Dim-sighted

  – Well, it makes me glad that Ariana wants to come because we haven’t seen her so much since Terrence came back and we do have to like, learn to coexist more if she wants to marry him – she shrugged –. She’ll see us a lot, you know? But on the other hand, I know my brother and he’ll get more overprotective and it won’t be fun

  – In the water or just sitting there reading and eating we’ll have a good time, you’ll see

  – I hope so

  – Don’t get me wrong, I know Terrence is a good guy he loves you and Briar and really cares about your wellness unlike many other guys with sisters I’ve met but you think that he loves Ariana and vice versa like enough to marry knowing that she won’t be the most important girl in his life?

  – We’re siblings and we’ll always be important for each other, my cataracts have made our bond grow stronger and I think that Terrence has realised that we need him through the years because Briar can’t do it all – pause –. He’s always been very direct and when they started dating he told her that she had to get used to us because yea we’ll have to share him and she didn’t seem to have a problem, she has seen that I need him and it didn’t change a thing, I mean, they’ve been talking about the wedding

  – Other girls would have left

  – Yea but that’s what love is about, I suppose, sacrifices – she sighed –. They do have time alone, don’t think that we hog all his schedule but he likes to be around anyways

  – That’s quite admirable

  – Yea, he’s a good brother but he’ll get married and we can’t be in the middle disturbing his love life all the time

  – It isn’t your fault

  – I know but it feels otherwise sometimes

  – Your sight problem doesn’t make you a burden, Aly

  Bastian couldn’t believe how insecure Aly could be, she thought she was keeping Briar and Terrence from having a life because they had to take care of her. He wanted to tell her that she should blame the genes that gave her the childhood cataracts, not herself, he wanted to help her to work on her self-love.

  He opened his mouth, about to say what occurred to him.

  – Hello, hello – Finn shouted addressed to them, Bastian sighed deeply

  – Too much caffeine, huh? – Bastian never saw him so cheerful when in school

  – Maybe a little

  – Yea, I knew it – he shook his head –. If I end up deaf you already know who to blame

  – Oh, hush it

  Even if Briar and Finn distracted him, Bastian needed to talk Aly out of it. She couldn’t keep thinking that way but as he had to speak to her in private, he probably had to wait until Saturday.

  * * *

  As if it was forbidden, Bastian waited to meet with Tobias until Terrence picked up the girls, Rae came for Finn and Jesse went to get ready for the practice. He couldn’t afford that Briar catches him with her best enemy.

  – I’ll go pick you up with your motorcycle – Tobias communicated finding Bastian in his locker after getting his bag

  – You’ll go to the session today?

  – I can’t skip it anymore, I have to fulfil all the credits until prom plus the community service

  – Sorry about that – Bastian scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably

  – It’s okay, you had to get rid of Anthony’s threats

  – I’ll see you after you finish then

  Bastian drove to his place and as he found it empty, he ordered Chinese food and then ran to the basement hoping to be able to find his gear easily since he didn’t know where his mom left it the last time.

  He couldn’t call her to ask since she was always busy and so his dad, he was grateful to them because they worked to give him a good lifestyle but he would have liked to have more attention from them sometimes.

  Now that he was changing he thought that the rise of his need to be respected that led him in some way to accept to use his strength in school could have been something like a way of defence, or a way to release his anger for having absent parents because casually, he only attacked fellas with dedicated parents, he didn’t realise until then that he had some kind of patron.

  He wished he could get home every day and see his parents waiting for him to have the second meal of the day together, he wished he could spend more time with them. But sadly, they were too busy making money.

  After a while, he managed to find a box that read “Bastian’s moto stuff”, he was about to open it when the doorbell rang.

  Again, he ran to the door and received the food, then went back downstairs because he needed to find his helmet and goggles and hoped to see all the other accessories there.

  Because his mom never really disappoints in that matter, he found all this gear and then walked to the kitchen watching his steps fully handed.

  He took a glass and soda, and then sat down but as he hated to eat alone, he decided to go to the living room. He was still alone, but at least he had the company of the telly.

  The last thing he wanted to have in that house was silence.

  His parents didn’t have time for him and honestly, he couldn’t wait for the day of the admission exams to college, he wanted to go; not exactly to another state or country because Aly wasn’t leaving Sydney but he wanted to move, leave his parents’ house soon. He couldn’t help but feel that his parents have been pushing him to make that decision his whole life.

  An hour later, he heard the sound of a claxon, he was about to see through the window if it was Tobias quite doubtfully since that noise was also made by people that went to pick up his neighbours but with the vibration in his pocket, he realised it was his friend and ran to the kitchen to get his stuff and then to the door so they could get the motorcycle in the pickup and drive to the dunes.

