My Best Friend's Brother

It's About Damn Time

I stand in the hallway of the White's house, my back against the wall. Within seconds, I slide my back down the wall and curl into a ball. The tears just flow.

After a few minutes, Sarah joins me. She sit down beside me and puts her arms around me, "It's going to be okay."

"I have to go see Jackson."

She lets go and looks me in the eyes, "Now?"

I nodded, "There is something I have to do. Will you drive me?"

She nodded her head and helped me to my feet.

We pull into The Brooks' driveway at six o clock on the dot. The garage was open, and Mr. Brooks has already left for the morning.

"Call him, tell him we are here." Sarah handed me my phone.

It rang multiple times, no answer.
I tried again, still no answer.

"I am going to have to get in there."

Sarah shook her head, "Or you can just wait until he answers the phone, I could try to call Justin."

I tried to call Jackson one more time-

"Hello?" I could tell he had just woke up.

"I'm in your driveway. Come out here."

"Wait, what-"

I hang up.

Sarah and I sit in silence for seven minutes before Jackson walks around the brick of the garage.

He slides into the backseat, "What the hell? It's like 6 in the morning?"

I didn't beat around the bush, "I was almost raped last night."

His eyes grew wide and he shook his head, "Wait, what-"

"And Liam beat the shit out of the guy. But he also had the shit beat out of him. The cops were called, but we made it to the car in enough time."

"Wait, Emilie-"

"And I didn't sleep at all last night and this may seem completely harsh and insensitive, but I am breaking up with you."

He shook his head again and reached his hand out to my shoulder, "Emilie, slow down."

"No. I have made up my mind."

He lowered his voice and placed his mouth close to my ear, "I asked for a chance.."

"And I said I am breaking up with you. You deserved more than a text, hints why I am in your driveway, but it couldn't wait. We are done."

Sarah sat still, and didn't say a word. Jackson nodded his head, "If that's how it is then-"

"It is."

He got out of the car and went back inside.

"Are you okay? I didn't know you were coming to dump him?"

"I'm fine. Can we go?"

She nods and we pull out of the driveway and head into town.

"Do you want to go eat?"

"No," I stare out of the window, "Can we just go check on Liam, please."

She stopped the car on the side of the road, "Emilie, are you okay?"

"I don't want to talk, Sarah."

She grabbed my hand, "You are my best friend, you can talk to me."

I shook my head, "I want to go check on him, he shouldn't be alone."

She let go of my hand, "I know you are having a hard time, but you can't just shut everyone out."

I didn't respond. I kept my eyes focused on the outside world.

"Well I have to get gas, so we have to at least stop at a gas station."

"Fine."

We pull into Pump #4 at the Speedway Gas station on the West side of town only about five minutes from Sarah's house.

She walks inside to pay for the gas. I close my eyes trying to rest because I haven't had any sleep in over 24 hours. A knock on my window startled me.

"Open the door, bitch." Benjamin Lex was standing beside Sarah's car. My heart starts to come out of my chest. I hold the lock down on my door, and start fumbling for my phone. He continued to pound the window harder.

I look up and see Sarah walking out of the gas station, eyes glued to her phone in her hand. She must have heard the yelling and looked up. She took off running back into the gas station. I prayed she was getting help. I find my phone and call the one number pinned to my Favorites.

"Emilie?"

"I need help!" I could barely breathe and I was trying hard to not cry. My hands were shaking. Benjamin was pounding harder at the window and was now jerking the door handle violently.

"Emilie, what's wrong?"

"He is at the window!"

"Who?"

Sarah exits the gas station with an employee who runs off Lex. I unlock the car and run into Sarah's arms.

"Can we please go to the house?"

She wrapped her arms around me tight, "Let's go."

Liam was sitting on the front porch when we arrived into the driveway. He jumped up to the best of his ability and made his way to the car.

"What the hell happened?"

Sarah tried explaining but he wasn't listening to her, his eyes and hands were on me.

"I think I need to go home.."

He embraced me into a firm hug, "Can you stay?"

I shook my head, "I don't think so."

Sarah walked around the car, "Let's go inside, and I can call your mom."

"No," I did my palm into my forehead, "You can't call my mom. She can't know."

Liam pulled my hair behind my shoulders, "Just call her and tell her you are staying here again tonight. That gives us a little more time to deal with things."

I felt my eyes sting, "Do they know where you live?"

Liam asked Sarah to park her car in the garage and go on inside. As she drove up to the garage, he grabbed my cheeks in his hands, "Em, I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

I ran my fingers down his arm, "I'm more worried about something happening to you."

He tried to grin, "I can handle it."

I met his eyes with mine, "I broke up with Jackson."

"It's about damn time." He ran his finger over my bottom lip.