Time Will Tell - 13. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

V

Over the past few weeks I have been watching my brother and mother. I want to see what they do. And how they react to certain situations. Not that I’m trying to get away with anything, I’m still not comfortable enough to ask my mother for anything. Things just seem to magically appear when they are low.

She hasn’t once asked me about Trent. Thankfully.. Speaking of him, I wonder why he hasn’t called me? Or at least even texted. Tammy and I do all the time. She’s my life line. My person! I do miss him terribly though. I hope he’s alright.

On to other news, my mother did say that I will be starting school Monday. it’s in two fucking days… I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything, because I’m always wondering what this school will be like? Is it going to be different than my last? Will I make decent friends here? All these things are filling my head, and I just hope I can find some friends.

“Hey Devon. My friends are coming over. Are you okay with that?” Asks Jeff

“Why wouldn’t it be? This is your house.” I say as I look back at the TV.

“Because… I don’t know honestly. Out of respect?” He says

“Thanks for asking, but I’ll be fine.” I say back

“Alright cool. They should be here in like ten minutes.” He says as he comes into the living and plops down next to me. Making me smirk.

“What’s that look for?” He asks

“What look? I wasn’t making no look…” I go to say, but I smile and then end up laughing. It’s good to have a brother that you live with. Granted it probably won’t be like this forever. We will probably end up arguing or screaming at each other sooner or later.

“Nothing. It’s nice to have a brother. To chill with.” I say in hurry. Feeling embarrassed for bringing it up. The one thing… The one thing my father instilled in me is to not have emotion. He literally broke me of it. The hard way of course. So for me to actually show emotion like I have been, is something new.

A knock came from the front door, and I went to get up…But my brother pushes me back down. I wasn’t going to answer it, I was going to run away to my room. The thought of people that I don’t know, coming here. It scares me…

“Hey, guys come in!” My brother says all excited. Before they could get into the living room, I bolted up to my room. My body reacted on its own. When I closed the door behind me, my heart pounded in my chest, my whole body shook, and my anxiety seemed to sky rocket.

Why couldn’t he have told me sooner that they were coming over? I wouldn’t have reacted so badly. I probably would have withdrawn into myself, and stayed quiet. But, now… now I’m hiding in my bedroom. Afraid to let anyone come in…

A soft knock came from the door, but I walked backwards, slightly away from it.

**A short commercial break** Pause for dramatic effect.

And were back,

W

“Devon?” I spoke. Here I am standing in front of his bedroom door. Hoping he will at least open it a little. But as the minutes seem to slip away, I become worried. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I mean it’s been weeks since he got here, and he hasn’t once asked about my friends, or school. I know that he is still adjusting to what happened to him, and he doesn’t exactly know how to ask for things. I think it’s time that we set up an appointment with the psychiatrist. Maybe he/she will be able to help him.

“Alright, I guess I’ll leave you alone.” I said, saddened that I couldn’t at least reason with him. But he has own reasons for doing things. I can only try to help.

Walking back down the stairs, my friends are all in the kitchen, sitting around the island looking at me, with their heads to the side. Having the what’s wrong, worried faces.

“So anyone up for a swim?” I ask, hoping to get the guys’ minds off my brother.

“Yea!” They all exclaim

“Where’s your brother dude?” Nathan asks

“He’s not coming down from his room.” I sigh,

“Oh, I guess that’s cool. Whatever, bro!” He shrugs his shoulders, as he leads the group to the backyard.

“Yea, I guess.” I look at towards the stairs one last time, before I go join my friends by the pool.

When I step out of my lounging pants, I look around all my friends. They are all in similar state. We’re all guys here, we can swim in our undies. “Hey guys?” I ask, “When you talk to my brother on Monday don’t be mad or upset that he doesn’t talk back. He’s had it pretty rough. Like severely rough before he came here. It’s tough right now even to get him to interact with other’s. It’s going to be a while before he can join in socially.” I say with a heavy heart.

“It’s all good dude. After all the years of listening to you, complain and whine about how you don’t have your brother with you. We get it. You’re protective. Not worries… right fellas?” Nathan says

“Yea, no probs.” They say

“Good lets have fun!” I say smiling. But as I’m about to get in the pool, I look at my brothers window, and I see him looking out at us, all having fun. I wish that he could have at least met my friends. He will eventually though, school starts in two days.