Short Stories

"Blake!" They called out from afar. I was sure to lock the door, before I came up to the balcony rails. This was my only chance to end my misery. I wanted to commit suicide a long time ago, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. But then life gave me the courage and a reason.

"Blake! Where are you!?" They were after me. Chenille must have told them. She's my sister. The only family I have. She's 29, while on the other hand, I'm 18. I'm a stuck up senior year teenager bargaining my sister and his husband Todd.

"Oh my God! Blake! Blake, don't do this. Please come down from there." Chenille said, taking small steps towards me. I climbed up the second rail. They screamed, "Blake, don't!"

"Why? Why should I live? I've done enough damage." I spat. I turned to look at all of them, holding the rails firmly with both hands. Sky, Zach, Chad, Chenille, the family lawyer who claimed to be my guardian and the girl who should hate me because I've crushed her world. Carlie Forbes. A glance in her direction was enough to urge me up the rails faster.



The wind blew my pitch black hair away from my face, stinging my eyes. I felt tears run down my frosted cheeks. It's been two hours since I came up here. We're currently in Shane's house, or should I say mansion. Shane is the lawyer and my guardian. He's pretty cool if you get to know him. He's the best guardian you could ever ask for, I must say. With him there is no curfew, I get free booze, in the house, I can almost do whatever I want. I only had to promise him one thing. To get good grades. That wasn't hard.



Life seemed pretty awesome back then. I got my first car at 16. Shane had been teaching me how to drive whenever he was free. He bought me the car. We had that bond that I couldn't comprehend, as we were not related. It still hasn't change. Even now, I can see how hurt he is. His eyes are red. I'm sorry Uncle Shane, but this is my decision.

"Son, this is not the way to do things." I inhaled sharply, sniffing at what he just called me. My heart constricted. I'm hurting him. I'm hurting all of them. "Come down from up there, and we can talk. Please, Blake." He spoke, softly. I looked away, not wanting to see the pained look on his face.

"No. I can't do this anymore. I thought I could, but I can't. I'm a quitter. Everyone knows that."

"Not me." A high pitched, strained voice spoke up. I looked at the owner of the voice. Carlie. She was furthest from the crowd. She slowly looked up, eyes puffy.

I once crushed on those emerald eyes. It still hasn't change. She wasn't interested in me. She wasn't interested in the school bad boy. Little did she know, we weren't the bad boys of Beverly Hills High School. Sky, Zach, Chad and I. We were classified as the bad boys because we were popular and hot. We couldn't argue with that.

"Son, come down from there. This was never your intentions. Don't blame yourself for something that you didn't do willingly. Don't burden yourself." Shane carried on. I can't let him get to me.

"I'm sorry." I looked ahead, avoiding everyone. The images of what happened two years ago came knocking my brain. "This is my decision." I looked at Chenille. She was leaning on Zach, crying her eyes out. "I'm sorry sister. You'll be free of me at last. I won't have to steal your ice cream anymore." I laughed at this. She laughed back, but ended up crying some more.

"I don't want you to stop stealing my ice cream. I don't want you to stop telling me that you're gay, to stop me from finding a girl for you. I don't want you to stop hating my husband because of his feet odor. I don't want you to stop being my little brother. I don't want you to go, Blake."

I shook my head, letting the tears of shame run down my cheeks. I'm ashamed. They have to see me like this. It's not fair. But I cannot back away now. This is it.

I looked at my bros. For sure, Sky was crying. He's always been the sassy one in our group. Not that we minded. I tried to laugh it out, but it came out choked. "Are you crying, Sky? C'mon man, loosen up." I gave him a small smile. He shook his head, more tears streaming down his face.

"You need to loosen up, Blake." Zach was the one who spoke up. He was holding my sister, while she cried her eyes out.

"You know, if I loosen up, I might fall from up here." I joked.

"Well, isn't that what you want? To fall from up there." Zach spat. The hatred in his eyes made me cringe.

"Sorry bro," I sniffed. "I'm not so brave, like you."

