"𝐈𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐰"
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September 12th
6:46 pm
Palm Beach, FL
Her head rested on the seat of her car, looking at her parent's house from across the street. She watched as many people entered making her not even wanna go in herself.
It's been a while since she'd been in a house full of family and surprisingly, she didn't miss it. It was like being interrogated for personal information that would soon be used against you.
They didn't care that she made it into a university on a full scholarship, they wanted to know stuff they could use to look down on her. And it wasn't just her they did it too, they would do it to each other.
It was like a constant battle, with everyone going tic for tack.
And the saddest part was even as a child she would get looked down on for doing things a child would do and instead of correcting her, they would talk about it amongst each other.
At a young age, she had to learn to keep her business to herself and if she had a problem then she would have to solve it. That caused her to grow up faster than she was supposed and made her become independent.
Just the thought of asking for help hurt her pride.
Brooklyn let out a deep sigh feeling her body heat up. Once she felt herself calm down, she place her car in drive and pulled her car up to the gate where a guard sat post.
"Hey William" she greeted the white elderly security who's worked her all her life.
"Ms. Miller, it's been a while. How you've been?"
"I've been good how about yourself"
"You know same ole same ole" he smiles showing off his high cheekbones. "Well it was nice to see you again , wish Mrs. Miller a very happy birthday for me."
"Will do"
She began driving in once the gate door opened giving her access to the estate. Many cars were parked but there was still more than enough room for her to park anywhere she wanted.
She killed the engine of her car once she found somewhere to park. She reached to the back seat grabbing her black mini handbag and getting out of the car.
Stepping out of the vehicle she made sure her stiletto thigh-high boots were planted on the cobblestone walkway of her parent's driveway before shutting the door behind her and began making her way toward the home.
She adjusted her black leather skirt as she walked up the few steps that lead to the large black double doors. And as she got closer and closer to it, she felt as her nerves shake.
She was beginning to feel the pressure of being here making everything feel unnatural to her. She'd walked in and out those doors almost a million times before, but today felt different, maybe because it's been a while since she's been back or it was the first time here without one of her siblings.
Whatever it was, she just hated the feeling.
Opening the purse she pulls out her phone to check if he'd left anything even him denying the invention, but once she saw it was still nothing from him, she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
She placed her attention back on the door, even raising her hands to knock.
It took a few seconds for someone to finally answer, but when they did, she was met with the beautiful smile of her mother.
"Your here" she sang pulling her into the home and closing the door. " How I missed my baby"
"I missed you too" Beverly pulled her daughter into a hug wrapping her free hand around her body leaving the other to hold her champagne. "Happy birthday ma"
"Thank you, thank you" she smiled pulling out the hug to face her daughter. "Lord look how beautiful, you've gotten"
Brooklyn laughed at the compliment, feeling a little embarrassed. "Thanks, could say the same to you"
"Oh stop"
But it was true, Beverly held high over her daughter, even with Brooklyn's heels being taller than hers. She had smooth dark skin, paired with honey-colored eyes that she was famously known for.
Her body was thin and her torso was long, and no matter what she held great posture.
At the moment her thick jet-black hair was straightened silky, stopping just before her waist. As for her clothes, she always had a talent for looking elegant. She wore a gold beaded off-the-shoulder evening gown, matching it with a four-inch nude stiletto.
"Now, let's go say hello to the family." She linked her arm with her daughter and began leading her to the dining room.
Once she entered she noticed everyone sat along the large table that was ripped from its usual decoration to make more room for their card games.
It felt different to be back here after years of trying to forget this place. Her heart shook seeing as eyes slowly began to move on her and her mother, she didn't want to be here anymore, she was ready to go home.
Her eyes diverted away from everyone else, making her feel like a scared kid again. But for the sake of her mother, she pushes those feelings deep down and faked her confidence as she walked into the room.
"Oh dear look at you" Her father's younger sister praised walking up the Brooklyn who finally decided to detach from Beverly. " So grown and gorgeous"
"Thanks, Valerie"
She laughs "so you got too old to call me Auntie Val?"
Brooklyn looked down at the middle age woman with a cold face as she put on the same fake smile that she'd always use as a mask instead of being honest about what she truly felt.
"No need to act like that, just wanted to check up on my niece"
"Anyways, how is that basketball player you're dating?"
"We're not together anymore, now, if your done please excuse me—" she started but was soon interrupted by Valerie speaking again.
"Why is that, he was was your ticket to a luxurious lifestyle, and that's worth forgiving him, no matter what he did."
"What?" a chuckle left her mouth not believing that she actually said that. "You don't know shit about shit, so mind your business"
"Excuse me?" she scoffs "I was just trying to help you."
"I didn't ask for it"
"You always gotta put your two cents in everyone's business, but would die if someone did the same to you"
"It's not your day, it's my mother's, so blend into the background with the others."
Valerie stood there in shock, watching as her niece began walking away from her.
Brooklyn let out a deep sigh as she walked up behind her mom who was talking with her uncle and another aunt. She tapped her shoulder, gaining her attention.
"I'm going to get some fresh air"
"Okay, imma be here" she responded with a smile before turning and joining back in the conversation...
A fresh breeze hit her skin as soon as she exited the home from the patio door. The sky had darkened from the last time she was out but nevertheless, the view still looked beautiful.
Quickly she slips her heels off her so she could dip them in the water. Using her left hand, she slowly guided her body down while her other held her shoes.
