My brother's best friend

Chapter six

Leo drove us to the nearest mall. We are currently seated at a small circular table in the food court. I don't have an appetite so I watch as Leo eats his burger. I play with the straw of my milkshake, hoping this will end soon. The conversation was dry and minimal. Leo was trying to get me to talk, but I wasn't in the mood.

Leo clears his throat and images of my father that last day flashes in my mind, "Are you ready to go back to the university?" I look up at him, surprised he asked this. I know it's been a while, but I haven't thought about going back. "I don't know." I drop the straw and sit back.

"I think it will be good for you, to go back I mean," Leo says. I raise a brow, "And why is that?" He seems shocked at my response. "I can make my own decisions. I am not going back yet. I'll go when I'm ready." I declare.

"I know, but I still-" He tries to say something, but I get up, breaking him off, "I want to go home now." He nods stiffly before calling over the waiter. I start heading to the exit, not wanting to talk about this anymore.

I push off the wall of the mall when I see Leo come out the door. I walk silently to the car. Leo tries to talk to me but I just shut down all his attempts with short answers or not even answering at all.

Back home I quickly get out of the car, hoping to get away from him. I am ready to crawl back into bed and just watch life go by. Before I can reach the front steps Leo grabs my arm and turns me around, "Listen, I know you're upset and you're missing your parents, but I love you, and I'll wait for you. You just take your time, as long as you want. I know you'll come back to me." He leans forward and kisses the top of my head, "I know you'll come back to me." he whispers against my skin.

I step away, "Goodbye, Leo." I quickly go up the stairs and into the house. I lock the door and lean against it, sighing. It was so much easier to stay in my room.

So that's what I did for the next few days. I avoided everyone and stayed in my room. Daniel came over a few times. I tried to throw him out a few times, but he keeps coming back. On day three I just let him come in and camp out on the carpet, talking about anything or everything. "Alright, get up." I drop the book I was trying to read. I look up at Daniel, he's standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "I'm quite comfortable, thanks." He smiles, "I know, I can see that, but it's time to get up, Linds." I shake my head, "Daniel, I really don't want to."

"Linds, you need to get out, it's not good to keep yourself cooped up." I roll my eyes. "Daniel, just drop it. I'm not going out. I'm fine." Daniel shakes his head and comes over. "Linds, come on, just downstairs, huh? That's all." I sigh and get off the bed.

We walk down the hall. That's when I see it. My dad's study is open. I take a whiff of the air and the faint smell of tobacco fills my nose. I run to the open door and pull it shut, "Who opened that?" I try to stay calm but everything inside me wanted to burst.

"Linds, it's alright," Daniel says, reaching out for me. "No, he's going to be gone. We need to save it. We need to save him." I say pulling away from him. "Linds, calm down," Daniel says reaching for me again, this time he succeeds and pulls me to his chest. "No, no, no! He's gone. He's gone!" I yell, trying to push away from him. He holds me closer, caging me in.

I feel all the rage leave my body, I slump forward and cry into Daniel's chest. I grab hold of his shirt, feeling my knees go weak. I feel slightly dizzy and try to pull away from Daniel to sit down. Daniel, however, kept me up on my feet, pressed to his chest, slightly moving us from side to side in an attempt to calm me down.

When my body finally stops shaking Daniel pulled away slightly, looking me in the eye, "Are you better now?" I look over my shoulder at the study door then back at him. My lip quivers and I feel more tears.

He places his thumb over my trembling bottom lip, stopping the movement slightly. "It's going to be alright, Linds." I stare up at him and I imagine myself looking like a very lost puppy. "Now, I actually had a reason for getting you out of your room." A soft grin comes onto his lips and I wish for a brief moment that I was 16 again.

He drops his hand, a burning sensation left behind on my lip. He takes my hand slowly as if waiting for me to snap at the gesture. I let him lead me down the steps, the man just let me cry on his shirt leaving stains behind.

I am slightly surprised to see Dwayne, Amanda, Will and Levi seated in the living room with a strange man in a suit. Did everyone hear my fit? Did they all hear me crying? As if reading my mind Daniel squeezes my hand, like he's trying to tell me that they didn't hear anything.

He leads me over the couch next to the one his parents were sitting on. On the coffee table, six teacups await to be used. Dwayne and the stranger were talking intensely, not paying much attention to the rest of us. Amanda sends me a smile and I try to return it, but it's harder than usual.

Dwayne and the man stop talking and the man slightly turns in his chair to face us all head-on. "Welcome, I am glad to see everyone is here." He seems to be directing that comment in my direction, but I pretend not to notice. "Let's get started." He declares and pulls out a thick binder and places it on the coffee table. Just before he opens it up I catch a glimpse of the title.

Last will and testament of Mr and Mrs Moore.