Page 32 of The Perfect Spiral
“No, Kyle! I’m not taking it down. You liked Andy’s profile picture! So what’s the difference? We’re wearing practically the same thing!”
“Alex! I’m not asking again! Take it down now! The difference? I liked her pic because Andy is hot! I don’t want guys liking your picture for the same reasons I liked Andy’s. That’s the fucking difference! Is Wes with you?”
“Thanks, Kyle! You’re pretty hot too!” Andy chimed in, her voice teasing. “Dammit, Alex! I’m on speaker?” Kyle growled.
“Kyle, I’m not taking it down! Leave me alone!”
“Alex! I will pay someone to hack into your account and delete it if you don’t! I will pay good money too! Or I will cause you so much bodily harm you won’t remember your name!”
“Kyle! Don’t fuck with me! You’re talking to a person with two degrees under her belt, one of them being a MASTERS in software engineering and coding.
Think before you threaten me next time because I can do way more damage to you with a computer right now. I’m smarterthan you! Not to mention I can destroy the hacker you hire along with ruining you!”
“Damn baby doll, feisty today aren’t we?” Knox added, his voice a low rumble.
“Alex! Take it fucking down! Is Wes there?”
“Of course he is!” Knox grumbled through the phone.
“Shut the fuck up Knox! Nobody asked you for your opinion,” Wes roared back, causing Andy to look on in shock at their behavior towards each other. Knox had clearly hit the nerve he wanted.
“Saint Wes to the fucking rescue! What’s new?!” Knox retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Will both of you cut it out! Jesus, you two need to stop! You’re fighting too much these days! Fuck! Wes, talk to her and get her to take it down.”
“Kyle, I’m not taking the fucking picture down,” I roared at my brother, glaring at the phone as if it were his face.
“WES, talk to the demon occupying my sister’s body! While you’re at it, call a priest, in case her head starts to spin around or some shit.”
“Sorry, bro! She’s like the antichrist right now. I’m waaaay more scared of her than I am of you right now!”
“Fucking pussy,” Knox muttered, clearly trying to rile Wes up. It was working because Wes grabbed my phone and held it up to his mouth, ready to unleash his wrath on Knox.
“Knox, you fucking asshole! You have a bigger pussy than Alex, you prick.” “Next time I see you, Avery, I will literally beat the shit out of you! Mark my fucking words! You’re the only pussy here, scared of a little girl.”
“KNOCK IT OFF!” Kyle roared down the line, causing them both to snap their mouths shut. Nothing was scarier than Kyle when he was pissed, well, except maybe me when I was pissed.
“You’re both acting like two teenage girls who are fighting over the same guy! Fucking hell! Don’t talk about my sister like that! Either of you or so help me god!” he defended me.
“Alex, just take the goddamn picture down and upload a different one!” He wasn’t giving up, and neither was I.
“Kyle, I’m not taking the picture down.” I sighed out loud, contemplating my next words. “I’m happy with it, it’s the first time I’ve felt comfortable about myself in years.
I don’t want to go back to square one. To mentally go back years ago, Kyle. You of all people should understand. Please, I don’t want to go back to that. I can’t.”
I started to tear up and choked out the last part. Placing my two elbows on the counter and my face resting on my open palms. Well, that escalated quickly!
I heard a long sigh from my phone, “Sis, please don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart right now, I can’t even comfort you,” he said, his voice filled with concern. I felt two sets of arms around me, offering comfort.
“You know we’re only looking out for you, sis. I love you no matter what.”
“Please don’t cry, baby doll, we didn’t mean to upset you,” they both cooed.
“It’s just my friends are blowing up my phone with calls and texts asking if you’re single and for your number. I can’t handle them looking at you like you’re a piece of meat,” he assured me.
“Like the way you look at girls?” I sassed back.
“Touche, sis! Look, I’m sorry for screaming at you. You can... keep it up if it means that much to you, but... I can assure you that no way in hell am I handing out your number to anyone!” he hesitated to say those words.
