I woke up with a thud down stairs.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling, I got up slowly and looked at my watch, 6am. 'Who the hell knocks on the door at 6am?!' I thought.
I went out of my room and tiptoed towards the stairs, where I stopped, astonished, watching my parents being shot.
A bald wide man, wearing a black overcoat and army boots, walked in, followed by a ginger haired guy with the same clothes. They walked towards the stairs. I was speechless, I didn't know what to do. I got back, leaning on the wall behind me. My breathing was shallow and uneven, and I realized there were tears flowing down my cheeks.
I had just witnessed my parents being killed.
I stumbled my way to John's room, making as little noise as possible and failing as my vision swirled in front of me and I felt as though I would faint.
I ran through the corridor and leaned on my little brother's bedroom door, fighting to see through the sea of tears. As I opened the door a new scene unfolded in front of me.
Another man with broad shoulders and black hair, was hovering over John's bed. The window was opened, as usual.
- Hey! - the man shouted and ran towards my direction.
But I was faster, I jumped on him and punched him on the face, the man stumbled and I hit him again, harder. I had no idea where did all that strength came from, but I blamed the adrenaline and fright. The man blacked out after the third punch, so I turned my attention back to my brother shaking him, trying to wake him up. There was no sign of gunshot or injuries, but he still didn't wake up, I started getting desperate, shaking him wildly as more tears fell down my cheeks.
I felt a lump in my throat and fought down a sob as I heard steps coming upstairs. I turned my head towards the door, there was still no one there. I perked my head through the door and looked at the corridor to see the other two men walking inside my bedroom.
Soon enough they would realize I wasn't there and would come to John's bedroom. I kissed his forehead and fought the sobs that threatened to overwhelm me. Right then, the ginger haired man appeared inside the room, yelling as he acknowledged my presence.
I jumped out of the window, where I thankfully landed on the first floor's roof. I started running from roof to roof, carefully placing my foot with each step. I looked behind and found the guy following me, a look of pure shock and determination on his face.
I was glad I had taken that parkour lesson months ago as now I ran amazingly faster as though I was flying through the roofs. The ginger haired guy was about two roofs away from me, stepping over the wrong bricks and tripping every time I turned around to look. I jumped on one of my neighbor's yard and climbed on the tree, hiding. The man jumped a few seconds after and started looking for me.
Right then, Theo walked through the door, caring a bag of trash. His eyes widened and he ran inside his house. I cursed mentally as I considered how ironically perfect his timing was.
The guy started running towards him, but that was just the distraction I needed, so I jumped on him and punched him hard until I couldn't distinguish what was his mouth and what was his nose. I heard a gun being triggered.
- Don't shoot! - I shouted as I realized Theo was back and shaking as he clutched a gun. - The way your aim is bad you are very capable of shooting yourself. And may I ask, where the hell did you get that?
He looked at his hands and shrugged.
- My dad is a cop, remember?
I nodded, remembering.
- You gotta go inside, there might be more of them coming soon. - I said.
-Yeah, well, who the hell is 'them'? - he asked with some fear in his voice.
I shrugged.
- No idea. - I said looking at the guy - But he might wake up, take your parents and leave the house for at least three hours as soon as you can. I don't think he'll remember much so he won't stay to find you.
- My parents are travelling, but I'll go anyway.
I nodded again and turned going back towards my house.
- Jules, - he called and I turned - Are you OK? - he asked and I nodded, feeling weaker. - What happened there? And how did you do that? - he said pointing to the body of the guy.
- Uhn, I better not tell you, I'm still trying to understand that myself. But I have no idea how I did that, I punched another one back at my house, but I think wrestling kind of helps a lot.
- What? Jules, I can't let you go back there, they might be waiting for you. - he said.
- You don't get it! - I said almost screaming - They killed my brother! They killed my parents! - I said already crying.
His chocolate brown eyes widened and he came to hug me. I started sobbing on his shoulder, his hand on my brown messed hair, shushing me. His hug was like a safe harbor, I couldn't tear away from him as I realized just what had happened. It felt like a nightmare, surreal, I was walking and living like any other day, but it felt like an entire lie. I broke the hug and wiped my tears.
- I have to go, Theo.
- No, Jules, I'll go with you, tomorrow. You're not going back there now! - he said determined.
- Theo, I won't put you in this mess! I have to go and you have to leave too! For a while at least.
- Sleep over tonight, Jules! You can't go there today. Please, wait until tomorrow. For me... - he said and even though that didn't make sense I agreed to it!
