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by Ashley Jade
Although they were awfully close tonight.
Then again, Jace went to the dance with Britney who everyone knows is Dylan’s enemy.
I rub my chin. Maybe that’s why she said yes when Liam asked her to the dance. Dylan was jealous and hurt. Perhaps she wanted to return the favor and give Jace a taste of his own medicine.
And what better way to do it than to use Liam, the brother who has a crush on her. Only, Liam probably thought she said yes because she actually liked him. The sucker.
Meanwhile, Dylan spent most of the dance cozying up to Tommy of all people.
And then somehow, ended up kissing Jace in a closet…where surprise, surprise Liam was magically there to witness it.
I smell a rat. Actually, I smell two of them.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
And a tormenter who likes to stir up shit.
“I j-j-just t-t-told you, dumbas-s-ss,” Liam screams. “I s-s-saw—”
“How did you know we were in the closet?” I can see the moment it finally dawns on Jace. “Goddammit.”
Yup, this shit is bad. Real bad.
Especially considering what Tommy did to Liam right after.
Talk about kicking someone while they're down.
Liam smashes Jace’s television next. “Tommy t-t-told me you were s-s-sneaking around b-b-behind my b-b-back. I didn’t b-b-believe him, but he s-s-said he could p-p-prove it.”
Damn, that asshole is good.
Jace’s face falls. “I’m so—”
A Jimmy Eat World song fills the room. Dylan’s ringtone.
The girl has some balls calling him after what she’s done.
Liam eyes him like a hawk. “Is t-t-that her?”
Of course it is, dumbass. What other girl do we know who’s obsessed with that stupid band?
Jace swiftly presses the ignore button on his phone. Smart move.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Liam places Jace’s brand-new Apple laptop on top of his desk.
My father offered to buy it for him for his birthday, but Jace declined…just like he always does.
Instead he saved up every cent he earned cutting lawns for the past year to buy it himself.
Jace takes a step toward him. “Liam, stop!”
Liam swings at the air—taunting him—before he flips the laptop open and smashes it to smithereens.
I’ve never felt the urge to kill someone before now. I know how hard Jace worked for that.
I know how much he loves Dylan.
And Liam.
This isn’t right. Liam’s acting like a spoiled brat who isn’t getting his way and it’s not fair to Jace.
“Did you t-t-tell her I l-l-loved her?” He swings again. “Did you b-b-both g-g-get a g-g-good laugh?”
“No. I told you I wouldn’t do that to you.”
I believe him. There’s no way Jace would ever betray Liam.
“Ha. Like I c-c-can t-t-trust you,” he screams. “You’re n-n-nothing b-b-b-b-but a liar.”
No, he’s not. He’s a good brother who doesn’t deserve any of the shit Liam’s currently giving him.
“Christ, man. Get a grip,” I yell. “Stop acting like a maniac and destroying Jace’s stuff.”
Liam glares at me. “He k-k-kissed, Dy—”
“Yeah, I know. But Dylan was never yours, dude.” I snort. His oblivion is almost comical. “Did you really think you had a shot with her?” I rock back on my heels, trying not to laugh. “A blind person could see she’s been into Jace for a while now. But even if she wasn’t, no way would she ever date someone like you.”
Despite being weird and bitchy, Dylan’s a dime piece.
Liam isn’t even a five. Well, not anymore.
Some kids at school dubbed him the green-eyed monster because of the scars slashing his face.
Thanks to our parents’ exceptional looks, everyone in our family is well above average looking.
Everyone except him. Now his outside matches his inside.
“Cole,” Jace snaps.
No. If he’s not going to defend himself and stop the Liam pity train…I will.
It’s time someone put Liam in his place. Who better than his twin to do it?
“No one likes you, Liam. Not even your own family.” Disgust rolls through me. “You’re embarrassing. Always looking for attention with your crying and stuttering—”
“That’s enough,” Jace growls, winding his fist back. “Say another word and I swear to God I’ll beat the shit out of you.”
