Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 62

(Angel's POV)

The thought of Thomas rejecting Ava hadn't left my mind since Hande told me. Ava-the one who always had every guy wrapped around her finger-got turned down. It didn't make sense. And now, every time I looked at Thomas, this heaviness settled in my chest. I didn't know if it was relief or excitement or fear. Maybe it was all of them. And then there was Hendrix. The way his eyes followed me lately was impossible to ignore, like he was waiting for something, always watching.

Today's group therapy session didn't help my jumbled thoughts either. The room was packed as usual with everyone spread out in a circle. Dr. Joe sat in the middle with a clipboard in hand and his eyes flickering between us, studying our expressions like we were some kind of project.

"Today," Dr. Joe began, his voice cutting through the murmurs, "we're going to talk about fear. What are we most afraid of and why?"

A murmur of unease spread through the room. Nobody wanted to go first as always.

Cylan cleared her throat and said, "I guess I'm scared of never being accepted, like truly accepted for who I am." Her eyes darted to the floor, and there was a vulnerability there that made my heart ache.

Hande nodded beside her. "I get that. For me, it's being forgotten. Like I never mattered, you know?"

The room fell silent again as everyone absorbed Hande's words. I felt the weight of them too. Being forgotten. Yeah, that was terrifying.

Thomas shifted beside me and his leg brushed against mine. I glanced at him, and our eyes met. That same electric jolt surged through me and made my skin tingle. He offered a small, almost shy smile, and I felt my pulse quicken.

I looked away quickly but not quickly enough. Hendrix was watching and I could feel his eyes burning into the side of my face. The air between us was thick with something I didn't know how to name.

I wondered why he was present in this group session because he normally wasn't. I wondered.

Dr. Joe called out and snapped me back to

"Uh... I guess I'm scared of letting people down." My voice was barely above a whisper. "Of not being

he understood but I could see it in his eyes, that curiosity, that need to dig deeper. "And who are you most afraid of letting

finally. "I'm

Dr. Joe pressed and

down too." There was a pause, and I could feel everyone staring at me, heavily and expectantly. But it was Thomas's gaze that I felt the most. It was like he could see right through me, see every fear and every doubt and every insecurity. And

asking others about their fears, but I barely heard them. I was too focused on the way Thomas's knee kept brushing against mine and

started filtering out of the room. I stood up, ready to leave, when Thomas touched my arm. "Hey," he

nodded but I couldn't bring myself to speak. My throat felt tight and my heart pounded against my ribs. He didn't let go of my

more.

and his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might shatter. "We need to talk," he growled and grabbed my wrist and pulled me

"What were you doing with

I asked even though I knew exactly

spat the name like it was

talking," I said and tried to keep my voice steady. But my heart raced and I knew he could hear it. "Why do you even care?" And I

He took a step closer but there was no aggression in his movements, just this desperate, aching need to understand. "Because... you're my sister, Angel." He said it

met mine again. "But it's not that simple anymore, is it?" There was this sadness in his eyes, this longing

I shot back and my voice trembled. "You can't act like this doesn't matter

his shoulders sagged. "Ava is... it's complicated. But she's not you, Angel. She's never been you." His hand reached up, hesitated, then fell back to his side. "I just-I don't know how to feel when I see you with him." Tears welled up in my eyes

to control you. I'm just... scared, okay? Scared that I'm going

and making it hard to breathe.