Chapter Two
Later on in the evening I decide to do some revision for my upcoming exams. Mum and Dad planned to go shopping for the day and afterwards, go see Aunt Quarel. Long story...my aunt has a weird surname because she has a French background. She is my Mother's older sister, and they were both born in France.
I gathered my revision books and started my revision. We were focusing on wavelengths and the solar system. Oh, the joy of Physics. Never was one of my strengths. I was better with Biology, because it is all about the body and how drugs slow down your brain.
Mason was out with mates for the day. Every Sunday he'd go out with his mates o and then. Sometimes I didn't see him Gan until nine or ten o'clock at night. There had been other nights where he stayed out for so long, I heard him creep into my bedroom in the middle of the night and fall asleep next to me.
I remember how his arm wrapped protectively around my waist. Sometimes our relationship was a little too close for comfort but neither of us minded. We just always wanted to be close to one another and be in each others company.
The clock got to 7:36pm and still Mum and Dad weren't home. They had been gone since one o'clock this evening. Last time they stayed out as late as this is when my Dad had been drinking and my Mum had to drive him home. It was never a pretty sight.
I stood up from the dinner table where my revision books were sprawled out, and walked into the kitchen to grab a drink.
I opened the fridge and grabbed a carton of strawberry milkshake. Grabbing a glass from the sank draining board, I poured half the carton in and placed it back in the fridge. When I turned and closed the fridge door I jumped in fright.
Mason. Shit...it's only Mason.
He stood there with dripping wet hair, grinning down at me with humorous eyes. "Hey." He greets me in a soft voice.
I smile and walk around him with my glass of strawberry milkshake in my hand. "You're home early."
"I didn't see much point in staying out in the cold and wet rain all night." He says from behind me, following me back into the dining room.
I sit back down at the dinner table where my school work is. Mason takes a seat next to me and I notice how he looks around at my revision guide books. He spots my black journal and is eyes skim through my horrendous hand writing.
"Your revising again?"
I shrug, "Well, someone's gotta pass their exams."
He shoots me a offended look, "Hey! I did pass...I just...I just failed in Biology and Art. That's all."
"Because you didn't revise." I finish for him.
He groans and begins to shrug his grey hoodie off, hanging it on the back of the chair. "For once, let's not talk eduction?"
"Whatever." I say, glancing back to my revision notes. I need to remember all of this for my exams. I was about to jot down some more notes in my journal but Mason suddenly closed my revision book.
"Oi! What are yo-" I pause.
He snatches my journal from the table and hides it behind his back. I glare at him with pure anger. Why did he think he could just go and do that?
"Mason! Give it back!" I exclaim, reaching out for him but he only leans further away from my reach
"Give back what?" He plays, grinning like a complete idiot. A part of me likes this playful side of my brother. It's fun. Wait, no. No, it's not! I didn't mean that...
"Stop playing around, Mason!"
He chuckles and stands up from the table, my revision journal held in his right hand. I glance down at it, thinking I could quickly leap and grab it. However, I was wrong. Mason shook his head, holding it high up in the air above his head. I sigh and rub my head in tiredness. "I'm not in the mood."
"Oh come on, Alana! You're always up for a bit of fun and games." He winks down at me, his devious smile nearly taking over his entire face. He's so ridiculously annoying! But I love it...
"No." I say firmly, turning back towards the table and opening up my revision guide. I try to pretend that I'm reading, but really I am not. I can't. Not when he's in presence, I can never concentrate when he is about.
As my eyes skim through each piece of text in the book, I begin to slowly forget what I'm even reading. I feel Mason's breath on my forehead. I purse my lips, trying to contain myself. I'm so tempted to just lunge myself at him and punch him playfully, telling him what a annoying idiot he is. His breath slowly moves down and I feel him pull back my hair. I feel my ends slowly graze off my shoulder and down my back. His breath is now at my ear. "I know you're not really reading any of that shit, Alana."
My insides twist but I try my best to ignore. Don't think he can get me that easily.
"Alana?" He pushes, and I feels his fingers at my sides. Oh god! No!
"Tickle!" He chuckles, and his fingers begin to dance around my waist and touring my hips and ribs. I begin to wriggle endlessly in my seat, screaming and crying for laughter. I turn slightly towards him and push at his hands, trying to pry his touch off me. "S-stop!" I gasp with laughter.
"What if I don't want to?" He asks in a husky voice, his breath hitting my ear.
"P-p-lease!" I giggle hysterically. "Please, stop!" I say clearly this time, grabbing his wrists and holding them still. His fingers suddenly stop tickling my sides. I breathe heavily from heavy laughter. I look up and his eyes are on me, they're filled with a emotion I have never seen before. I can't tell what it is but I wish he'd stop looking at me like it. Our faces are only inches apart and I can feel his warm breath against my lips. His lips are slightly parted and his eyes seem dazed, as if he is gazing at something beautiful. I swallow and push his hands away softly. He retreats a little away from me and frowns. Wow, what a way to make a situation awkward.
He rubs the back of his neck and peers at me like a ashamed puppy. "Sorry." He mumbles softly.
"Don't worry about." I flush, running my fingers through my hair. He smiles sheepishly at me and holds my journal back out to me. "What are you revising, exactly?"
"Solar System and wavelengths." I smirk and take it, opening it up to the fifth page where I've only wrote about seven bullet points. I barely got anything done with Mason around.
Mason nods understandingly and huffs. "I'm gonna nip upstairs and run a shower."
"Ok." I say and turned back towards my revision. He leaves the room and I hear his footsteps descend up the stairs.
Later on I finish off my revision for the day and begin to pack away my stuff. I head upstairs and stuff all my books and pens back into my back-pack. When I turn back towards my bedroom door, a half naked Mason stands there. Oh my...
A white towel hangs loosely around his waist. His broad chest is completely exposed as droplets of water slowly drip down his defined abs. I feel my cheeks redden and I quickly turn away, walking towards my dresser and trying to occupy myself by clearing up my make up.
I feel so stupid and pathetic. I mean, he's my older brother, of course I'm seen his chest before but...I've never felt so...embarrassed and flushed by it. Why?
"Alana?" I hear his soft voice.
I swallow, "Yes?"
"Here's your iPod." I hear his voice much closer, his breath at my ear now. I flinch and turn around. He steps right up to me and my back presses against my dressing table. "T-thank you. Just err...just leave it there." I point at the top of my drawers where my perfumes are on show. He smiles and turns, setting it on the top of my drawers. He turns back to face me. I suck in a sharp breath and try to back away, but I can't escape.
He steps closer and traps me back against my dressing table. His hands cage me against it as they rest on the edge of the table on each side of my body. I totally trapped!
I look down at the ground, trying my best not to make eye contact. Why does my stomach do summer salts when he's so close like this?
"Look at me." He whispers.
When I look, I instantly regret it.