The feeling of the cold water against her bare skin made her shudder, almost making her want to take her feet out of the water, but once her body got used to the coldness it felt relaxing.
She sat there for a while, swooshing her legs back and forth making the water splash a bit as she stared at the ocean view that she was blessed to have in her backyard.
The scene brought back so many closed-off memories of her, Matthew, and Mattea playing in this very space all day every day, never getting tired of each other company.
And even with the age gap between Brooklyn and them, they made sure to never make her feel left out.
She chuckled at the memories that played in her mind.
If only she could be that happy again.
She snap out of her thoughts hearing to the sliding door open and then closed. Unintencly she rolls her eyes knowing whoever it was, was here to bother her.
"Ma told me you'd be out here" The very familiar voice said with a clear grinding tone.
Brooklyn snapped her head around and her eyes contacted with his honey-colored eyes that were so similar to their mother's.
For a moment she was in denial, thinking that she was just imagining things. Her eyes welled up with tears and her heart swarmed up with butterflies.
But quickly she caught herself just as she was about to break down. He'd finally come just when she lost faith in him when she wasn't a child needing her big brother.
She looked away from him and placed her attention back on the scenery in front of her.
Call her childish she didn't care, she waited for him for years and now that he was finally here, she couldn't help but feel the pain he left her alone to carry.
"Bam bam" he called out to her, using the nickname she was given in childhood. "I know, your mad at me and you have every right to be, but please let me make it up"
She didn't respond, she just kept her eyes front, occasionally looking down at her fingers as she fumbled with them.
"I'm sorry Brooklyn"
"I'm sorry for not being there when you needed me most, I'm sorry for leaving you alone instead helping you. I'm the big brother and I'm sorry I wasn't better at it until now."
"For the longest time," she said letting her voice crack as she spoke "I just want you by my side, to tell me that you had me when I didn't have myself, but-, but you weren't there"
Without saying anything else he sat next to her staring at her as she avoided his gaze, her eyes glossy and hands shaky.
He couldn't help but noticed the difference in her looks, she was more mature now. She wasn't the same seventeen-year-old girl he's seen before, she changed in the way she talked, dressed even how she was handling this situation.
His eyes moved off her and onto the blue water in the pool, starting to feel the guilt he carried with him again, knowing he missed a lot of important moments in her life.
"You know after Mattea died" He started gaining her attention again. "I felt like I lost my mind. We were born together, so I always thought we would die together but."
"I've done some bad things, and I know this isn't an excuse for missing out on a big part of your life but I just didn't want you to see that part of me"
"Matty no matter what you do or did in the past, you'll always be my brother, so please don't disappear again."
Both their teary eyes connected, and once they noticed they both were about to cry they burst out in laughter.
"I love you" He smiles holding out his arm for her.
"I love you more" she wrapped her arms around his body tightly, like he would disappear at any moment.
She pushed her face in his neck, taking in every moment she had with him, not knowing when or if he would leave her again.
After a while, they finally pulled away from each other.
"You ready to go in?" He nudged her causing a smile to peek through her face.
"Naw, I came out here to get away from them people."
"Man who you tellin" he laughed "Soon as I got here Valerie ass came up tryna get some information outta me"
"She a nosy ass bitch" Brooklyn scoffed, rolling her eyes as she remembered their altercation.
Matthew's mouth dropped as soft laughter came out. "Since when you start talking like that?"
"I'm grown now"
"Damn my bad lil sis"
A grunt leaves his mouth as he pushed his body off the concrete ground. "But for real, we should go back in. For mom at least"
"Alright" she reached out her hand which Matthew took a hold of and pulled her from the ground.
Looking around she spotted a towel that sat on the back of the chairs sitting at the poolside. He grabbed it and handed it to her so she could her feet and legs before slipping on her boots.
"Damn you got tall" Brooklyn mentioned once she settled closer to him.
His slim muscular build loomed over hers. He chuckled at her remark and began walking back inside the house where soft music could be heard playing.
The duo made their way back to the dining room where the crowd still resided with their drinks and food that was all provided.
Almost instantly, Beverly noticed their presence and danced her way over to her children. "So y'all made up, I'm so happy" she slurred out, letting it be known that she had too many drinks.
"This is the best gift I could ask for"
She reached out, pulling both Brooklyn and Matthew into her arms rocking them back and forth as she hugged them.
But suddenly, Matthew pulled himself out of the hug, confusing both girls but once Brooklyn followed his eyes she realized what was going on.
Maurice stood back in the distance watching as his kids engage with his wife. And instead of greeting them he just stood off the side, sipping his wine.
"Please don't act like that. Just talk to him" Beverly sighed knowing her husband's stubbornness.
"It's fine ma, enjoy your birthday."
"Matty wait" Brooklyn called out as he began walking away, but he just kept going.
She turned to look at her mom as she rubbed her head stressfully. "Go ahead"
Without saying anything else Brooklyn began following Matthew. Once she caught up he was about to get in his car but stop seeing her exit the house.
"I'm coming with you"
"You sure?"
She nodded her head excitedly, feeling the same feeling she use to have when she was a kid and Matthew would always drive her around, no matter the destination"
"Alright, come" He hopped in the driver's seat.
With a smile on her face, Brooklyn rushed up to the car getting in herself.
𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
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I rushed at the end a bit but how do you like the chapter
𝑷𝑼𝑹𝑷𝑳𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑨𝑰𝑵 _®