Count to Three

Missing

For the lovely hotpinkheart who's been by my side since the diaper days. Love you, sister.

PS its my birthday! So here's my birthday present to all of you guys;) also, the hardest part about writing the chapter was having the gif of colton haynes play over and over again in the bottom corner and having to ignore it...

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"Maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love, or somewhere you're afraid to go. It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt because it matters."

- John Green

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Chapter 9:

When I was a little girl, my father would make me hot chocolate whenever I was sad or conflicted. The whole family would snuggle up on the couches and watch movies, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. If that failed to make me feel better (which rarely ever happened) dad would take us go karting. Eli, dad and I would always race, while mom watched from the sidelines. Her best friend died in a car accident, so she was always hesitant about using said machinery if it wasn't necessary.

These days, when I feel said emotion, I have nowhere to go. I used to go to Eli, but since our falling out, I didn't know if I was able to trust him. With Jaxon, we were barely friends again. I couldn't trust him either.

As we sat in the chairs staring at Eli, I felt conflicted. I guess I was just going to have to deal with it myself this time.

"Hello, Eli," I smiled. I was so happy he finally came out to see me. The guard had to go in twice, to retrieve him and inform him of Jaxon's presence, before he even considered stepping out of his cell. What a diva, trying to make the guards do things for him whilst in jail. He was just damn lucky that I was still willing to visit him, for I was the only person that did.

The air was tense and awkward. Jaxon was stiff next to me, attempting not to squirm under Eli's sharp gaze. My brother sat across from us with his arms folded and eyes squinted, trying to size Jaxon up without even acnowledging me.

"Yes, Eli, it is very nice to see you too!" I said sarcastically, with an artificial smile stretched across my face.

He snapped out of his daze and looked at me for the first time in a month. His features instantly softened and he began to apologize. "Oh, sister. It is nice to see you, and I'm sorry for the need to take desperate measures to get your friend here." He gestured over to Jaxon with his thumb, but didn't spare him a glance. He was playing tough. "I was about to call you so many times - every day, pretty much - but I was stubborn. I just had to meet this guy I've heard so much about."

"Well Eli, this is my friend, Jaxon." I put emphasis on the word 'friend' so he didn't assume anything more and embarrass me.

"Nice to meet you, sir." I could tell Jaxon didn't know what to address him as, but he went with the safest option. I smacked my hand to my mouth to suppress my giggles. Eli looked over to me and scoffed.

"What's so funny? I'm older than him, so he can call me sir."

"Yeah, okay. You're what, like a year or two older? Jaxon, you can call him Eli. You don't need to inflate his ego any more than you already have."

"You just have no respect for me, do you? Sister dear, maybe Jaxon could teach you a thing or two on how to treat your elders," he joked, but Jaxon didn't know that.

"I could do that," he shrugged and I laughed again.

"Gosh, Jaxon, he's only joking. Stop kissing his ass; he's just my brother," I shoved him lightly, smiling.