Her Miracle

CHAPTER 2

My head was in the clouds. It was my last subject for the day and I was waiting for freedom. The bell. I tapped my fingers lightly on my armchair to the beat of music behind my head. Boredom has consumed me as our teacher in Chemistry was talking about the syllabus for the entire school year.

I looked around only to see Kai on his phone, same with Izzy. My eyes were so close to dropping. Science always made me sleepy but I liked Science. Maybe it’s just the time of the subject that makes it sleepier. Some of my classmates had their eyes fixed on our teacher who has been in this high school for the past 15 years. Seriously, my classmates are listening during the first day of class?

The bell has finally rung. We all stood up not minding what the teacher was blabbering about. In a swift movement, I grabbed my bag, heading out the door. I wait outside for Kai and Izzy.

Izzy reached for my arm, I averted my eyes at her intense glare. “Why do you want to leave so bad, Andy?”

“You know why. Castle Rock is suffocating. I haven’t gone out of this town ever. Maybe I did but only to go to neighboring towns. And you know I haven’t for a while. I’m sick of the rain. I’m sick of the people. I’m sick of my mom… my brothers.” I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Wait a few more years for college then. We’re almost seniors now.”

“I can’t wait for college. I don’t want to be kept treated like this. I’m tired.”

Kai stares at me as I rant my thoughts. I continued, ”I just introduced myself and the entire class laughed. There’s nothing funny about it.”

“Maybe-”

I cut her off, “No, don’t start with me. You don’t get to decide. Why are you even invalidating how I feel? Can’t I let this all out for once?”

The hallway again was flooded with people. I turn around to find the people who stopped me in my tracks. Ugh.

“Oh, come on! Even here in school? Seriously? When are you both going to grow up?” I snapped at my brothers who bother slung their arms at my shoulders.

“Hey, Izzy.” Aiden winked at my best friend. Izzy laughed like it was the sweetest thing she got. I rolled my eyes. He then had his eyes set on Kai, “Hey, bro! Joining the team soon?”

Kai just nodded in silence. I saw Izzy who squeezed Kai’s arm. She clearly is having a hard time processing Aiden’s wink. My brothers were attractive to others yet for me they’re more than a pain in the ass.

“The hell was that, Aiden? Which part of my reminders don’t you understand in ‘No hitting on my best friend’?” I turned to him.

Zach answered with his dimple showing out with his smile, “Calm down, Lil’ sis. Calm your horses! You’re a madwoman as early as the first day of school.”

Zachary and Aiden were my older brothers. They were fraternal twins. Zach had a bigger build than Aiden but Aiden’s build was like Kai’s. Aiden had mom’s features while Zach had dad’s. They both had mom’s eyes, blue.

Both of them were only a year older than me. Sometimes they were too overprotective during unnecessary moments like what’s happening right now. But most of the time, they didn’t care at all. The first day of school and I don’t know what might have gotten inside their head to annoy me.

“The only people who make me a madwoman is mom and both of you. So please, can you bugger off?” I let out.

“Why should we bugger off when we’re the ones taking you home?” Aiden sounded like a bodyguard.

“Can’t you give me a break? Since when were you guys interested in taking me home?”

“Never!” Aiden got his tongue out like a kid, “Just now?”

Aiden was someone I confided to at times...until he wasn’t. We grew apart after the accident.

“Famous brothers take home the weird sister for the first time in history!” I raised both my hands in the air as I groaned this out.

“Stop complaining! We’re going...like right now… Let’s go!” Zach’s demanding tone silenced me. I sighed in defeat.

“Bye, Iz! Bye, Kai! See you tomorrow!” I wave at them who still looked astonished at my brothers. Are my brothers really this charming or mesmerizing that made them shut up?

Aiden had his hand on my back, as we proceeded to the parking lot. Zach led the way towards the black pick-up truck that was once owned by my mom’s dad. He then went to the driver's seat, while Aiden went for shotgun. I stayed in the back seat, seated in the middle of my brothers.

My throat went dry when a question popped inside my head. I spoke, “Is mom coming home early today?”

Zach pulled away from the parking lot as soon he got the engine running. Some students were walking home because their houses might be near. There were only around 3,000 residents in Castle Rock. People knew everyone.

“Mom told me before she left this morning that she’s not coming home for dinner,” Aiden replied as he tapped his fingers on the dashboard to the beat of Machine Gun Kelly's song.

“She went to see you before she left?”

“Yeah, doesn’t she check up on you?”

“She hasn’t for a long time.”

“That’s why people were laughing at you in class today?” Zach interrupted with his eyes fixed on the road.

