Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Angel's POV)

I found Hendrix in the gym, his back turned to the door as he punched the heavy bag with relentless force. Each thud echoed in the empty space, matching the pounding in my chest. For weeks, I had tried to reach him, to understand him, but every attempt had been met with silence, cold shoulders, and now with this anger he wore like armor.

"Hendrix," I called. My voice was firm but shaking slightly.

He didn't respond. His fists continued to connect with the bag, and the chain rattled with each hit.

I stepped closer and clenched my fists at my sides. "I'm tired of this. Of you. Acting like a child, ignoring me, ignoring everyone! What are you even trying to prove?"

Still, nothing. He didn't even glance back.

"Hendrix!" I shouted. "You're being selfish and inconsiderate! I've been breaking my back trying to take care of you-do you realize that? Every second, I've been thinking about you, worrying about you, and this is how you repay me? By shutting me out?"

His fists stopped mid-swing. His shoulders stiffened, but he still didn't turn.

"Do you have any idea how much you've hurt me these past few weeks?" My voice wavered, but I pushed through. "Instead of being happy, I'm drowning in guilt because all I can think about is how I've failed you. But no, you'd rather sulk and act like a child than talk to me or Thomas-or anyone! What is wrong with you?"

I was panting now as I let my words sink into that thick skull of his. He turned slowly until we were face to face with each other. His face was blank, and his eyes unreadable. The silence between us stretched unbearably. "Hendrix, please," I said, my tone softer now. I reached out to touch his arm, but he jerked away.

"Don't," he said coldly. "Don't pretend you care."

His words sliced through me like a blade. "I don't care?" My voice rose again. "Are you serious? Everything I've done has been for you!"

"Everything you've done?" he sneered. "You mean abandoning me for Thomas? Or maybe parading your new relationship around like it's some great victory?"

"That's not fair-"

"Fair?" He laughed bitterly. "Nothing about this has ever been fair. You seduced me, Angel. You made me fall for you, and now you've thrown me away like trash."

I froze as his words hit me like a slap. "That's not true," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.

"Oh, isn't it?" He stepped closer. His voice was rising with every word. "You got what you wanted, didn't you? You played the perfect little sister until it wasn't enough. And now, you've got Thomas, and you're so happy, right? So tell me, Angel, how does he compare?"

The disgust in his tone made my stomach turn. "Stop it," I said, shaking my head.

"No, you stop it," he snapped. "Stop pretending you're the victim here. You're the one who ruined everything."

The tears spilled over as I stared at him, shaking with anger and hurt. "Shut up, Hendrix. Just shut up!" I screamed. Before I realized what I was doing, my hand lashed out to strike him across the face.

We both froze. His cheek reddened instantly, and I saw a thin line of blood where my nail had caught him. My stomach dropped.

"Hendrix, I" I reached for him, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer.

For a moment, we just stood there, inches apart, breathing heavily. His eyes bored into mine, and they were raw and filled with something I couldn't name. And then, before I could react, his lips crashed against mine.noveldrama

It was desperate and rough, and for a split second, I couldn't move. When I finally tried to pull away, his grip tightened, and he kissed me harder with his hands gripping my waist.

"Hendrix, stop," I murmured against his lips, but he didn't listen. His hands framed my face and his thumbs brushed against my skin as his mouth moved against mine. It was overwhelming, suffocating, and yet... familiar. When he finally pulled back, we were both gasping for air. His forehead rested against mine as tears slid down his cheeks.

"Tell me that didn't feel right," his voice cracked as he whispered. "Tell me you don't feel it too."

I couldn't speak. My throat felt like it was closing, and my heart was pounding so loudly I thought it might burst.

"Why are you doing this, Angel?" he asked in a gut wrenching cadence. "We were good together. We loved each other. We still do I know you feel it. So why?"

Tears streamed down my face as I shook my head. "Hendrix, it's wrong. Everything about us is wrong."

"When did it start?" he demanded and tightened his grip. "When did you start falling for him? Why him? Why Thomas?"

"I don't know!" I cried. "I don't know, Hendrix. I just " I choked on a sob. "What we have... it's wrong. On every level, it's wrong."

His expression darkened, and he smiled bitterly. "So it's not that you love him," he said mockingly. "It's just that you think what we have is wrong. Is that it?"

"I didn't mean "

"Save it," he snapped, cutting me off. His face twisted with pain and anger, and he laughed bitterly. "You know what? It doesn't matter. You're mine, Angel. You'll always be mine. And I'll wait-no matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you to come to your senses."

"Hendrix, please "

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my trembling hand. "You're mine," he whispered again before turning and walking away.

As the door closed behind him, my knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. The sobs tore through me, and I couldn't stop them. My chest felt like it was caving in, and my heart felt like it had shattered into a million pieces. What had I done?

•

(Thomas's POV)

When I found Angel curled up on the bathroom floor, her eyes swollen and red from crying, my heart broke. I knelt beside her and reached out gently, but she flinched away. "Angel," I said softly. "What happened?"

She shook her head, her lips trembling. "Just go, Thomas. Please."

"I'm not leaving," I said firmly. "Not like this."

Her hands covered her face as fresh tears spilled over. "I'm a mess," she whispered. "A rotten, selfish mess."

"That's not true," I said and reached out again. This time I cupped her face gently. "You're not any of those things, Angel. You're human."

She finally looked at me, and my chest ached for how much pain her eyes were filled with. "You don't understand," she said. "You don't know what I've done."

"Then tell me," I said, stroking her cheek with my thumb. "Let me in."

For a long moment, she just stared at me; her breath was cutting with every sob. Then, slowly, she leaned forward and rested

her forehead against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her protectively and held her tightly.

As she cried against me, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened between her and Hendrix. Whatever it was, it had left a scar deeper than anything I could imagine. And for the second time, I felt a flicker of doubt. Would I ever truly have her heart? Or would it always belong to someone else? To him?