same lazy mask.

"Look, Angel, you don't know what you're asking." His voice was low like he was warning me.

"Why won't you help us?" I asked, frustrated. "We're trying to figure out what's happening here. Don't you care about getting out of this place?"

"I do." His voice was cold now. "But you don't know what you're messing with."

The others shuffled into the room-Hendrix, Eddie, Bundah-and Thomas stood up and shoved his hands into his pockets. The casual and lazy way he moved couldn't hide the tension in him.

Then, out of nowhere, he said, "Alright, fine. I'll help you." The words spilled out like they didn't belong to him.

My eyebrows shot up. "What?"

"I'll help you gather proof. About Dr. Joe. About all of this." He waved his hand and gestured to the room, the building, the mess we were all stuck in. "But only if you're serious."

I blinked and felt surprised by the sudden shift. Just moments ago, he was avoiding me. Now he was offering to help?

I nodded slowly. "Of course, I'm serious."

"Good," he said flatly. "We'll talk later."

...

Later after everyone drifted off, I cornered Thomas in the hallway.

"I want to know why," I said and stared him down. "Why now? Why the change of heart?"

Thomas leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Let's just say I don't want to see anyone else get hurt."

I wasn't buying it. There was more he wasn't saying and I needed to know what it was. "You're being weird, Thomas. What's really going on?"

His eyes flickered toward me and for the first time I saw something uneasy.

between you and Hendrix," he said

a beat. "What are

closer and his voice dropped. "You're not fooling anyone. The way you look at him...it's more than just being his

ran down my spine.

he cut me off, "whatever it is, you'd better be careful. Relationships like that

and I couldn't shake

at me with eyes that stayed dark and unblinking. "Do you really think he's the best

my fists at my sides to keep my voice steady. "Hendrix is my stepbrother. I

if he didn't believe a word I was saying.

...

(Hendrix's POV)

have come

shouldn't have

too close, talking in hushed voices. His eyes were on her like he

Something he shouldn't.

water I came for but I couldn't stay. I couldn't watch them.

as my mind raced. I needed to clear my

it felt even though it

into the weights and pulled hard against the resistance machine, feeling the burn in my arms. It wasn't enough. I needed more. I needed to drown out

...

footsteps were light but I heard

nothing. Like it didn't twist something inside me to hear his name from her

pulled

us," she continued softly. "But something about him feels off. I don't

silent and focused on the machine. On anything but

little more insistent.

slipped from my hands and crashed back into place with a

breath. "Why are you always acting like my

me in shock.

my breath came fast while my heart pounded. "You're always telling me what to do and worrying about me.

with confusion and hurt. "Because you're

and the air between us crackled with something I couldn't control.

that followed was

a step back, her eyes wide. "What... what are

the distance between us and my voice grew low and

up and pressed against my chest, trying to push me

been on me about everything since we got here and even before. I

caught and her eyes darted between mine, searching for something. "We... we

and

flickered and her resolve

as I stepped even closer and my voice turned low and

voice shook. "We need to focus on the plan and get you treated,

"You're always so serious, Angel. Always

mean like how you can't stay focused for more than five minutes? One second you're all about the plan and the next, you're drooling over Ava's flat

couldn't help it and I laughed. "Does it bother you that much, Angel? Ava being around

and pressed her lips into a thin

her wrist and pulled her back against