Page 111 of Prove You Wrong

Chunk’s so excited about this he’s already drawn up a job description and contract. Now I’m concerned it’s just another thing I can screw up.

‘About fucking time.’ He dips a bottle at me like he’s raising a toast before returning it to the shelf.

‘You’re not mad?’ My eyes widen. ‘I’m not letting you down?’

‘Absolutely not.’ Scott dusts off his hands and then pauses to study me. ‘I’m so bloody proud.’ He shakes his head again. ‘Kind of envious, actually.’ He pulls my head under his arm and scrubs his knuckles to my scalp. Luckily my hair has grown in a bit for some meagre protection from his noogie. ‘You’ve come such a long way, baby brother.’

‘Fuck off.’ I smile at his unexpected compliment as I duck out of his hold, ‘What are you envious of anyway?’

‘I wish I had the balls you do,’ he exclaims. ‘Coming back from a set-back, seizing what you want.’

About to argue, I realise Scott’s right. Since Marcus’s accident, he’s held himself back, he doesn’t take risks or rock the boat. He’s safe, he’s pedestrian, and I have always hated it. I want more for him. I want more for me, too.

Chapter 34

Ella

Chloe was sick of wearing the hospital gown, so we brought her favourite pyjamas. Except, it’s only when we get to the hospital entrance, I realise I’ve left them in the boot of Mum’s car.

‘I’ll go back and get them,’ I say to Mum. ‘You go and see Chloe. She’ll be wondering where we are.’

‘Thanks, love.’ Mum gives me a little wave and disappears through the automatic doors.

Trudging back to the car, I think back over the last two days. It’s been interminably miserable but it’s all I deserve.

I had to make him believe me.

Accept that I’m serious.

I needed him to hate me, so he wouldn’t try to change my mind.

I had to lie.

It was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Other than witnessing my little sister’s tiny form swamped in tubes and bandages.

I’m disgusted I used his words, his brave confession, against him. He’d opened up to me, telling me about his ex. How she’d turned a low point of failing at universityinto his darkest hour. And I came along and turned it into a fucking black hole.

I messed up.

It backfired.

His eyes, usually so full of warmth and desire, turned dark, and that vision keeps flashing into my mind. But they didn’t fill with hatred as I’d hoped. If he hated me, then he would leave. Instead, they looked …sad. There’s no better way of describing it.

And that is so much worse than him hating me.

An invisible wound in my chest burns. I rub at my ribs and try to dismiss it; it’s probably indigestion, or a stitch from racing up the stairs. Except it’s constant. I try to tell myself it’s a reminder I almost lost my sister, but deep down I know the truth. The selfish part of me knows my heart is hurting for someone else.

Pyjamas in hand, I get back to Chloe’s ward. I swipe under each eye and take a deep breath. I should be happy. My ultimate goal was achieved. He won’t be trying to change my mind. I’ve got what I wanted.

Haven’t I?

Fixing a smile on my face, I go into Chloe’s room. The space is white. White walls, white bedding, with grey equipment and my ashen-coloured little sis in the middle of it all.

‘You look awful,’ Chloe remarks when she sees me.

Mum’s voice trickles around the corner from the nurse’s station. She must be getting an update.

‘You hardly look your best,’ I retort.

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