Aly and Briar would kill him if he dared to push them away. Aly had more reasons.
– Good to see you again, Terrence – Bastian offered his hand for the girls’ eldest brother to shake
– Same – Terrence shook Bastian’s hand and then he walked with Aly to the door
– Can you help me take this to the kitchen?
– Sure – Terrence rolled his eyes and took the snack bags and the empty jug
– I hope you liked my idea, love – Bastian vocalised as they stood in front of the house
– I did, actually, I loved your idea – she smiled lightly –. Thanks
– All for you – he took her hands to put them in his shoulders, he missed having her this close
– How cute
“It’s now or never, come on,” Bastian thought, debating with himself on whether he should kiss her again or not, since they were not officially a couple yet he was doubtful all of a sudden.
– I love you, Aly – he blurted out
– I definitely feel something for you but…
– It’s okay – Bastian forced himself to cut her off as his heart skipped a beat, he didn’t expect that –. You don’t have to say anything to explain – he bit his bottom lip –. I’ll talk to you on Monday – he glanced at her amber eyes and took her hands in his
– Bastian
– Yes?
– Don’t give up on me because I didn’t…
– I wasn’t planning on it, I promise – he left a kiss in her forehead at last and guided her to the doorway with Briar – Bye
The twins stood in Aly’s bathroom as Briar took cotton and makeup remover to clean her sister’s face
– So, Bastian finally confessed he loves you
– Yea but I couldn’t tell him the same, I do fancy him but I think it’s too soon to talk about love
– You know you can’t say something that you don’t feel, there’s no rush
– I know
– If he keeps on being well mannered and flirty like he’s been I think you’ll be able to answer him real soon
– Do you really think that?
– I know, it surprises me too – Briar finished removing the eyeliner –. I hate to say this, trust me but I must be sincere and Bastian has demonstrated me that what he said he felt for you since the beginning was honest all along, now I see it because he didn’t seem bothered or afraid by my tests or the double dates – she sighed –. I hate to say this, I really do because I was so sure but I believe he’s worthy and I promise I won’t push him away if that’s not what you want
– Okay – Aly nodded –. Give me a hug, sister! – Briar did what she was told and pulled her beloved twin sister into a tight embrace –. Thank you so much
– You know that I love you
– I love you too – Aly smiled lightly caressing her twin’s back
– See how it isn’t hard? That’s enough practice so you can say that to Bastian – the girl of the blue eyes stated, trying to be witty
– No pressure – Aly laughed as they pulled away –. You trashed the sister's love moment!
Once Aly had her pyjamas on, Briar walked her out of the bathroom with a brush in her free hand aimed to comb Aly’s hair.
– What the bloody hell is all this? – Terrence stormed in with seven storage jars referring to what was inside of them
– Something called slime and some clay childish shapes we made with moulds, we agreed to paint them next Saturday
– How recreational – he snorted at his sister’s activities since they lacked excitement
– What did I say about criticizing Bastian’s ideas?
– Stop it – Briar scowled and shook her head at their brother –. Aly had a good time and that’s what matters!
– I guess you’re right – he sighed
– Can one of you give me the slime? – Aly asked stretching her hand
– Of course, give me a second – Briar took the containers that Terrence placed in Aly’s desk and opened them to see their content –. Here it is – she took the ball of glue, glitter, and beads
– Let me see it – Terrence took it before Briar could hand it to Aly
– Hand it over! – Aly stretched her hand again
– Wait – he examined it and closed his eyes trying to feel it from Aly’s perspective. This slime thing wasn’t sticky, the glitter gave it texture along with the beads that made it crunchy, like that he realised that it was good for her –. Here – he placed it on Aly’s hand
– It’s good, isn’t it?
– Bastian’s ideas aren’t so bad after all
– Told you
– I’ll go change my clothes, I’ll be right back
– Okay – Aly nodded
Briar took the containers with the clay shapes to her room and after taking her pyjamas out of the drawer, she sat down in her bed and opened all the containers once again.
She loved seeing Aly laughing whilst she was making the slime and playing with the sand with Bastian.
Even if Aly’s sight was damaged, Briar hoped her sister could remember moments like this.
“It was a great day,” she thought with a smile and closed the containers again.
28
– Hey, mate – Bastian heard next to him
– Hey, what’s up? – he forced himself to say cheerfully even if having Tobias in front of him and the fact he was talking to him surprised him beyond words
– Not much – Tobias shrugged –. How’s everything with Aly?
– I’m allowed to talk to her now if that’s what you’re asking – Bastian narrowed his eyes
– Nice, I’m glad – Tobias articulated –. We should do something at the weekend
– Sure – Bastian’s Saturdays were reserved for Aly but he didn’t want to be mean with his friend –. On Friday, can it be?
