Playing With Fire

My mind swam with a thousand thoughts as I walked into the family room. There he was, sitting on my couch. I haven't seen him in twenty years. I set Kyler's carrier down on the floor and took a seat myself. Brian immediately grabbed Kyler from her carrier and sat down next to me.

"Hi Everleigh," my brother greeted me and I just stared at him. I could see a little bit of gray coming in on his head and that made me chuckle internally.

"Hi Chris," I said and he smiled.

"I know this is kinda of unexpected but-"

"Unexpected? This is completely mad. Why are you here?" I asked.

"Ever, I. Shannon told me you were getting married and I wanted to come down and be there for you," he said as he shifted in his seat.

"So just because I am getting married, you decide to come down to be there for me? What about when dad died?" I asked. He stared at me and swallowed.

"Ever,you have to understand, me and dad didn't have the best relationship," he started but I interrupted.

"Well you have to understand that I left college and stopped my life to help dad when he got sick. You have to understand that I was fucking alone when dad died. You have to understand that I am pissed off at you for leaving me because I wanted to be a journalist instead of a damn surgeon like you!" I yelled and from beside me I heard Kyler fuss and half begin to cry. Brian stood and left the room to calm her down.

"Ever, I didn't leave you because of that! I don't give a damn what you want to be. Brian told me you are the mastermind behind the House of Syn clothing line. My daughter wears clothing from that. I think it's awesome. I left because I couldn't stand being around dad,"

"I don't care that you didn't like being around dad. Why did you leave me? Me, your little sister who was left to take care of our sick father and watch him die in my arms! I took him to every doctors appointment. I took time out of my life to make sure dad got everything he needed. I lived in his house and I was up most nights because dad would cough up blood. You and Shannon didn't even respond to my hundreds of phone calls. You blatantly ignored me. Do you know how that made me feel?" I asked.

"Ever, I am sorry I ignored the calls, but I have a life in Washington. I am the head of a medical practice. I have a wife and three children. The oldest being 18. I tried balancing my life there with here but it got hard," he tried to defend himself.

"Don't even try to say that you had this super stressful, super difficult, super obnoxious life that kept you from talking to me. I took care of our dying father for two years of my life. That is all I did. I woke up, went to work, came home and made sure our father didn't disconnect his breathing machine, or didn't die while I was trying to make a living for myself at a fucking bar!" I yelled and felt the tears fall.

"Ok, fine, I don't have a valid explanation for not helping. I was selfish and let my stupid feelings against dad get the best of me. But I want to be there for you now. Because dad isn't here. Please Ever, don't push me out," he pleaded with me. I just stared at him and felt the tears fall and then felt my chest heave as I started to sob.

"Ever, where are- oh," I heard Eric say from behind me and then he stopped.

"Eric, hello," Chris said to Eric.

"Don't talk to him. We are not done!" I yelled and Chris looked back at me.

"I'm not pushing you out. I am extremely mad at you. I felt abandoned by you, by mom, by Shannon, and when dad died, I felt abandoned by him. Every single person I ever loved was gone. I was alone. I drank my problems away. I was 23 years old and I was basically an alcoholic. I didn't care what people thought of me. I lost my fucking job and I was homeless for year of my life because I felt abandoned by every single person. I pushed all of my friends, even Eric, out of my life because I thought they were going to abandon me the way my entire family did. But Eric stayed. He took me into his house and let me live there while I tried to get over the fact that not only my father died, but I was alone," I paused as I let out a sob that was building up, "Eric sat up with me night after night as I told him how I felt, exactly how I felt about you. So no, I am not pushing you out. You fucking abandoned me and I haven't gotten over it."

"Please Ever, I am sorry. I know what I did was horrible and I want to take it back. You let Shannon back in, why are you having such a hard time letting me back in?" He was beginning to raise his voice.

"I am having such a hard time letting you back in because you were the only father figure I had in my life! You were the one I looked up to and wanted to be like. Our parents were alcoholics and didn't give a damn about any of us. That's why mom beat the shit out of you and Shannon! That is why dad would smack us around. That is why I always hid in my bedroom when mom and dad were home. I hid because I knew they were too drunk to remember their five year old was in the house. You protected me from dad and kept me safe. I came into your room at night when mom and dad were fighting and you helped me sleep. I was close to you and you just fucking left me!" I cried and pushed him back. We had stood and were in front of each other. I pushed him and he stumbled backwards.

"I'm sorry Ever," he muttered and kept staring at me. I saw the tears form in his eyes and then I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I just completely broke down and cried. I soon felt arms wrap around my shoulders and I shoved my head into his chest.

"Please forgive me Ever. I'm sorry for what I did. It was stupid of me to run away from my problems instead of face them. I love you with all my heart Ever, please, please, forgive me," he rubbed my back and I cried into his chest. We stood there for a long time while I cried into his chest. It seemed like hours. When I finally stopped crying I looked up at Chris and he was staring at me.

"It's going to be hard for me to forgive you all the way. But, but I can try," I said and he smiled.

"Good, I want my little sister back," he hugged me and I wrapped my arms around him and I hugged him back.

"Hey Ever, I think Kyler should meet her uncle," I heard Brian say from behind me. I let go of Chris and looked at Brian. A huge smile grew on my face and I walked over to him and grabbed Kyler from his arms.