  – Hey – Bastian took a glimpse of his friend that was still in the car winking at his reflection in the rear mirror

  – Oi, let me help you

  – Please, dude. This is heavy

  Together, they lifted the motorcycle to put it on the pick up along with the other and Bastian took his gear with him to the seat.

  – Are you ready for this?

  – Yea, let’s go

  34

  Bastian and Finn weren't so excited about Terrence and his girlfriend going to the beach because they won't be able to hold their girl's hand or kiss them without a death glare.

  And what's worst; even if they didn't have so much time of knowing the girl's eldest brother they could already imagine he would say hell no if they tried to "go take a walk" in order to be alone with Aly and Briar.

  Even if Rae and Jesse were going too, Bastian and Finn couldn't help but think it was going to be a long long day.

  The first thing they decided to do was to get wet. Terrence took his shirt off and then took Aly in his arms.

  – Did you guys see that? – Bastian followed Briar and Rae with Finn and Jesse next to them

  – What?

  – This git's abs are more marked than mine! – He whined daftly

  – What's wrong with you today? – Finn shook his head

  – Nothing, but how can an optometrist have time to work out?

  – It's a mystery, why don't you ask him?

  – As I try to get him to let me carry Aly? No thanks – Bastian communicated –. He might get into fights just for fun

  – I don't think he'll let you carry Aly, mate – Jesse shook his head –. He's in charge

  – He should carry Ariana bridal style, not Aly!

  – What if she doesn't want him to do it before the wedding?

  – Swaying your girl in the water is not like passing a doorway after the wedding

  – Aren't those ways like equally romantic?

  – Well, probably, I don’t know

  – He won't let you touch her more than the necessary today, you better get over yourself already

  – Touching her isn't the plan

  – And what is it then?

  – I wan
ted to talk to her privately

  – Talk, and you can't talk to her in school?

  – I wanted to but when I had the occasion Finn interrupted me with his early coffee overdose

  – Coffee overdose? – Jesse repeated doubtfully –. What are you...?

  – But that was on Thursday – Finn interrupted him –. Why didn't you talk to her yesterday?

  – I forgot I had other things in mind

  – Like what

  "I'm keeping secrets to Aly and that's not good," he thought

  – College – he stated instead –. Your fears spread to me – he nodded at Jesse

  – Future is frightening – Jesse nodded

  – No shit – Finn agreed

  – But this is a bad thing mate! Now how am I supposed to impress her?

  – You do want to take her to bed then

  – On our honeymoon

  – You became very romantic! – Jesse mocked –. But didn't you just say that the future is frightening?

  – It is, but I find future less frightening if I picture Aly in it

  – Make some time after school if you want to conquer her with your abs

  – I'll have to, her brother is putting me on shame

  – Oi Turner – Terrence called half hour later

  – Yea

  – I'll go get something to eat with Ariana, can you...?

  – Of course – Bastian took Aly in his arms

  – Make sure she's safe – Terrence said to Briar nodding at Aly

  – You promised you'll behave! – Aly exclaimed

  – I didn't

  Whilst Ariana wanted to have quality time with her soon to be sisters in law, Terrence spent the expedition to the beach observing Bastian and Finn and he didn't exactly hate what he was seeing.

  By staring at his sister's smiling around them he could realise that those guys were good for them.

  He was aware of that Aly needed to work a little bit on her confidence because sometimes he could see that she thought she was a burden, and Briar needed to meet more people other than her siblings, she needed to connect with more people because she won't take care of Aly forever, he was thankful for how much she has helped Aly but it wasn't the only thing she was destined to do, it couldn't be.

  And even if he hated to admit it, he thought Bastian and Finn could help.

  – I want to talk to you two - Terrence pointed as soon as he turned the family's van off in front of his house

  – Terrence, what did we say? – Aly whined

  – I won't give a verbal death threat to them, relax – Terrence assured –. Go inside okay? – He looked at Briar

  – Yea. Let's go, Aly

  – But...

  – It's okay love, catch you on Monday – he kissed her cheek

  – Alright

  Finn, Rae, and Jesse said goodbye to the twins, also and then Briar guided Aly in their home.

  – I'll wait in the car – Rae whispered to her brother

  – Okay

  – Nice to see you Rae – he smiled and waved goodbye

  – Same, bye Ari good to see you

  – Bye – she waved

  – So what do you want to talk about?

