Basorexia

Unspoken Rules.

T Y L E R -

Hunter and my "relationship" has always been... different. Ever since I can remember, we have been closer than others liked or approved of, and we were quite protective and possessive over each other when someone else tried to step in. Hunter and I had a complicated upbringing, a history we kept private. The two of us knew about it and no one else needed to. It was a silent agreement between the two of us. It was never discussed or debated, it was an unspoken rule we had mutually agreed upon. When girlfriends or late night flings would try to dig into our lives, it was one of the fastest ways to get us to close up. Within a few days after that, we would have cut the person off. Sure, we were men who had basic desires and needs, but we also had secrets and a basic need for privacy. As we grew more popular and more devoted to our sports, more girls would try to permanently tie themselves to us. It wasn't exactly unheard of for a lady to punch a hole in a condom before hooking up with us. This is why we always only used Brooks Provided protection. All others were thrown out. No questions asked.

Hunter and I weren't actually related in any way, we were simply just step-brothers. Somewhere along the line, rumors got crossed and people started to believe we were half-brothers. After so many questions, it simply got easier to agree with them than explain the truth. Most of the time, it felt as though I had known Hunter my whole life, even though we first met when we were only twelve and thirteen. We were practically inseparable. Always there for one another, supporting each other and having each other's backs, but recently he's changed. It really hit within the last few years. Hunter had grown more distant, sharing fewer conversations with me; at first only outside the house, but soon enough it was everywhere. We only had small-talk conversations and shared looks towards one another now. He created the distance between us, yet every time I caught him gazing at me, I could tell he wanted to be close to me again, but he wouldn't allow himself to.

When Mayson showed up, I noticed it more often - the brown-haired, dorky, shy little Mayson. He was thrown upon us with a last-minute notice to everyone involved. A simple text from our father, who was already on his way to Florida, laid it out for us. I knew who the boy was. He always ran out on the track for an old teacher of mine. Sprints, distance, suicides: every different way of running you could think of, Mayson did it. Even though it wasn't his choice, he had gained a sculpted runner's body. He was still slim like a twig, but you could see the defined outlines of all his muscles. I quite enjoyed the fact that Mayson was staying over with us.

I've never actually talked to Mayson besides when we were little. I doubt that he remembered much of it, but our fathers had worked with one another for over twenty years, long before Hunter even came into my life. I would go be my father's little assistant at the firm whenever our nanny would cancel, and I would see him walking around with stacks of papers too big for him to carry. I would help, but in the end, we would both laugh too much and drop all of them. Our fathers would scold us for touching things we shouldn't and for making too much noise, then we would move on... but that was twelve years ago and now it was so different. Most of the memories I have of it were painted for me from old work videos my father kept of meetings, not my own memory. Every so often you would notice a blonde kid and a brown-haired kid running past the glass window walls.

As many of those happy experiences I shared with the kid, I also knew that Hunter had beaten up Mayson before. I felt bad for not stepping in when I realized who he was, but Hunter had kicked my ass for stepping in once before. Being the older, stronger Brooks brother, it was something that I stayed out of. His social image was one of the most important things to Hunter once he joined the American football team. He couldn't be the 'big, bad, undefeatable American football player' if he had a little brother who kept at bay. I knew he didn't hold any serious anger or resentment against me, but he had already proven he would keep that image even if it meant a few punches between us. I wasn't easily pushed around by him. Last time we fought, I gave him a nice shiner for a few weeks, and he gave me a dislocated elbow.

Groaning, I pulled myself from my bed and looked around my room. I had picked it out when we first moved into this house. I had designed the interior when I was eleven and I still loved it. My room was large, with a black-painted, slanted ceiling, towards my back wall. A tall window reaching from floor to ceiling looked into the garden. The rest of the room had white walls and dark spruce wooden floors. Pulling on joggers over my naked body, I ruffled my morning hair and slid a Ravenclaw Harry Potter beanie over my head. Glancing in the mirror, I made sure my striking blonde locks still poked out the front. I loved wearing beanies, but I never wanted them pulled over my hairline unless it was snowing outside. Opening the door, my eyes squinted at the blinding light that beamed in between the hallway window blinds.

