Chapter 34 - The Obsession Continues (Javier Junior POV) Pt.3

Chapter 34 – The Obsession Continues (Javier Junior POV) Pt.3

"I'm surprised your parents haven't considered moving just yet," I tell Talia as we sit in the upstairs lounge area. Only molding herself to me, she grunts, "Yeah I think they were waiting for us to graduate and then see where we all wanted to go so that they could move operations."

I knew her parents didn't plan on living in Bend for the rest of their lives. For sometime, like their parents before they'd go into a remote area where they stayed out of the public eye.

Not that Bend, Oregon was overly popular.

"Are they still planning on moving out East with you guys? For the time being? Even with everything else going on?" I ask curiously. Also making sure that for the most part, despite the debacle with Taylor, Devin, Samson and Brennan that Talia and I were on track.

She knows me well though. "Are you asking if we're still going to Boston?"

I chuckle nervously, in that way that she knows she's guessed right. "I wouldn't just change the plan on you Javi," her words holding a seal of promise that I could take to the bank. Sighing in relief, I settle against the foam, body-fitting sofa. Head back, the television playing down low, I'm at ease again.

I was no idiot. I knew what I wanted. Talia.

I also knew that things were going to change, no doubt. But that didn't mean that I had to rush into anything or make stupid moves.

I was in school.

I had Talia and good grades. High school would be over with in just seven short months. The only thing that I was looking into was getting a part time job. It would take away time I spent with Talia, but on the other hand, when I had free time I wouldn't be broke and unable to even purchase a candy bar.

But then again, maybe Talia and I should just hang out at the house to begin with. So far in a short time, someone had set the dorm rooms on fire and now, they blew up a bridge?

Whoever this was, well they were sending a clear message. Especially with the bridge disaster - "They said he's mine I just had to wait. Others may be willing to hold on, but Samson is mine Faith. Mine-" is hissed, but the softness doesn't last.

Just a floor above the lounge area, I heard Taylor shouting, and stiffen, as does Talia. "I know she's your sister... but really? After everything that's happened this weekend?" I shake my head for a whole other reason.

I had specifically told Devin our parents couldn't afford for us to stay at our current school if we were boarding there. Surely she'd pass that information onto Taylor. Yet Taylor was acting this way? Upstairs where I'm sure she knew better that it was off limits?

Faith wasn't one that liked to be around many people according to what Talia said. Which again, being in a full house as an only child I bet was difficult for Faith.

"No – no. This is Devin and Brennan's fault," I say offhandedly. "No one but those two encourage Taylor at this point."

Between my sisters, girlfriend and her family, it was a horrible place to be.

Yet, I wouldn't get involved like Brennan.

Tuning them out as much as possible, we both wince and chuckle, "...trying to show up to a party naked - I just want you to leave me alone Taylor!" My eyes widen and nose scrunches.

Show up naked to a party?

Was Taylor serious?

Talia giggles against my chest, hiding her face, cheeks red when she pulls away humor despite the shouting a floor above us. "Showing up naked for S-Samson..." she laughs again. "He can take off his glasses and – and see for himself. B-But showing – showing up n-naked would probably only make him run away," Talia took jabs at Samson, falling to pieces.

Biting my lip I tried to hold the peels of laughter inside.

"Samson is so old fashioned," Talia says shaking her head.

Where it was funny thinking of this from Samson's perspective, it was embarrassing from Taylors. With the argument growing, by the time Samson gets through speaking, neither Talia nor I are indulgently laughing.

Somberly we sit.

Down the hall, my father lays into Taylor, until a new comer comes into the conversation. My mother and Kalenah spewing back and forth – they did not fight this way. Eyes wide, I'm facing and watching the television but not actually seeing anything.

In this moment I'm afraid of my next breathe.

Restraining order? I think over the word and air comes whooshing out from inside of me. Could I blame Kalenah for the promised threat against Taylor?

Again... I decided to look at it from Samson's point of view alone to be fair. I was – I am – with Talia.

How would I act or feel if someone was coming at me the way Taylor was going at Samson? It's one thing if maybe she was just flirting... but with what Samson spewed and the way I witnessed Taylor acting at school? I couldn't fault him for wanting an adult to keep her away from him.