My palms started to sweat so I clasped them harder together. I stuttered, “How’d-”

“Word travels fast. People talk. Willoughby is small...What happened?” Zach interrupted, stopping the truck that surprised both me and Aiden.

“What was that for?” Aiden complained, staring daggers at Zach.

Zach didn’t mind his complaints. He had his eyes narrowed to me like I did a grave sin. “Just answer the question. What happened, Andy?”

The truck seemed a little hotter. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why are they pinning me down like it’s my fault? I’m cornered by both of my brothers. They’re really full of rumors about me to think I’m their sister.

I managed, “New teacher asked for an introduction. She pointed at me and I didn’t notice. I thought she called Izzy but she was referring to me. I introduced myself and said that my goal was to leave town as soon as possible. They all laughed at me afterward.”

“Why do you want to leave town? This is not you, Andy.” Zach demanded.

“Andy…” Aiden trailed.

I looked away to stare at the surroundings. The sky was getting darker. Raindrops started to fall unto the window. About time. I slouch at the back like I didn’t hear my brother asking me a question. Seriously? They never knew why I wanted to leave town?

“I have a lot of reasons. You guys are one.” I muttered under my breath.

“You’re just a teenager. You don’t know how things work yet.” Zach defended.

“You sound like old boomers trying to prove a point that’s actually pointless. I know you aren’t blind. You chose to blind. Deep down, you know why I want to leave this shitty town.” I crossed my arms, leaning my head to the window. My ears focused on the drops of water to the glass was annoying but it’s better than focusing on my brothers who were staring at me.

Aiden stared at me with his sad eyes, “Andy…”

“Why are you invalidating how I feel? Why are you even taking me home when you haven’t taken me home for years since you’re ashamed your sister is the talk of the town? Stop being a two-faced b***h, guys.”

They both shut up. After everything, I’ve gone through? They’re still limiting me on whatever I want to do with my life? Just cause I’m sixteen, it doesn’t mean I can’t have a goal.

“Come on! Let’s go. I have homework,” I made the perfect excuse.

“Who has homework on the first day of school?”

“A teenager. Now, go,”

MachinegunKelly rapping just filled the truck. My brothers and I didn’t bother to discuss it. One day, they’ll know that my mom loathes me because of my dad and because of how I looked like her. Aiden and Zach got her golden-brown hair. For her, seeing me is like seeing a replica of herself mixed with the features of the man she loved.

We arrived in a short while. They parked the truck in the driveway and headed inside. The house loomed in silence as we turned on the lights to give life to our huge-ass house. These were the days we’d eat dinner without my mom and afterward just proceed to our own rooms. Sometimes they stay in the living room to watch football reruns.

I asked Aiden who placed his bag on the counter, who made his way checking out shelves to come up with dinner. I raised a brow at him, “What’s for dinner?”

“Hey, Zachary! Let’s have a pizza. Not in the mood to cook.”

Ever since mom opted to work day and night, she never really cared if we ate. She called the boys, not me, and asked them if they already cooked and ate. Aiden had to learn how to cook through youtube and some online research. So far, he’s adapted and he’s great with it.

From time to time, he does experiments with different foods. My mom just gives him the money for groceries and money for lunch. He’s the one who budgets it and acts like he’s the older brother of the three of us.

Zach’s voice could be heard from upstairs. He said, ‘yeah’.

The pizza was Zach’s favorite cheat food. Both Aiden and he are picky once they’re told to do a food restriction for training. But when they’re asked to be buffed up, and work out more than a person knows, they almost eat anything.

“Call Joe’s. Don’t make me do it. Man up, Aiden. I wouldn’t want the entire school to know how much my brothers were such p*****s and couldn’t even get themselves pizza.” I snapped at Aiden who glared at me.

Joe’s pizza was the pizzeria in town. Famous for their hotdogs and pizza. The varsity holds their victory parties there after their game and loads up with all the junk. If not, the party here at our house. Even if it’s not after a game if they’re just bored, most insane and hilarious things come up in their heads, and do it right away. I think that comes with being too famous in school.

“Well, like you can actually make a rumor when all they want talking about is you after the accident. It’s been 2 years.”

“Shut up, Aiden! You never knew how-”

“Oh, shut up, Andy. Stop talking about how it isn’t your fault. It always has been yours. But give yourself a break and move on.” Zach interrupted as he sat on the counter.

I nodded at them who had their eyes on me, “Just so you know and just so we’re clear. I even hate myself for getting flashbacks from that night and I hate myself even more for I can seem to do anything about it.”