Chapter 10

When he finally turned around and notices our presence the first thing he does is stand and gushes over how beautiful and sexy Sav looks in her shortened Cinderella dress with a pale blue Converse wedged shoe, black neck choker, with her hair up in a messy bun look with a black headband nested inside the bun, and her makeup is a gentle coating of blended blue and silver eyeshadow, a coat of mascara with a thin brush of eyeliner, a beautiful shade of pink blusher called Passion of the Rose, and a similar matching colored lip in a shade darker than the blusher. She is a smoking-hot modern version of the Disney Princess.

But when he finally looks at me different story. I’m wearing the jersey of Garrett’s sponsor provided us with his name and the number 114 printed on the back, a pair of black, four-inch, knee-high boots, a pair of goggles I am using as a necklace instead of eyewear, my hair is tied back in a fancy Dutch braid, with very basic makeup on. I done a skin-tone nude eyeshadow, mascara, my daily shade of blush, and a raspberry shade of lip gloss.

“What the fuck are you wearing Jen? Are you seriously considering wearing something like that to a Halloween costume party with a guy you hardly know? And don’t get me started with what it is you’re wearing. Does Garrett know about Greg and motocross riding?” Okay, what is with the third degree from him? I never gave him this much shit when he started dating Candace so why is he giving it to me now?

“First of all, chill the fuck out, will you? Yes, I am fully aware of what I am wearing. We couldn’t find anything in the store that we liked or didn’t clash with you two,” I say waving my hand in their direction to what they are wearing. “Garrett arranged all of this very short notice, so the least I can do is make an effort for a guy who is trying to impress me is wear what he suggested. No, he doesn’t know about my history with Greg, all he knows and needs to know is an old friend of mine rides. I never told him who and it’s gonna stay that way. Do you hear me?” Pointing at Chase so he knows not to say anything and if he does, I will hurt him. I may be a minute and a half younger than him, but I can scare the living shit out of my brother if needed.

“I hear ya Jen, you won’t hear me say anything to anyone as that is your story to tell not mine.” He looks down and spots my overnight bag on the floor by Sav’s feet, then looks back at me pointing at my bag, “Jen? What’s with the overnight bag? Where are you going tonight?”

“Geez who the fuck do you think you are Chase? My father?” I shout at him. This is the last thing I need right now is an argument with my twin brother. I start to head towards my bathroom to give us some space from each other as I walk past him, I deliberately bump into his side letting him know how pissed off I am with him, and he has no right to treat me like a child with all these questions.

Walking down my tiny hallway to get to the bathroom I hear Chase shout down behind me saying “I’m your twin brother Jen I may not be Dad but right now I’m the closest thing to him.” He is right as always. Yes, he is not my dad but right now he is the closest thing to him I have with our dad being back home in California.

I slam the bathroom door behind me and lean over the sink, looking at my reflection, and taking some calming, deep breaths before I go back out there. When I felt calm enough to go back out and face my brother, I hear a knock on the door.

“Jen it’s me,” Sav says from the other side of the door. “Listen you have every right to be pissed with Chase it was wrong of him to act out the way he did, but he was coming from a good place though girl, just look how Greg broke things off with you two years ago, Chase just doesn’t want history to repeat itself.” I guess she’s right there. “Take your time calming down and when you’re ready to come out we will still be here, and we will support you in every way you want us to. Because that’s what family does for each other.”

It goes quiet signaling that Sav has walked back to be with my brother. I think about everything that happened between me and Chase and what Sav just said, and I know deep down Sav spoke the truth. Chase was wrong to act out the way he did. But my breakup with Greg was two years ago. So why is he still acting overprotective about it now? I’m not the same girl back then as to how I am now. I am a lot stronger and more determined not to be treated like that again and Chase needs to have faith in me that I may still and always will be his little sister, but I am now my own woman and can and will make my own decisions.