  – I don't doubt that you two fancy or love my sisters, I don't know in what situation you are with them but since this has been going on for a while now I'll tell you in advance that if you hurt them... Well, I think you already know what will happen

  – Don't you think that if we planned to hurt them, we would have done it already? It's been a year since we met

  – Well, I don't know – Terrence shrugged –. You tell me

  – It won't happen, Terrence

  – My feelings for Aly are sincere and I don't plan to hurt her, not again – he remembered the time he made her cry

  – Very well – the eldest brother nodded and turned to Finn –. Something you would like to say?

  – I won't hurt her, I swear

  Terrence narrowed his eyes looking closely at the two guys trying to find a sign of nervousness that could tell him otherwise.

  He didn’t find any and so he understood that they were telling the truth, they came into the lives of Aly and Briar to stay.

  – Fine – he nodded –. Cheerio – then he hopped in the car to start driving to Ariana's home

  – Bloody hell, what just happened?

  – I don't know, I guess he just wanted to make sure

  – Yea – Finn uttered, distracted –. See you on Monday

  – Bye

  – What was all that about? – Ariana couldn’t help but be inquisitive as her boyfriend drove her home

  – I wanted them to understand that Aly and Briar have a caring brother and there will be consequences if they break up with them or make them cry – Terrence shrugged

  – But they seem to be good boys! – She protested recognising that she did like them

  – I know, but just in case

  Terrence could still remember clearly what happened to Briar; the fear, the injury, the tears, the restriction order, the transfer to a single-gender school and most importantly, the trust issues.

  His sister’s life had to change a lot and there was only one guy to blame, Terrence didn’t like Tobias back when they were “dating” and he felt so much anger when he hurt her, he was even thinking about killing Tobias and didn’t care if he had to spend the rest of his life in jail.

  “Nobody hurts my girls, emotionally or physically,” he thought of his single argument of back then.

  Briar confessed to him to feel frightened with the idea of going back to a mixed school, she didn’t want the same thing to happen to her again, and Terrence going to Scotland wasn’t helping.

  They spent hours and hours texting and Briar told him how she was feeling with seeing Tobias again every day, she even sent him an audio recording once, she was crying a river and he was so sensitive when it comes to his girls he cried too as he was only seconds away to pack his stuff and take a plane back to his sister but he pushed the two of them to be strong. He had to stay in Scotland and work hard in order to help Aly, it was his duty as the elder brother to make sure his baby sister is completely healthy and with her five senses.

  When he read that she met Finn and he was spending the lunch with her and Aly, he felt alarmed, to say the least, because Finn might be another Tobias and Briar was too naïve sometimes.

  When he met his sisters’ love interests, he thought they couldn’t be trusted but as he spent time with them, he could see right through their souls and realised that his sisters were in good hands and he didn’t have to be that worried.

  They didn’t seem to have such a bad taste after all.

  35

  Days passed and Bastian managed to live his life without telling to the twins who he spent his Fridays with.

  He still felt guilty because of his double life but liked to hang out with somebody other than Jesse, Finn, and Rae.

  The prom was two weeks away and Anthony was eager to get his revenge before he could lose track of Bastian.

  – Do it this Friday – sitting in the cafeteria, he ordered to Tobias, who blinked

  – Come again? – He wanted to make sure he heard well

  – Ambush on Friday

  – Tomorrow, are you mad?

  – Would you like to take his place, Cross? – Anthony's eyes narrowed

  – No thanks

  – Then do as I say – he stood up and all his bullies followed him out

  Tobias, alone in the table ran his trembling hands across his hair in a desperation habit.

  Bastian was his friend and he didn't want to do it but he was under a threat.

  Better Bastian than him. Even if it could haunt him for the rest of his days.

  According to Anthony, Bastian needed punishment to understand that he couldn't leave his place just like that, not even by talking to the principal. And he also needed to pay for the community service condemn.

  ***


  As scared as he was, Tobias parked in front of Bastian's home to go to the dunes.

  They liked to alternate between the bowling alley, the beach, and their homes since they also liked to play video games.

  All the memories since they met played like a video in front of Tobias; when they met when they made it into the lacrosse team together, their first time surfing... fighting against the tears, he felt the worst person alive and wanted to tell Anthony to go fuck himself, that he wasn't going to hurt his best friend.

  But there was no way back.

  36

  At seven in the morning on a Sunday, Terrence jumped out of his bed and knocked on Briar's door.

  Given the lack of response, he ran to his desk to get the spare keys and this time opened the door.

  – Briar – he shook her

  – What

  – Help me preparing a bag for Aly as I take her to the car

  – Why?

  – We have to go to the hospital, it's a surprise just get a move

  – Do I have another option?

  – No

  – Okay

  They walked straight to Aly's room, Briar to the closet and Terrence took his little sister in his arms bridal style and she made a noise.

  – Go back to sleep babe, everything is fine – he caressed her hair