Seriously? Liam destroyed all his stuff, won’t let him be happy with the girl he likes, and somehow, I’m still the problem in this scenario?
It’s like everyone I care about has blinders on and no one can see the real him.
Maybe I should walk around with a mask on too.
One that fools people into thinking I’m so great…just like Liam does.
“Whatever. Screw this.” I look at Liam. I’ve never hated anyone more than I hate him. I’m pretty sure I never will. “Screw you.”
I flip them both the bird. “You assholes sort your own shit out. I’m done.” I start to walk away but pause when I reach the door frame. “I wish it was one of you who died instead of Mom. Maybe then this family wouldn’t be such a disaster.”
With one of them gone, maybe she could have finally loved me.
I’m about to roll over and go to sleep, but there’s a knock on my door.
I ignore it.
I know who’s on the other side and I’m not interested in his bullshit.
Knock, knock.
“Go away.”
“P-p-please,” Liam croaks. “I n-n-need…I n-n-need to t-t-talk to you.”
Oh, hell. Here we go.
Just like our mother, Liam suffers from what my family calls mood swings.
Usually he stays in bed and sleeps it off when he’s upset, but sometimes he’ll stay up for hours on end. Doing stupid shit.
Like painting a mural in the living room. A hideous one at that.
My father was pissed when he saw it. But of course, Liam turned on the waterworks and cried about how much he missed Mom and how she would have liked his ugly ass painting featuring an ugly green butterfly.
Not only did he not get in trouble…the monstrosity stayed on the wall for six months straight.
Another random night he decided to throw out all the food in the refrigerator. When we confronted him about it in the morning, he said he was tired of us killing animals and demanded we all become vegan instantly.
When we objected, he threatened to call the police and tell them we were murderers.
Did he get in trouble? Nope.
We were forced to eat like rabbits until Liam decided he had enough of it a week later and put us out of our misery.
Then there was the time he decided he wanted to learn to play the trombone.
When did he like to practice? Three o’clock in the damn morning.
We were all forced to wear earplugs for two whole weeks…until he decided he had enough and threw it in the swimming pool.
Jace didn’t say a word as he fished it out, but deep down, I knew he realized.
Liam was sick…just like our mother.
But screws loose or not, it still didn’t give him an excuse to act like an asshole and inconvenience everyone around him.
Jace tried to get our father to take him to therapy, but he refused.
Liam, not our father.
Begrudgingly, I open the door. I know if I don’t, he’s liable to set up camp outside and keep knocking all night.
“What do you want?” I ask, ignoring his red glassy eyes and the throw blanket wrapped around him.
Dramatic much?
If he was smart, he would have gone to Bianca’s room. Ever since the accident happened, he’s spent some of his nights in there.
Jace and I used to think it was weird, a bit perverted, but when we went to investigate, we found them with their arms around the other,
shaking and crying.
We decided not to bother them about it again after that.
He brushes past me. “I n-n-need help.”
“Help with what?”
He sits on my bed. “D-d-dylan’s n-n-never going to like me…is s-s-she?”
I’m not one to sugarcoat things, so I tell him the truth. “No.”
Anger flashes in his eyes. “Jac-c-ce betrayed m-m-me.”
“He didn’t betray you.”
It’s not always about him. Any fool could see they’ve been into each other for years. Any fool but him.
Or maybe he can see it. He just doesn’t want Jace to be happy.
More time with Dylan means less time with Jace. His replacement coddler.
“Yes, he d-d-did!” Liam shouts, standing up. “And T-T-Tommy…he…everyone s-s-saw. I’m n-n-never gonna live this d-d-down. It’s gonna get w-w-worse at s-s-school now…i-i-isn’t it?”
“Probably.”
Tears stream down his cheeks. “I w-w-wish people w-w-would s-s-stop making fun of m-m-me.”
“Then stop giving them a reason to.”
The answer is so simple. The dumbass just refuses to blend in.
