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How do I start a new life when the past still haunts me?
It still whispers in my ears — reminding me of where I come from, of my value, of my failures and of my loss.
CHAPTER NINE
Colton — 16 years old (Sophomore year)
I stretch my legs out from under the table and plug in my earphones. The cafeteria is fairly empty. There’s only two other people here, other than myself. I guess it’s still early for lunch, and too late for breakfast. It’s the perfect time for me to come and see Cole.
St. Lucas Rehabilitation is one of the most expensive rehab centers in the country, the one where all the richest people find themselves crowding in. Of course, it’s located in California, right along the coast of Malibu. High security, with the best beach scenery — what more could anyone ask for? No wonder our father chose to send Cole here, instead of just choosing a rehab in Manhattan, closer to home.
Henry Bennett wouldn’t want to send his son somewhere cheap. He always needs to go big and expensive. As if it’ll prove his worth to people. As if he has to shove it in everyone’s face that he’s got the money — that he is, after all, untouchable.
When Cole heavily drops into the chair across from me, my eyes flicker to him. Cole and I look alike, but we’re not identical twins. My hair is dark brown, while his is slightly curly and lighter. He has a more pointed nose, and he’s got our mother’s rainforest green eyes. I got our father’s brown ones.
His face is slightly pale, and his lips are thinned into a straight line. I don’t miss the muscle tick in his clenching jaw. He’s angry at me, rightfully so.
I don’t blame him.
I would be angry at me too, if I were in his place.
“Why are you here?” he asks coldly.
I remove the earphones, dropping them onto the table. “I wanted to check on you.”
Cole scoffs. “I thought you weren’t allowed to come and see me.”
“Dad doesn’t know.”
“How did you get here?” He frowns.
“I took a plane,” I tell my brother. “It’s faster. I’ll get back home before he even notices I’m gone.”
Cole avoids looking at me, his gaze staring at the space behind my shoulders. His body is tense, and I hate that he’s this way with me.
But he doesn't know the real reason behind my deceit.
And he doesn’t know the extent I’ll go to protect him.
“How are you doing?” I finally ask, when the silence stretches between us. We used to have a lot to say to each other, a lot in common too. But now, there’s a wide bridge between us — something unspoken, a gap of falsehood and grievance.
“You’re really asking that?” He crosses his arms over his chest, his eyes sharpening with a glare. “After betraying me? Dad would have never known if it wasn’t for you snitching on me!”
“You were getting addicted to morphine, Cole,” I respond blankly.
“I needed it.”
“And that’s exactly how addiction begins. You need it, and then you can’t stop. At one point, it became a compulsion. You were dependent on morphine.”
He lurches forward, his hands slapping the table in frustration. “You don’t understand. You will never understand what it feels like.”
He’s right and he will never understand the sacrifices I made for both of us. Sending Cole to rehab was my idea — but at least, he’s far away from the hellhole that we call home now.
“I trusted you when I told you that,” he continues, fuming, but I don’t miss the torment in his eyes. “We always have each other’s back, don’t we? But I’m here and you’re there. We are both alone now.”
“You would have done the same thing if you were in my place.”
His jaw tightens at my words. “I would have never deceived you.”
