Chapter 4
George didn't walk next to me. He just said he'd walk me home, then took his sweet time, stepping on my shadow as he followed behind.
George and Benjamin didn't get along. Benjamin had leukemia, and Sara, their mother, only had George so she could use his umbilical cord blood to save Benjamin. He was originally named Noel Robertson, not George.
George had always lived in Benjamin's shadow.
He used to be a good kid, always at the top of his class. But with Benjamin around, George's achievements just faded into the background, no matter how many awards he won, how many first places he took, or how many scholarships he earned.
Sara never cared to notice any of it, but the moment George messed up, she wouldn't hesitate to tear him down.
"If I'd known you'd turn out to be such a hopeless case, why did I even bother having you?" she'd snap.
"Noel, if your brother hadn't gotten sick, do you really think I would've had you, just so you could shame me?" she said.
At that age, a teenager's pride was fragile and fierce, especially for George.
But Sara would punish him by making him kneel in the yard, forcing him to reflect on his mistakes while everyone watched, turning it into a public humiliation.
The endless taunts and sneers rang in his ears. George went from desperately wanting to be his parents' pride to watching the spark in his eyes slowly fade away.
When George was a senior in high school, he was officially diagnosed with depression.
But Sara just scoffed, "Who hasn't had to deal with the SATs? Benjamin got through it without a hitch. Why can't you? Seriously, don't turn yourself into some weak, whiny child."
George drifted further and further to the edges, growing quieter and more withdrawn with each passing day.
That was how things stayed, until three days before the SATs.
If I hadn't snuck up to the rooftop that day to eat some cake in secret and accidentally found George there, he might have actually jumped from the eighth floor.
No one else knew about that day. It was something only George and I shared.
After that day, he changed his name, and it was like he became a completely different person.
When George walked me to the gate, Benjamin was already there. His brows knitted together, and he yanked me behind him in one swift motion.
He eyed George up and down, wary and on guard.
"Did you get into another fight?" Benjamin asked.
By then, George had already slipped back into his usual lazy demeanor, but he didn't bother answering Benjamin.
Benjamin didn't bother with him either. He just turned to me, his voice tight with frustration. "Don't you know what kind of shape you're in?
"What if you get hurt, or scared, and your heart just gives out?
"Aubrey, I can handle you fighting with me, even breaking up with me. But you can't fucking play around with your life like this."
George snorted, his tone icy. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to her."
"If something does, it'll be too damn late!" Benjamin fired back.
George clenched his fists, and for a split second, I saw a look in his eyes that could kill. It was pure hate aimed right at Benjamin. Benjamin didn't notice, but I did.
For a moment, I could feel that dangerous energy rolling off George, like he honestly wanted Benjamin dead.
'Holy crap, he really wants to kill him,' I realized, my heart thudding in my chest.
I knew George resented Benjamin, but their relationship had always just been distant and lukewarm, not like this.
It never went this far before.
But in the end, George didn't say a word. He shut down the storm in his eyes, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and headed into the yard next door.
Now, it was just me and Benjamin left outside the gate.
Benjamin handed me the bag he was holding. "You left your meds in the private room."
"Oh." I took it and turned to leave.
Benjamin let out a helpless sigh and reached out to grab my wrist. "Aubrey, our engagement party is just ten days away.
"I know I screwed up today, but you slapped me, so we're even now.
"Come on, don't be mad at me anymore. It really gets to me."
His voice was gentle, with a coaxing, almost desperate edge.
If this were back in my previous life, just having Benjamin come after me like this would've made me so happy that I wouldn't even think about leaving him.
I wouldn't have dared say a single harsh word, let alone keep making a fuss.
He always said I did whatever I wanted just because he loved me, but the truth is, the one who kept messing things up between us wasn't me. It was him.
"Benjamin, I'm not giving you a hard time," I said.
"Alright, alright, you're not the one making trouble. It's me, okay?" Benjamin replied, sounding resigned.
I just stayed quiet.
'Whatever, let Benjamin think whatever he wants,' I thought.
Besides, in ten days, he would be getting engaged to someone else, not me.
The next day, photos of Martha and Benjamin kissing at the bar last night started circulating everywhere. Nobody knew how they got out, but they were all over social media in no time.
By now, the post on the school forum was blowing up, with over ten thousand comments and counting.
Martha never had a good rep as the Hunt family's illegitimate daughter, and now everyone online was dragging her through the mud.
[Isn't Benjamin supposed to be Aubrey's fiancé? What a joke. Her mom was a side chick, and now Martha's one too.]
[People who mess with other people's relationships should just disappear. How does Martha even dare?]
[I used to think Benjamin was a decent guy, but now he's just gross. Is he seriously two-timing? Can someone explain?]