It was Thursday night and I was in my room painting frantically. There was really no other way to describe it. When inspiration was upon me I painted at a rapid pace that had a couple of my instructors shaking their heads, not only at how well the paintings would come out but how I managed to do it so quickly without the painting becoming a mess.
I was only using a half a dozen colors for this one and a brush for each. When I switched I would simply drop one and pick up the other barely looking at the easel and when I'd start slapping the paint on it would splatter, as soon as it did however I would hit it with another brush and quickly blend it in. Because most of my paintings were very dark and I figured creatures of the night would never allow themselves to be fully seen and the odd colored shading and blurred figures added to the effect of my nightmarish landscapes.
I finished adding red eyes to several of the demonic figures on the canvas, using savage jabs with the narrow brush which, rather than leaving them with perfectly shaped red eyes it appeared that they were glowing unevenly from their shadowy faces. When I painted like this I splattered quite a bit so I was wearing only a ripped tank top that barely went down past my tits and a pair of panties. Let dad come in now and he'd see why I liked to lock my door I thought to myself.
Finishing the eyes I dropped the brush and reaching over grabbed the bottle of coke from the table next to me. I took a couple of swallows closing my eyes and smiling as the alcohol spiked soda left a warm happy trail down my throat. When I looked back at the picture it was blurring. I sighed, putting the bottle down, blinked and shook my head. Between the liquor and not having slept since early last night I could feel myself getting light headed. Good maybe after another drink or two I could sleep. Last night had been a rough one and could have very well been the last night my brother spent in our house.
When Mark had brought me back to Vinnie's a little after six Jack was waiting outside by my car smoking a cigarette. After warning Mark to behave I gave him a kiss on the cheek and told him I would see him at home in a little while. I wished I could have given him a real kiss good bye but Jack was watching.
When I got out of Mark's car and walked over to him Jack said that he had waited for me because he wanted to tell me my father had stopped by looking for me. I felt suddenly nauseous. Once again I should have listened to my brother. Mark had mentioned Dad stopping by to check on me and he had been absolutely right! Now Dad would think I was with Mark. I would have to call Mitch's to see if Dad had gone there as well, oh my god I had fucked up again! All this had raced though my head in an instant I simply looked at Jack speechless.
Noticing the instant look of panic on my face Jack said he had told him that the driver had called out sick and since we were dead they had sent me in the van to do some delivery's. I thanked him and Jack then told me that my father had asked if Mark had been coming around. Once again surprisingly Jack had covered saying that he had seen Mark in here with Krissy the day after Christmas but that was it.
Jack said dad seemed to believe him then handed him $20 and gave him his work number and said to call him if Mark showed up looking for me. This was getting worse by the day. My father was convinced he was right and he was going through any length to prove it. If Jack hadn't covered for us when we had got home Mark's bags would have been packed or worse the police might have been there, as on one of his rants just before we left the hotel my father had said he would get a restraining order against my brother.
Mark was in pre law and told me Dad couldn't do that but it showed not only how far my father would push this but that he still seemed to think my brother was forcing me into something. The ironic thing was, besides the fact dad was right about us in general, was the fact that I was the one who instigated it, coming into my brother's bedroom that night six months ago and seducing him.
I thanked Jack again and this time gave him a hug. Jack put his arms around my waist and returned the embrace whispering in my ear how good I felt. I was no fool; Jack hadn't covered out of the kindness of his heart. He was looking to get back in my good graces as well as my pants, but still I was grateful and told him so, even giving him a kiss. Jack smiled and told me he wouldn't rat my brother out but was wondering what the hell Mark had done as my father hadn't seemed to happy. I shrugged and told him it was a long story. Jack's smile then got bigger and he said when I was off my punishment he could clear a night for me to tell him.
Being smart enough to play the game and keep Jack's loyalty I told him that I would let him take me out to dinner next week to make things up to me, but only dinner. Jack had kissed my hand and told me thank you. He then frowned and commented on how nervous I looked, did I want to come in for a drink? I told him no I had to get going. Besides I had taken enough stupid chances already the last thing I needed was to show up buzzed.
When I arrived home I bit the bullet and told Dad that Jack had said he'd stopped by and asked if anything was wrong. Dad shrugged and told me he was checking up on me. I had asked if he had swung by Mitch's. At that Dad had shaken his head and said he really didn't care where Mark was as long as he wasn't with me. I felt another of those sinking feelings go through my stomach, this did not sound good for my brother. Mom however snapped at my father telling him not to talk like that. Dad rolled his eyes and we finished dinner in silence. When he finished Dad kissed mom and thanked her for dinner like he did every night before he went into his den to watch the news and read the paper.
The other part of the ritual was to also give me a kiss as well and tell me goodnight in case I went upstairs and he didn't see me again. I watched as Dad walked past me and started to leave the dining room. I put my head down sadly. Up until this point all I had been worried about was Mark and I being separated. Now however it hit me that it had also affected my father's relationship with me. I had always been his little girl and despite his tough old school demeanor he had always eaten it up and loved being affectionate with me. I heard Mom clear her throat and a moment later felt my father come up behind me and putting his hands on my shoulders kissed the top of my head.
"Good night hon," He said softly.
Before he could move his hands I put my hands up grabbing his and holding them. Dad moved his arms around my shoulders and hugged me.
"Dad..." I began.
"We'll talk Friday night Megan, when I get home, not before."
Dad let me go and left the room. I looked up at mom with tears in my eyes. She reached across the table and took my hand for a minute and told me not to give up that she was still working on it just keep doing what we were supposed to.
Mark showed up a few minutes later and I stayed at the table while mom heated up his dinner. Mark sat and ate listlessly, he looked more tired than when I had seen him a few hours ago. I noticed his hand shaking as he ate and his leg was tapping constantly. Mom asked him if he had taken what the doctors had given him to sleep and he mumbled something about no but he would tonight. That was a lie my brother hated medication, like me he never wanted to be put in a place where he might not be able to wake up right away. Having spent two years being assaulted at night I understood completely.
I had hoped that after having spent some time with Mark, which had included two amazing orgasms as well as a nap in his arms that I would be able to sleep that night. I did fall asleep around ten, but woke up from a nightmare I couldn't remember the details of I just knew I felt scared and uneasy. I laid there for awhile then giving up set up my easel and putting a blank canvas up started painting. Apparently Mark couldn't sleep either as a few minutes later I heard three small thumps, then again a minute later. Mark had a dart board in his room and all I heard all week long was the sound of the darts hitting the board.
I became absorbed in my painting, blocking out huge areas of grey where I would put the ghoulish figures that populated my paintings then leaving a space in the middle for something what I wasn't sure yet but it would come to me. When my stinging eyes made me stop, I got up and went into the bathroom. I could still hear Mark tossing the darts. I looked at the door longingly. Less than ten feet from where I stood was my brother's bed where I would give anything to be right now. I knocked softly on the door and Mark opened it a few inches.
"Megan we can't." He said simply.
I nodded and poking my head through the door kissed him gently on the lips.
"Good night my beautiful little brother." I whispered.
Mark smiled sadly and said;
"Sweet dreams my sister."