"How sure are you about that? 'cos I wouldn't do what you're doing." He scoffed at me.

I grimaced. "You're right. You wouldn't be able to. 'cos you're acrophobic."

"You've always wanted me to call you dad." I said, looking at Shane. "I'm sorry I never got the chance. I'm sorry I won't be nagging you to bail me out or cover my tracks every time anymore."

A tear ran down Shane's face. "Why can't you let me get that chance, son? Why couldn't you let me have that opportunity. I never had a son. You're taking away my chance, Blake. My joy of having a son. Why?"

Shane gave in, sinking down on his knees. His head in his hands, shoulders shaking. It's my first time seeing him so broken. Even when he fetches me from jail, he would crack jokes, asking me if I found a mate in there. Not the pun. I have broken the strongest man alive. I looked away, closed my eyes and inhaled sharply.

"I'm sorry. So sorry. Dad."

"No." He shook his head, still not looking at me. Carlie knelt down next to him, grabbing onto his shoulders.

"Carlie. I-I think this is best for us. You won't have to feel the pain when I'm gone." I whispered, but loud enough for her to hear.

"You think? You never asked what I wanted. You didn't even try. Committing suicide, will it undo what happened? Will it?"

I flinched at the latter. She's right though. I never spoke to her about this. I just assumed she wouldn't want anything to do with me. I mean, I've crushed her world after all. Anyone else in this situation would have wanted to stab me or give me the black eye, or call me names or whatever they do to ease the pain. She never did anything.

~~~♥~~~

My sixteenth birthday has come. Finally. I'm not the one to celebrate, but Shane insisted I throw a party. He gave me a section that I could use in his massive lavish mansion. He got the housekeepers to move all the breakable things.

"Just make sure I don't find half my house burned down. You'll sleep on the ashes." Shane said, taking a seat in the table. We were having breakfast.

"And if I get cold?" He was reading a newspaper. He peaked up the paper, looking at me like I've grown a second head.

"Okay, okay." I said, my hands up. I then took a bite at the waffles on the table. "What if a snake comes for me while I'm sleeping outside?" I probed.

"Well, it will cover you with its skin, if you know what I mean." I cringed.

He laughed, "You were concerned about freezing. I found a solution for you."

"Ha ha ha. Not funny Uncle Shane. You're being mean." I mumbled, eating my food. He rubbed my head, getting up.

"Gotta go, son." He said, taking his briefcase from the couch.

"But you didn't eat." I looked at where he was sitting. Nothing was on the plate. It was still clean.

"I'll eat on my way."

I looked at him, brows up. "Are you?" He chuckled, shaking his head. I took a toast, buttered it and went to shove it in his mouth. I know him very well. He wasn't even going to stop for coffee. Workaholist. "There." I said, proudly.

"Thanks. Mom." He mocked. Just then, his phone rang. Putting his briefcase down and taking a bitten toast out of his mouth.

"Is it here?" He asked the caller. "We're coming. Thank you." He hung up.

"Your present just arrived." He turned to me. I got confused.

"What is it?"

"C'mon. See for yourself." He gestured for the door. I went out, still confused.

"Holy shit!! Are you for real?" I cursed at the machine before me.

A black Jaguar stood before us. Jaguar XF 3.0d V6 S Portfolio 4dr Auto Saloon Diesel Ultimate. This was my dream car. Like for real.

I turned to Uncle Shane. He had a smirk plastered on his face. "You know, we don't kid around with these things." I looked at him, eyes narrowed.

"Who's kidding around? Are you?" He asked the guy who came out the car. "I'm not kidding. It's yours."

I looked at the car again. "You're going to have to take me to work today, son." He said heading towards the car. I followed him.

"Are you sure it's for me?" I asked, unconvinced.

He chuckled. "No Blake. It's for that lady over there. Get in. I'm late already." He got in. I took the keys from the delivery guy. I thanked him and got in.

Once inside, I turned the key in the ignition. It roared to life. "Ooh!" We both shouted.

On our way, I stopped at the nearest cafe to buy coffee and two sandwiches. When I came back, he went on about how he was late to buy coffee.

"Busted. You weren't going to eat on your way." I shook my head. Uncle Shane never fussed about eating. You'd have to force him.

"I'm late for work, Blake." He went on.

I shook my head at that. "Workaholist." I said.

"Is that a word? I've never heard of it."

"It's in your dictionary." I said pulling over. He bid goodbye, and got out. I remembered he forgot his food, so I followed him.

"Wait grandpa, you forgot something!" He was about to go in. I ran after him. He took the food.

"Thank you for the car." I embrace him in a hug. He's the best.

"It's cool. I'm glad you like it." He said, embracing me back.

After some he said, "People are looking at us weird." He said. I didn't let go on purpose, just to annoy him. "I'm late Blake. You know, this coffee is smoking hot." He threatened. I pulled back, quick.

"Happy birthday, son." He chuckled.

