Let Me Save You Then

SIBLINGS

LOUISE's POV // Past.

It had been a month since that encounter, and Louise tried so hard to act normal around Florence and not feel different towards the girl. And it's not like she can just ignore her really, even if she wants to. Louise knows that however hard she might ignore her, she can't escape the fact that Florence is now part of her life. Whether she likes it or not.

And anyway, Florence is a nice and sweet kid, and Louise also knows that it wasn't technically her's or Florence's sister's fault anyway. But she just can't disregard that lingering feeling in her heart. Especially when Florence will offer her her sweet smiles, Louise would feel melancholic.

Even so after she took notice that Florence kind of resembles her father. That's why it has been one tough of a decision for her to keep her lips tightly shut even if she really wanted to speak and just burst it all out. She had the every rights to acknowledge her feelings and to confront them, and she can. Really. But she chose not to, well not yet that is.

So with the heaviness in her chest, Louise let out a deep breath as she stared at Florence sitting across her.

I can still endure this. That had become her mantra for the last month. Even though it's hard for her, she had no other choice but to keep quiet and endure it. She keeps on repeating in her mind that it wasn't their fault, not even Florence's. It was their dad's fault. No one else to blame but him.

Louise didn't know she was holding her breath and had been clenching her hand into a fist until someone held her balled up hand. Louise was immediately pulled out of her reverie and looked at Florence.

She didn't know what to feel as she stared at her face. Louise can see Florence's worried face as she looked at her, her eyes held questions. So with another sigh, calming herself, Louise gently smiled at her and tapped her hand that sits atop hers.

“You alright, Louise?”

Florence asked, visible worries holding each words. Louise tried her hardest not to grimace and reminded herself again that it wasn't her fault. Louise smiled at her again and nodded her head before she pulled out her hand from Florence's hold

Yes, I can still endure this. “Yeah, I am. Just thinking of something, is all”

“Are you sure?” Louise could only nod before one of their friend arrived

They were now sitting at the cafeteria for their one hour break before their last lecture of the day. They planned to study for their next subject here since it's not too crowded and they felt hungry after their three hours lecture.

“Hey” Their friend, Jess, came with their food. Florence helped him, while Louise cleared their table

Jess is Louise's best friend since primary school, it had always been them both since the beginning. Although they also had other friends, Jess and Louise much rather wanted each other's company. But now, Florence was added to them, yet she feels okay with it. Jess don't know about their situation, and she wants to keep it that way. Florence, on the other hand, oddly as it may sound, but she has no issues with her tagging along with them.

Even if Louise won't admit it, she would rather want to be close with Florence so she knows her moves and might dig up something about her and her family.

Family, Louise scoffed. How ironic it actually is.

Louise knows her family might crumble once they found out about the truth, and she knows for sure it would break their Mum's and Ashton's heart, yet her she was, befriending the “daughter” of the reason why she was hurting.

Fucking ironic.

They each grabbed their respective foods and started eating it. After they've finished their meals, they pulled back their notes and syllabus again and started reading and studying. They have an exam today in both their major and minor subjects that's why she slept late last night, and their last exam for the day will be in their Calculus 1.

It's not that she's not fond of it, contrastingly, she's great at math. However, sometimes, she would feel tired at looking at all these numbers and formulas that it actually gives her a headache. And this day is one of those days that she has headaches because of it.

“Argh! I give up!” Both Florence and Louise jumped in surprise when Jess suddenly shouted. When she looked up, she saw his notebook on the other side of the table, clearly he threw it out of frustration. But when other students noticed it, Jess then quickly picked it and slumped back at his seat.

Florence and Louise laughing at his antics.

“I'm so tired! I've been studying this stupid subject since yesterday, I've even pulled out an all nighter because of this. My eyes are starting to hurt and I can feel my head starting to hurt because of this, yet I still couldn't understand a damn thing!”

Louise feels bad for her best friend, she can clearly see his frustration. So she gave him her drink while Florence patted his shoulder

Jess is a brilliant guy, he's one of the top students in their school. But mathematics is not really one of his forté. He knows how to do and solve math, but he's not just fond of it.

“Alright, let's just take a break. We've only got fifteen minutes left anyway so might as well rest. My eyes too are starting to hurt”

Louise wanted to laugh when she saw the two simultaneously sighed in relief after she said that. It's obvious they were just waiting for someone to say they should rest.

Louise puts her notes back on her bag and fixed herself. While the two were now chatting. Louise tried to clear off her mind and even her breathing because she can feel her head aching. She was about to massage it when she felt a hand tapping her. She opened her eyes and saw Florence holding out her hand at her, she smiled inwardly upon seeing a tablet of Paracetamol on it.

“Jess already took one. Come one, take it to ease your headache.”

Louise looked at her and thought, how could she hate this person if she's being like this? Constantly worrying about her whenever she feels sick and weary. How could she feel hate towards the person who only showed her kindness? Louise was really torn.

She subtly sigh and took the medicine from Florence and gave her thanks. Right after she intake it, the bell rang and they cleaned their table and simultaneously stood up to go to their much dreaded exam.

An hour later, Louise, Florence and Jess found themselves walking to their locker's area. Jess and Florence complaining about how hard it was and how they didn't expected the situational problem at the back. Both were worried about the outcome but Louise just assured them both that they did great, comforting her friends.

“Hey, you guys going home now?” Jess asked as soon as they were near the campus parking lot.

Louise then looks at her wrist watch and found out it was only 3 in the afternoon, their class ended early because of their exams.

“Why? You have something in mind?”

