“Christian, how many times do I have
to tell you not to get up from bed?” his mother asked crossly.
“Mom, it’s
been a week!” Christian protested. He sighed and sank into his bed again. “I
need to get up and walk around. I can’t stand being in bed for this long!” He
strained his ears but couldn’t hear the usual racket. “Where’re the others?”
“One’s in
the kitchen, the other two’s in the house’s studio.”
Christian
propped himself up with his elbows and stared at his mother. “Mom, really, who
knows they might need me.”
“Whatever
for? I believe all of them are as talented as you are and they’ll be just
fine.”
“You don’t
understand, Mom. They’re kinda, well… oh, how am I gonna explain this?”
Christian asked, frustrated.
“You don’t
have to, then,” his mother said.
“Argh…” he
punched his pillow, trying to get a comfortable position. But he soon got bored
of it and pushed himself up again.
“And what
did I just said?” Inger asked her son.
“Mom,
please?” Christian pleaded.
Inger shook
her head.
“Please,
please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please…”
“Alright,
alright. And bear in mind that I only allow you to get out of bed because
you’re just too noisy. You were so much better when you’re sick.”
“Mom!”
“Okay, fine,
I won’t say anything else anymore.”
“Ooh… you’re
the greatest!” Christian clambered out of the bed and gave Inger a kiss on the
cheek before he pulled a pair of jeans over the boxers he’d worn the other
night and pulled on a white t-shirt.
“How long
since you’d done your laundry?” Inger asked, looking at the pile of clothes
that Christian had just picked up his jeans from.
Christian
shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and went out. Before closing the door, he
said, “I dunno when was the last time but I don’t think it had been done
recently.”
Inger shook
her head. “Christian, get back here and get this pile of clothes…”
However, Christian had already dashed.
There was the vague singing of Evanescence floating through the house as Paul
sat on the couch and cranked the volume of the stereo high up.
~~ecaf~~
“I hereby sentence this man to ten years prison, under Section C
for sexually abusing his wife, physically abusing his son and assault.” The
judge did the hammer thing and the case was finally closed.
Christian sighed, relieved that his nightmare was finally over.
No more of his father’s beatings and shouting and his mother was a happier
person now. Stein had been there for her when she had been depressed.
Both mother and son had already packed and moved to a new house
that Stein had just bought for his family that had just suddenly gone larger.
However, Christian hadn’t got himself accustomed to the fact that he had an
elder sister.
Eva had been looking out for her younger brother. It was funny
how she treated him as a younger brother. The whole nation knew about Stein and
his new fiancée and although they weren’t married, they were just perfect for
each other. And even though Christian wasn’t connected to her one way or
another, she felt like he was her responsibility. She needed to look after him,
to protect him and to help him whenever she could. This was like a feeling that
she never had before. Being the only child was fun but everything seemed to be
a whole lot better once she had someone to talk to and to spend some time with.
Christian hadn’t got used to his new company and he’d had
shunned away during the first few days when they’re in the house. He wasn’t
afraid that Stein would beat him up like his father did – and Stein had swore
that he would never beat anyone up – but he just couldn’t settle down
and accept the fact that he was going to change his last name and he had such a
large family. However, he felt complete now.
It’s like there was an empty space in his heart that he hadn’t
realised before and his new family had filled up that space. He finally
realised that he had lonely and when this Stein and Eva arrived and placed
themselves into his life, he was complete.
Everyone had been busy for the past two weeks, unpacking and
sorting out things. Stein had brought in several men to renovate the house,
adding certain walls and windows and knocking down some part of the house
before rebuilding it. All the while, they had lived at their old place. Nearly
a month later, they were able to settle in that new house.
It seemed like a path had just placed itself in front of the
crossroads in his life and instead of taking going straight down that road, he
took a turn. And that turn had changed his life forever.
~~ecaf~~
Christian sat down on the blue leather couch and gave a solace
sigh. His ears were ringing and the upper part of his body was aching. He
yawned and rubbed his bleary eyes. They were right. He should’ve stayed in bed.
The life outside of his bedroom – currently his haven – at the moment isn’t
right for him yet.
“Hi, Chris!” Paul shouted at him as he flopped down beside
Christian and draped an arm around his shoulders in a friendly manner.
“Paul, how many times do I have to tell you –”
“Oh no, Chris, you’ve turn into my mother!”
