Snowflakes and Second chances

TEARY PROMISES

For about a solid half an hour after I'm done talking, Julian's expression is unreadable, and I begin to worry as the waiter comes around with our orders, but he doesn't budge or say anything still.

“Uhm, Jules? But I swear I'm fine now, I'm leaving him and that's all that matters right, please, you have to promise me that you won't tell dad, I would rather not stress him out and I-” I begin rambling nervously.

“Five years, that fucker beat you continuously for five years? Sebastian should have let me dump his body back then because this time, I'm definitely going to rip his head off his body.” He makes to stand up, but I panic grabbing his arm.

“No, no, please no Jules, listen to me. You don't want to get involved with his family, they're f****d up, and you know what they can do to you, please just let it go, he can't hurt me anymore.” I plead my brother looking absolutely livid.

“What's f****d up is you not saying s**t Amelia! Do you realize how this makes me feel? How 'd it make dad feel? You deserve so much better! You've always been too good for him and yet, the douche still lays his hands on you? f*****g cheats? I don't give a f**k about his family!” His voice raises an octave and I can see just how much it hurt him that I had silently suffered all these keeping my family in the dark.

“I'm sorry I didn't say anything, I was-I was ashamed! I hadn't listened to you guys and Jacob turned out to be even worse than your warnings… I thought he'd change along the line, but he didn't..... please think about what they can do, the harm the Wilson's can cause, think about Mandy.” At the mention of his wife, his tensed form visibly relaxes, and I tentatively let go of his arm, praying he doesn't try to leave again.

“Don't apologize for that animal, I won't go looking for him if not for anything but because I'm trying to respect your wish and think of our safety but if I, for one, ever lay my eyes on him around you or any of us, I'm killing him.” He announces, and I gulp praying not a word of this conversation gets to Sebastian.

My brother, for one, I could bring to his senses by calling upon his wife, but for Sebastian, the Wilson's would be planning a funeral the next minute…

Julian wasn't one to bluff, his anger was usually frightening, and he could be irrational when enraged, so for Jacob's pathetic sake, I hoped he never showed his face around.

“You promise not to tell dad also?” I whisper, and he sighs after a long minute, nodding.

“As far as you're safe now and me not telling him doesn't put you at risk, then I won't.” He replies and I give him a grateful smile.

“Never again, never keep something like that from me please Amelia.” He states and I nod, sniffing as I wipe a tear that escaped my eyes off.

“I promise. Is that a tear I see in your eyes?” I tease, and he rolls his eyes, scoffing at me as he looks away, sneakily wiping it off.

“A tear? I barely shed any at my wedding.” He lies, and I begin laughing as I start teasing him with the story that Mandy had shared of how he had balled like a baby as she walked down the aisle, and we dig into our food.

We talked about his job and I got to hear all about how much he loved teaching the young football team at the school he coached for and all the new gist everything that had changed since I left.

Time flies and a few hours, we take our leave. I refused to hitch a ride with him, insisting he gets home and send my regards to Mandy as I wanted to take a walk back myself.

After reassuring him that I'd let him know when I had gotten home and that I'd make sure dad took his meds, I took the path that led to the lake and started my walk, admiring the last bit of greenery left before the snow-covered everything.

There used to be a beauty I once saw in watching the snow fall like little white stars as they painted everywhere and everything in their enchanting way.

An exhilarating feeling of building snowballs and making snow angels, returning home to a steaming cup of hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows.

And then one day, after hurrying home to share excited news of my victory over Julian in one of our regular snow fights to my mum, we're left standing frozen by the door watching her drag out her packed bags.

I vividly remember my dad trying to talk to her and grab her hand, and he pleaded, my cries of confusion as Julian clasped my hand in his, silent tears pouring down his cheeks equally as lost as I was.

We watched not knowing what to do as she pushed dad away, threw the last of her bags into the waiting cab, slipped inside and slammed the door shut, and the car zoomed off, without so much as a second glance and the car gradually vanishing until all that was left on the long road ahead was the blanket of snow.

I arrive at my destination and stand by the side admiring the clear water spread out with a smile on my face, it was so still, it was almost seemed glass like, at peace and resting... a feeling I was only just beginning to regain for myself.

“If I were you, I'd just jump in and be over it with all of it. It's not like anyone would notice if you died.” Like a nightmare, his voices bugs me and his audacity of not just coming here but also talking to me is hilariously stupid.

I turn with a scowl to face none other than Jacob Wilson, the very asshole my brother wanted to haunt down and the same shameless bastard that f****d my best friend.