Chapter Thirty-Four: Trust in You

“Morning, Alice.” My mother said, greeting me as I walked into the kitchen.

I nodded, rubbing my tired eyes. “Morning.”

I took a seat in front of her as our cook Marco set a bowl of oatmeal in front of me. I licked my lips, in hunger. I wasn’t the biggest fan of oatmeal but once in a while, I would eat it. This was one of those times. “Where’s dad and Thomas?” I asked, taking a bite of my breakfast.

“Your dad is in his office and Thomas, I don’t know. I woke him up for breakfast, I know he got dressed but he didn’t come down to eat.” She said, looking up from her laptop for a brief minute.

“Where do you think he is?”

“Probably in the library, you could check there.” I nodded getting up from my chair, “Oh and Alice. Ben called he said Holly will be picking you up to take you to school.”

I grimaced when I heard Ben’s name, “Okay.” I muttered softly walking out of the breakfast room, I made my way down the hallway nodding to the guards and saying a quick good mornings.

When I reached the library I pushed the door open, walking in. I noticed Thomas sitting at the desk with his head buried in a book, he didn’t hear me come in so I softly closed the door behind me.

I slowly started to make my way towards Thomas, he still hasn’t noticed my presence. He was too engrossed in the book he was reading, “Thomas?” I called out to him.

His head snapped towards me, his eyes narrowing. He was definitely still mad at me, for what? I have no idea, but I was about to know in a minute. “What do you want?” He asked, harshly.

“You’re missing breakfast.”

“So?” He questioned, closing the book he was reading.

“So… breakfast is your favorite meal, come on. You’re missing oatmeal.”

“I hate oatmeal,” He replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Well it is good for your cholesterol, so let’s go.”

“No. You are not the boss of me, so I am staying. Now, just leave.” He spat at me turning around on his chair and opening his book up once more.

“Okay that’s it,” I sighed. “I don’t know what I did to get you so mad at me, but I am sorry. If I hurt you in any way it was never my intentions, you’re my brother I love you.”

“You still don’t know what you did,” Thomas asked, his eyes looking upset.

I shook my head, “No. But please can you tell me?”

“You kissed Ben!” Thomas exclaimed.

My eyes widened, “Thomas… You’re not gay are you?” I asked, kind of afraid of the answer.

He looked at me his eyes wide in fear, “What? Why in the world would you think that?”

“Why else would you have a problem with me kissing Ben?” I asked, raising my voice.

“Because!” He said, also raising his voice. “Ben is like an older brother to me. If you date, and you guys break up. He’s going to leave, and then I won’t have an older sibling around.”

“What do you mean? You have me as an older sibling.” I told him, I honestly didn’t know where Thomas was going with this.

“Alice,” He muttered. “Y-you don’t really act like my older sister.”

I looked at Thomas in shock, I felt tears prickling the corners of my eyes, “W-what do you mean?”

“I have to ask to spend time with you, but in reality you don’t want to spend time with me.” He said softly, turning around his back facing me as he stared at the wall behind him.

I bit my lip, I did not know what to say. I never meant for any of this to happen, if I knew kissing Ben would bring this much drama in my life, I realized that I made a big mistake. “I don’t know what to say, Thomas. But, I do know I am sorry.” I said walking towards him.

“I know,” He whispered, to me not turning around.

“If you want we could spend all day together?” I asked, trying to reason with him.

He shook his head, “No. You have that drama dance with that boy you like.”

“W-what boy?” I asked, stuttering slightly.

“Gavin, I know you like him.” Thomas said, turning around and facing me.

“How do you know about Gavin?” I asked, kind of afraid to know the answer.

“I know about a lot of things, I shouldn’t know.”

I rolled my eyes, “Yeah I’ve come to realize.” I said, shuddering, Thomas in return jabbed my side with his elbow. “So, are we good? I questioned, glaring at him.

He smirked, “We are good.”

I opened my arms, and Thomas wrapped his arms around me as I did the same. “Oh, and just for the record me dating Ben… I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Why?” He questioned, pulling away from me.

“Let’s just say…” I began, trying to figure the right way to put this, “Ben and I won’t be dating for a while… or even ever.” I said grimacing as I thought back to our previous phone call.

“W-what?”

“You heard me Alice, it’s either Gavin or me. You choose.”

“You honestly can’t be making me choose.” I asked, in shock.

“I am and I will.” He said, angrily.

“Can we talk about this when I get home?”

“No. Why is it always your way? It’s my way now, so you tell me, now who do you pick.”

“Ben…” I whispered, as I noticed Gavin and Garrett both looking at me with curious eyes. “If you really ‘loved’ me you wouldn’t do this, not now.” I whispered, softly trying to make sure that the oldest Storm brother wouldn’t hear.

