BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS

THE TEXT

CHAPTER 4—THE TEXT

EMILY

My phone buzzed against the nightstand. I reached for it expecting to see a text from Celine, my best friend, but it was an unknown number.

Furrowing my brows, I opened the message

U-“Come outside, Doll.”

I knew who it was, but I didn’t want to believe he had my number, so I asked.

E- Who is this

My phone pings again

U- Don’t play this game with me, come outside

E- Daniel???

U- Who else makes your heart skip

E- I don’t know what you are talking about

U- Quit stalling and come outside

E- or what

U- You really do not want to find out

What was he going to do? My heart skipped a beat. I was one part thrilled and scared on the other part.

I must be deranged, I thought, placing my hands on my head. Why was I even a little bit excited?

I looked at Jeremy’s sleeping form, he looked so at peace, knowing what I did would just break his heart. I have to hide this for as long as I can. I can’t ruin his life, which will automatically bleed into the ruination of mine.

Why had I gotten drunk that night? Why had I even gone out? I should have just stayed home; then all this would have been avoided.

I stood up from the bed and tiptoed out of the room in order not to wake Jeremy up.

I went outside and saw Daniel sitting at the edge of the pool. I walked down and stood behind him.

“What do you want?” I asked him

He looked up at me, and I got lost in those eyes

Why do I have no control over myself when I’m with him, I wondered.

“Nothing, I just wanted to sit out and talk to you,” he said, looking all lost and forlorn.

“I feel I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but you can’t keep doing this,” I said to him while sitting down. I couldn’t help myself.

The night was cold, and I let my legs drop into the water; it was so cool and relaxing.

“Have you thought about my request to keep this a secret? I asked

“I don’t want to talk about him right now’’ he said

“What would you rather talk about?” I whispered

“Anything else?”

“That’s a really cool car, I can just imagine the horsepower of it, the wheels would be heaven on earth,” I said, smiling.

I turned back towards him, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

….Like what? He said, still looking at me

“Like I have something on my face.”

‘‘No’’ he said, pushing my hair behind my ears,

“You love cars, I just didn’t peg you as a girl who loves cars.”

“When Jeremy said something about you and novels, I assumed you only love novels.”

“I love novels, but cars are my first love I smirked.

…Do you also race?

“Yes,” I said, smiling widely. It has been a long time since I raced, and I missed it.

Jeremy didn’t like it and he didn’t think it was safe, it always brought about arguments between us, so I had to stop it, even though it pained me a big deal, I thought.

“Do you also race’’ I asked him

‘‘Yes, I was just coming from there’’ he said

My eyes opened so wide, “There is a racing track here?

“Yes,” he said, smiling at me

“Will you please take me there?” I begged

“I would do anything for you, doll. You don’t have to beg,” he said seriously.

My breath caught. Had I just thrown myself headfirst into the devil’s lair

What had I been thinking?

I think I need to go inside,” I said, shakenly while standing up

“You can run all you want, Doll, but you can’t run from your emotions; they will eventually catch up to you,” he said

I looked at him, then turned my back and walked hurriedly to the room.

~ ~ ~

I sat on the balcony the next morning. I need some fresh air and to clear my head; journaling has always worked for me.

I took out my journal and began to write.

I can’t stop myself from thinking about Daniel, Last night I dreamt of him, in my dream he come to my room and used his mouth to shut down all my protest when I tried asking him what he was doing in my room he then laid me down on the bed and crawled till he was kneeling in between my legs, he used his teeth to pull down my pants and whispered, I have missed the taste of this, four days without this felt like I was drowning he then dive in and started lapping at me like I was his last meal, like he was truly starving. I tried to hold it in, but I couldn’t.

I woke up so wet, and I actually wished it were real

What am I going to do with myself? Why can’t I stop thinking about him?

“Emily”

I could hear Jeremy calling for me. I stood up and went to meet him, leaving my journal on the desk I used.

“Babe, where have you been? Jeremy asked

“Just over by the balcony, I needed fresh air.”

“Okay, we need to run errands. Daniel and I are going to the store, and I didn’t want you left all alone, so let’s go,” he said.

I wanted to see Daniel even though I know I shouldn’t

Okay, let me pick up my phone from the room I said

A few minutes later, we were sitting in the car waiting for Daniel when Jeremy’s Phone rang

“Hey, man”

…Are you sure?

“Okay, Em and I will just go,” he said, then ended the call.

…..What happened? I asked

“Daniel said he wasn’t feeling so well, so he won’t be joining us.”

“Is he alright?” I said, concern lacing in my voice. Jeremy glanced at me, his eyes narrowed.

“Yeah, he is,” he said

What could be wrong with him? When I saw him last night, he looked perfectly fine, I thought.

We got to the store, and Jeremy walked in front holding the list of what we needed to get.

“So we need wine, turkey, veggies, and vinegar. I wonder what mom wants to prepare,” he said

My phone pinged, and I brought it out of my back pocket only to see a message from Daniel.

He texted me a photo of the page I wrote in my journal

D-: “You can’t stop thinking about me either.”