Older Brothers

41

Jake

Khloe hadn't eaten her cereal.

After she went upstairs, I saw her bowl besides me, completely the same as it was when she sat down. She'd hardly touched it.

"Well, she's gone." Tommy said, glancing at the stairs, which Khloe was no longer walking up.

Charlie turned to Dean, standing up. "You have no fucking idea what she's going through. How
Could you act like that in front of her?!" Charlie growled.

Dean rolled his eyes as if he thought Charlie had no
Idea what he was talking about. "Neither do you, idiot. None of
us have any fucking idea what's going on in her head."

"So you shouldn't go making assumptions." I stated, shooting Dean a look.

"I'm only saying what we need to hear." Dean said. He turned to Chase, as if he wanted his support. "We need to consider the idea that Khloe is lying and wants attention. We need to remember that even if she isn't, Khloe's not to be trusted. If she is really having a hard time, then fine. Hang me out to dry. But either way, the last thing she needs is a party."

"You're just saying that because you don't want to baby sit for the night." Tommy remarked, rolling his eyes. "A party will be a great distraction."

We all knew Tommy just wanted a party.

Dean looked to Chase again and Chase caught my eye. From his cold expression, I could tell he was thinking.

"Khloe's tricky." Chase said. "I think it's obvious she's going through something, but a parties a bad idea. We need to manage what's going on. Do we really want strangers coming to our house right now?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So you're worried about what this looks like? You're scared if we have a party someone might see all this shit that's going on?" I asked.

"You're not thinking about Khloe at all. You're just thinking about you're fucking image." Charlie growled.

Chase rolled his eyes. "You two are putting words into my mouth.
That's not what I said."

I folded my arms. "What are you saying then?"

Chase ran a hand through his hair. "I think a party might be too much for Khloe to handle right now. Plus, we all know what happened with the last one." He said.

"I don't really care if we have a party or not." Charlie said. "I care about how you all are planning on handling Khloe because the way you were with her this breakfast is not good for her."  He said, his voice was almost defeated as his words trailed off as his eyes looked down and caught sight of the cereal he'd made for her, untouched. Charlie's eyes went glassy and he shook his head like all of this wasn't good for him.

"Charlie's it's all right." I said, giving him a small smile. "We'll figure this out." I glanced at Elliott, hoping he was picking up on how Charlie's rage wasn't anger at all, he was sad.

Elliott nodded, reassuringly and looked at Dean. "I don't want you to ever say to Khloe that everything that's been going on with her is for attention. I don't care if it is or it isn't. It's still happening and I've still got to deal with it, but Khloe does not need to hear that. If you say stuff like that to her, she will never open up to us."

Dean rolled his eyes. "You're not Dad, I'll say whatever the fuck I like." He growled, picking up his jacket and he looked at Charlie, who was glaring at him.

"Not about our sister you won't. You can't say stuff like that to her, she can't handle it. You're a selfish bastard!" Charlie shouted, again, hiding his sadness with anger. I could see right through it.