10 Things I Hate About You
I hate the way you talk to me: Part 1
So there is this guy; he has my heart but he is like a forbidden fruit to me. There is this other guy; he is my older brother and one of the best friends of the boy who has my heart. My brother is also one of the least supportive, most stubborn people I have ever had to come into contact with. That means that I now sit here alone because my brother would rather me sit here like a hermit than see his best friend at any point. By the way my name is Bryce Barakat and I am 21 years old. If you saw me you probably wouldn’t think that I am Jack Barakat from All Time Low’s little sister. My brother and I are what you could say complete opposites. He is loud, I am quiet. He is funny, I am serious. He is tall, I am petite. He is in a band, I am in nursing school. He has brown eyes, my eyes are blue. I guess you can say that because we have nothing in common we don’t really get along. We kind of just avoid each other until we have to fake it for our family. This was not always the case for Jack and I. When I was about 15 something clicked in Jack’s mind. He no longer looked at me like I was just his little sister. He started to treat me like a child. It all boiled over one night when I admitted to having sex with one of his buddies at a party I attended after they graduated high school. We haven’t really spoken since. That is all about to change. Jack will be home at the same time as me for a whole month. This means we can both no longer avoid the awkwardness and hurt we feel against one another. Jack comes home today, which we can now officially call dooms day.
“Honey, I’m home!” I hear his voice yell as he opens our parents front door. Fuck I was hoping to have a little more time to get ready for what may be the worst month of my life.
“Oh hello baby!” I hear my mother say back to him. Gross, how can you love that guy? “Bryce get your butt down here your brother is home!”
Here goes nothing. “Hi big brother!” I say with a fake smile while coming down the stairs. “How was tour?”
“It was good.”
Really Jack? That is all you are going to say? It takes two to have a civil conversation you know!
“Good, I am glad. You ready for a fun filled month?”
“Yeah. So mom I am going to go up to my room now and get unpack and nap, okay?”
“Okay sweetheart! Don’t forget to put your dirty clothes out by the door for me.” I officially know who her favorite child is. I will give you a hint, it’s not me.
“He can do his own laundry you know.”
“But I like to take care of him when he is home Bryce.”
“Oh my god, it’s official, that statement just made me gag a little bit!”
“Really Bryce? Why can’t you two just get along?”
“Because he is mean and refuses to try mother!”
Every time he is home my mom and I get into some type of argument. It’s like he does this on purpose. But whatever I will be the bigger person and be nice to him even if he refuses to do the same. Until he is done “napping” I might as well go see people who care.
To: Arielle Gaskarth
Hey, please tell me you are home! I need to get out of this house!
Ya, come on over! Bring Jack!I will ask if he wants to join; don’t hold your breath tho
I go up to Jack’s room and knock on the door. “What?” I hear him say through the door.
“Arielle invited us over to her place for a small get together. You want to join?” I ask almost not even caring what the answer will be.
“Yes, I’m driving!”
“Why?”
“Because you suck at driving.”
“I have never had anyone complain about my driving now give me the keys,” I huff as I jump to get the keys out of his hand.
“Well I am you big brother and my word trumps everyone elses word,” he replies as we walk out the door.
“Well I’m not 15 anymore so you can’t boss me around,” I snarl back as I get into the passenger seat.
“Yeah I couldn’t back then either apparently since you slept with my friend,” he retorts as he pulls out of the driveway.
“Really Jack? We’re going to go there? You’ve slept with loads of my friends and you don’t see me flipping out! At least I was fucking honest with you. At least I had the decency to tell you before he told you. At least I care about my fucking family,” this is when I realize we are at Arielle’s place, “and at least I don’t bring up your mistakes from your teenage years!” I shut the passenger door and walk towards the door.
knock, knock, knock
“Hey Bryce, how are-” Alex begins to say.
“Arielle I need a drink!”
“I guess that means you’re not doing good,” he finishes.
“You know you shouldn’t chug that stuff little Barakat,” Alex says as he watches me chug straight from a vodka bottle.
8/19/13