"Chris, meet Kyler, your neice," I walked back over to Chris and showed him my daughter. He got a smile on his face and he ran his hand over her head. She squirmed and stared at him.

"Hi Kyler, I'm your uncle," he said quietly to her and I smiled.

"How old is she?" Chris asked.

"She's a little over two months," I said and he nodded. I walked back over by Brian and handed Kyler back.

"Can you go put her in her room, she needs a nap," I told him and he kissed me quickly before walking away. I went back over to Chris and he stared at me.

"I would love it if you met my family," he said.

"Are they in California?" I asked.

"Yeah, they are at the hotel right now," he said.

"Go get them and bring them here," I said.

"Really?" He asked. I nodded and hugged him.

"Ok, I'll be right back," he smiled big and left. I sat down on the couch and sighed. I never thought in my life I would see Chris again. He left me so long ago and never talked to me again.

"Wow," I heard and then saw Eric sit next to me.

"I know," I said.

"Did Brian ever know about what actually happened with you parents?" He asked and I looked at him.

"No," I said.

"I figured that," Eric lounged back into the couch and I stared at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"As you were yelling he was looked at me surprised and asked if what you were saying was true," he answered and I rolled my eyes and laid my head on his shoulder.

"I remember the day that Chris left, you were so confused," Eric said.

"Well yeah, he just left, without saying goodbye," I said.

"I know. But you were a wreck for weeks. You almost failed the eighth grade," Eric chuckled and I smacked his chest.

"My past sucks, alright, no need to bring it up," I laughed and sat up. Brian came into the room and came over and sat next to me.

"So, that was your brother," Brian said.

"That was my brother. He's getting his wife and kids and bringing them here, by the way," I smiled and Brian rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, how come you never told me about what happened with your parents?" He asked.

"It was something I kept suppressed for a long time. I didn't want to relive it, but apparently I had to, to get over it," I said and Brian smiled.

"We all have our skeletons in the closet, sometimes they come out to play," he chuckled and I smacked his arm.

"My skeletons should just stay in their closet and not come out," I said and stood.

"Where're you going?" Brian asked.

"I am hungry, for your information," I said and walked into the kitchen to grab something to eat. As I was pouring my bowl of chex mix, the door bell rang.

"Who's gonna get it?" I heard Brian call.

"I can," I called back and set the bag down. I hurried to the door and opened it. Chris was standing there with whom I assumed was his wife and three kids. It was one girl and two boys.

"Come on in," I said and they all came in.

"Excuse the baby stuff," I said and the woman chuckled.

"Once a child comes in the home, they take over," she laughed and I smiled. We all walked into the family room and took our seats.

"Ok, Ever, this is my wife Chelsea," Chris introduced.

"Hi," I shook her hand and she smiled. She had long blonde hair that was pulled up into a pony tail. She was tall and slender and seemed really put together.

"And these are my children, Jacob is 18, Claudia is 12 and Shawn is 7," Chris introduced and I smiled at them.

"Hello," I said.

"Hi," Jacob said and I smiled more.

"Do you guys want to meet Kyler?" I asked.

"Who's Kyler?" Claudia asked.

"Kyler, is your cousin," I said and got up from my spot and left the room to grab Kyler. She was sound asleep in her crib and I felt bad picking her up. But I did anyways, which made her wake up.

"Hi," I smiled big at her and she smiled back. I walked down the stairs and appeared back in the family room. The my niece and nephew watched me closely as I sat down and shifted Kyler sot hey could see her.

"This is Kyler," I said.

"She's so small," Claudia said and I smiled.

"She's two months old," I said and Claudia came over by me and knelt in front of me and began playing with Kyler's hand.

"Who's this?" Jacob pointed to Brian.

"This is Brian, my fiance and Kyler's dad," I answered and Jacob nodded.

"You're the guitarist for Avenged Sevenfold, right?" He asked.

"I am, do you listen to us?" Brian asked.

"Sometimes, I only recently started listening to you," he smiled.

"Maybe, if you're in town for long enough, I can take you into the studio with me and you can watch us record some new material," Brian looked at Chris and Chris nodded.

"We plan to be here until after the wedding, which is December 19, right?" Chris asked.

"It is," I said.

"Well, then, we are here for a month and a half," Chris smiled.

"Then it's settled. How about you come with me tomorrow into the studio?" Brian looked at Jacob and Jacob got this glimmer in his eye as he smiled.

"That sounds great, what time?"

"Ten in the morning," Brian answered.

"It's a plan," Jacob smiled bigger and I looked at Chris and we shared a smile. I can't believe that my brother is here.

Notes

Wow, that is a long one! I got excited and wanted you guys to meet Ever's niece and nephews, and I wanted you guys to learn more about Ever's past and the reason her brother left. I am getting to why Shannon left, but it's not as dramatic as why Chris left. And by the way, Chris is right around 40 years old, so he left when Ever was 7. He left when she was 7, they stopped talking when she was 12, that's why she almost failed the eighth grade.

So only seven more! The next one is the bridesmaids dress fitting and a lunch with Michelle and Val and Ever. Then it'll be Brian and Ever going out on a cute date, and then Eric might move in with Brian and Ever. Then, it's the wedding! So, stay tuned!

www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Organza-and-Tulle-High-Low-Gown-with-Beaded-Flower-SPK470_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Designer-Galina-Signature < Ever's dress

~Dallas