~~~♥~~~

I decided to fetch my license. I went for a test, as soon as I knew I could do it. It was actually pretty cool. I'm grateful to Uncle Shane. Really grateful. Pulling over at the building, I called Chenille first to tell her the good news. I'm so grateful that my eardrums are still working, the way she screamed. Then I called the guys. I was sure they were gathered. They were cursing and all.

"I'm coming," I told them before I hung up.

I went in to get my license. It was quick, thank God. I drove straight to where the guys were.

Along the way, I came across traffic. Damn. I waited almost 30 minutes before it was clear.

I drove through town. I was getting the hang of it. Just then, a honk sounded behind me. I looked to the rearview mirror just in time to feel a jolt forward. That punk knocked my car. He was still beeping at me. I lurched forward to get free. He did it again.

I looked straight. I guess I just have to dodge the people in front of me. The robot turned red. I couldn't stop. Sh!t. A lady talking on the phone crossed the road. I beeped at her while I still had time.

"Get off the road!! Off the road!" I shouted through the window. She turned to me. I shouted again. She just froze in the way. Sh!t. Women. I revved the car to the right, only to come into contact with another car. The jolt sent me flying forward, hitting my head in the wheel.

The cars were still in motion. I was in the middle. I fought against blacking out and tried to stop the car. What's wrong with that guy behind me?

The car in the front hit the pole, jolting me some more. I scrapped my right arm against the door. Pain shot through the whole of my arm. I gritted my teeth.

The cars stopped moving. I took off the seatbelt and shifted to the other door. When I got out, I swayed a little. I didn't bother looking at the car behind mine. I limped to the other car. People gathered around, looking at the scene.

As I got closer, I could see there were three people in the car. A family. I... I just killed a family. Someone was moving in the backseat. I hurried to that side.

"Oh my..," I staggered at the sight before me. "Carlie?" She was seated at the back.

"Blake?" She had a wound in her forehead, otherwise she looked fine.

"Mom? Dad?" She called out to her parents. I looked at the front. They were unconscious.

"Mrs Forbes? Can you hear me?" I took her hand to feel a pulse. She moved.

"My...daughter," she mumbled. "Carlie."

"She's fine, Mrs Forbes. I'm going to get help. Hang in there." When I was about to call for help, she gripped my hand. "Save my baby. Please...save my baby," If I stood there, listening to her, I was going to lose her.

"Someone call an ambulance. Please." I told the people who were watching.

I went back to Carlie. Her door was untouched. No scratch. "Carlie? Can you move? I'm going to get you out, okay?" She nodded, looking at me.

She swung her arm around me for support. I got her out the car safely. She held on to my injured arm, I groaned.

"Blake, you're hurt." I looked down at her. She looked concerned. I've put her, along with her family, in danger, and she's concerned about my freakin' arm. What the -...

"I'm fine. I need to get you of here first. Did someone call an ambulance!?" I asked, putting Carlie on the walkway.

"Yes. They're coming," a lady responded, rushing to Carlie.

"Thank you. Please secure her. I need to check on the others in the car."