The room Mayson was staying in was the last door, right before the staircase. I stared at it for a few seconds, wondering if he was already up. I knew it wasn't my place to peak it, but I couldn't help myself. It's my home I reasoned with my doubt. Slowly twisting the knob, I pressed the door open silently. Mayson laid with his head at the foot of the bed, mouth parted, and snoring softly. The blankets were twisted around him, covering his body. A grin creased up my lips, the sight was funny and cute in an innocent way. As I silently closed the door, I heard a clunk from downstiars. Unlike Mayson, Hunter was an early riser. He was always awake by five in the morning to go for a morning run and then school if we had it or the gym if not.

"Wow, I'm-" I stopped to clear my throat. Hunter was leaning against the kitchen counter as I walked. I realized how husky my voice was from a good night's sleep when I heard myself. Hunter was beginning to grow his beard out as well as his long hair. The dark locks curled under his ears as he styled it straight back with his fingers. The way it looked right now was my favorite, his hair was just long enough to tuck behind his ears and the hair over his face was messy yet clean; I wonder how different it would feel now.

It was only a few years ago...

The stadium was dead silent while the teams took their last positions. It was the semi-finals championship game of the Oxland High School football team. We were down one field goal, three points, but our star kicker was out with injury and the backup kicker couldn't make one this far out. Number seventy-three huddled around his team discussing what their last play would be to try and score a touchdown. Hunter was the team's star quarterback as a junior, something that hasn't happened at our school in a long time. I watched my brother as everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

The ball was snapped and Hunter desperately tried to find someone who was open, but all the men were covered. Suddenly, someone on the enemy team broke through the defense and was gunning down Hunter. Just as he was hit, Hunter threw the ball. Our running back managed to free himself and take off. As Hunter hit the ground, he rolled over watching what everyone else was. The running back jumped, reaching his arms out as far as he could. Everyone held their breathes as the ball bounced between his palms, struggling to secure it.

Suddenly, the stadium erupted in cheers, screaming at the top of their lungs. Our running back had tipped the ball forwards and grasped it in his hand, just as one foot landed in the in-zone, they said it was only by half an inch that won us the semi-finals championship game, and now we were off to the finals. Hunter had done it. I didn't even have to look, but I knew that he was the one being toppled by his team along with his running back. I didn't rush the field like many others did, I took the chance to escape before being toppled by everyone on the way out. Hunter and I had taken separate cars, but we had a tradition. Whenever we won a game, him or me, we would make our way to the junior-varsity soccer field to celebrate and congratulate each other without the crowd. The field was always empty on our game nights, since junior varsity didn't play the same nights varsity did.

Scrolling through my phone, I jumped at the sound of Hunter's duffle bag landing besides me. I was standing behind the bleachers that faced the woods, and he had climbed to the top to drop it over. It only missed me by an inch or two.

"You're an asshole." I laughed shoving him once he had walked down and made it around, causing him to stumble slightly.

"An asshole that just won the game" he pointed out. Great, I would be hearing that for a while.

"Don't roll your eyes at me" he growled with a slight laugh.

"Make me," I shot back. Rolling eyes had always been a pet peeve of his, and I sure used it every chance I got. Hunted came at me, dodging for my waist, but because of soccer, I was good on my feet. Quickly, I turned and kicked under him. He landed straight on his stomach, grunting on impact. As he rolled onto his back, I jumped on top of him.

"You're faster" he sighed as I pinned his wrists, "But I'm stronger!"

I grunted as he flipped us over, now pinning my arms down. I fought against him, but what he said was true. "Whatever," I rolled my eyes, attempting to get up.

Hunter pushed me back down, one hand firm against my chest. He brought his face close to mine, "Don't roll your eyes at me." he growled, no longer joking around.

