My Bad Boy’s Ego — Chapter 22

I shook my head at her excitement and offered a reassuring smile, "It's fine, Bella. It's just Colton."

Bella shrugs, picking up a piece of grape and popping it into her mouth I looked down at my lunch and played with the mash potatoes.

- - -

I brushed my fingers through my curls, before putting it up in a high ponytail. It's half passed nine and Colton decided earlier that he wanted to watch the newest scary movie. Jokes on him I love scary movies.

I smiled at the thought as I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't bother throwing on anymore makeup other than mascara. Shrugging at my reflection, I grabbed my back and swung it across my body, opening the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" I heard Austin ask from his bedroom.

"To the movies!" I called out and rushed down the stairs. Very quickly afterwards, Austin sprinted down the stairs and leaned his whole body on the door.

"No," he simply says.

Caught off guard, I stared at Austin amusingly as he flashes me a sort of serious look, "What are you doing?" I asked, slightly laughing at his brotherly protection.

"You're not going," he says again, crossing his arms as he slides between me and the door.

"Austin, seriously. I'm late," I got tired of his attitude really quickly before crossing my arms also.

"You're not going," he repeated before grabbing my bag and taking if off my body. He holds the bag starts walking upstairs, "You're grounded."

I rose an eyebrow and quickly followed him up the stairs, attempting to grab onto my side bag, "Austin!" I cried.

He turned back around and points a finger at me, "Seriously, Aubrey. You didn't come home at all last time, and you didn't respond to my messages. Did you know how much you worried me? Do you even care?"

The moment I heard Austin raise his voice and question me, I stayed quiet. Austin and I usually never have fights or any complications; this time he caught me by surprise.

"Dad's still out there working, and all you're doing is going out with a bunch of guys," he disapprovingly looks at me before shaking his head, walking up the rest of the stairs.

I softened and suddenly felt guilt rush down my back. After moving here, I haven't been able to see dad a lot personally because he's always at work. I frowned at the thought and immediately followed Austin's commands. Austin had already locked hid bedroom door, I entered mine.

Tossing my lifeless body on the bed, I stared up at the ceiling and randomly started reminiscing our memories with dad.

We were financially stable, with a large house and a golden retriever dog. Although the school I went to back then wasn't as beautiful as the school I attended now; and the neighborhood we had back then was a lot more dangerous than our neighborhood now, we were happy. My dad has a stable job, we had a stable education, and a stable family. Everything all went downhill when my dad was laid-off from his career. Almost everyone in the city was being laid-off, only because the government believed that there were too many employees in the small city. I was also confused at the government's belief, but no one bothered to question.

I took a deep breath, observing the textures of my white ceiling.

Nevertheless, I've always appreciated Austin and my dad for being able to take care of me; and my mother for granting me the life I'm experiencing right now.

My mother is another story. She was never there to even feel me breathe. She passed away giving birth to me; this was never revealed to me until my Freshman year. Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I was always thought my mom left me because she was stubborn. I hated her for that.

Ever since the results revealed to me, I immediately took back my hatred and appreciated her. My dad and Austin has tried nearly everything to hide the truth from me, in fear of me becoming unmotivated in life. They were afraid that if I found out my mother died because of me, I would do something to self-harm myself; or wouldn't see the purpose in living. But ever since I found out, the results were the opposite. At first it was difficult to accept, many days I was locked in my room, sad and hopeless.

After a few days I started accepting it, and appreciating the life that my mother has gave hers up for. Then I started to find passion and happiness; the main gateway to being successful in life.

A knock was heard from the door as it broke my chain of thought.

"Come in," I called out softly, still keeping my eyes on the ceiling.

Austin sighs as he opens the door, inviting himself in as he looks at me with guilt, "Are you made at me?"

I lifted my head and looked at him, shaking my head slightly before dropping it onto the soft comforter.

"I thought you were, I'm not use to this "adult and grounding" stuff," he admits as he puts my bag on the bean bag chair, and sits on the edge of my bed.

I sat up and looked at Austin, "I miss dad," I mumbled underneath my breath, looking at Austin while sending a small pout. He couldn't help but laugh at how much of a baby I was. Austin pinched my cheeks and tackled me onto the bed, "You miss dad but you don't miss your dear brother? How dare you!"

I screamed as soon as I hit my back against the bed. Feeling myself getting quickly annoyed, I kicked Austin off of me before screaming at the top of my lungs.

"Jesus," Austin screams back as he covers his ears with his hands, "Stop it Aubrey!"

My screaming soon turned into laughter. Austin stares at me with a weird expression before he pushes my legs off the bed. I couldn't help but to fall off the bed, and rolling on the floor with uncontrollable laughter.

"The fuck is wrong with you!" he screams.

Suddenly, Austin pokes his head out from my bed and looks down at me, "You got a text," he says innocently, holding the phone in front of my face.

10:01 PM

UNKNOWN NUMBER

We need to talk.