Chapter 25
25
SHILOH
After clearing it with my professors, Matt drops me at home so that I can start packing up my things… the house. This isn’t going to be my home for the foreseeable future. Michael saw to that.
“What’s up, kitty cat?” Scott calls to me from the doorway. “What’s with the boxes?”
I don’t know what to tell him, so I just continue to pack, ignoring the burning sensation in my eyes. I explained to Matt that I wanted to get moved before telling anyone in the house because I know I’m not strong enough to stand up to them if they all try to make me stay. They need to understand like Lucky did. I thought it would be harder to convince him, but he gets it.
“Shy? Talk to me kiddo,” Scott says as he squats in front of me. He doesn’t look it, but he’s the oldest one out of all of us in the house. He’s shared a little bit with me about how he ended up here because I needed the help to realize that I didn’t have to do all of the domestic chores in the house to earn my keep.
Putting the last of my kitty toys into the box, I look up at the man who is essentially my true big brother and I can’t stop the tears from falling.
“I’m moving out,” I tell him as I get up to place the box of cat toys with the rest of my stuff. Pulling open the closet door, I let out an audible sob at the sight of my kitty collar hanging next to Toby’s pup collar.
I feel arms come around me and for once I don’t tense up. Usually, it’s only Toby that can touch me without fear of pain overwhelming me, but I guess my body finally recognizes Scott as someone who won’t hurt me.
“You’re only going across the hall, right? Toby will understand.”
I turn around in his arms and clutch my brother to me. Even though I’m taller than him by a couple inches, I want to disappear into his arms. I make myself smaller and let all of my pain and fear out while he rubs soothing circles on my back.
When I finally slow to just hiccups, Scott pulls back and wipes the moisture from my face using his sleeve.
“Feel better, kitten?”
I nod and sniffle, rubbing my nose with the back of my hand, wanting desperately to drop into kitten space. But I have to stay human. I have to explain… especially if I’m going to enlist his help to get out of here before everyone is back.
“I’m moving out of the house — away from Manor Drive,” I tell him and flinch at the pain I see on his face before he puts up a mask of professionalism. I forgot…
“I’m not leaving you guys!” I rush to tell him. “I just found somewhere I can be better protected until the whole Michael thing is taken care of in a more permanent way. I’m doing it to keep everyone safe.”
Scott just nods woodenly and turns toward my pile of boxes. Grabbing a few in a stack, he heads out the door and turns toward the stairs.
“I’ll drive you,” he says before stepping away with my things and I hear the rhythmic thump of his heavy steps going down to the first floor. Scott never thumps…
“Scottie says you need help getting stuff to his car?” Jace asks as he peeks his head around the doorway. “Donating stuff?”
“Something like that,” I mumble as I watch the big teddy bear gather up the rest of the boxes in one go and head for the stairs.
Pulling my collar down from its hook in our closet, I sniff and swipe at my eyes one last time. I’m doing this for Toby. He’ll understand in the long run.