Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 43

(Hendrix's POV)

I stood behind the wall, holding a tray of food that had gone cold by then. I couldn't tear my eyes away. Thomas and Angel sat at the cafeteria table with their heads bent close and voices low. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I saw the way Thomas looked at her, the way his eyes stayed locked on hers like she was the only one in the room.

Why the hell did he get to be so close?

My grip tightened on the tray, and the plastic bent under my fingers. It wasn't the first time I had caught him trying to get close to her. It was like he was always lurking and always finding a reason to be around her. And I hated it. God, I hated it.

Why did it bother me so much? She wasn't mine. She was my stepsister, for crying out loud. But that thought did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.

I watched as Thomas leaned in, and his lips moved like he was sharing some kind of secret. Angel laughed, a soft and breathless sound, and I felt something twist painfully in my chest.

What were they talking about? Why did she look so damn happy when she was with him?

My fingers twitched, and I itched to throw the tray across the room, to break something, anything, to stop this feeling eating away at me. But I forced myself to stay still and kept my breathing steady. Then Thomas reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face, and my vision blurred with rage.

What the hell was he doing?!

Angel looked down and bit her lip, and I knew that look. I had seen it before. It was the look she got when she was nervous or embarrassed. And now, she was giving that look to him?

My heart pounded in my ears and drowned out everything else. I stood there, hidden, and felt like an idiot for watching them like that. But I couldn't move. I couldn't tear myself away from them.

Thomas finally stood, and Angel watched him go. She stayed seated for a moment, her expression unreadable, then got up and walked out of the cafeteria.

I leaned back against the wall and clutched the tray in my hands, and took a shaky breath.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Why did it feel like she was slipping away? And why did I care so damn much?

...

(Angel's POV)

night, splashing cold water on my face. Cylan had left me halfway through our jog, so I took my time heading back. I watched the

hated how he was always in my head and asked

care so much

make any sense. It wasn't like there

my head and

I turned around with my eyes wide. Hendrix stood there and leaned against the

hand on my chest as I tried to calm down. "You scared me! How long were you standing

without moving and it made the hairs on

I snapped, trying to regain

at me,

I asked, and my voice

shoved into his pockets while his eyes searched mine. "I just don't get it, Angel. You're always around Thomas now, and maybe it's none of my business, but we've always been close, you and me.” He paused, ran a hand through his hair, and exhaled shakily. "I thought I was the one you'd

his voice. "Hendrix, it's not like that.

closer, and there was a hint of a smile on his lips that didn't reach his eyes. "But I can't help but feel like something's changing between us, and I hate that I don't know what to do about it." I wanted to say something to soothe the uncertainty flickering in his gaze, but my words were caught in my

another step and his voice dropped lower. "You've always been the one who makes sense, the one who

We were definitely not okay, and I knew he knew this

never wavered as he said in a whisper, "Yeah, just

step closer to me. "What was it, then? What were

taken aback by the sudden shift.

and stepped closer. "Angel,

heart thudded painfully against my ribs. "There are some

through them. "Why

"I'm not "

feel the heat from his body. "Ever since we got here, it's like you're slipping away from me. And

broke, and it cut me deeper than any blade.

stinging my eyes. "Because things have changed, Hendrix. We've changed. And maybe it's time we just-” "Don't say that,"

I whispered and felt my breath hitch as his thumb brushed against my cheek. "It's wrong, and

wrong is pretending that none of this is happening. That you don't feel it

feel this," I said and

almost touched. "Why can't we,

you're my brother," I said and my voice broke

tired of labels, Angel. I'm tired