I left them and went to the car. Mrs Forbes was still awake. Shallow breaths came out her mouth. "Mrs Forbes, are you still with me? I'm getting help." When I looked at Mr Forbes, he was motionless, left side totally crushed. Oh God. There's not a single thing I can do about this. I...I killed him. I've murdered...a soul.

The girl I was crushing on, would hate me for killing her father. For endangering her mother's life. And her own life. I would never get a chance with her. It's over. It's all over. "Mrs Forbes, stay with me." I said, feeling for her pulse. Surprisingly, it was still strong. I was grateful for that.

"I-I'm not going to leave...my baby," she said. Her eyes were closed. She was wincing, every now and then. "Try not to move." I told her.

"Thank...you," I almost didn't catch that. Her voice was low. Why is she thanking me? I'm the cause of this.

"B-But ma'am, I'm-"

"I know," was all she said. I dared not touch her, afraid that I might make things worse. I looked at Carlie to make sure she was still okay. That lady was comforting her. She's crying. I'm such a jerk. I looked away, not being able to stand the sight before me.

Mrs Forbes was looking at me, probably analysing the jerk that tarnished her family. "I'm so sorry Ma'am. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." I apologized. Shockingly, she smiled at me. What?

Just then the ambulance came. I led them to Mrs Forbes first. They tried to attend to my scars, but I dismissed them. There was someone else who needed saving.

It was too late for Mr Forbes. He died too early. They pushed the car of the pole and got his...corpse out. Mrs Forbes made it to the hospital. The four of us were given medical attention. Mrs Forbes, Carlie, that bastard who smashed my car and myself.

I know for sure, I'll regret this day for the rest of my life. It's going to haunt me.

~~~♥~~~

"Your mother must be ashamed for giving birth to a coward," Carlie spat. Finally, she is snapping. "She must be turning in her grave. You know, I don't even know much about you, but I was going to say you turned out to be a lot better than your father. But I'm going to swallow my words. You're worse. A coward." She sobbed quietly.

I am ashamed, if you must know, Carlie. But I'd rather ease your pain. "You never asked what I wanted from you after the accident." She came closer, taking small steps.

"Please. Don't take another step." I warned her.

"Even if I wanted to drag you from up there, I couldn't. I want you to listen to what I have to say. I won't drag you down from there. That'll be your decision." She looked at me then. She was too close. What is she doing?

"My mom forgave you. I know why." She started, startling me.

"How? How do you know that?" I looked at her, perplexed.

"When the doctor asked you to go to mom's ward, I was curious as to why she called you instead of me, so I followed you."

I remember that time, very well. Just like the accident, it was still a fresh memory.

~~~♥~~~

When I entered in the room, alone, guilt tripped me. I gave in to the agony and sunk to my knees. I've killed people. I'm a...killer. How did this happen? In such a short time.

"Dear," a voice called out. It was Mrs Forbes. She couldn't see me, so I wiped the tears and stood up. She was barely awake. A cannula went from her nose to her ears. Emerald eyes found mine.

"Mrs Forbes." Her hand found mine.

"I...know it wasn't your fault." She started. "That woman you avoided, is my sister. You saved a life, Blake." She coughed, a couple of times before she continued. "I have...cancer. Carlie doesn't know that. Please don't tell her." Oh my God. Oh my fucking God. This isn't happening. She was going to die on Carlie.

"She's not alone. I made sure of that. She's better off without his father." She spat on the latter. Okay, I don't understand what's going on here. Mr Forbes is better off dead, she says. She was going to die either way. That sounds like a favour in disguise. It doesn't feel like that. I feel like shit. Like a bus ran over me and left me alive.

"That doesn't make this any better." I mumbled, looking away.

"I know," she coughed again. "But...in all of this you are...innocent. The car that bumped you...was meant for us."

"What!?"

"Carlie's father arranged that accident. You were just in the way."

"B-But he was in the car, ma'am. Why would he do that?" I was more than perplexed. Who on earth would do such a thing? That's like suicide. In other words, he killed himself.

"He had no choice but to come with us. I forced him to come with us. He thought I had no idea about his plan."

