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)

the bathroom that 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 water drip down my cheeks and tried to

was always in my head and asked questions

care so much about me and

make any sense. It wasn't like there was

my head and refused to finish

with my eyes wide.

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

He just stared without moving and it made the hairs

can't just sneak up on people like that!" I snapped, trying to regain

kept looking at me, and I started to

I asked, and my voice

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

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

between us, and I hate that I don't know what to do about it." I wanted to say something

dropped lower. "You've always been the one who makes sense, the one who fixes things. And now, I

know what to say. We were definitely not okay,

wavered as he said in a whisper, "Yeah, just

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

stiffened, taken aback by the sudden shift. "It's none of your

my concern?” he repeated and stepped closer.

and my heart thudded painfully against my ribs. "There are

eyes narrowed, and pain flashed through them. "Why are

"I'm not "

away from me. And then I see you with Thomas, and I feel like I'm losing you." I shook my head to clear the fog

voice broke, and it cut me deeper than any blade. "Why does it feel like every time I reach out, you're already

we just-” "Don't say that," he interrupted and reached out to cup my face. "Don't say we've

hitch as his thumb brushed against my cheek. "It's wrong, and you

wrong is pretending that none of

feel this," I said

not?" he challenged and stepped even closer until our bodies almost touched. "Why can't we,

said and my

eyes darkened. "And that's all we've ever been, right? Just a label. But I'm tired of labels, Angel. I'm tired of pretending that I don't-"