Theo gave me some of his mother's clothes because I was only with my pajamas. Wearing a dress, I went to a diner, with Theo, where we had breakfast and we talked some more. I told him about the whole morning and he listened, carefully.
By the time we went back to his house it was already 10 o'clock. He opened the door to look at a room which looked like a tornado had passed by. The cabinets were fallen on the ground, the carpet was a mess, the chandeliers were barely hanging.
- Hell! - I said.
He ran upstairs and into his bedroom, I followed.
- What are you looking for? - I asked and right then I noticed that the usual picture of him and his parents when they went to Atlanta, which Theo kept on his nightstand, wasn't there. - Theo... - he turned - They stole the picture! - I said.
He went towards the nightstand and looked for it, on the drawer, behind the fitment... No where to be found.
- Do you think...
He didn't have to finish the sentence, I knew what he was thinking.
- I told you I shouldn't stay here! Look what happened. - I said pointing at the nightstand - They are looking for your parents now! And it's my fault!
He shook his head negatively.
- No! It's my fault. I said you should stay here and you will! We'll work that out! - he said.
- There is no 'working it out' - I said, a little on edge - they are simply coming after your parents. We have to do somehing! When are they coming back?
- Two weeks from now... We have time. - he said.
- No, we don't! You gotta call them. Tell them to visit some of your uncles or something! Tell them something happened to the house while you were out and they can't come back yet. Something, just don't let them come back. Don't tell the truth because they'll be worried.
He nodded getting his phone. He dialed and waited.
- Hey mom. How are you? - he asked.
Silence.
- Yeah, I'm fine. It's just...
Silence. He nodded even though his mother couldn't see.
- I know mom, I'm sorry, next time I'll call earlier. It's just that something happened.
I could almost imagine what Mrs. Tursthom was saying. She is always worrying.
- The house is kinda destroyed. - he said almost whispering and scratching the back of his head with his hand, a gesture that he only made when he was uncomfortable or nervous.
What he said wasn't a lie considering the inside of the house. I heard her yelling 'What' from the other side of the line.
- Yeah mom, there was a storm and a tree fell on the roof.
That was a big lie. I would have laughed, but the situation was pretty serious.
- No, you don't need to come back early. In fact, you should even go visit uncle Tom. - he said, thinking of a random relative.
Silence.
- Relax, the Estate will help us giving money, you can even stay more time around there! - he said, looked at me and shrugged. - No, I'm not alone. Jules let me stay with her while they are fixing the house.
It was just the other way around but... OK.
- Yeah mom. Jules, brown long hair, green eyes... Short. - he said smiling at me, he knew I didn't like to be called short. I rolled my eyes.
I heard Mrs. Tursthom shouting on the other side of the line: 'Mr. Theodore Lucas Tursthom...' she never liked me much. He rolled his eyes.
- Yeah mom, relax. She's my best friend and you know her since I was 8 years old. - Theo answered.
'9 years, it has been 9 years since I met Theo on the school bus.' He had put his foot in front of me, I fell taking him with me. I punched him on the shoulder and since then we are best friends. Yeah, weird. I was always the tough girl, he is the only person who has seen my weak side, besides my family, so now... he is literally the only one.
Theo hung up and looked at me.
- She agreed to it... Struggling, but she did. - he said smiling.
- I always forget your middle name is Lucas. - I chuckled.
- Oh, shut up Jules. - he shoved me with his elbow.
I laughed weakly and we sat like that for hours, watching TV and remembering our childhood. It was really nice. We cleaned the house - as much as possible - and sat on the couch.
- Remember that time when Ross put spaghetti on your hair, so I started pick up a fight with him. I ended up with a swollen eye and you defending me. - he said laughing and I burst out laughing. It was almost as nothing had happened and we were just hanging on a normal Saturday afternoon. But no. Something had happened, my parents were dead.
Theo must have noticed that I got quiet and serious because he turned my head towards him.
- Hey. Jules, we are going to work this out! I'm here for you! I'll be your family now. - he said whispering.
Tears began to stream down my face, he ran his hand gently to wipe them away.
I nodded still crying and put my head on his shoulder. Suddenly, he said the words I least expected him to say.
- I love you.
I stiffened, in shock. My eyes grew wide and I couldn't think of anything to say, he is my best friend, of course I love him, but as a brother. I opened my mouth to reply, but right then the front door exploded and we both turned, startled.
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Tan tan taaaan!!
What do you think will happen? hohoho surprise surprise!!
This chapter is actually really short, but it happens a lot!
Comment, tell me if you like it, if I could fix anything or if it's good...
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