Growing Pains II: A Matter of Trust

by Debbie Kluge

A spin off from the Jealousy Series. Bobby Evans, close friend of Jonny Quest, and his girlfriend, Francesca Hamilton, struggle with the their relationship and Bobby's father's objection to it.

1. Part 1

THE REAL ADVENTURES THAT AREN'T ABOUT JONNY QUEST THIS TIME

Growing Pains II:

A Matter of Trust

by

Debbie Kluge

Matt Evans flinched as the living room wall shook with the force of the slamming door.  He waited silently, head down and shoulders rigid, knowing what was coming next.

"Where is he?!?" Jim Evans demanded hotly, erupting into the living room. "I will not have that boy walking out on me when I'm talking to him!" He glared at Matt in fury.  "Where did he go?"

Steeling himself, he replied, "He left, Dad."

"He WHAT???? Where was he going?"

Matt shook his head.  "I don't know.  He didn't tell me.  He just came straight up the hall and out the front door."

The older man swore in anger.  Then he threw up his hands in disgust.  "Why do I even bother to ask.  I know where he went! He's gone running to that girl again . . . even though I've told him over and over that I don't want him near her.  Well, this is it! I'm not going to take it any more.  That boy will obey me or . . ."

"Dad, please!" Matt said desperately.  "I know that Bobby's being difficult right now, but . . ."

"Difficult?!?" Jim Evans thundered, turning on Bobby's twin brother in fury.  "I won't have you defending him, do you understand me?" Even though Matt knew that his father wasn't angry at him, he still flinched again. Seeing his son's reaction, Jim stopped and took a deep breath, desperately trying to rein in his temper.  After a moment, he continued in a more reasonable tone.  "I'm sorry, Matt.  You didn't deserve that.  I'm not angry at you."

"I know, Dad.  It's okay."

"Is something wrong?" Both men turned to see Donna Evans, Jim's wife and Matt's mother, standing in the door to the dining room.

"Bobby's taken off again," Jim replied grimly.  "I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy."

Hesitantly, Matt offered, "Maybe the best thing would be to leave him alone for a while . . ."

"Leave him alone???" Jim sputtered, turning back to his son.  "Leave him to run wild with that little she-devil? What kind of an idea is that?"

"Dad, you know how Bobby is!" Matt exclaimed.  "The more you push him about Francesca, the more he's going to fight you.  Maybe if you'd just lay off him for a while, things between them might cool on their own."

"Yes, and while we're waiting for that to happen, she's getting him into more and more trouble.  Mark my words, one of these days the two of them are going to get in way over their heads and the police are going to end up involved!"

Matt stared down at the book in his lap blindly, not saying a word.  So far he'd managed to keep his dad from finding out about the incident last weekend.  His parents had been out of town when Sheriff Cain called to say that they had detained Bobby for malicious vandalism.  When he'd arrived at the jail, he'd found Bobby locked up and Davis Martin, the high school star quarterback, out for blood.  According to Davis, they'd both been at the same party.  Bobby had gotten belligerent and the two of them got into an argument.  Bobby had stormed out and, before leaving, he had keyed the side of Davis' brand new car, scoring the paint all the way down to the metal on one side.  Bobby, on the other hand, claimed that Davis was drunk and making lewd passes at Francesca.  He'd finally gotten so insistent that Bobby had to take action to keep him from physically assaulting her.  He had tossed Davis off the porch and told him to leave.  When Davis returned, still angry, Bobby and Francesca left and went home.  Bobby contended that Davis was just trying to get him in trouble with the cops in retaliation for embarrassing him in front of his friends.  It had been obvious that Davis was drunk, and he couldn't prove that Bobby had done anything to his car, so after several hours, Sheriff Cain had let Bobby go and sent both boys home.

Must be nice to have friends in high places, Matt thought bitterly.  He locks Bobby up for something he can't prove, but he doesn't do anything at all to Davis, who was staggering drunk.  Matt had been able to talk Sheriff Cain and Mrs. Conners into keeping quiet about the incident, but he wasn't sure how long it would stay that way.  This was a small community and Davis had a big mouth.  Sooner or later someone was going to ask his father about the incident.  Then the fat would really be in the fire.

"I think Matt's right, Jim," Donna said quietly.  She caught his arm and shook her head as Jim stared at his wife in amazement.  "Bobby has always been stubborn . . . just like you.  And the more you push him, the angrier he's getting.  I don't like Francesca, either.  But trying to force him to stop seeing her just isn't working.  Isn't it time to start trying something else?"