I gulped, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. Hunter knew about my undisclosed sexuality and being in this position wasn't good for a hormonal sophomore in high school. I was dominating over anyone I had ever been with, but Hunter dominated me. His eyes didn't move, his body didn't move. He stayed there leaning over me. I knew he could feel my pounding heart beneath his palm. I could feel his breath on my lips as we stared intensely at one another. The cold air allowed us to see the heat leave our lips and it collide into a faint white cloud. At the moment, I couldn't explain what came over me. Hunter loosed his grip and began to lean back away from me slowly. I leaned up pressing my soft lips to his rough ones, hands gripping his shoulders to hold him still. He didn't instantly shove me away, beat me up, and shout at me as I had thought he would. We both froze, our lips pressed against one another in a simple peck.

Slowly, I began to pull my lips away. My head laid back on the grass, staring at him. For once, I couldn't read his expression. I didn't know what he was thinking. His eyes gazed into mine, dancing between my eyes and lips. He took a deep breath and didn't say a word. He stood to his feet, grabbed his bag, and left. I didn't make a move towards him, I didn't ask him to come back or to talk to me. Part of me was screaming to grab him and show him it wasn't a bad thing, but I stayed there on the ground, staring at the sky. As I rolled to my stomach, I watched as he marched away. He took one last glance at me over his shoulder before throwing his hood up and disappearing around one of the buildings.

"I'm surprised your home, your usually-".

"Out? I know." Hunter cut me off. "Is he up yet?" He asked me as I made my way to the cabinets, pulling out my white mug that read Always be yourself unless your Batman... then always be Batman.

"Nope he's still asleep," I shrugged, pouring myself a cup of coffee, "he looks out cold" I laughed to myself, smiling remembering how cute he looked the way he was laying.

"What would you say to a party tonight?" he asked me, breaking the silence that had filled in when I was off daydreaming.

"Hunter, you know how your little parties end up; red cups everywhere, naked people on the lawn, and some chick in your bed that you've never seen before" I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, it wasn't the brightest idea with Mayson over here, and he didn't seem like someone who could keep his mouth shut or let alone someone who had ever been to a party before.

"And your point?" he asked with a smirk, staring at me as I took a sip from my heated cup.

"You really are going to throw a party with him here?" I motioned towards the stairs meaning Mayson, taking a seat across from him at the kitchen island. "My point is that we have one more person to look out for in this house and if dad comes home to him missing or injured we'll be on leashes till we actually build up the integrity to leave this place," I said groaning.

Hunter would party every weekend if I would let him. He loved to get drunk and smoke weed and all the other things the bad boy does in the movies. "Oh come on Tyler," he sang persuasively. He walked towards me and took my cup from my hand, making me pout, and set it on the counter. Parties were the one thing Hunter would ask me for permission for. When I would get too drunk, I had zero common sense or thought process, and he loved it. He also knew from experience that if he had one without my okay, I would make his life living hell for days.

"I said no Hunter. Stop asking." I demanded, giving him a stern look... then there it was. That smirk and the devious glint in his eyes that made my heart pound. He knew what he was doing, he had every understanding of his actions and what they caused. From that night we had never talked about what happened behind the bleachers, but he quickly learned how to move me with one curl of a finger. With his eyes not leaving mine, I felt his hand on my shoulder. As I went to remove it he grasped the sides of my chair and pulled me towards him.

"Make me." he dared, forcing me to let out a shaky breath. His face inched closer to my own. It was something I wanted and, at the same time, it was the one thing I wanted to be as far away from as possible.

Suddenly, he pushed away from me in one swift motion. He turned away, facing forward, reaching for his glass across the island. "Morning Mayson" he said. I could still see the smirk peak out the side of his glass as he took a sip from his shake. Snapping my head to the kitchen barn doors, I noticed Mayson standing there in an oversized shirt and boxers.

At times, I wondered how he did it, Hunter; being able to hear all the things that happened around him even with his back facing the door where Mayson was the whole time, he was still able to know he was there. Grabbing my mug, I stood from my chair. I gave a glance to Hunter, but he didn't look towards me. I forced a soft smile as I looked at Mayson,

"Morning bed head" I laughed as I passed by. I walked towards the living room and found a seat on the couch, to no surprise Mayson followed.

