𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝...

Chapter 33

Will heard Rosemary's footsteps approach, and he turned, his mouth set in a firm line. His hand throbbed from punching Jackson a couple hours ago—something that gave him a three day suspension from school. 

"Will." There was disappointment in his sister's eyes. "Why did I hear that you punched Jackson?" 

"Who told you? Jackson?" Will scoffed, spinning around in his chair. 

"He called me." Rosemary walked around his chair to face him. "Why did you punch him, Will? I know you don't like the idea of him and me being friends, but that doesn't give you the right to punch him." 

"Don't like?" Will glared at her. "I hate it. I despise it! And he hit me first!" 

Rosemary glared at him, too. "Will, what have you become? A liar? Just because you don't like someone? This is going too far, Will. I know Jackson won't hit anyone, not anymore." 

"What was his sob story, Rosemary?" Will snapped. "What did he tell you, the day you became friends?" 

"It isn't a sob story, Will," Rosemary argued. "It was a true story that he was telling me. I saw him in the graveyard, and he said his mother died while in a coma. That's why he hated me before." 

"He still hates you!" Will shouted. "He hates you! He's manipulating you so that he could hurt you more!" 

"Shut up, Will." Rosemary crossed her arms over her chest. "I want you to apologize to him. You really hurt him, and I don't like that." 

"Why? Because now his face isn't handsome?" 

"Will!" 

"The only reason," Will seethed, standing up and prodding his finger at his sister, "that you're defending him is because you love him!" 

"So what?" Rosemary demanded. "I can't love anyone anymore? I didn't know you were that protective of me, Will. Won't you just let me live my life? I know what I'm doing. I'm older than you, for god's sake! I don't need some little brother telling me what I can or cannot do!" 

"Did Jackson put that in your head, too?" Will scowled. "You loved me, Rosemary. You listened. Why are you not listening to me now?" 

"Oh, Will." Rosemary shook her head. "I still love you. And I'm not listening to you because you're wrong." 

"But I'm not. These past few months, he's been hurting me!" Will pleaded. "Please listen to me!" 

Rosemary stared at him and tilted her head before shaking it. "If he was hurting you, you would've told me before," she whispered. "I don't like this new person you're becoming, Will. You used to be such a sweet kid. Why are you always so angry?" 

"I'm angry because you don't listen anymore!" Will screamed. Tears flooded his eyes but he didn't dare let them fall. "Jackson will hurt you!" 

"He will not!" Rosemary squeezed her eyes shut. "Will, let it alone. Just apologize and don't ever do it again." 

"I hit him because he threatened you," Will whispered. "He wanted to make you suffer." 

Rosemary stared at him and laughed bitterly. "He wouldn't," she said. 

"Kyle knows. Charlotte knew!" 

"Charlotte would've told me," Rosemary replied. "She told me everything—"

"Except for the fact she had tuberculosis." 

Rosemary's brows furrowed and she shot her brother a glare. "So you're bringing a dead person into this, too?" she demanded. 

"I'm bringing your best friend into this," Will corrected. "Or, wait...isn't your best friend Jackson now? I wonder how Charlotte would feel, being replaced—" 

Smack! 

His hand flew to his cheek and he stared wide-eyed at his sister, who hovered before him. Rosemary had never hit him, never, not even when they'd been little children. 

"I'm not replacing Charlotte," Rosemary gritted out, tears in her eyes. "How dare you suggest otherwise." 

She turned, her hair flying out, and went to storm out the room. 

One last time, Will shouted, 

"If he hurts you, don't come crying to me!" 

And she shouted back, "I won't!" and closed the door shut behind her. 

~Lyn

Words: 666

Damn what just happeneddddddddddd?