It’s almost like he enjoys being different from everyone else.
“W-w-what’s that s-s-supposed to mean?”
Not wanting Jace to come in here and yell at me for making him cry, I drop it. “Nothing.” I walk over to my door. “I’m going to bed. Get out.”
Liam shakes his head, wrapping the blanket around him tighter. “They’re going to k-k-keep m-m-making fun of m-m-me. My life i-i-is r-r-ruined.”
I’m not in the mood for this. As far as I’m concerned, he dug his own grave. “Get. Out.”
“I d-d-don’t feel right, C-C-Colton.” Squeezing his eyes shut, he smacks his head over and over. “S-s-something is w-w-wrong.” A strangled sob breaks free. “It hurts t-t-too m-m-much.”
Seeing him in so much pain shouldn’t feel so good…but it does.
Once again, I point to the door. “I don’t care.”
“I m-m-miss Mom,” he sobs. “She’s the only one w-w-who ever loved m-m-me. She t-t-told m-m-me I was s-s-special.”
I bet she did.
Anger races over my skin, and I grab his arm. “Then maybe you should join her.”
“W-w-what?”
“Get out of my room!” I yell, my frustration rising. “I wanna go to bed.”
Liam plants his feet, refusing to budge. “N-n-no.”
He’s given me no choice. Tightening my grip on his arm, I yank him toward the door.
Liam fights me the entire time, but I’m stronger, so I win.
“W-w-why w-w-won’t you let me s-s-stay? W-w-why do you hate me s-s-so m-m-much?”
Because everyone compares me to him.
Because I don’t exist when he’s around.
Because I’m tired of constantly being eclipsed by him.
Because he’s sensitive, weak, fragile, and fake.
Because he’s allowed to have flaws.
Because he’s everything I’m not.
“Because you’re you.”
And I’m me.
He scowls. “W-w-well, m-m-maybe I hate you t-t-too.”
I look him right in the eyes. “Good.”
It will be the only thing we ever agreed on.
I turn the doorknob. “Leave.”
He sniffles, wiping his face with his blanket like the baby he is. “Please, Colton. I d-d-don’t w-w-want to b-b-be alone.”
He tries to close it, but I don’t let him. “And I don’t want to have an annoying twin brother who refuses to leave my room, but hey…life’s not fair.” I get close to his face. “Now get out before I punch you.”
“Colton.”
I point to the hallway. “Out. I’m tired of looking at your stupid face.”
Head hanging low, he finally leaves my bedroom.
I slam the door behind him so fast his blanket gets trapped.
“My b-b-blanket.”
If I open it, I’ll have to see him again. Screw that.
“Oh, well.”
There’s some grunting and tugging on his end until I hear the tearing of fabric.
Finally, he’s gone.
Pain.
Sharp shooting pain that makes my entire chest feel like it’s caving in.
I spring up in bed. Liam.
I look at the clock on the nightstand. It’s just after three in the morning.
Liam’s probably sleeping.
Another sharp shooting pain stabs through my heart like a needle through a pincushion. It hurts.
It hurts so bad I have no choice but to cry out. “Liam.”
The idiot better not be doing something he’s not supposed to. I’m not in the mood for another diet change or ear-piercing trombone playing incident.
I should go check on him. Make sure he isn’t hurt while doing God only knows what.
Lifting the covers, I swing my legs over the bed.
But just like that…the pain subsides.
He’s fine.
Yawning, I slide back into bed and fall asleep.
“What do you want to eat, Cole?” Jace grunts as he continues making pancakes.
Only they aren’t just pancakes. They’re Liam’s favorite breakfast food.
“My favorite breakfast food.”
I know I’m ruffling his feathers, but I don’t care. Why should Liam get special treatment when he destroyed Jace’s room?
“Fine,” Jace says, visibly agitated. “Since it’s no longer scrambled eggs, what’s your new favorite?”
Smiling smugly, I push my cereal bowl away. “Frittatas and crème brûlée.”
