Brother's Run

Chapter 7: Rebellion

Warning: Strong Language.

Chapter 7: Rebellion.

It had been two weeks since Olivia's last party and word of her throwing another one was floating around the high school. Of course Rory was already all over it asking if we should head over again.

"Maybe we can hang with Nico again." Rory was bugging me to get a reaction, I kept looking ahead. It was only another two weeks before graduation and I'm sure Olivia would have yet another blow out grad party as well.

"That's cool. You going?" I kept my tone calm.

"Yeah, aren't you? Free booze man!"

"I don't want to run into that creep again." We sat under a thick tree growing awkwardly out of the wall behind us. The town may have been built here, but mother nature did not conform to it.

"Seriously, you're still on about that? He's cool man."

"And you know this how?" I shot my dark green eyes at him.

"Come'on I know how to read people." He was being full of himself.

"Pfft, then why're you single. If you know how to 'read'em' so well" I motioned air quotes with my fingers. "You still don't know s**t Rory. People are good at hiding behind masks."

"f**k you Loni, you think I don't know the s**t you've done to save our asses?" Rory had stood up and was now kicking the loose rocks around.

"I'm not saying you don't, but I still think you shouldn't be so… so naive to think everyone is kind just because." I was playing with a long piece of grass I had pulled from the earth. "It's a rare thing when you find someone that is genuinely kind. You know, like not wanting anything in return for their kindness."

"Oh yeah. Like Liz? You honestly think he's just doing all that charity bullshit just because?"

"You kidding me Rory? When the hell has Liz ever asked for anything in return? He's one of the rare ones. Him and his wife." I tossed the grass I'd been fiddling with. "But this Nico guy, Rory. Somethings not feeling right with him, I don't think we should go to Olivia's party. I got some money, we can just find some joe-blow to buy us some drinks."

"Screw you Loni, you f*****g think you know everything. You're the one that doesn't know shit." I hadn't seen my brother so twisted in anger over not being able to go to a party. "You want to sit here and think the world's against us. Well maybe it's just against you."

"Just relax bro, it's not the last party that's going to go down. Why are you acting like this?" I stood to meet my brother's eyes.

"Maybe I'm just tired of you treating me like a f*****g kid" He'd crossed his arms, he was starting to close himself off from me.

"Look… okay maybe I do kinda treat you like a kid… but you're my baby brother." I watched him for a moment and I felt like I didn't know him. He was closed off and we'd never done that to each other before. We'd always been able to talk about anything and make it through. "I can't help but try and keep you from all the bad in the world… maybe that's why you don't know to look deeper than what's on the surface and just go with what people want you to see in them… and-"

"Holy hell Loni, you seriously think that I'm that f*****g dumb?"

"No-"

"f**k you man… you know Nico was right about you. I'm never going to find my potential being in your f*****g shadow." Rory was running and I called out to him, but he didn't stop. I was left alone and I was pissed now.

I was going to find out what that fucker had said to my brother, even if I had to beat it out of him.