The Right Kind Of Wrong

Chapter 6

Theo Hemmingway

~~~~~

I slowed my breathing and sunk farther into hiding as I heard his footsteps slowly making their way toward me.

"I know you're here," came the familiar voice. "Make this easier for the both of us and just come on out." I nearly gasped at how close he sounded. He had to be right outside the bush.

The game had not been going for ten minutes before I was spotted and forced to hide under a thick bush. Hopefully this thing isnt posinous, I found myself wondering.

I was trying my hardest to control my breathing but I found it increasingly hard to do when the threat of being found was looming over me.

I was so caught up in trying not to be found I forgot to actually watch the threat and I hadn't noticed there was no noise coming from his end. The realization caused me to freeze and my blood to run cold. I could still hear him breathing and his shadow was being cast over my hiding spot.

Through a break in the foliage, I saw him at least three feet away from the actual bush, his green eyes calculating, scanning the area around him trying to discover my hiding place. I held my breath as his eyes swept past me before quickly coming back. His head chocked to the side and his eyes narrowed in on the bush, a small smirk playing at his lips. He slowly started to make his way toward me. Step by step, bit by bit, he inched closer.

I hadn't realized I started breathing again until it started to come out ragged and hoarse. He must have heard because he stopped, smiled then started to come faster. I knew I couldn't risk getting caught, I had to move.

So I did.

Before he could make a move to reveal my sanctuary, I rolled out to the other side, stumbled to my feet, and took off in the opposite direction. I quickened my steps as I heard him gaining ground.

The foliage started to become thicker as I came upon the creek I knew ran through here. Before I could near it I broke off to the left leaving him running straight for the water.

When I put enough distance between us and could no longer hear him advancing upon me I took refuge behind a thick tree trunk, and stopped to catch my breath. That was close, I thought to myself. All too soon.

I turned to see if he was still coming after me and while I had all of my attention behind me and my back turned, someone grabbed my waist from behind causing me to scream.

Fear coursed through my veins before his husky voice filled my ears and I craned my neck to look into his calming eyes, "Gotcha."

I tuned and pulled myself from Justin's arms and playfully punched him on the arm. "You scared the living hell out of me," I chastised. "Nearly gave me a heart attack." I pouted and crossed my arms across my chest.
He laughed and I couldn't help but smile, and eventually laugh myself.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me?" He asked poking out his bottom lip. I rolled my eyes before saying yes.

He smiled a mischievous grin and said, "Good. Cause you've," he grabs me by the waist and pulls me into him, diminishing every inch of space between us, and leaving one hand on my waist, lifts my chin with his finger, "-been caught." He started to lean in closer and I found myself leaning into him as his breath rushed against my face. My eyes gradually started to close as I feel his lips brush against mine.

Before our lips could meet and before he could make every ship in my body take off a low whistle echoed around us. My head whipped in the direction it came from and I cringed when I saw who the noise emanated from. Justin sighed and reluctantly let go of me. I could still feel his warmth wrapped around me and closed my eyes to relish the feeling.

"What do you want Theo?" Justin asked, his voice full of annoyance. My eyes opened and I look at Justin with questioning eyes. How does he know his name?

"Your brother here almost knocked my head off earlier, Sunshine," Theo answered my unspoken question. I glared at him, the sound of his voice making me irritable.

Before I could ask how he knew Justin was my brother, he scoffed and I returned my attention to him, "Not like you didn't deserve it."

"I was only voicing my opinion," Theo said an obnoxious smirk on his face.

"It was a perverted opinion." Justin's voice was anything but friendly and his fists were clenched so tightly by his side his knuckles were turning white.

"I'm not surprised," I said inching closer to Justin. "Everything that comes out of Theo's mouth is perverted and vomit worthy."

"Well this particular perverted comment was aimed at you," Justin explained.

I swallowed and shivered as Theo's eyes greedily scanned my body. Justin's jaw clinches and he took a step forward pushing me safely behind him. Fighting to hide my smile, I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He turned to face me as I came around him, his expression guarded and protective, but my sole focus was Theo.

"Still comes as no surprise," I said dropping my hand from his shoulder.

Justin grew angrier and his voice raised an octave as he spit his next words, "Does this guy give you problems often?" He practically screeched. I flinched away but said nothing. He took my silence as an answer.

And the words that leave Theo's mouth next proves his suspicions even further. "Sunshine here knows I would love nothing more than to explore her Grand Canyon."

Before I even had time to react to his words, in a flurry of light and movement, he was on the ground screaming in pain, blood gushing from his nose. Justin landed another blow to Theo's face before standing over him, his face compelling nothing but fury. He reaches down and grabs an agonized Theo by the shirt.

"If I ever see or hear you talking about, looking at, breathing near, or if I even suspect you're thinking about her, I will not hesitate to pummel you until you are unrecognizable," Justin spits in his face. "Do we have an understanding?" He asks through grit teeth.

Theo shoo his head viciously; I had never seen Theo so scared. He looked as if he was ready to shit his pants as blood gushed from his nose and streamed from his mouth. Justin threw him to the ground and kicked him in the stomach before storming away. He brushed past me on his journey back to the Center.

I stood stock still, watching Theo drag himself from the park floor and march in the opposite direction, spewing a novel of colorful curses. My brain was still trying to put together what had just happened. All the pieces were there, they just didn't fit together.

I mean it happened didn't it? Theo didn't just magically become covered in blood. And I certainly wasn't shaking for no reason. Something shook me up.

Why did he get so protective and basically almost kill Theo for being Theo? Was he playing the role of the protective older brother or was he hitting for something else?

Something told me it was the first theory but I couldn't help but feel it was something else. But what?