I decided I would take Mayson out to go shopping as Hunter stayed at the house. I needed to get away from Hunter before he antagonized me further about this party idea. We had been shopping for at least four hours. I hated being inside the house, trapped with my brother. I loved my brother and would do anything for him, but with the unreadable way he's been acting lately, I had little trust in what he would and wouldn't do around me. I had taken Mayson to a few different stores, because I needed new clothes and was open to buying a few things he had expressed interest in as well. None of us knew how long our parents would be before they returned home, so we didn't know how long Mayson would be staying with us either. It was nothing extreme, but I made it a point that whenever I bought something Mayson got something as well. There was far too much room in those drawers in his room and way too little clothes. Mayson's dad worked for mine and I knew my father made quite a bit more than Mayson's. We had enough to sit pretty and spend as we wanted, but we never made a point of doing so.

Walking out of the store, we both carried large bags in our hands with different name brands across them. "Could I put my new shirt on?" Mayson asked me. I looked at him in confusion.

"Why are you asking?" I laughed. A simple bush rose to his cheeks as he began to dive through the bags. I would be lying if I didn't glance at him when he was shirtless and scrambled to pull on his new shirt as fast as he could, it made me grin, but I kept my face straight to keep from being caught. He threw on a simple dark, green hoodie that was slightly big on him. Mayson had mentioned to me that he liked wearing bigger clothes. He thought he looked better in them and he felt better. To me, he just looked like a cute kid, so I didn't argue.

"Woah, what's that?" Mayson gasped, leaning forwards in his seat, seeing the big flashing lights from down the street. My hand tightened on the wheel. I already knew exactly what it was. Before we even turned the corner down the long road to our house, I knew what Hunter had done. Hunter throwing a party that was dangerous for all reasons and good for none.

"Damn it," I said below me breathe, tunring up the drive way. "Move out the way!" I hollared out the window at idiots who weren't paying attention. I made sure the garage was empty before closing it behind the car. As I cut the engine, I looked over to Mayson.

"Stay here." I said a little too strict, seeing Mayson tense. The garage was always the one area we marked off limits and physically enforced in the past. For now, it was the only area of the house that I could keep Mayson secluded from the chaos inside. As I climbed out of my truck, I could feel Mayson's eyes glued to me. It was best he stayed in the truck and didn't witness the hell I was about to unleash onto Hunter.

Slowly, I cracked open the garage door and peaked in. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I made sure to do so quietly. Different colored lights flickered around the room and bodies jumped to the music. I could see a sea of red solo cups and smell the wonderful fragrance of body odor and m*******a mixed in the air.

"Fuck." I mumbled, composing myself before shutting the door. The pounding music was a soft muffle as I shut the door. I turned back, seeing Mayson had hardly moved a muscle. He opened the passenger door, standing from his seat and leaning out to see me.

"Have you ever been to a college party?" I asked, hoping somewhere in his body he would have an ounce of understanding to what he was able to experience.

"No" he said shyly, dumping the remaining sour skittles he had asked to get at the candy store we passed into his mouth.

"Alright listen," I told him, gesturing for him to get out of the car. I grabbed the bags from his hands and threw them back in, then pulled his hoodie over his head. "This s**t isn't like any other college party you've seen in movies, it's basically a full-blown rave the way Hunter and I throw it. There's going to be a lot of drunk people, a lot of alcohol, and loud music. Just stick close to me and you'll be fine." I warned him. Honestly, I didn't know if I even believed myself in what I said. Grabbing onto his wrist, I pulled him into the house. A large group shouted my name as they recognized me, bringing even more attention to myself.

I turned to Mayson, putting my face right next to his ear so he could hear me as I yelled, "Go to your room, I'll be up after I find my brother." He nodded and pushed past me. I tried to keep track of him, but his short statue was instantly lost in the crowd. "Alright Hunter Liam Brooks, where the hell is you." I spoke to myself, ignoring the group that tried to wave me over. I gave simple smiles and hand shakes to people who passed me, telling many of them I'd be back to take shots and hit them up later. After wandering around for a while, I finally found him. "HUNTER!".