Older Brothers

42

Khloe

My door opened and Charlie walked in. I froze. I was stood against my desk, flipping through some flash cards. "Hey." I said.

Charlie didn't say anything, instead he looked around my room like he was searching for something that was wrong. Then he barely looked at me before he came towards me and engulfed me in his arms.

At first, I was slightly taken back by this, but I quickly wrapped my arms around him as he held me head to his chest.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

Charlie didn't reply, instead he just stroked his hand through my hair.

I furrowed my eyebrows, but stayed there in his arms. "Is something wrong."

Charlie sighed, but refused to let go of me as I was about to try to pull away. "I just don't want to lose you."

My confusion deepend. "Lose me? You're not going to lose me." I said, trying to sound reassuring.

"I'm so sorry Khloe. I hate this I hate all of it." He said, shaking his head slightly as he stroked my hair as if it was calming him down.

"You don't have to be sorry, Charlie. It's all good. It's no one's fault apart from my own."

Charlie shook his head again. "This wouldn't have happened if we'd paid more attention and you hadn't been treated the way that you were."

I bit my lip. My brother's behaviour towards me wasn't completely the cause of this. There was so many things that contributed to it. Our relationship just didn't help.

"Hey, it's okay." I whispered. "I'm okay."

I pulled away from him to see that he was crying. He had tears streaming down his cheeks and it made my heart hurt. I was making him cry like that. How did this all happen?

I wiped away his tears with my thumb before I threw my arms around him again. "It's all right, there's nothing to worry about anymore. I'm doing better."

I could tell Charlie had rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I've ever believed a single lie you've told me. It's so obvious you're lying right now. I can feel it. You're not telling the truth."

I bit down hard on my lip, hoping he couldn't see it. "I'm getting there." I said, trying not to cry myself. "It's just hard."

Charlie nodded. "I know I don't completely get it because I'm not going through it, but I sort of understand."

I smiled. "That's all I need."

Charlie nodded, sniffling slightly. "I just need you to be okay, I hate seeing you so sick." He said.

My stomach turned at his choice of words and tears brimmed in my eyes and before I knew it, tears were pouring out of my eyes too. Charlie let out a sob, causing me to hold him tighter in my arms.

In that moment the door opened against. I mentally cursed. Could my family learn to knock?

I didn't really want any one else to come in the room right now. I wanted them to leave us alone, but they didn't.

I saw Jake and Tommy walk into my room from over Charlie's shoulder. Jake's eyes instantly saddened from the sight of us. Charlie instantly tried to stop crying when he realised we had company as if he felt he couldn't cry in front of our brothers. Charlie pulled away from me and instantly tried to wipe his tear stained cheeks. When Jake saw this, he instantly went over to Charlie and wrapped his arms around him just like I had done.

I went and sat down on the edge of my bed, attempting to wipe away my own tears that had escaped my eyes.

Tommy came and sat besides me, realising I was trying to hide the fact I had been crying too. He gave me a sad smile before wrapping his arm around me, causing my head to rest on his chest.