“I am doing this because I love you,” Ben said.

I shook my head, “I am not going to pick.”

“Well then I guess I am done, there’s no point waiting around anymore.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“Okay,” He replied.

“Ben, one more thing.” I asked curiously, “Why now? Why do you want to know the answer to a question that I don’t even know myself?”

“Because, a little birdy finally opened up my eyes and made me realize that I deserved way better,” He answered, ending the call leaving me on dial tone.

“Alice?” Thomas called me, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yeah?” I asked, blinking a couple of times.

“What were you thinking about?”

I shook my head, “Nothing.”

Thomas just stared at me, a knowing look on his face. “You were thinking about that Gavin boy weren’t you?”

“No, I wasn’t, now drop it and stop being nosey.” I said, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the door.

“So, you were thinking of Ben?” Thomas, inquired.

“No!” I snapped.

Thomas’ eyes widened, “I am sorry.” I whispered. “Just please drop it, okay?” He nodded his head slowly in response. I don’t know what had come over me, but I guess being caught between two guys is hard and it really begins to take a toll on you. 

I pulled open the door to find Holly standing behind it, “Holly?” I asked my eyes widening, “How much did you hear?”

She shook her head, her eyes darting to the ceiling. “I didn’t hear anything, I just came.”

I looked at her-skeptical. I prayed that she didn’t hear Thomas’ and I’s conversation. “O-okay… So what are you doing here?”

“Your mom told me you are in here. I came to look for you because if we don’t leave now, we will be late for school.” She turned around walking away.

I turned to Thomas, ruffling his hair and bidding him a goodbye. I ran to catch up with Holly as she turned the corner, “Hey Holls!” I yelled stopping her, “You sure you didn’t hear anything?”

She nodded her head, “Why? Is there something you want to tell me?”

I shook my head quickly, “N-no it’s nothing.”

She shook her head, as she quickly began walking away. I stared at her, as she walked away. She didn’t ask me about my trip or how Ben was doing. As I watched her exit the house, I realized that I think she heard more of Thomas and I’s conversation then what she was letting on.

*

“Excited?” Gavin asked, jumping up and down on your spot.

“I am over the moon,” I muttered, continuing my stretches. “I still don’t understand why you volunteered us to go first.” I muttered.

“Because, once you go first. You get the nerves out, and you can sit and relax for the rest of the performance.” He explained.

“Well you might want to go explain that to Sarah, over there.” I said pointing my thumb towards a hyperventilating Sarah. “Because she is beginning to turn white.”

“Don’t worry Andy’s got her.”

I turned around and saw Andy who was trying to calm Sarah down, by telling her to breathe in and out. “Does Andy like her or something?”

“Yeah I am pretty sure, why?” He asked ruffling his brown hair making it look even messier than before.

“Because, I think Sarah likes him back.”

“Please don’t tell me you want to set them up,” Gavin asked, groaning.

“Well I wasn’t.” I replied, as Gavin let out a sigh of relief. “But, I am going to now.” I said, smirking.

“Didn’t anyone tell you not to get meddle in other people’s relationships?”

I shook my head, thinking of what he just said. “No.”

“Well I am telling you now, don’t meddle in other people’s relationships.”

“Why?”

“Because you can’t force love, you have to let it come to you.”

I let out a snort, “When did you get so deep?”

“Nerd, I was always this deep.” He smirked, at me.

I rolled my eyes as I continued to stretch. “You guys ready?” Mrs. Moore popped up from behind the curtains.

Gavin and I nodded our heads, “Alright. Get in positions and I will count you in.”

I walked to the middle of the stage as Gavin followed closely behind me. I turned around as Gavin placed his hand on my shoulder as my back was facing him.

“You ready?” Gavin asked whispering in my ear.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I muttered as Mrs. Moore began to count us in.

“Five, four, three, two, one.” She counted down.

Soon enough I heard the beat of the music blast out of the stereo, as Sarah’s voice came out from the speakers.” I don’t mind, letting you down easy but just give it time, if you don’t hurt now then just wait, just wait a while, you’re not the big fish in the pond no more, you are wait they’re feeding on.” Sarah sang as Gavin and I danced to the beat of the music.

I followed Gavin closely, trying to remember all the steps. We had choreographed this dance to be a mixture of hip hop and contemporary.

They were lifts in the dance, but we had practiced them I was pretty sure that Gavin had them down. “So what are you going to do when the world don’t orbit around you...”

Gavin nodded at me, basically telling me that this was the part of the lift. He wrapped his arms around me as he carried me, spinning me around twice. I felt Gavin’s hands become loose on my waist as I slowly, felt myself slip out of his grasp.

I shrieked as Gavin dropped me on the floor, I landed on the stage with a thud as I winced in pain. “Ali,” I heard Mrs. Moore call out to me as I heard her footsteps as she ran on stage. “Are you okay?” She said approaching me.

