"Stop it." I whined when I felt a hand shaking me awake. I could tell my curtains were open, and it was morning but whoever was shaking me had another thing coming if they thought I was going to get out of bed before my biological clock made me.
"Sorry Felicity, but you need to get up."
In my sleepy state I registered that it was Emil talking to me. I had gone to bed before he and Cameron got back last night, after a surprisingly nice night with Wren. We watched the movie, made popcorn, and kept the conversation at a minimum. It was good. And familiar. Perhaps too much so of both. After the movie was done, I had left without much more conversation. Wren didn't seem to mind. He was practically giddy that I had even spent that much time with him.
"No I don't." My voice was muffled by the pillow I had proceeded to bury my head into. It was Sunday. I didn't even have to pretend to go to school today. Jackson would still be at his aunts till tomorrow, and I had no plans of doing anything other than hiding in my room and possibly convincing Amber to go get food with me. I heard him laugh above me.
"Yes you do, c'mon, me and you are going to the market."
I flipped around and looked at him with puffy, sleep deprived eyes. I had actually gotten to sleep until half past 5 AM and after a few days with 2 hours of sleep at most, I was beyond grateful for the rest until it was interrupted by the asshole currently smirking at me.
"I'm not going to the market with you." I mumbled with a scratchy morning voice. He sighed, and shook my shoulder again.
"Sorry kid, but yes you are."
I groaned and rolled away from him, pressing my forehead against the wall. The blanket was pulled off me, making me groan louder, reaching around blindly for my stolen warmth. I felt a hand wrap around my bicep and suddenly my body was pulled into the air and set on the floor.
"What the fuck!" I screech, grabbing into his shirt subconsciously while I reword to catch my balance. He made sure I was steady before letting go of me, at which point I landed a hard punch in his side.
He yelped and glared at me. "We need to reteach you some manners." He muted red under his breath. "We're leaving in 10 minutes. Meet me in the kitchen."
"Get out." I rolled my eyes and walked to my door, slamming it the second he was gone.
"Brat." I heard him say from the other side of the door.
"Asshole." I shot back
I chose a sweatshirt and some jeans for my outfit. If I was going, I was going to make my unhappiness about it known. I wasn't sure why I was going. I wasn't blind to the fact that I could just walk out the front door and ignore his demand that I come with him. And I had a mind to do so, but there was something in me that made me want to go. Maybe it was my naive need to hear him out. Maybe it was a desire to see who he had become.
Or maybe a part of me, still missed him like the seven year old who would stay awake late into the night, wishing her big brother would come home and make everything better.
I shook my head at my reflection, tying my hair into my signature low bun and shoving my feet into a pair of vans. I left my room, my face pale, and my mood sullen. It pissed me off. That I couldn't change how I felt. I could put on any front I wanted, but underneath I was still a nervous kid who didn't know how to act.
"Ready to go?" Emil leaned on the counter, tapping away on his phone. Wren was drinking coffee and Cameron had his head down on the table, a little more than half asleep. It made me wonder how they were all sharing the couch. I assumed at least one of them had been sleeping on the floor for the past two nights. The thought lifted my mood a little.
"Whatever." I grumbled, shuffling my feet awkwardly. I saw him smirk at Wren who rolled his eyes. Emil swung his key ring around his finger.
"Let's go then."
I clicked my tongue and followed him out the door. Shit was really going down hill.
Who knew Jackson would ever have the word of wisdom.
-FLICK-
"Do you like watermelon or cantaloupe better?"
I rolled my eyes at Emils question, leaning against the cold glass of the freezer case. We had been here nearly an hour and my already paper thin patience was running all too thin with my brother. It was like he was purposely making me miserable. He took forever every time he felt the need to stop, and to say it was making me crazy was an understatement.
"I don't care, can we please get a move on?" I was half a step away from snapping and had we not been in a very crowded public place, I already would have. He was on thin ice, but from the small smirk I caught him throwing me once in a while, I couldn't help but think he already knew that.
"Yeah, okay, just one second." He grabbed the watermelon and unceremoniously dumped into the cart. We walked around in silence for a little while longer until Emil finally decided we could be done for the day and checked out. "Are you up for lunch after this?"
"We have frozen groceries. We have to get home." I followed him when he started walking towards the car, crossing my arms over my chest.
He shook his head. "They'll be fine for a little while if you want to stop for some food."
I frowned at him but shrugged. "Whatever." I muttered softly. I wasn't one to turn down the opportunity to get some food. Especially when someone else was paying. Emil grinned stupidly and nodded.
"Great. How do you feel about Wally's?"
I shook my head, my fingers twitching slightly. Emil had made it very clear the second we left the house that I was not allowed to smoke at all. I tried to argue that any damage to my lungs was already done, but he wasn't having it. I had just rolled my eyes and let him have his little victory, but I don't think I realized how hard it would be to go this long without a cigarette. I mean, even during school, I'll cut the very beginning of a few classes just to go have a cigarette. It was really the only reliable thing in my life besides Jackson. The only calming thing too. And right now, I would kill just to be a little calmer.
"No? You used to love Wally's when you were little."
I glared at him, my posture growing increasingly ridgid. "I'm not seven anymore." I muttered angrily.
Emil paused for a moment, taking in my sullen expression. He nodded. "I know, but you're still the same person." I scoffed and stopped walking making him do the same and look at me with confusion stitched into the familiar fabric of his face. He was a stranger in a familiar body. That was the best way to describe the way I saw him and the rest of my brothers.
"Are you joking?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He shrugged. "No. I mean you're older now, and sure some things have changed, but you're still the same little girl you were five years ago. You're still Felicity." He smiled softly.
My face grew red with anger. "That's not my name." I said quietly. I was all too aware of the people scattered around the parking lot, who would all be watching us if I lost my temper right here. I gritted my teeth and walked to the car, ignoring his calling after me. I pulled the car door open roughly and jumped in, slumping down as far in my seat as I could.
I was angry. How could he think I was the same as I was five years ago? Was he truly that clueless? God, he didn't even know my name and yet he wanted to tell me he knew who I was? It was insane to me that he and Cameron seem oblivious as to what they put me through. What they left me with. They keep acting like I'm being unreasonable and really, I'm not. They thought they were just going to walk back into my life after years of abandonment and I would welcome them with open arms, and it just wasn't going to happen.
I heard the trunk of the car open and close and then I felt him slide into the care next to me. He didn't say anything but started the car and drove off. I bit back so many words as we drove. I wanted to snap at him. I wanted to tell him what he and the others had done to me. I wanted to make him feel my pain, just a little. But I didn't. I wasn't sure why, but I just didn't. I was never much good with words in situations like this. I feared that I would open my mouth and say all the wrong things and make everything a million times worse.
I heard him sigh, and looked over at this man. The man who shared DNA with me but didn't even know my name. I should hate him so much more than I do. I should tell him all the reasons he should be sorry and all the ways he hurt me. But looking at him, I could see he was doing the same thing as me. Trying not to say the wrong thing and make everything a million times worse.
"So," He started, pulling into Wally's parking lot. I sighed, setting my lips into a straight line. I looked at him with the most neutral expression I could manage. He studied me for a moment longer, his eyes softening the longer he looked.
"What is your name?"
A/N-I'm not sure how you all feel about Emil right now. I like his character and you'll get to know him a little better in the next chapter but any thoughts?