Chapter 04: Boundaries
1111 Words
~Chelsea~
Brandon ended up cutting practice short after one look at my face, something about the way I was holding myself together apparently convincing him I was one bad breath away from collapsing.
Now I was standing inside his apartment, staring at a living room that somehow looked even messier than my own life, clothes thrown over the couch, random gear scattered on the floor, and things I couldn’t even identify piled in corners like forgotten evidence.
“Uh… make yourself at home,” he said casually, flinging something… probably a shirt or worse, into a random direction.
I blinked slowly at the room, then back at him. “How exactly am I supposed to do that when this place looks like a raccoon hijacked it and gave up halfway through?”
He straightened immediately, turning toward me with mock offense. “Woah, woah, hold up, missy. I didn’t put you in that mood, don’t take it out on my apartment.”
That should have made me laugh.
It almost did.
But then everything hit me again.
The breakup, Gareth’s voice… Hailey’s smirk.
The way I was treated like I meant nothing after four years of loving someone too much.
And I just broke.
“Why?” I cried suddenly, the words shaking as I stepped forward. “Why am I so unlucky?”
Brandon didn’t even hesitate, he pulled me straight into a hug like he had been expecting it.
“Shh,” he murmured, one hand rubbing my back gently. “You’re not unlucky. He’s a dickhead, and he doesn’t deserve my sister.”
That only made my tears come harder.
Because I didn't tell him what happened, but he could tell Gareth didn't deserve me.
I buried my face into his shirt, not caring that I was ruining it with tears and probably snot.
“Why doesn’t anyone want me?” I choked out. “I’m not even… Is it my fault I'm not skinny?"
Brandon pulled back slightly, gripping my cheeks so I had no choice but to look at him.
“Because they’re blind,” he said firmly, like it was the simplest fact in the world.
Then he rolled his eyes a little, softening. “Look at me. You’re the sweetest, kindest, most annoying person anyone could ever have.”
A small, broken laugh slipped out of me even through the tears. “You think so?”
“I know so, Chels. Now stop sulking before I change my mind.”
I sniffed, wiping my face with the back of my hand, but instead of calming down, something mischievous sparked through the pain.
“Oh, thank God I had my phone on record,” I said, already pulling out my phone.
Brandon’s eyes widened instantly. “Don’t you dare.”
I grinned through tears. “Wouldn’t want to miss it.”
“You wouldn’t dare show anyone that,” he hissed, lunging slightly for the phone.
“Oops,” I said, stepping back quickly. “Already posted it to the family group.”
His face went blank.
Then horrified.
And for the first time since everything happened, I laughed properly.
I was lying about recording.. I just didn't want him to worry too much.
The look on his face was enough to tell me he'd do something drastic if I told him everything.
Brandon just shook his head at me, trying not to smile while failing miserably, and I stayed there laughing through the tears, holding onto the smallest piece of warmth I still had left.
I was almost in the hallway when Brandon’s voice called after me again.
“You know,” he said casually from the living room, “you don’t have to stay quiet about whatever happened. You can actually talk to me instead of pretending you’re fine.”
I stopped mid-step, my hand still on the hallway wall, but I didn’t turn immediately because the words hit harder than I expected.
“I’m fine,” I lied automatically.
Brandon scoffed like he didn’t believe me for a second. “Yeah, okay. You’re ‘fine’ with mascara tracks, milkshake stains, and that thousand-yard stare.”
I let out a shaky breath, almost a laugh but not quite, and finally turned my head slightly toward him.
He wasn’t even looking at me directly anymore, he was already rummaging through something on the counter, like he was giving me the choice to talk without forcing it.
That somehow made my throat tighten.
“I just…” I started, then stopped because the words felt too heavy to say out loud. “I just didn’t expect people to be this cruel.”
He slowed his movements for a second, then looked over his shoulder at me properly now, his expression softening.
“People aren't always cruel,” he said simply. “You just ran into the wrong ones.”
Something about the way he said it made my chest ache again.
I nodded slowly, even though I wasn’t sure I believed him yet, and turned back toward the hallway.
But he spoke again, quieter this time, almost like an afterthought.
“Hey, Chels?”
I paused. “…Yeah?”
There was a short silence from the other side, like he was debating whether to say it or not.
“If anyone ever makes you feel like that again… tell me. I don’t care who it is.”
I stood frozen, the urge to turn back and let him give me a big hug because I needed it, itched at my skin.
He seemed to notice it when he broke the trance. “Go freshen up,” he said, nodding toward the hallway. “You’re a mix of breakup. I’ll order pizza.”
I looked down at myself again, at the dried stains on my clothes and the sticky feeling still clinging to my skin, then raised a brow at him.
“Says the guy who literally owns a sweat factory,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I unlocked a door.
He clicked his tongue immediately. “That’s off limits. Use the other bathroom.”
I paused mid-step and turned slightly. “Both of them literally say bathroom.”
“Yeah,” he said, completely unbothered. “But my roommate doesn’t like people in his space. So use mine.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Your roommate is dramatic.”
Brandon pointed at me without hesitation. “And you’re not? Just go.”
I huffed, pressing my lips together to stop myself from smiling. “Whatever. I feel like we’re going to get along just fine.”
Yeah. Because he clearly loves boundaries.
- Writer