Jess gave them a cheeky smile. Louise knows immediately that he's planning something

“It's still too early, wanna go to the mall?” Florence looks hesitant for a moment yet still chose to answer truthfully

“Err, I don't know. Dad is coming home tonight from his trip”

Louise froze hearing it. They haven't seen her father for a month now too, and Florence saying that means, they, too, haven't seen him. And now he's going straight to them

Louise held back her words and kept herself calm. She avoided their gaze and stared at a distance, and that's when she saw someone familiar

Her cold and un-bothered demeanor turned into confusion as she was looking at the group of people walking from the field and now on their way to where they were.

But she was even more shock when the guy turned and met her gaze, confirming her hunch. He instantly smiles and run towards her direction after he said something to the group and pointed at her.

“Ashton?” Florence and Jess both turned to her direction when they heard her voice. And they saw Ashton running towards them

“Vee!” Louise's brother hugged her tight when he reached her

“What are you doing here?” Louise asked. She was confused yet she felt light and happy seeing her brother

“Hm? We went to visit your school's museum and then had a tour around the campus. Oh, hi, Jess!”

Jess and Ashton did a fist bump and a man hug then Jess ruffled her brother's hair

“How are you, kiddo?”

“I'm fine. Hey, I have the new Marvel's, want to watch it?”

“Yeah, sure. I'll come visit you on the weekends”

Louise has a smile on her face as she was watching their interaction. Ashton adores Jess as much as the latter does. Jess treats her brother as his own little brother too. His and her family are close friends since his father and Louise's father were college friends and their moms were also colleague.

But Louise's smile and warm feeling inside was washed away when she saw Ashton looking and smiling at Florence. Suddenly, she feels agitated.

“Hi, I'm Ashton”

“Hey, I'm Florence”

Louise was feeling nervous for some unknown reason while she watches her brother converse with Florence. She clenches her hand; she was feeling anxious. However, she still managed to calm her nerves through all the overwhelming feeling. Breathing in and out.

And with a shaky voice, she introduced them.

“Florence, this is Ashton. My brother. Ashton, this is Florence. My friend.”

Seems like they didn't noticed how she emphasizes the word friend since they both shook their hands with a wide smile.

She doesn't want her brother to be engage with them, nor wanted them to meet. Because she knows how it would end, and she doesn't want Ashton to be hurt and feel betrayal even more once the truth comes out. But fate really was just not on her side.

Just as the two let go of their hands, a woman's voice called Florence's name from afar. When they turned around, Louise fought the urge to grab Ashton and just walk away

Louise really tried to keep her composure, especially when she saw the woman coming their way. Holding a little girl on her left hand.

Louise's eyes were moving from the woman, to Florence, to Ashton and back to the woman. The situation was really testing her patience, and she can only endure so much. Taking a deep breath, she held her brother tightly until the two reached them

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Florence asked her mom bewilderingly, while her mum, Amirah, has a huge smile on her face. Louise was tempted to brush it out of her face, but opted not to. Then her gaze fell on the girl beside her, when their eyes met, the little girl suddenly hugged her waist while gleefully shouting. Louise trying her best not to flinch

“We came here to surprise you of course! This little bugger wanted to see her sister” Charlotte, Florence's sister, who was still hugging her, giggles and imitated the word "bugger".

Louise subtly pulled the kid away from her, smiling at her as to not scare her off. Louise was shaking, her heart was beating furiously, and anger starting to build up. But she knows she'll survive this f**k up situation.

“Hey, kiddo. How are you?” Louise ruffled the kid's hair, while subtly glancing at her brother. Charlotte just giggles

Amirah met her gaze and smiled at her, forcing Louise to smile back.

“Oh, uhm, this is Ashton. My brother”

“Hello, Ashton. This is Charlotte, my youngest”

Ashton and Amirah exchange a short pleasantries before Louise interrupted. She can no longer take it, being in close vicinity with the woman whom her father cheated on with their mom was already too much for her to bear. And Ashton being there, talking and smiling at them, is the last straw for her.

She calmed herself and cleared her throat before speaking.

“Uhm, excuse me. We uhm, we need to go. Mom might be waiting for us now” She said as politely as she can while keeping her smiles. Hands gripping Ashton's shoulder blades rather tightly.

And as if on cue, Amirah then too said they needed to go. Florence turned to Jess, making Louise gasped as she had forgotten that her best friend was there too

“Hey, let's just go next time, yeah? I need to go now”

“Alright, no problem. Next time then” They all bid their good byes while Louise just gave them a small nod

Louise suddenly jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Jess, there was a glint in his eyes that she can't comprehend before Jess smiled at her.

“Let's go? I'll take you guys home”

Louise heaved a sigh and nodded. She was too tired and mentally exhausted to argue. All three walked to where Jess parked his car and they went inside. She seated on the back, while Ashton took the gunshot.

On their way to her house, Ashton and Jess were conversing and laughing from time to time, while Louise just stared out the window. Her mind wandering around and full of thoughts, leaving her more drained and exhausted.

She was scared. Her brother was now associated with those people, and she couldn't do anything to stop it even if she wanted to. She just wishes her brother won't be too affected and be broken if that day comes. Louise can bear the pain, but her brother was too sensitive and fragile that he can break so easily.

And she knows, sooner or later, the truth will eventually come out. And when it arrives, she knows all her rational thoughts will dissipate in thin air.

I'm sorry mum, I'm sorry Ashton. Louise thought as a lone tear fell as she closes her eyes. Already overthinking what the storm would look like.

Time is anyway, an ultimate truth teller. And Louise already loathes that day.