Drew casually walked down the stairs trying to be inconspicuous. But he was nervous. Very nervous.
Adam didn't even notice Drew. He was sprawled out of his back on the couch watching a movie. Drew quietly walked up behind him and leaned onto the couch to let Adam know he was there. Adam didn't acknowledge his presence so Drew decided to speak up.
"So…" he trailed off.
Adam turned towards him. "So…" he mimicked.
There was an awkward silence between the two. Adam, noting Drew's nervous ticks raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. After all, Drew was the one to start communication; he was just fine sitting and watching his movie.
"Bianca's coming over," Drew blurted. Adam's face immediately went sour.
"Drew," he whined.
"Adam, she's my girlfriend!"
"But can't you guys find somewhere else to hand out?" Adam asked obviously annoyed already.
"Come on Adam. Mom and Dad are gone for the day; this could be my only chance to have her here," Drew argued.
Adam huffed. "Fine. But I'm not moving." Drew rolled his eyes. "What?" Adam asked.
"Can you at least try to be nice?" Drew pleaded. He was tired of having to defend his girlfriend in front of his brother.
Adam sat up quickly with an angered gleam in his eye. "Dude, your girlfriend is the one who ripped open my shirt and outed me to the whole school," Adam reminded Drew who crossed his arms.
"It was going to happen anyway!" Drew shouted. Adam stood fuming with rage. Drew began to regret getting into this argument but continued on. "Bianca did you a favor!"
Adam scoffed. "And what would that be? Getting thrown through a glass door isn't a favor Andrew! It's torture!"
"Bianca outed you early in the year! If she hadn't, you'd still be the weird new kid with some dark secret," Drew said calming down a bit. Both Torres brothers were red faced and red eyed with anger.
"Because being the transgendered freak is so much better!" Adam shot back sarcastically. "Your girlfriend threatened to kill me, Andrew! To literally kill me! And guess what? I believe her!"
"God dammit Adam! Could you be supportive of me and my choices for like two minutes?" Drew asked frustrated.
"I have! I supported you when Alli was playing hard to get. I didn't tell you how ridiculous you looked when you were trying to impress Fiona. You cried on my shoulder when Alli left. It was me who was there for you after you screwed up the best relationship you'd ever had by hooking up with Bianca. I put up with all of that – not to mention the football drama and the grade drama and the home drama! I always support you Drew!" Adam yelled.
Drew was silent, at a loss for words. Before Drew could say something he might regret, the doorbell rang. Adam groaned knowing who it was and Drew's face lit up with excitement. He rushed towards the door as Adam plopped back onto the couch and continued his movie.
"Hey B," Drew greeted sweetly as he opened the front door to reveal a beautiful looking Bianca. He leaned in and they shared a chaste kiss before he motioned her in with his hand. She looked around the house and noticed Adam sitting on the couch. She smirked at the chance to hit him at home.
"Drew, baby? Could you tell that," Bianca turned her head towards Adam's direction, "tranny," she said loudly to be sure that Adam heard, "to leave?" Adam rolled his eyes, but Bianca couldn't see.
"He was just leaving actually," Drew said choosing to ignore Bianca's snide remark. Drew looked towards Adam but Adam didn't budge.
"Hell no," Adam responded. "This is my house. And I'm not leaving. That slut can leave," he nodded in Bianca's direction.
"Don't call her that," Drew warned but was overpowered by Bianca's voice.
"Listen freak," she said with venom in her voice, "I'm not going anywhere."
Adam held her intense gaze. "Neither am I." They began a stare down. Drew shifted uncomfortably, unsure whether to defend his brother or his girlfriend.
"What would it take for you two to just make up and be friends?" Drew complained; tired of the bad blood between the people he loved.
Drew turned to Bianca who looked towards Adam expectantly. He sighed. "I don't think that she, or her actions, deserve to be forgiven," he said honestly. Bianca rolled her eyes.
"Please, Adam," Drew pleaded. "For me?" Drew sent the puppy down look Adam's way.
"Fine," Adam relented. "All I want from her is an apology." Bianca scoffed at the idea. Drew sent her a warning look.
"What?" she feigned innocence. "I'm not apologizing for something I'm not sorry for."
"Please, Bianca," Drew pleaded mimicking his puppy dog look. "For me?"
"Ugh, fine," Bianca reluctantly agreed. She turned towards Adam. "I'm sorry." She flashed an obviously fake smile and turned back to Drew. "Happy?"
He smiled not even caring that the apology was phony. "Extremely," he nodded. "Now, since you two made up, I can leave the room to get us some snacks and drinks. Be right back," Drew said and left the room.
Bianca searched the room for a place to sit. Adam noticed and shuffled over on the couch to make room for her. She sat down without making eye contact or saying a word. The silence between the two was eerie. They both pretended to be watching the movie still playing but were secretly watching the other out of the corner of their eyes.
Adam shifted in his seat and Bianca's eyes narrowed. Then she caught a glimpse of his arm. There were oddly shaped scars running down his forearm. Bianca recognized the scars as evidence of self harm and spun to face the younger boy.
He turned to her confused as she scooted closer to him. He flinched when she reached out and grabbed his arm but relaxed when she didn't hurt him. Bianca rolled back Adam's sleeve and his body tensed at the now very visible burn marks. Bianca gasped and covered her mouth. Then her eyes moved from his scars to his eyes.
"Adam," she whispered with regret and remorse evident in her voice. Neither expected the following conversation to happen, but it did.