"Mrs Forbes, this doesn't make sense." I told her. Her hand went up to stroke my face. The gesture warmed me enough to shed a tear in that instant. I brought up my shaking hand to cover hers. How I wished I had a mother to do this.

"I know, dear. I know. I wish to tell you, time is just not on my side. But I need you to do one thing for me. My baby is in danger. My Carlie is threatened by his own father." She closed her eyes, took a breath in and winced. I held on tight to her hand, still on my face. A tear ran down her cheek. This is giving her a lot of strain. I still don't get why Mr Forbes would do such a thing to her own family.

"Protect my daughter, Blake. Please. I know it's too much to ask. But you're the only who can. I know that." She stared straight into my eyes, pleading.

"But how do you know it's me who can do it? I mean, she must hate me right now. After what happened. She will never want to talk to a murder." I whispered the latter, guilt tripping me again.

"You're not a murderer, Blake. And I know you can do this because I've seen how you are when she's around. You love my daughter, Blake. Your eyes says it all." I wasn't expecting that. At all. But then, she's a mother. She sees beyond recognition. That's a mom gift.

She was right, though. I loved her daughter ever since she transfered to our school. When I first saw her, at the cafeteria, the guys laughed at me for the drool that came out. How embarrassing. She was so beautiful, calm, neat, had a very positive aura around her. I liked everything about her. The guys called me a love sick puppy. I couldn't talk to her, though. I just couldn't.

"Yes. I do." I admitted.

Mrs Forbes smiled at me. She squeezed my cheek , letting out a hearted little laugh. "But she doesn't know that." It wasn't a question, but I still answered with a nod.

"You can save my daughter from this. You need to go to my house and look for a memory stick. Take it to Mr Shane Edwards, the lawyer. He'll know what to do with it. Unless you find that stick, they will keep coming for Carlie. Don't tell her any of this. She shouldn't know about this. Can you do that for me?"

I wasn't planning to refuse. The moment I heard Carlie was in danger, it struck me. She needed my help.

"You didn't have to ask, Mrs Forbes. I wasn't waiting for your request." I told her, determined.

I wasn't sure how to get the USB without Carlie seeing me in their house? I had to come up with a plan. My mind was blank. But the sooner I do this, the sooner Carlie will be safe.

~~~♥~~~

"My mother trusted you with my life. She trusted you, Blake." She was now crying. I really can't stand those tears. My heart constricted at the sight before me.

"I saw you. Twice. When those guys were following me, it was you who stopped them. I...I thought they were going to kill you. They had knives. Why would you risk your life for me, if you knew I wouldn't talk to you? Why would you, Blake?"

I didn't know how to answer to that, so I kept quiet. I'll let her finish talking. "I knew you weren't going to stop fighting those guys, so I looked for that memory stick myself. When I found it, I kept it in my father's office. I knew you were going to look there. I never got to see what was in that memory stick." She went on.

"Blake, you never asked me what I wanted. You never talked to me. When I heard my mom talking to you, I took the decision to forgive you. It was never your fault. You were caught up in my father's dirty schemes. I forgave you, Blake. I forgave you for what happened, because I wanted you to forgive yourself. I wanted you to know it was never your fault. I saw how this was straining you. I didn't want that." Carlie said, shaking her head.

I took in a shaky breath, replaying what she had said in my mind. She forgave me. She took the decision to forgive me and I was a fool for not talking to her. Somehow, I felt relieved. More light. Something in me changed.

"Come down from there. Please?" Carlie whispered, holding out a hand for me to take. I looked at her. From my peripheral vision, I saw Uncle Shane coming towards me, standing beside Carlie. He nodded his head, in approval.

"You are not alone, Blake. We're all here for you. I am here for you," he said, offering me a small smile.

I took in a shaky breath, wiping the almost dry tears and got down, one rail at a time. My hands shaking, I took Carlie's hand and jumped down. She didn't let go when I was down. I didn't know what to say. Surprising me, she leaned in to give me a hug. I froze for a while before winding my arms to hug her back. I must have been crushing her, for she gasped.

"Thank you," I whispered to her, relishing all of my worries.