Christian ignored Paul. “– NEVER TO YELL INTO MY EAR!” he
stopped, took a deep breath and sunk deeper into the couch. He relaxed and allowed
the fatigue to wash over him.
Someone shook his shoulders gently, calling his name over and
over again.
Christian mumbled and cocked his head to one side before
cracking open one eye. “Hi Mark.”
Mark shook his head. “Yes, Chris, just “hi Mark” me. I know, I
know.”
“Shut up, man, you’re being really annoying.” Christian took one
look at the tall man in front of him. “Now, if you don’t mind, I would love to
go back to sleep.”
“We really can’t have you sleeping outside here.” Mark deftly slid
one arm around Christian’s shoulders and was about to slip the other under his
legs when Christian opened his tired eyes and said, “Mark, I’m not an invalid,
you know.”
“Well, yeah, we’re all very well aware of that but we
really can’t have you dying from the cold out here now, can we?” Mark asked
sarcastically.
“Eh?”
“You’re on the living room couch.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I wasn’t really aware of that.”
“Yeah, well, and you’d skipped your dinner as well.”
“And the rest? Didn’t they mention anything?”
“Nah, they just let you sleep off your ever-lingering fever.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
“Very funny, Chris.” Mark sighed. “Look, you wanna go up to your
room or what?”
“I dunno… I was really comfortable out here, until
someone came along and woke me up from my sleep.”
“Hey, I was just being a considerate friend.” Mark backed out.
“If you don’t need my help, I can always retreat and ignore you.”
“Aww… Mark, you know full well that you’re a best friend that
one could ever have…” Christian looked at Mark and pulled an angelic face. “Do
you think you can make me some snacks or something?”
“Chris, you’ve got your mother!”
“Well, she’s probably sleeping and seeing as it’s only you and I
that are currently awake and with the fact that I can’t cook, why don’t you
cook?”
“You sly devil!”
“What do you mean by that?!” Christian asked as he pretended to
be shocked. “Take back that statement!”
“No, I won’t!”
“Ooh… but you must!”
“Obviously, I won’t.” Mark turned and started toward the
kitchen. “Look, do you still want your midnight snack?”
Christian nodded.
Mark took that as a cue and went off to the kitchen, in search
of food. Meanwhile, Christian tried to get up from the couch but couldn’t. He
collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Upon hearing the soft thud from the living room, Mark
knew that Christian was just a little too weak. In fact, Christian had just
gone against the doctor’s orders when he got out of bed that morning.
His blond friend should be in bed for at least a week and a half
to gain his strength after the fever but nooo… he didn’t. He just shot
right up and walked into the studio as if there’s nothing wrong with him.
However, nearly three hours later, Christian walked out of the studio and into
the living room and that was when Mark knew. Normally, Christian would be the
last to leave the studio but that was during a norm day.
Mark went to aid his friend and guided him into the kitchen
before dragging a stool with his foot for Christian to sit on while he
continued his sandwich.
~~ecaf~~
“Oh, come on, we’ve got to go to the mall!” Eva pulled the music
scores from Christian’s hands and hid them behind her back.
“Ev, you do realise that I have a piano exam this Saturday… now
give ‘em back!”
“Not until you come to the mall with me!”
“Now, you’re just acting like a 5-year-old.”
“Chris, Chris, Chris…” Eva tutted. “I’m older than you so I get
to order you around. And now, I want you to go shopping with me.”
“Why don’t you take Mom?” Christian sighed. This argument was
going nowhere; he was fighting a losing battle. “Or Stein?”
“Dad’s in the studios and Inger’s there to help him. At least,
to keep him company.” Eva winked. “If you’re thinking what I’m thinking.”
A twinkle danced in Christian’s eyes. “Oh yeah, I can imagine it
now – ”
“Okay, that’s enough of imagining for you now. You’re too young
to know about these things.”
“Hey, 15 don’t make you young. It’s when you’re like 9 that
counts.”
“Well, I’m 17 and I have the rights to pull you to the mall with
me.”
Christian whimpered as his stepsister pulled him by his
shirtsleeve to the car parked outside.
While at the mall, Christian was forced to go from one
departmental store to the other. So far, after nearly two hours of shopping, he
had bought a cap and several tops as well as two pairs of jeans.
Eva had bought for herself several tops and many jeans and
trousers and skirts.
Their shopping ended approximately at six in the evening. Eva
was up for more but Christian couldn’t take it anymore. They’d been walking in
and out of the changing rooms in those shops and departmental stores;
nonetheless, they’d been shopping for nearly 5 hours.
