There was a boy, who used to live next door. He was 3 years younger than I was and believe it or not, we weren’t exactly on friendly terms. I don’t know if it’s because we’re of the opposite gender or because our interests were not really aligned. But he always ignores me whenever he sees me and becomes irritably angry, especially when his mother forced him to come over because of my dad’s friendly invitation, Erik Von.
He was always quiet and lonely. He never says a word, any more than he has to. He always keeps to himself and whenever I did see him, be it at school, or at his front porch, he was always holding this book he treasured. To be honest, I really hated him. I tried getting along with him just as my dad requested, but it’s to no avail. He’s just incapable of getting along and it only made things worse five years later. I turned 18 years old at that time and he was 15. My dad came in after having dinner with Ida Madison, his mother, as if they had a big announcement. And they did! “We’re getting married!”
I was shocked and I already expected as much, considering how close they've gotten lately. I turned around and went to see his reactions, but he only looked as though the world should end. He hated me so much and he hated my dad. So this announcement only made him much more unbearable than usual, but it’s not like I was feeling particularly happy about the news either. Yet, with how happy they were, it got even harder to say how unpleasant this will become, so we both ended up saying nothing. I mean, I haven’t seen Dad this happy since mom left. I could never get in between that and I know it’s the same for him.
“Josh.” That was his name and he would always look displeased whenever I called him, like how he is right now. “Are you okay?”
He was hiding away after the big reveal in his secret place that I found by accident. I knew he was upset and his indifferent expression and him saying nothing only made our relationship more strained when I kept pestering him. We don’t get along and he wasn’t much of a talker either. I guess that’s why I just couldn’t leave him alone and with his complacent attitude, I became an expert of sorts at figuring out his feelings through his expressions and actions from observing him over the past five years.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
A few days later, I found him sitting alone in the library, reading a book, as per usual. I was concerned about with what happened to our parents, considering we are going to be family soon. So I approached him first again with that intention in mind, since I figured I have to make more of an effort.“I see you’re reading a book again.”
He sighed. I sat next to him because I thought he could use some company, but after staying with him for a couple of hours, he started getting annoyed with me. I can tell because his eyebrows were beginning to twitch. “Diane. Leave me alone.”
I shook my head. “No can do. I mean, I’m graduating soon, Josh. Can’t you be a little nicer to me? And besides, we are going to be brother and sister soon.”
“YOU ARE NOT MY SISTER!” He slammed his book shut, but then he looked at me like I’m a speck of dust that shouldn’t even be here. He was prepared to leave and the angrier he looked, it became even clearer how much despised he has for me and my father since we couldn't even tell how he felt at the beginning. I have never seen him get this mad before. I don’t know if this means we’re getting closer or even further apart. “It has always been me and my mom. It will always be me and my mom. So why should I bother to be nice to people that mean nothing to me? You and your dad might’ve crawled your way into MY FAMILY, but that does not mean you are actually my family. So do me a favor and just disappear, I do not need a wannabe sister that does not know her place. So don’t be nice to me. Because I will never be NICE to you. You don’t owe me anything and I don’t owe you because WE DO NOT EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER. We are not family, Diane. So let’s keep it that way and stop pretending that we are.”
I guess it’s the latter.