The Betrayal

"Do you want me to drop you home?" I asked her, looking at that weary face of hers.
Her eyes were smudged with kohl and tears continuously fell down her cheeks. I knew that it had been hard for her to know the truth. I feel even guiltier that I was the one who opened her eyes to it - but it was necessary.
"No, I guess I'll be fine," she replied, faking a smile, "I just need some time to myself."
It was in that moment that I knew that she was totally broken, and no matter how much I wanted to hug her tightly and never let her go, I even realized that she didn't need my sympathy. All she needed was love, and at present, no matter how much love I give her, it won't suffice.
I am Jack - Julie's elder brother. She is 5 years younger to me and while I am in my twenties, she is still struggling with her teenage years. We have never been much into the brother-sister relationship thing. We have never really connected to each other much. But, we always knew that we would be there, to take a stand for each other, in difficult times of life, just like this one.

It all started when Julie brought home her 18 year old boyfriend - Mac. He was one year elder to her, and came across all of us as a really good guy. His blue eyes were the thing I envied the most, and his behavior towards us was stunningly appealing. Both my mother and I liked him as much as Julie did, and as days passed by he had turned into quite a family member. He would visit us on the weekends and talk endlessly about things going on in his life, as if he really wanted to keep us updated. It made us feel as if we were a part of his life, and mom was really impressed with him. But, I always wondered how could a boy be so perfect. He had to have some flaw in him which we may have failed to notice in the beginning. You may think that I was over-thinking it, but I needed to be sure. After all it was about my sister.
A month later, when I got out of my room to fill my water jug, I saw Julie climbing the stairs at 2 in the night. I was surprised since she had never returned home so late, and it was really unusual of her to do so. I thought about going to her to talk about it, but I could clearly see the way her eyes had reddened up, and she was visibly sleepy, so I let it go. The next day she was her normal self and like everyday, cheerfully came down to the breakfast table.
"How come you happened to get late yesterday night?" I asked her, trying not to sound like a dotting parent, "Did you have some last minute plans with your friends?"
"Last night?" she asked, with a tone of surprise in her voice, "I don't really remember when I got home last night."
"Were you drunk?"
"I don't think so," she replied, "The last thing I remember is sitting with Mac on his couch and that was at 10 p.m."
"How come you don't just remember anything, Julie?" I asked, with my voice growing sterner, "You turned up home at 2 in the night."
"Oh! Don't worry about that. I must have fallen asleep and Mac must have carried me home in his car so that he doesn't disturb me. It happens quite often when I am exhausted with the day's work."
"But you don't remember a thing..."
"Stop it, Jack," she interrupted, "I must've not paid attention to the time. Don't stretch it any further."

However simple she made it sound, I was convinced that it was not exactly the truth. Maybe, Julie didn't realize it, but there sure was something fishy.
The next few days, I observed her. Almost every alternate day, she would turn up home late, and the next morning she wouldn't remember why she had been late. The excuse was always the same. She trusted Mac with all her heart and never thought that he would even try to hurt her. I was concerned for her, but I didn't know what to do. I did have something in mind, but I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.
The next day, I followed her all around - from her high school to the restaurant and hen finally to Mac's house. Through those windows, I could clearly see what went on inside. My eyes widened and just when I wanted to kick the hell out of Mac, I saw a person pulling up in front of his house. As that guy in black stepped into his house, I saw my worst nightmare coming true. I realized that this was what had been happening for the past few days, and no matter how much I would want to explain to Julie about it, she wouldn't believe me if it came across her like this. I turned my car around and drove back home with a heavy heart. When she returned home, walking up with tired steps, I held her hand and she instantly fell down as if she could walk no further. I picked her up in my arms and carried her to her room. I pulled the blanket to cover her up and I sat there crying for my little sister. I was sure that she wouldn't even remember this when she got up the next morning. I knew that the next day was going to be a bit tough on her but she had to face it.

The next day, as usual she came down cheerfully and sat on the breakfast table. I looked at her with concern in my eyes, and she happened to catch me looking at her.
"What is it, Jack?" she asked, in her sweet, charming voice, "You want to say something?"
I moved my hand over her head affectionately, ruffling her hair a little. He face broke out into a smile, and I loved seeing her that way.
"Can I drop you to high school today?" I asked her.
"You want to?" she asked, with surprise in her voice.
I nodded my head and she gleamed with happiness, "Sure."
On the way up there, I tried to make a conversation with her, so that I could just let her get a hint about things.
"So Julie," I said, "You've been going to Mac's place quite regularly these days, haven't you?"
"Yes," she replied,with enthusiasm, "He's like the perfect boyfriend, Jack. I don't know how I always end up dozing off at his place, and he happens to carry me to his car and leave me home everyday. The next morning he always describes how I looked when I slept, and it's adorable the way he describes everything. I just love him so much."
"I see," I said, trying to stifle my tears, "Would you be mad at me if I told you something?"
"Of course, not."
I knew that she meant it when she said it, but she didn't know what was coming up.
"I followed you yesterday all the way to Mac's house."
Her face suddenly went pale and it was obvious that she wanted to scream at me, but she did not.
"Are you mad?" I asked.
"Yes, I am. But I understand that you're my brother and you'd want to peep into my life, every now and then."
"Julie, I didn't want to peep in your life. I just wanted to know what's wrong with you nowadays."
"Now you know there's nothing to worry about."
"Actually there is."
I could literally see her face turning paler, and her eyes throwing dozens of questions at me, "Jake?"
"Tonight, don't drink what he offers you. Pretend to do it, but don't drink it. You'll know the truth for yourself. Just to let you know, I'll be there right outside."

Julie did want to go screaming like dogs, but she trusted me. She did exactly what I told her to do and now after she had taken the courage to do it, she sat on a bench on those lonely streets outside Mac's house, crying like everything was over.
"We'll report him, won't we?" she asked, looking up at me.
"Of course, we will," I said, grabbing her in to a tight hug.
Half an hour back, Mac had offered her a glass of soft drink, like he always did when she came to visit him. Like every other time, he had mixed those drugs in her drinks, but she didn't have it today. Instead she went up to the sink, when he wasn't around, and poured it all down the drain. She sat back on that couch, waiting for him to come back. By this time, usually, she would be knocked down and wouldn't remember a single detail of what followed, but today she was in her senses. A moment later, a car arrived on Mac's driveway and a young boy walked up to his house. Mac opened the door for him, and let him in. Julie was not sure about what was happening and ten Mac asked the boy to take her inside. That was when she realized what he had been doing these past days. She hurriedly got up, and rushed to the other side of the sofa, before the boy could even touch her.
"Julie, go inside with him," demanded Mac.
Although he was now aware that she was in all her senses, he didn't want to lose the deal he had gotten himself.
"Are you insane," she shouted, "You want me to get fucked by this guy, and for what?"
"Come on, he'll pay me and you can have half of it."
"How can you even say this? You've betrayed me."
"Oh! come on. This is not the first time. You've already had a few customers for yourself," he replied.
His words struck her like lightning and she ran defending herself from him. He caught her and forced her to sit back, but she struggled. The door bashed open, and I ran in trying to protect my sister, while I almost knocked those guys dead, and now we are sitting in those lonely streets.
"You're brave, Julie," I finally said, "You fought him."
"Thanks Jack. Do you think we should tell mom about it?"
"We should," I said as I patted her back, "She'll understand."
She smiled and her smile displayed her courage. She was fighting this moment and she wasn't alone. I am always going to be there, beside her.