Knew him like the back of her hand

Kareena had no clue how she got home with her very distracted self. She had parked her car in the garage, unable to get out, her head resting against the wheel with a million questions racing through her mind. 

Arrested? Drugs? Asher? Those three could not go in the same sentence! There had to be some sort of misunderstanding! The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced it did not sound like her brother at all. She knew him like the back of her hand. Or did she? 

Panic started to take over. When did this happen? How did this happen? Could she.... Could she be wrong about him? Then where did she go wrong with him? Had she not done enough? Of course, she could not be capable in all matters but with him... 

She shook her head, "I need to at least hear him out." She did cut the call and proceeded to rush home after those five dreadful words.

And, how is he home already if he was arrested for such a serious case? And shouldn't she have been notified in any way about this? So many questions.... But she could not get the answers if she continued to stay in the car.

"Yeah...", She agreed with her thoughts. She took a deep breath before unhooking her seatbelt, getting her things, and out of the car. 

"Arf!" 

A black eyed doberman run to her as soon as she opened the kitchen door. She caressed it's head and let it lead her to the living room. There he was, sprawled out on the couch dunked wings and beer accompanying him to the action movie he was watching. 

"What happened to your forehead?" He frowned, eyes fixed on the said spot.

Kareena touched it to feel a small bump and winced at the now discovered pain. She must have slammed her head when Christopher suddenly blocked her. She deeply exhaled in attempt to cool her rising emotions. 

Her eyes fell to his wrists, there were faint red marks around them, probably cuffs. Her heart felt constricted, the marks reminded her of why he was home. But taking a good look at him..... 

"Drugs?" She started, taking a seat on a sofa and placing her bag beside her. The dog took a guarding position right by her feet. 

Her serious demeanor made him sit right up and he quickly explained. "I had nothing to do with it, they took us by accident."

"What?"

"We had a frat party today and someone snuck in drugs. The police came, everyone panicked and tried to run away, so they took whoever they caught. I took a test to show I was clean. I have the lab results", he explained, starting to get up to give her the paper.

She waved a hand in dismissal causing him to sit back down. She could tell he was innocent from one look. She was not wrong to believe in him.

Her brows still furrowed with worry and confusion, there were more questions to be answered, "Did they catch the culprit? How were you released so quickly? How did you get home?"

"Yes, he happened to be among the guys who were caught. And uh....", He shifted in his seat uncomfortably, clenching and unclenching his fists. He was nervous. He looked down at his feet as he responded, "I, uh, I called Aunt Ria. She- She had me brought home."

Silence. 

He stole a glance at her. All the worry she had on her face and the curiousity were quickly replaced by a cold expression. He mentally scolded himself, this reaction of hers was worse than spending a few nights in jail.

"Kareena-"

"Why are you here then and not at her place?" She cut in coldly. 

"She told me to come here. I-"

"You were going to hide this from me?" Her eyes scrutinized his face and the look in his eyes were like a slap to her face. She deflated against the seat, "Wow."

"It's not like that. Look, I just started school, barely three months later and I'm arrested for a drug case. I was just afraid you would be disappointed in me. You're too important to me, I want to do things that make you proud but tonight I...." The boy hang his head and run his hand over his face. 

His heart was as broken as Kareena's, maybe even more. This was why he wanted to hide this from her but his Aunt said otherwise, saying Kareena would be more disappointed if she learned of it later on. But the fact didn't change, he had disappointed his older sister.

He felt the seat beside him dip. He hadn't even heard her footsteps approaching. A fair hand reached into his bowl and forked a wing. 

"Mm... This is good", Kareena hummed as she devoured the chicken earning his attention.

"You're not mad at me?" He asked.

"No, but I am disappointed", she admitted and his head dropped. He knew it, he was a disappointment. "In the fact that you actually tried hiding this from me. Asher, I'm your sister, not a god. I don't expect you to be perfect but something as serious as this, you shouldn't hide it from me. What, if not for that... woman, how would you have resolved this? What if something happened to you? What then?"

"I'm sorry", he whispered with all the remorse.

"And look, I'm not telling you to restrict yourself from having fun, you're entitled to, this is the time. But you have to be smart about things, smart about what you choose, who to associate with, and if you think there's something off about a situation and the consequences would be something you can't handle, walk away. It's not being a loser, it's protecting yourself. At the end of the day, this is your future you're making. Incidents like tonight could easily go on your record and people won't want to be around someone with such a record. All I want is what's best for you and I trust you'll be smart in your choices."

He really should have left when he saw those two boys with the bag. But he chose to ignore and stayed, and look where that landed him, cuffs, taking drug tests, and being bailed out by his Aunt. And just because the woman is capable, it didn't mean he had rely on her or Kareena to make things go away. His sister was right, only he was responsible for his life and it was time he lived like so.

He sighed, "I understand."