Brother's Run

Chapter 3: Dealing

WARNING: Strong language/Mature content... Enjoy!

Chapter 3 : Dealing.

"Where'd that lively sass mouth go?" He'd crossed his arms over his broad chest and his shirt strained against his large biceps.

"I-I'm sorry… I… I didn't know Olivia's father would be home." I pulled the bottles behind me to hide from the man's eyes.

"Hand me one." He opened his hand out to me and my eyes shot up to read his intentions. He looked on at me with a straight face, eyes dead set with mine. I did as he asked and passed one of the unopened bottles. "I'm not Olivia's father. I am however, her older brother." He cracked the beer open.

I let out a short relieved laugh, "Geez man, I thought I walked into the lion's den." A shot of amusement streaked through those emerald eyes. For some reason it was not something that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. "Well… I'll see yeah later than…"

I hadn't taken a step before I felt the large solid arm drape itself over my shoulders. He held me tight in the side hug. "Hmm, I think I'd rather see you now. I'm sorry, what was your name?"

I'd been in these situations with previous foster parents, this is how some chose to teach you who was in charge. Act all buddy, buddy and then beat the crap out of you when you think things would be okay and your guard was let down. My body went rigid as he started to guide me down another hall and further from the party.

"Look man, my brother's going to be looking for me. So you know. I should really take off… now." I had to talk my way out of this man's grip.

"Look man, don't worry. It's not like I'm going to hurt you." I called bullshit on his words in my mind as I clenched my jaw. "My names Nico, can't you tell me your name now?" His large hand squeezed at my arm in attempts to ease me.

"Can you get your damn hands off of me if I tell you?" We turned left down another hall and I could no longer hear the bass of the music vibrating through the walls. I felt like I should've followed my brother and helped him run from the psycho.

"How about this... tell me your name and take a swig of my beer. I'll let you go, sound good?" Nico stopped our random wandering through the halls, looking down at me with those unreadable green eyes. My own shifted and my mind contemplated the few options I had.

I grabbed Nico's hand that held the bottle and took a quick swig. "My names Loni, now I'm f*****g outta here." I pushed myself free from him and it was with ease. He was holding to his word and it gave me a new surge of energy that got me running down the hall. I could hear the muffled farewell from Nico before I rounded the corner. I felt like a kid running up the basement stairs with the dark world just steps behind.

I was bolting down random halls until I could hear the soft bass beat of the music that vibrated through the walls. Following the growing sound my heart was racing, thundering in my chest and I couldn't calm myself.

I had to get out and catch some fresh air, I felt suffocated in the sea of bodies.

I hit the cool window and followed it until I was able to find the door to the outside world. Gasping for air when the cool breeze hit my face, my head was spinning and I shut my eyes tight.

Maybe it was the booze. I regretted downing them so fast and looking at the nearly empty bottle in my hand that only fueled my logic.

"Holy hell, you okay there bro?" It was a familiar voice but I couldn't bring my eyes to meet them. I had dropped to my hands and knees, the bottles rolled down the brick patterned pathway and my eyes followed it. Rolling… rolling… my eyes grew heavy… no this couldn't be because I drank too quick… this was something else.

"Get… get me… home…" I wasn't sure if the words came out coherent enough for them to make out, but in the next moment my eyes shut and my body slumped down into the cool brick path.

Beams of light flicked on and off as the smell of leather filled my senses… was I in someone's car?

That familiar voice came to me again. "Hey, you really chugged back those drinks hey?" It was my brother as calm as can be sitting beside my heavy feeling body. "Thank goodness Nico's giving us a ride. You're to much of a fat ass, I wouldn't of made it." He laughed his just getting drunk laugh and punched my shoulder.

I couldn't return the playful vibe my brother was giving off and my eyes slowly hovered over to the rear view mirror. Those haunting green eyes watched me, sending a chill through my body. It didn't last long as I fell back into a nothing feeling.

My eyes cracked open to familiar walls but an unfamiliar scent of, earthy sandalwood with a hint of... ginger? It filled the small room and made me wonder where the fresh enjoyable scent came from.

"Hello, Loni." I sat up in my bed and looked to the dark corner where a large silhouette stood beside my bed, fear constricting my chest. "Your home is quite unbearable."

"Who the f**k are you?" I asked in confusion and the shadowed man stepped into the windows light. It was Nico... how long had he been standing there, watching me?Can you say weird-o. "W-what are you doing here? Why are you in my bedroom?" I should've just told him to leave and to get the f**k out, but my mind was not working right. This felt like a dream.

"Hmm, I bring you home after your little episode at my house and sneak you in through a horribly cramped pathway and this is the thanks I get?" He crossed his arms over his puffed out chest and waited like a stubborn child.

I wasn't sure what he was expecting honestly, but I gave it a try. "Umm… thanks? But it's not like I asked you to do it for me. So don't make it sound like I did something wrong…" I was still feeling the buzz of the alcohol through my body, or whatever it may be. I just wanted to sleep and be rid of this green eyed monster.

"No, but that shouldn't stop you from being grateful." He placed his hands on the bed close to me, sinking deep into the worn mattress. "I will teach you Loni, no matter how sneaky you think you might be. I'll catch you, and you will learn."