I’m not sure what a frittata is, but I once heard our father ask his secretary to get him one.
It sounds fancy and difficult to make. Perfect.
Jace looks up at the ceiling. “You’ve never had a frittata in your life. Also, crème brûlée isn’t a breakfast food, it’s dessert. And just so we’re clear—I’m not a motherfucking chef, so either eat the shit I’m making or don’t.”
“Why is everyone still yelling?” Bianca whines as she plops down in the seat next to me.
“Because Jace likes Liam more than he likes me.”
I’m not one to beat around the bush.
“That’s not—”
“Duh.” She fishes an apple out of the fruit basket. “Everyone likes Liam more.”
Neither is Bianca.
“Mom didn’t. I was her favorite.”
Sometimes the truth hurts so much…I prefer to tell lies.
Bianca starts laughing. “No—”
“Bianca.” Jace gives her a warning look. “Cut it out.” Wiping his hands on a towel, he looks at me. “Why don’t you, me, and Liam hang out today?”
Bianca screws up her face. “What about me?”
“Duh,” he tells her. “We can call Mrs. Garcia and ask her to take us to the mall. Or we can go to the movies.”
Evidently, I’ve scored front row tickets to another Liam show.
No freaking thank you.
“Those are Liam’s favorite things,” I remind him, not that he needs it.
Sighing, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “We can toss a football around the back yard for a little while before we leave.”
Damn him. My Achilles heel. Maybe Jace does care about me after all.
“Okay.” I look at Bianca. “Think Liam will cry like last time?”
“Only if you throw the football at his face again.”
Ah, fun times. “Good idea.”
“Will you stop?” He tosses the dirty pan in the sink and takes out a different one. “Can we spend one damn day together without all the bullshit?”
Bianca nudges me. “What’s his problem? He’s moodier than usual.”
“I can still hear you, you know,” Jace shouts.
Ignoring him, I give her the 411. “Jace and Dylan hooked up last night at the dance and Liam lost his
shit.”
“Why?” She grimaces. “Jace and Dylan have been making googly eyes at each other for months.” She swipes a few grapes from the basket. “I can’t believe Liam actually thought he stood a chance.”
“Here’s a great idea,” Jace grumbles. “How about we not talk about this?”
Bianca makes kissing noises. “But you and Dylan are in love.”
“No, we’re not. We’re uh…we’re taking a break.” He stirs the pancake batter harder. “Until Liam…you know.”
Calms his batshit crazy ass down and permits you to have a life.
“Gives you his permission?” Bianca probes, taking the words out of my mouth.
“More or less,” he mutters.
“That’s dumb,” I declare. “Liam needs to suck it up. The world doesn’t revolve around him.”
“Maybe you and Dylan can see each other in secret,” Bianca offers. “I saw this movie the other day where this lady’s husband left for work, but the pool boy snuck in after. She was so excited to see him she got down on her knees—”
“What the fuck?” Jace and I yell at the same time.
“How did you…where did you…” Jace tries to say, but he’s tripping over his words.
Bianca takes a bite of her pear. “I went into Dad’s room last week looking for some of Mom’s nail polish. I didn’t want to go back downstairs to paint my nails, so I turned on the television and the movie was on.” She pouts. “I didn’t get to finish it though. I ended up spilling the polish on the carpet right when the lady started praying.”
Jace and I exchange a glance.
“Started praying?” I question, hoping we’ve got it all wrong and she was watching some church shit instead of porn.
“Yeah.” Bianca shrugs innocently. “Why else would she be on her knees?”
Well, that’s easy. “Because she was b—”
Jace shoots me a death glare.
“Praying.” I cough. “Bet she was praying real good.”
I make a mental note to find that video and check out her praying skills myself.
Jace flips the pancake on the stove and looks at the clock. “Can one of you go upstairs and get Liam? Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Not it,” Bianca and I utter at the same time.
“Fine—” He starts to say, but the front door opens.
Tension fills the space the moment our father steps into the kitchen.