The Replacement Brother Chapter 2

The walk home was silent. Hayden ignored me completely.

That was fine. I could monologue.

"So, the Dean came in to check our dress code today, and he walked in the back door and yelled at us for being loud, then walked to the front and praised us for being quiet. It was hilarious..."

My laughter echoed in the empty street.

Hayden stopped walking. "Can you ever just shut up?"

My voice shrank. "Sorry."

He sped up, leaving me in the dust.

I gathered my courage and jogged after him.

"Hayden, can we just talk? I feel like there’s a misunderstanding between us..."

He spun around under the streetlight, his face twisted in disgust.

"You think I don't see what you're doing?"

"Luna, the more you try to suck up to me, the more you make me sick."

He walked away.

I crouched down on the sidewalk, burying my face in my arms.

I couldn't help it. The tears came.

My parents divorced when I was tiny. Mom raised me on her own. She gave me everything she could, never missing a birthday no matter how many double shifts she worked.

Family meant everything to me.

I just wanted to make this work. I didn't want Mom to be caught in the middle of a war.

I didn't understand why he hated me so much.

After a good cry, I stood up and wiped my face.

Maybe Hayden just wasn't a family guy. Maybe he needed space.

I can't be so clingy, I told myself.

One last try. If this fails, I’m done.