Ten
1532 Words
I watch in terror as one of the cops cuffs Malone's wrists with shackles.
"Malone Mavista, you are under arrest for assaulting Mr. Griffin. Anything you say or do shall be used against you in a court of law."
Blade pressed charges against my brother? God! Why would he do that? I honestly didn't think he'd go this far!
Malone is cool and calm as he matches out with the police.
I want to move but my feet are feeble and for one slight moment, I'm not sure if this beating organ in my chest is working.
This is not happening.
They are taking away my brother.
I scream in terror. "No!"
The police turn back to look at me in astonishment.
With tears streaming down my face, I bolt towards them.
"Please don't take him. You can take me instead," I cry. "I caused all this. I'm the one to blame. Not him."
The cops look at me as if I'm some insane woman.
"Stay out of this, Miss."
My brother looks at me, his eyes filled with remorse. "I'll be okay."
The cops continue matching with my brother to the car and I block their way. I wish Wayne was here to help me deal with the cops but Wendy said he left a couple of minutes ago.
"Is there anything I can do? Pay you some cash? Anything? I'm ready to do anything!" I blubber, tears choking my throat. "Just don't take him! He didn't mean to! It's my fault! I'm the one to blame!"
"Out of the way!" One cop Snaps.
"Please!" I beg, snivelling.
My brother has always been a part of me. We are connected so strongly in a strange intense way such that when he's going through something painful, I feel his pain.
It's a twin thing...
When he's happy, I'm happy. Though he's not showing it, I know his heart is breaking a million times and I know he's in panic and terror. He's not as calm as he's pretending to be.
He's always been a good pretender but never with me.
"Out of the way, miss!" One cop kicks me off the way and I tumble on the ground.
"You d**k!" Malone cusses, trying to hit the cop that just kicked me to the ground but his wrists are bound to the cuffs.
The cops lower his head and kick him inside the car. The engine roars to life and they speed off, the car wailing.
I try to run after it, crying but Lex and Wendy stop me on my heels.
They wrap me up in a warm embrace, raking their fingers gently over my hair. I break down in their arms, sobbing heavily and uncontrollably.
Lex kisses the top of my head.
"Everything will be okay. We are here."
???
Wendy and Lex must have rocked me gently to sleep.
I just remember Wendy tucking me in bed, Lex making me hot chocolate and Brix lying beside me on my bed.
They all kept reminding me that it was all going to be okay. Wendy assured me she'd do something about it. She'd make sure my brother was released as soon as possible.
Lex must have sedated the chocolate drink because I wasn't even halfway when I drifted to sleep.
And now here I am, awake.
Sometimes I wish that I could sleep... and never wake up again, you know...
Because in my sleep, no one breaks my heart. No one makes a viral video that gets me fired! No one blames me for his broken marriage. No one deceives me and takes me for a fool. No one arrests my twin brother.
Everyone makes a joke about how if I was a Disney character, I'd definitely be sleeping princess because of how much I love sleeping. But in the deepest part of my heart, I wish I was Sleeping Princess. Cursed to sleep forever... And have my Prince Charming kiss me to life.
Brix hops on top of me, licking my face. That's his way of saying good morning.
"Brix, I'm not in the mood," I push him away and he frowns and growls.
I crawl out of bed and head to the kitchen, nursing my temples due to the mild headache.
Brix is running close behind me.
Wendy stands in the kitchen, a mug of coffee clutched in her hand. She looks like some school head-mistress in her plaid skirt suit and how stiff and straight she's standing. I always wondered how such a serious lady like her could be friends with someone not-so-serious like me.
"Good morning..."
"My twin brother slept in a cell, I hate the stupid morning already!"
"I talked to one of my lawyer friends and -"
I cut her off.
"I'll just call Blade. Tell him to drop the charges against Malone. It's the easiest and fastest way."
"You mean, lick his ass to drop the charges?"
"If it's what it takes to get my brother out, then YES!"
I perch myself on the counter, munching on a sandwich.
"Mabel, think about this." Wendy puts her mug down. "This is a bad idea. The worst idea! You know Blade, he'll obviously ask for something in return!"
"You're not listening to me, Wendy. I'm ready to do anything to get my brother out in time, NO MATTER WHAT!!! I don't care what Blade asks for in return, I must get Malone out! Plus, I have to do this as soon as possible before my parents find out!! They'll literally freak out! "
My phone rings.
It's my mom.
My heart stops.
I hesitate picking the call then I receive it, nervously.
I hope it's not about my brother.
Worse, I hope it's not about the viral video!
But, my mom is not a social media person so I doubt it's about the video.
"Hallo sweerie..."
"Hallo mommmmyyyy!"
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"You prolong the mommy when you need something. So, what do you want?"
"Nothing. Just missing you, that's all..."
I bet she's smiling from ear to ear at the compliment.
"How are you doing sweerie?"
"I'm good," I lie.
"I know you're lying but you can keep your problems to yourself until you're ready to share them. I'll be here to judge you."
"That's so kind of you, mother."
She laughs.
"Anyway, I called to inform you it's our 30th wedding anniversary tonight. The event's theme is cream-white. Come dressed in cream white. Oh, and come with that cute boyfriend of yours, Axel. He's a funny fellah! I was thinking of making him the MC of-"
"We broke up," I cut her off.
"Not again!" Mom groans. "What did you do this time?"
"I killed his mother, what do you think?" I retort.
She scoffs.
"We'll talk more about that tonight."
No! The last thing I want to talk about is Axel. Especially not with my Mom. The wound is still too fresh.
She sighs.
"Anyway, have you talked to Malone? I've been trying to reach him but he's been off since last night? He said he's coming to see you after taking a leave from work and I haven't heard from him since."
"Yeah, he's...." I stutter. "He's... He's here. Just tired and asleep after the long drive. I'll tell him to call you the minute he's up."
"Don't forget to... I love you."
"Forever."
I hang up.
"You lied to your mom about Malone?"
"I had to. That woman would have freaked out. I'm not ready for that."
I heave a sigh and grumble.
"As if Malone being in jail isn't enough, my parents' anniversary chose to be tonight. Mom asked if I'll bring along Axel..."
"She'd fallen inlove with him already..."
"Yeah, like she falls inlove with every guy I take home."
For the last five years, I've been going to the anniversaries with mostly, Blade and a few different guys I dated for a short while.
I hoped this time I'd go with Axel, whom I introduced to my parents just a week ago on a family dinner date. I wanted him to be the last guy I ever took home to meet my parents.
Can we all laugh at that?
Dad didn't like Axel. At all. Mom adored him. With all her heart. Like he adored Blade, and every guy I've ever dated.
But he's a cheating conniving monster. Now I'll be going solo.
Wendy eyes me suspiciously.
"And, why are you still in your pajamas? Aren't you getting late for work?"
"Didn't Lex tell you?"
I forget how good Lex is at keeping secrets. Even the tiniest ones.
"Tell me what?"
"BAM! I got fired!"
She jerks her head.
"What!"
My phone rings.
An unknown number.
I pick up after a few seconds.
"Goodmorning, Princess."
Blade's voice.
"I read on Google that girls love to be called princess. It's cheesy but it's worth the shot with you."
"Blade, about Malone -"
He cuts me off as if that's not important to him. Like he doesn't know Malone. Like he's not the f*****g reason my brother was arrested.
"Let's do a lunch date, princess."
*****
- Writer
