Brenden Monroe

“My brother’s done enough for me. You all have, it’s about time I started looking after myself”. She sighed when he said he’d leave, truthfully she didn’t want him to. She wanted him to hold her tight like he used to and tell her that she’ll always have him. “I don’t think I want that” she said, tears starting to fill her eyes. So much for pretending to not careshe thought to herself. “I don’t know what I want anymore. I’m so scared, I don’t know if I can bear it, I don’t know what to do” she said still trying to fight the tears.

He let go for a moment, pulling away to look her in the eyes. "You're not alone, okay?" he repeated, wiping her hair away from her face and tiling her chin up to meet his eyes. "Let me know whatever I can do to help, and I will," he promised.

“I’m eating. I haven’t eaten in three days.” She said with a guilty small smile. “I’m really hungry.. With what’s happened and schoolwork.” She said, “And lots of hot sauce.” She said a smile going back on her lips lightly, “I grew up in Texas baby, that’s all we eat down there.” She said, chuckling as she took off her glasses, setting them on the coffee table. 

He didn't want to let the food get cold but he cared about Cleo way too much to let that stop him. Resting his forehead on the back of her head, he sighed. "I'm sure you're sick of apologies by now, but I really am sorry that everything happened this way," he said, voice a bit shaky. "I didn't know--and I didn't mean to--and now..." he sighed, closing his eyes and pressing his lips together to stop him from rambling on.

After finishing all her Math and Physics she leaned back on her chair and sighed, relieved. She looked at like a dork, she had on some black shorts with a simple red tank-top and her hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, with no make-up on her her glasses, she was in total dork mode. She was about to start her Literature report when she heard a knock on her door, “Come in, it’s opened!” she called out, not knowing who it was.

He waited for her to join him, noting how weary and tired her face looked. He understood why, he felt it too, but, for one day this week he wanted to try and carry on like something good had come out of everything that happened. Because, something did. "Hot sauce or no hot sauce?" he asked with a smile. "To my word, I won't force you to eat, though I'll highly suggest it," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and giving her a hopeful look.

“Can’t you see Bren, I’m broken, I’m broken and I can’t be fixed”. She felt like she was right about that one, she did feel broken and unfixable. At least the voices had stopped, for now anyway. It was only a matter of time before they came back to haunt her. 

He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her response. "I can just leave if you want," he said, hands shoved in his pockets again. "I can pretend I didn't see you here and just let you go." He paused, not liking the idea but knowing that forcing her one way or another wouldn't solve anything. "Just say the word and I'll pass by and that'll be the end of it." He held his breath, waiting.

“It’s fine Bren, I’m not your problem any more. You’ve done enough don’t you think?” she said and she meant it, he had done enough for her. She knew he cared about her but she didn’t want him to bother anymore, he had Cleo to worry about now. Every minute she spent talking to him, the harder it got to hide her emotions and let go. 

His voice had risen and he just realized it then. Letting out a deep breath, he let his shoulders slump. "I can't tell you what to do about yourself," he said with a sigh, "but I can pop the bubble you're in thinking that no one cars. You better damn well know people care. If you learned anything from all of this, that's what you should've learned."

I’m loving it though it a bit boring at times, but what school isn’t?

How're you enjoying senior year so far?

Sorry for never really introducing myself. Brenden Monroe, nice to out-of-class meet you.

“I was originally meant to be getting out today but they decided to keep me in another night. So I thought I’d take it in my own hands and make my great escape”  she said, checking her nails out, like none of this bothered her. The truth was it did and she was just about ready to break down but she wasn’t going to, she was going to at least try and keep this hard, cold hearted act up. She was going to pretend she didn’t feel anything and that her emotions had disappeared. 

He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "Come on, I can bring you back," he said, nodding toward the dorm exit. "I can get Katie's keys, drive you in her car back to the hospital. If they wanted to keep you through today, they must have their reasons," he explained in a calm voice. He knew she wouldn't go for it but wished she wouldn't be so stubborn. Acting out more like this was only going to make things worse.

Alyssa looked around and made sure there were no nurses in the corridors. She was meant to be getting out today but the nurses wanted her to stay another night, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and sneak out. She hailed out a cab and got in, asking them to take her back to St Marys. The first thing she wanted to do was get to her dorm without being seen but that was short lived, when someone bumped into her. “Ummm, surprise” she said, looking down at the ground.

Suspiciously, he crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow. "From what I've heard, you're still due to stay in the hospital so they can make sure everything checks out," he said slowly, confused. "What's going on...?"

I believe you, I know we will.

I just...get riled up. Defensive. Even if I shouldn't have to be.

Hah, that truce lasted long.