This has been bugging me for a while, when the original chapter 2 was uploaded I got some well deserved criticism for including an unnecessary S&M type scene. I wasn't planning on rewriting this but after an informal Q&A session with a reader I decided to change it. Due to continuity issues with chapter 3 and my other story some elements will be the same but hopefully these changes will improve the overall story.
Thanks goes to Awesome Kmac and his questions that helped to convince me to rewrite this chapter.
As before this picks up a few hours after chapter 1.
*
I awoke early the next morning, no matter how many times these damned headaches wake me I can't get use to it. It took me a few seconds to realise where I was, it was Billie's room, looking down I see Billie and I in a spooning position, still both fully clothed with her wearing her black dress from last night, oh god last night. Suddenly everything that happened came rushing back to me; punching Vincent, finding Billie in the shower, her confession, kissing her. I dwell on her admitting she wanted me to take her virginity the most, she had actually said that, she wasn't drunk, I don't think she made it up and she was too upset to lie, I had to take it as truth.
This was all too much to take at once, my innocent little sister was changing right in front of my eyes and I didn't know how to take it, looking down at Billie I still see that little girl who would come into my room when the monster under her bed was making noises, the little girl who would ask me to sing 'God Only Knows' to help her get to sleep, the little girl who cried for nearly three days and refused to leave my side when I told her I was going to die. She's growing up and she wants to include me in helping her become a woman, the scariest thing was I was actually considering letting her. Ignoring that ridiculous idea I carefully let go of Billie then got out of bed and went downstairs to get breakfast, I left Billie to her slumber, partly because I didn't want to disturb her but mostly because I didn't want to talk about last night. I was halfway downstairs when there was a knock on the door, I opened it to see T.J. standing outside.
'Jesus you look like shit T.'
'Glad to see you're subtle Cay. I was up all night, Kathy's teething so she was screaming bloody murder. Can you make a coffee please, I'm falling to sleep just standing here.'
'Sure thing T.'
T.J. followed me inside, he sat down at the counter while I made the coffee.
'If it's any constellation I had a rough night as well, Billie had some trouble.'
'Wasn't she at, what's the bastard's name, Daniel Entwistle's party?
'Yeah, but she came home early, her date got a little grabby.'
'Who was her date?'
'You heard of Vincent Moreno?'
'I know him, his brother works with me down at the shop, the brother's alright but Vincent's a right bastard.'
'I know, I broke his nose last night.'
'Ha, God knows he had it coming.'
I picked up the boiled kettle and began pouring the water.
'Cay before I forget, Jane and I picked a date for the wedding, September 12th.'
'That's not long.'
'It's for Jane's grandmother, she's in her 90s now and probably won't see the year's end, we picked the most reasonable date. You still up for being my best man?'
'Always T, I've got a draft of my speech upstairs if...'
'Cay look, fuck.' T.J. jumped up startled. I looked down to see what got him so spooked; the boiling water from the kettle had spilled over onto my right hand but I hadn't felt anything. I put the kettle down and ran my hand over with cold water but I was still scalded pretty badly, but still there was no pain.
'Fucking hell Cay, does that not hurt?'
'No, it's part of my condition, I never expected this so early though.'
'You want me to take you to hospital?'
'Sure, I'd better see the Doc about this. Let me tell Billie first.'
I started to head towards the stairs but I stopped, I knew if I went upstairs Billie would want to talk about last night and I still wasn't ready, I turned back and wrote a note.
'Don't want to wake her, she's still sleeping. Got your phone?'
'Yeah.'
'I need to borrow it, tell the Doc I'm coming.'
I phoned the Doc and told him I'd be there soon. T.J. drove me to the hospital, thankfully due to the early time there was little trouble finding a parking spot.
'You sure you don't want me to wait Cay?'
'It's fine T, it's not far. Thanks for the lift.'
T.J. drove off, the Doc was Dr Freeman, my therapist. I'd been seeing him for four years ever since I was told about my condition, if any brain related shit came up I'd talk to him. Dr Freeman was a kind old man, more like a grandfather than a doctor, I'd hesitate to call him a friend but we were closer than the usual doctor and patient. After my hand was seen too I found the Doc in his office, it was a warm and inviting place, making it much easier for you to open up, I lay on the couch while the Doc sat on his chair nearby and listened to me.
'So Caleb, when did you first notice you'd spilt boiling water on your hand?'
'I didn't Doc, my friend T.J. came round for a coffee, I was talking to him and he saw me spill the water, I didn't feel a thing.'
'And that worried you, why?'
'Because this is a new development, don't get me wrong Doc I've been expecting this for a while but never this quickly. I mean fuck it was only yesterday that my hand started feeling numb, I thought it'd be some time before I lost all feeling in it. It's fucking scaring me Doc.'
'Calm Caleb, I understand that you're scared but can you tell me why you're scared?'
My mind immediately went to Billie and her confession last night, I thought about an answer to give the Doc.
'It's Billie Doc, I'm scared of losing her, now more than ever. She had some trouble last night with a date that only wanted one thing. I realised yesterday after I broke the fucker's nose that I'm scared that if I leave her she won't have anyone to protect her. I know she's an independent woman who can protect herself but I'm her older brother and it's my job to look after her.'
That was a half-truth, I was more scared of losing Billie and not following up on her wish. I couldn't believe it but I was actually considering having sex with my sister. I looked over at Doc who seem to be mulling something over.
'Hm, Caleb I'm going to ask you some personal questions, you may feel uncomfortable but feel free to stop them at anytime.'
'Ok Doc.' I was confused as to what these questions were going to be about.
'Right, you love your sister don't you?'