– Yea, I’ll see you around – Tobias patted his shoulder and walked to his locker
“How awkward was that?” Bastian thought.
It was strange for him to have put a distance with Tobias because they were friends since year 9 but he chose to be on Anthony’s side and that’s what ended up moving them away from each other.
Tobias could have left the team with him and be free of community service but he preferred the power you begin to feel when somebody fears you or when half school fears you, in his particular case.
He couldn’t do anything to help Tobias except of course keep him company not expecting him to change.
Bastian sighed and decided to make his way to the classroom.
He couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Aly sitting there.
– Hey Aly, hey Briar – he greeted as he sat down next to the first girl he mentioned
– Hey – the twins replied at the unison
– How was your Sunday?
– We ate all the snacks in the couch reading and listening to music all-day
– That was so blissful! – Briar added in a dreamy tone
– That’s our type of bliss
– Sounds epic! – Finn exclaimed and Bastian nodded –. Let’s be lazy together sometime
– Totally
– Let’s do it after the exams to celebrate we made it out alive
– Do what? – Jesse inquired taking his seat
– A lazy day together
– I’m in, it’s my specialty!
– Let’s study together too, it helps me a lot – Briar voiced –. You know, comparing notes and talking about it
– We’ll do it – Finn nodded
– It would be great, worked out well for me the last time – Aly added
– Then it’s already decided
The class began and the two couples made a team in order to write a questionnaire that involved all the content they’ve seen so the teacher could take the best-formulated questions and put them in the upcoming test.
Lily, Jesse, Blaine, and Norbert (the two latter also known as the non-bully gu
ys) looked at the quartet working.
– Do you think that he’s honest? – The female nodded at Bastian
– Well, I don’t know – Blaine shrugged –. But he did go to accuse Anthony with the principal that must mean something
– People don’t change that fast, not even because of a girl
– He may be in love
– Players like Bastian Turner can’t feel love
– Just because he did it to you doesn’t mean he’ll do it to every girl he meets – Norbert exploded, speaking with venom in his voice willing to hurt –. You tried to make him date you and you couldn’t so you can’t bear to see him with somebody else – he stood up –. Just stop it
Then, as the work was finished, Norbert took the sheet of paper and stood up to give it to the teacher who was sitting on the desk. Jesse and Blaine walked back to their former seats to get their backpacks and then stormed out behind their classmate.
Lily blinked a tear and stood up walking out of the classroom looking down.
Norbert was right, it wasn’t a secret; she was one of the unfortunate souls that fell in the claws of Anthony’s player and bully apprentices and the worst thing was that like many girls she was in love with him, with the idea of a handsome and loving boyfriend being nice.
She didn’t know back then, how it was going to be afterwards. The time after that was a nightmare. All the class knowing Bastian’s ways and that he didn’t have trouble with taking her to his bed after only two dates. She wasn’t proud of it obviously but seeing him with other girls boiled her blood so much she tried to expose him with elder girls so they know the type of filthy guy he was.
And she hated to see him with Aly; the innocent looking and pretty nearly visionless girl with the incredible coloured eyes and what she hated the most was that he really changed for her.
Bastian bothered to get a replacement for the coach to recruit in his place, he left the bullies and went by himself to the principal’s office and told him about all that he did with Anthony’s gang, risking his place in the school and his free time. For Aly, so she could finally accept him.
But after all, it wasn’t her fault because sometimes we don’t really choose who we fall madly in love with, and Lily hated to admit it but Aly seemed to be good for him.
* * *
It was lunchtime and Tobias walked to the table reserved for the bullies.
– Did you do what I said? – Anthony asked as Tobias took a seat
– I did – he sighed feeling guilty in advance since he was basically backstabbing his best friend
– Very well – Anthony smirked –. We must get our revenge – Tobias nodded and frowned –. Come on, you’re doing the right thing so relax
Tobias was marginally frightened because of his twisted definition of the right thing. He sometimes thought that Anthony was a serial killer in his past life, he really had the mind of a criminal.
“Should I go to the principal too?” he thought since he didn’t want to be involved in Anthony’s evil plan and do community service for the rest of his life.
29
Bastian arrived at the Brighton home finding Finn and Rae on the way to the door.
Rae wanted to see the twins again and Jesse was also invited to keep her company since it could be just a little awkward, being around two couples.
The plan was putting some colour to the clay with acrylic paint and read-aloud taking turns.
Initially, they planned it to be a book that Aly had so she could aloud too or just follow it with her fingers.
