~BOOK 5/PART TWO~ Paranormal: Too Close To Home (Multi-Bandom FanFic)

Chapter 10 - Rachael

"Oh come on," I moaned, "I'm technically a grown woman."

"You may be a grown woman, but you're in a teenager's body which means you can get alcohol poisoning," He argued, "So no."

Patrick stuck up for me. "Come on, Link. It's a special occasion, and I know she can hold her liquor." I blushed at his attempt, but also noticed that Brendon folded his arms and rolled his eyes, saying nothing against either side.

"No," Link repeated, "No drinking for her."

Patrick heaved a sigh before bailing on us, scavenging for the barkeeper and his bottle of spirits.

I could tell by the look on his face that my stepfather was about to lecture me, but before he could get a single word out, his phone buzzed. He answered but told the person to hold on before sliding out of the stall. I noticed the other wizard had been strangely silent the entire day.

I broke into a childish smirk before poking Brendon in the arm, attracting his attention. "Who are you going to change into this time?" I asked him.

He crossed his arms and turned his head away from me, muttering in response, "No one."

"Oh come on. You always like changing into people."

"That was years ago, Rach, I don't do that anymore." He was blunt in his responses, speaking as if he wanted to end the conversation, and not talk to me at all. 

I pouted and heaved a sigh. I wasn't going to get any answers by beating around the bush, so as a new approach, I said straightforwardly, "You're acting weird."

"So are you."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You seem like you don't want to talk to me at all."

"Because I don't, okay?" He snapped, standing up and going to walk away when I shot my hand out and grabbed his wrist. He hung his head in defeat, but remained standing.

"Kenya told me something earlier today, about how there's a difference between someone wanting to control me and someone wanting to watch my back and protect me. She said that you never wanted to control me, but Patrick did. What's she talking about?" There was an innocence to my question, an innocence that brought him back down beside me with an annoyed sigh.

"Look, Rach, there's a lot of things that have happened that you can't remember, but I can't help who you have feelings for, okay? If I could, I'd make you realize that yours and Patrick's relationship was toxic. You both hurt a lot of people, whether you meant to or not. But if you decide to be with him again, fine. I'm not going to stop you. Just know that I'm always going to be here for you, no matter what. Even if you don't want me around." And with that, he folded his arms over his chest and - for the second time - turned his head away from me.

"What do you mean our relationship was toxic?" I asked, wanting to get more out of him, but he just kept his lips pressed together in refusal of answering my question. I heaved a sigh, knowing that trying to get him to speak - especially about this - was pointless, so instead I just watched as he kept his eyes glued to the band discussing which song to sing. I knew he loved to sing and I hadn't heard him sing in a while. "You know, I think they'd let you up there if you asked."

"Yeah, right," He replied sarcastically, "Besides, even if they did, this is a celebration for Bruno, not American Idol."

"You never know," I stated before slipping out of the booth in the crook of the establishment and making my way to the bar. I scanned the area and noticed a kitchen in the back that a few waiters were popping out of with bowls of fresh jambalaya and other dishes to serve to pack members. Others were giving out ordered drinks.