“So, what now?” Eva asked as she sipped her mocha calmly and
took one look at an exhausted-looking Christian.
“Home – ”
“So fast?”
“Do you always shop like this?”
Eva nodded. “Usually with my cousin or with my best friend. But
now – ” She paused and lowered the tall glass onto the café table. “I don’t
really want to shop with them anymore. It’s better when I’m shopping with my
brother.”
A grin broke out on Christian’s face. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool
shopping with you.”
“Hey, you’re a great shopper yourself… I mean, do you always
know what’s trendy and what’s not?”
Christian shrugged. “I usually buy what’s nice and comfortable
and those that I like. Which is not all the time, I mean, with that man in the
house.”
Eva nodded as she listened to Christian. “Yeah, I know. It’s
kinda hard for you to step out of the house, isn’t it? You told me so.”
“Except for school.”
“Of course that’s an exception.” Eva’s thoughts drifted and a
question popped into her head. “How long had you known Lyeana?”
“Since we’re both in the kindergarten, I guess. It’s been a very
long time. What about you?”
“Dad knows Mr. Brett since secondary school. After they both graduated
from secondary school, Dad left London and went to a music school while Mr.
Brett left London for a university in Ireland, taking law.” She stopped talking
and looked at Christian to make sure that he was listening.
Christian nodded, urging her to go on with her story.
“Well, seeing as Lyeana was Mr. Brett’s daughter – although not
biologically – I got to know her nevertheless and she’s kinda cool. I didn’t
know she had a boyfriend though.”
Christian blushed and shook his head. “I can’t believe I didn’t
know all of Lyeana’s friends… I thought I knew.”
“Apparently, she didn’t tell you that she knew an Eva
Ingebrigtsen who ended up being your sister, did she?” Eva chuckled. She
checked her watch and drained her mocha. “We’re near dinner time. Let’s go.”
Christian agreed and with that, they left the mall and headed
straight home.
~~ecaf~~
The cold wind was swirling around Christian’s legs and the hem
of his coat on one bitter-cold winter morning. He hadn’t been entirely well
either but still, it’s good enough for him. He didn’t want to be stuck in the
house alone while the other three worked in the studio. His mother had already
taken the last flight back to Norway several days before as she didn’t want to
be caught in the snowstorm in Norway (a/n: Do they even have snowstorms over
there?).
“Chris, wait up!” Mark called as he jogged to catch up with the
blonde. “What are you doing out in the cold?”
“To the studio…”
“You sure you wanna go there? I mean, you can always rest in the
house.”
“Mark, don’t you think I’d had enough rest? I mean, it’s been
over two weeks!! I can’t bear being the house for even five more minutes!”
“Okay, okay…” Mark held up his hands as a sign of surrender and
the two walked toward the studio nearby in silence.
The studio isn’t that far from the house; it’s just two blocks
away. It’s a little more convenient for them if the studio was nearer to the
house – they won’t get caught in the rush hour every morning but they’re
risking the chance of getting recognised by the public. However, that’s a risk
that’s worth taking.
“Hey, Chris, I’m just gonna pop in to buy some stuff, ‘kay?”
Mark asked as he halted in front of a grocery store.
“What’s that “some stuff”?”
“Ben’s complaining ‘cause we’re currently low on chocolate bars
and ice-cream so I thought I’m just gonna buy some of those, pop back to the
house and store ‘em and we can go to the studio after that!”
“You’re such a genius, Mark,” Christian said sarcastically.
“I know!”
A few days after Christian’s mother had went back to Norway, the
lads were scheduled to be in Oslo for several interviews, photo-shoots and
recording sessions. The Byrne Blood Company had already booked a studio near
the house that the lads were staying. That house was also Christian’s house if
he got bored of his own house or his parents’.
That evening, they had just finished their third recording
session and Christian was the last to leave the studio. He’d decided to go back
to the studio the next day to “clean-up” on the band’s new song.
Christian sighed and tightened his coat around him, hugging
himself for warmth. His thoughts were flying ahead of him. He was already
thinking of the cleaning up he must do for the song when…
“Hello again, Christian.”
Christian stiffened. He’d know that voice anywhere. He’s just
wished that everything were just a dream.
‘It couldn’t be, could it? It couldn’t be this early,
could it?’ he thought. ‘What, he lied to me?’
“What, didn’t you miss me?”