Then, another idea was all of them take a book and Aly decides which one she would like to listen to.
Finally, thanks to Terrence’s advice they agreed it had to be a book that Aly has too so she can feel part of it and follow the reading and even participate.
Since make her feel bad for having a blurry vision wasn’t the plan, they chose Alice in Wonderland since Finn gave it to Aly as a birthday present. Briar and Rae had a copy also, Jesse downloaded it in his e-reader and Bastian ended up buying it and Finn had to borrow it from either his girlfriend or his sister.
Finn and Rae stared in awe at Bastian taking Aly’s hands so she could touch the previously made shapes of clay.
Then, he described every single colour of the bunch of acrylic paint he brought asking her which colour she wanted to use then, he guided her hand.
The tenderness he spoke to her with amazed them. Bastian was not that cold-blooded player anymore, it was crystal clear.
When they finished painting, he asked her to show him the palms of her hands and he gently began to cleanse the stains with a wet washcloth.
Bastian loved to see Aly running her fingers across the white pages of dotted paper.
Her amber eyes like glowing never looking down, that small smile in her pink lips.
She seemed to enjoy uniting every letter in her mind to form the words.
And after his turn passed, Bastian didn’t care if his parents taught him that it was rude to stare.
He didn’t want to miss a chance of watching her doing something she loved.
When it was Aly’s turn to read, he found difficult to focus on her voice or her fingers only.
Everything about her was just something you must stop to admire.
Her voice so sweet and full of diction, pausing properly for a second when there was a comma or a period.
Briar gazed at her twin sister proudly since she’s been coping so well to her condition she doesn’t seem sad anymore.
When Aly was 13, she got in the phase when sightless people decide that because they’ll be sightless forever they have to wear dark sunglasses and get a guide dog or a white cane, Briar and Terrence helped to make her confidence grow bigger because since they didn’t know if she was really going to end up blind they didn’t want her to cover her eyes, they are so rare and so beautiful they weren’t aimed to let her hide them behind a black glass.
Briar and Terrence trained their patience and expanded their descriptive vocabulary. Along with mom and dad, they never failed to give Aly love, and she stopped looking down and accepted their helping hands for every little thing she couldn’t do alone.
She liked to see that Bastian wanted to be with Aly and knew what it meant to put somebody’s necessities before yours but what she liked the most and was grateful for was the fact he didn’t bother to hide that he was perfectly fine with it.
“Welcome to the family, Turner,” she thought looking at them saying their goodbyes.
And if they weren’t officially a couple she knew it was just about time.
30
– Hey – Bastian took Aly’s hand and pecked her lips
– Hey – she smiled widely
– Ready to study on Thursday?
– Yea, I can’t wait to get done with it, we all need that lazy day
Luckily for the two couples and Jesse, they had only two exams to study for, the other teachers asked for projects that were honestly a piece of cake.
Obviously, because of Aly’s condition, the twins had to work together to deliver those projects.
Briar could do the research and Aly could write it down in her laptop to then print it normally.
– Just three months and we’ll be out, can you believe it? – Briar uttered as they sat down in their bench
– Yea, time seems to fly when you have fun – Aly communicated
– The idea of uni scares the hell out of me – Jesse shivered
– When the time to make that decision comes you’ll know, you don’t have to worry
– I hope so – Jesse replied still insecure
Aly silently agreed with Jesse, finding herself pretty lost because she still didn’t know if she wanted to go to college.
Sometimes a little voice in her head said that she was stupid if she thought that given her condition she was worth it to occupy a place in a tertiary school.
Other people would kill for education and she didn’t feel worthy eno
ugh so she thought that other people could get the best out of that opportunity.
She can’t even answer the exams of admission to college without help, so why should she bother?
Besides she didn’t know how to focus on one thing.
She loves to read and music, and growing up, before having the laptop she also would have liked to write poetry but she had to force herself to go back to earth because; how was she supposed to do something she couldn’t see? Then with time, even having the laptop she didn’t want to try.
She’s been thinking about launching a literary agency or a publisher for books in braille but it was just a dream.
Being dim sighted, what assured her that she could have a future?
– Aly? – Bastian took her hand to snap her out of her thoughts
– Yes?
– Are you okay? You’re kind of quiet today
– I’m just nervous because of the exams – she managed to lie almost smoothly and stretched her hand to the other side waiting for Briar to give her the bottle of water, he shook his head
– Let’s have a private chat, shall we? – Unluckily for Aly, Bastian could detect her lie, he stood up and took her hand
– Okay – she replied doubtfully
– We’ll be right back – he put her hand in his shoulder and guided her away from her sister, Finn, and Jesse
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