Then, I analyze this from Taylor's side and it's just heartbreaking. All the things that she read into that didn't mean the same thing to Samson. The gestures that she played up in her head, hoping that eventually would lead to more.

Talia clears her throat, "To be fair, I think if she would have told Samson before Faith was here, Samson-"

"We all told her to tell him so she would know either way," I disagree, "But Taylor wanted to have Samson fall in love with her and make the first move."

Why am I not defending Taylor? I ask myself frustrated. I roll my neck, as the answer comes to me. Because on top of telling her that Samson returned her feelings, I've always just brushed off all her Samson worship with telling her to tell him how she felt.

Why be miserable? Play games? Dance around the words and actions? Why not just say how you feel and see if Samson truly felt the same way? For the last four years I've listened to Taylor analyze Samson's every word and action. Yet, not once has he asked or looked at her in a romantic-interest type way.

As though that was not enough, when Taylor dated others, Samson was genuinely happy for her. There was never one iota of jealously or eye-opening moments where he realized his true feelings.

"I know she's hurting but I just... it's about timing," I whisper to Talia. "If for some reason we were in their position, I wouldn't badger you babe, I'd let you be happy with that other person. I'd be furious with myself that I didn't act when I had the chance but I also wouldn't try to ruin your happiness because I wanted you..."

"Too little, too late," Talia whispers back after sometime, once again understanding me, "Exactly."

It would kill me that someone else was making her happy like I wanted too, but I would have no one to blame but myself.

So even as Taylor's brother, all I could think was all the times over four years when we all at one time or another told her to tell Samson how she felt.

"Javier!" my father calls me. Looking over my shoulder I see Taylor and mom behind him. "We need to talk," I frown, looking at Taylor then back to dad.

"Right now?"

"Yes." Dad says seriously, leaving no room for deviation. Nodding I slowly maneuver Talia so she doesn't feel the pain of my departure. Once she's settled, I kiss her forehead, before following my father, mother and Taylor.

The minute we're alone in the room Kalenah and Ansel let our family use, my mother turns to me, "You're supposed to be looking out for your sisters-" my jaw drops and for a minute I'm stunned.

That doesn't last long, "Seriously? What do you want me to do mom? Put her on a leash and tug every time she even so much as looks at Samson?" I jerk my chin at Taylor who's weeping on the sofa.

"They think they're better than us," Mom says shaking her head, "A restraining order-"

"Yeah because Samson isn't lying. Taylor has been plotting to get him but he's not interested in her that way, he has made it clear," I say to my parents.

"I mean really do you think I would advise her to go to Samson naked?" I follow up with my face scrunched up in disgust. What brother gives that type of advice?

If you cannot get him by being kind and yourself, go to him naked?

Really?

Dad nods slowly, looking at Taylor, running one hand through his hair roughly, "You will stay away from him Taylor. And what is this about Faith's room?"

Looking at dad as though he's grown another head Taylor frowns, "I was just turning in her assignment, but because she's saved Talia, Kalenah treats Devin and I like complete d-dirt," Taylor cries. I mean truly weeping. Tears and everything while I stand there in disbelief.

Faith needing Taylor to hand in an assignment? Talia told me that Faith completes her work almost in a rush, without help from anyone. Taylor's lying... I think and look down at my feet.

"Taylor Rosario! Right now, you tell us what you were doing in that girls room?" My mom asks surprisingly. Maybe she isn't just going to help Taylor play the martyr.

Hiccuping between cries, Taylor gasps, forcing me to lift my head to get the briefest peek at her. Mom stands in front of her, hands crossed against her chest.

Taylor had no reason to be in Faith's room.

I knew that.

Heck, no one went in there except Samson and Kalenah.

"Do not lie to us Taylor," my father warns calmly.

Gasping, trying to gather herself, Taylor gazes up at our parents, "I – she – I just wanted to see what she and Samson were doing for our physics project..." Dads' expression leaves Strictville and moves on to Confusedland.

"So you wanted to cheat?" he asks, shoulders sagging. "Why Taylor? You're such an intelligent girl, you do not need to cheat-" I shake my head holding back my scoff, as well as tuning out everything my parents are saying.

Whatever reason Taylor was in Faith's room, it wasn't to cheat off of Faith. More likely, Taylor was hoping to find conversations between Samson and Faith.

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