I paid no attention to her as I watched Gavin who was staring out on stage with a distant look on his face. He looked like he saw a ghost. “Gavin.” I whispered to him, trying to get his attention.

By now the Sarah had stopped singing and the music has stopped, everyone was staring at Gavin in confusion. While I was staring at him in shock, we’ve practiced the dance many times. Maybe not as much as we should have, but I didn’t think that he would have dropped me.

His eyes finally began to blink, as he seemed to come out of his trance. “Gavin,” I whispered once again. His eyes were scanning the theater, finally stopping at me.

He bent down slowly, reaching out to me. I-I am so sorry,” He said softly as he grabbed the side of my face with his hands, “I didn’t mean to drop you.”

I looked deeply into his eyes, it showed that he was truly sorry for his actions. “It’s okay.” I said giving him a small smile, his dark brown eyes read remorse, and I didn’t know why he dropped me but I intended to find out.

“Well I am glad you are okay, Ali.” Mrs. Moore said, helping me up. “Let’s just get you to the nurse’s office just to be sure.”

I shook my head, “I just fell on my rear end, the worse that happened was that I got a bruise.” I said giving her a small smile, showing her that I am okay. “I don’t need to go to the nurse.”

She looked at me curiously, “Okay. But, we will talk about this and your group mark later.”

I nodded, turning around and beginning to walk off stage when I tripped over my two feet. As I shut my eyes waiting for the impact when I felt arms go around me as they stopped me from falling yet once again. I opened my eyes to see Gavin’s arms wrapped around my waist. “Are you okay?” I nodded my head, silently.

“Why don’t you two just go and take a seat,” Mrs. Moore said to us.

Gavin wrapped his arms around me tightly, probably making sure that I wouldn’t trip over again. We headed down the stairs as we found a seat towards the back of where the class was sitting. Sarah on the other hand took a seat next to Andy.

Gavin and I sat beside each other silently, as we watched the other group make their way on stage. They were performing a hip hop routine to the music of Monster by Eminem featuring Rhianna. “I am sorry for dropping you,” I turned my head to see Gavin staring at me intently, “You put your trust in me and I let you down, I let you down just like I let everyone.”

I shook my head, “You didn’t let me down. Yeah, you might have dropped me, but I know you didn’t mean it. So don’t be so hard on yourself. I think we were doing pretty well up until, the accident. But, believe it or not you were fun to work with.”

He nodded his head at me turning his head back towards the stage, not before giving me a small and genuine smile. I stared at his face-call me creepy but I noticed a scar on his neck, it was just like the bruise I saw on his neck when we were at the park.

Soon enough I found myself leaning over and touching the scar on his neck, Gavin’s head snapped towards me as his eyes wandered to where I was touching. “I trust you Gavin,” I told him softly. “B-but why do you have such a hard time trusting me?” I asked, stuttering slightly.

“Who said I don’t trust you?”

“No one told me, it is the way you act towards me and everyone else. You have a hard time trusting people and I think I have a clue to why.”

“And what clue is that, nerd?” He asked, his face coming closer towards mine.

“Call me crazy, but I think you are getting abused. Not by a brother, because from what I know the only brother you have is thirteen years younger than you. But, I think you are getting abused from an older person, perhaps a father, uncle, or even grandparent. Now I might not know all the details, but I don’t think you do anything to stop it, judging by the scars and bruises I could see, the abuse is a constant thing.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Gavin asked, bitterly.

“Because, I trust you. I want you to be able to do the same.” He just stared at me, a blank look on his face. “Now, please just trust me and answer this question honestly. Are you getting abused?”

Gavin looked down at his lap not answering my question, when he didn’t respond. We both knew the answer to my question and I kept quiet placing my hand on top of Gavin and giving him a small smile. I knew I had to do something about this but I had no idea what.

*****

Hello Lovelies,

What do you think of this chapter? What do you think Alice will do? And hmm what do you think about Ben? Who do you think this little birdy is? And will he come crawling back to Alice or will he finally move on? Last chapter votes and comments were through the roof, so I want to thank you all for that!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON WATTPAD! EEEP! And I couldn’t have made it this far without the support from all you lovely people! So thank you and I will always keep loving you guys as long as you are with me.

I picked four names from the last chapter and they are: @SydneyBerg0 @Kimyxo, @nyahhh223 and @potter7_and if you want to know what the names are, I guess you have to go and check out my book! It is called Witness Protection Program and it is on my profile, (self-promoting here!)

To win a dedication tell me if you could travel to one place in the world where would it be? For me it would be most definetly Saudi Arabia, I call Mecca the place that never sleeps, some people think I am talking about Vegas…o.0

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