Chapter 16

"Bash! Hurry up. I need a shower."

"Gimme five more minutes."

"That's what you said ten minutes ago."

The door bursts open to reveal my brother with only a towel around his waist and one of my towels around his hair. It's like he never left.

"Oh come on sis. Lighten up. I'd hate for you to have an angry face when you see that boy today." He grins and walks toward his room.

"Talk to me when you have clothes on." I go into the bathroom that feels more like a sauna. If he used all of the hot water I might have to kill him. I take off my clothes and step into the shower and turn it on. I scream as the cold water hits me and back away from it. I try to adjust to the temperature and get out as fast as possible.

When I get dressed and head down to eat breakfast, they are all waiting for me. "We would've eaten sooner but we were waiting on someone." Dad says nonchalantly.

"Blame Bash. He was in there for almost an hour and used all of the hot water." I give him a pointed glare. He just grins back.

"Well, no matter that. You look like you slept last night. I'm assuming you didn't have a night mare last night?" Mom asks. I look at her strange because she never openly talks about it. "In fact I haven't heard you screaming in a few nights."

"What is she talking about?" Sebastian is staring me down with concern and hints of something else I can't place.

"She hasn't told you?" Dad asks, looking between the two of us. He doesn't elaborate, leaving it to me.

"I've had a slight problem lately with nightmares and waking up screaming from time to time." I pick at my nails while looking down at the table.

"Slight problem? The other day your nose was bleeding and you were clawing at your eyeballs!" Mom just has to add to the conversation.

"You were what?" Bash looks over at me with his mouth hanging slightly ajar. He looks like he wants to fight off whatever is causing the problems.

"For the record I don't remember that one in particular." Bash puts his head in his hands and sighs. "See this is why I didn't tell you. I knew you'd try to dissect it and I don't need that right now. Yes, I have problems when it comes to handing my dreams and yes they are highly disturbing. But do I need any of you trying to pry your way in? No."

I head upstairs and grab my backpack. I put on my shoes and head back downstairs to find them all standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting on me. I roll my eyes and push through them. I pick up my phone and go to my contacts.

"Hello?"

"Hey can you give me a ride?"

"Yeah sure. I'll be there in 5."

"Thanks Sam."

I hang up the phone and sit on the steps. I scroll through my Instagram until I hear the door behind me open. Sebastian sits beside me.

"I know you don't want to talk to me about it but I just want to know if you're ok. I haven't seen you in a year and I come home to find you like this. I'm not going to force you to tell me but if you want to, I'm hear. I know how hard it is to talk to Mom and Dad." He nudges my shoulder to try and get me to respond.

"I just don't think you'll understand." I say as Sam pulls in the driveway. I stand up to leave but then turn around, "but thank you for caring. And thank you for not blaming it all on me."

I get in Sam's truck and he already looks like he's going to ask me a question.

"Say one word and I will jump out of this moving vehicle." He shakes his head and drives off.