Damaged expectations

"Been busy," his words short and simple as usual. He was the quiet one amongst the four brothers.

"It would be nice if you took a breather brother."

Gladys had a concerned look similar to the tone she used. Her gaze held his unwaveringly but her heart kept beating wildly, she could literally hear it.

He simply offered her a kind smile and nodded before facing Celeste.

"Will you be free tomorrow morning brother?"

"No! He won't be," Gladys quickly chirped in, answering on behalf of Celeste and surprising both of them.

"I won't?" Celeste questioned and narrowed his eyes but he had an evil smirk.

Humphrey's eyes narrowed questioningly at Gladys and she held her breath for a second before explaining.

"I and Celeste were both invited to lady Rosabel's small tea party...which is tomorrow morning." She quickly added the last line. Humphrey did things to her body by just staring intently at her.

"That's definitely not happening," Celeste objected in a displeased manner. He knew what Rosabel was up to.

"I see," came Humphrey's short saying. Gladys felt frustrated and agitated whenever Humphrey said little, she wanted him to speak more.

"You can come along," she suggested and he arched an eyebrow at her in a 'are you serious' way.

"To a ladies tea party? No, thanks. Am good."

"Same as I," came Celeste's own addition.

Gladys' eyes shifted from one person to another and she frowned in displeasure. Humphrey observed her every reaction, he never wanted to refuse her invitation, at the same time he didn't want to be surrounded by ladies, he wanted to be with her alone.

Humphrey was trapped and conflicted with his feelings. He wanted to confess to her, yet he didn't want to because she might reject him because of how they grew up like brother and sister. He didn't want her to become uneasy and feel awkward around him, it would break him if she felt that way towards him.

And it was obvious she felt no affection towards him, all she saw in him was a brother and nothing more.

It pricked his heart at that thought.

As difficult as it was, he decided to avoid getting embarrassed. He felt it was best to keep his feelings to himself and just admire her from afar, that's why he choose a path to be distant from her and stay aloof.

"How about later in the day brother? Will you be less busy?" Gladys tried her luck one more time, she prayed he agreed. Her eyes held his in expectancy, awaiting his reply.

Celeste didn't look disturbed even for a bit because to him they were brother and sister who just wanted to hang out together and talk. He didn't mind them hanging out together.

"Don't know yet sister." He saw how her expression changed to one of sadness and disappointment when he gave a reply to her questions.

Without saying a word, Gladys turned and left. He always disappointed her and it irked her badly. She tried so much to restrain herself from crying.

This was not the first time Humphrey rejected her, he did it many times and it hurt her feelings.

"How busy are you that you don't even have time for Gladys." It was more of a statement than a question, Celeste was also disappointed in Humphrey. Humphrey chose not to say anything, his eyes silently followed Gladys until she left the building in hurried steps. She was annoyed.

Her heels clacked loudly as she found her way out of the town hall, her eyes burned, she was at the verge of crying. The disappointment was too much.

While outside, she didn't bother looking at anyone. Her main aim was to get to her carriage and leave.

She always let her hopes get the best of her every single time and it always ended up with disappointments.

Someone caught her wrist and pulled her to his side in swift movement. Her eyes hardened because she wasn't ready for any unnecessary chat with people, she wanted to be alone.

But, the angry look in her eyes vanished. Leaving her with a worried and surprised look.

He frowned when he noticed tears in her eyes.

"Who offended you Gladys?"

Gladys bit her inner lip hard as she tried to calm down, her eyes darted about. Of all people she didn't want to see him.

"I'm fine brother." She tried as much as she could to sound convincing but Theon saw through it.

"Its obvious you're not happy."

He searched her eyes when they met his. He wanted to know who offended her so he could teach them a lesson.

"Brother?"

"Yes Gladys?"

Her dull eyes gazed intently into his and she slowly gulped, causing her throat to bub up and down.

"Why me?"

That question just slipped out of her lips and it caught him off guard. His eyes slightly widened but his facial expression remained calm.

"Because you're unique," came his sweet response.

"May I ask a favor from you?" She spoke almost immediately. She was a lady who always spoke out her mind.

"Anything Gladys."

His lips quirk upward in a charming smile, waiting for her to tell him what she wanted him to do for her. Gladys took her time to let out a long sigh through her lips before saying;

"Give lady Georgiana a chance." A frown marred his forehead in confusion.

"Why?"

"Because she's willing and am not, I don't want you to get your hopes high so that in the end it only gets shattered."

"Gladys, we ca..."

"Try? Theon we can't and will never work."

She dropped the titled and called his name which would sound disrespectful to others if they heard it. But she didn't mind it, after all she had that power to call him by his name.

For Gladys to call him by his name showed how serious she was and it broke him.

"You have someone on mind."

Her eyes grew wide when he gently made that statement. He nodded and smiled before letting go of her wrist reluctantly.

His jaw worked but he composed himself. His dark blue eyes never left hers.

"You got your hopes high and it got shattered." He continued and her eye balls nearly fell out in shock at how he could read her so fast.

"Fine, I'll give lady Georgiana a chance...but can you do me a favor as well?"

Her heart skipped and she felt sad, so sad. She never wanted to disappoint her brother this way. There was anger, sadness, disappointment and regret in his eyes.

"What favor do you want from me brother?" She carefully asked, fearing he might ask something great and at the same time painful.

Theon's jaw clenched and he tore his gaze off her. She really broke him, she sense it.

But the question was, how deep had he fallen to be this heartbroken?

When his lips parted she cringed internally, waiting for something heart wrecking.

"Stay away from me...until I get over you."

With that he turned and left her standing with her mouth wide open. She was dazed.

She never expected him to say something like that even though she knew he was going to ask something awful. Her heart shivered, tears clouded her eyes and blurred her vision.

As she blinked, a tear drop fell out of her right eye and she looked away quickly. Realizing she was out in the open, but thanks to the darkness.

She stood at the same spot for a very long time. One thing was for sure, she didn't regret saying those words to him. After all, that was the painful truth.

"Gladys?"

She stood still with her tear filled eyes watching Theon leave. She couldn't bare to stay away from him, he was her favorite brother and she loved him so much but not in the opposite direction.

"Sister?"

Nero placed both his hands on her shoulders in shock when he noticed she had tears in her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

No response left her lips. Feeling worried for her, he pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her in a soothing manner.

"Its alright dear, am here." He spoke soothing words to her ears.

Gladys blinked back the tears and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself she buried her face in Nero's chest and wrapped her arms round his waist.

*

"Is that Gladys and Nero?"

Celeste questioned when he and Humphrey stepped out last to see their sister being embraced by Nero.

Humphrey narrowed his eyes at them, the way Nero held her only told them she wasn't alright.

"What could've gone wrong? Gladys is not one to show emotions out in the open."

Celeste said in a worried tone. He was about to go meet them but Humphrey's hand came to stop him from going any further. Celeste looked at him questioningly. Humphrey's eyes watched them for a little longer.

"Let them be, seems like she needs space. It wouldn't be right for us to approach her when she's messed up."

Celeste shifted his gaze from Humphrey and stared at the duo.

Nero felt heavy stares on them and he slowly turned his head in the direction of his brothers who stared back at him silently.