Jim sighed in frustration.  "I know.  But I don't know what else to do.  I wish to God the Quest boy was here.  He and Bobby were always so close. Surely Jonny could talk some sense into him."

"I'm afraid not, Dad," Matt said sadly.  "Jonny tried when Bobby first started dating her and he wouldn't listen, even then.  Bobby's convinced that all of us have it in for Francesca and that we're being unfair to her. Unfortunately, he's particularly suspicious of Jonny."

"But why?" his mother asked helplessly.  "Of everyone, Jonny is the only one who seems willing to give the girl a chance."

Matt shook his head.  "No, Mom, he's not.  Jonny has no illusions about Francesca.  He's tolerated her because he values Bobby's friendship, but he doesn't trust her any more than the rest of us.  Bobby knows that, or at least he senses it, and it's only adding to the problem."

"If only the two of you could have gone away to school," Jim said helplessly.  "It would have gotten your brother away from that girl and give both of you a chance for a better life.  And it certainly isn't fair that you're having to pay for your brother's lack of judgment."

"It's okay, Dad."

"You should have gone on," Matt's mother said quietly.  "We could have found some way to send one of you.  You didn't have to wait for your brother."

Matt looked away.  "I don't mind," he repeated.

"Matthew . . ."

"It wouldn't have been right . . . leaving without Bobby."

"The time's coming, son," his father said, sitting down beside him on the sofa.  "I know how close you and your brother have always been, but you're almost an adult now.  The time's coming when you and Bobby will have to go your separate ways.  Maybe now's the time . . ."

Matt shook his head sharply.  "No! Not now.  He's gonna need me . . . when all of this crashes, he's gonna need for me to be here."

Jim sighed and caught his son by the nape of his neck, squeezing affectionately.  "You're a good brother, Matthew . . . and a good son.  I just hope your brother appreciates it."

* * * * *

"He's a fossil! He just doesn't understand!"

"I know . . ."

"He won't listen to anything I say! He just yells at me all the time . . ."

"I know, Bobby.  It will be okay . . ."

Bobby Evans spun and glared at the dainty, black-haired girl that sat curled up in the corner of the sofa.  "It won't be okay! Francesca, don't you understand? He's telling me that I can't see you any more!"

Francesca Hamilton reached a hand out to the young man in front of her. "Bobby, come here." She smiled at him encouragingly.  "I know you're angry. I understand.  But going crazy isn't going to help.  Please, come sit down. You shouldn't be pacing like that.  It's not good for your leg."

Bobby sighed and limped over to sit down next to Francesca.  "I'm sorry.  He makes me so nuts."

"I know.  It's just that he cares about you and he doesn't like to see you drifting away from him."

"How can you defend him?" Bobby demanded.  "He's trying so hard to break us up."

Francesca smiled.  "I can defend him because I feel sorry for him.  Bobby, I'm not afraid of him because I trust you.  You say you love me and that you won't leave me.  You mean that, don't you?"

Bobby sat motionless for a long time, staring into her incredible, violet eyes.  "Yes," he said hoarsely.  "I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I'd do anything for you."

Francesca reached out and caressed his cheek softly.  "Then I have nothing to fear from your father.  I know it's hard, but as soon as you finish your therapy and you're completely well, we can go anywhere and do anything we like and there's nothing your father can do to stop us."

"God, I will be so glad when that time comes.  I hate this place!"

Francesca contemplated her boyfriend in silence.  When Connor Leeds first brought her back to Rockport last fall, she had intended to pick up where she left off with Jonny Quest.  But she quickly found that wasn't going to be possible.  She had underestimated both the level of his hatred for her and her own ability to convince him it had not been her fault. Additionally, she had not anticipated how much Jessie Bannon had changed in the two years since their previous encounter.  She simply couldn't find any kind of weakness to exploit between the two of them.  It was like they were joined at the hip.

But then providence had intervened and presented her with the perfect opportunity.  She had been searching for Jessie Bannon that Friday afternoon when she came upon Marla Dawson and Bobby Evans in the middle of a highly vocal fight just outside the Rockport High School gym.  Watching the two of them, Francesca immediately saw how she could insert herself into Jonny Quest's inner circle.  Bobby was Jonny's best friend.  Become his girlfriend and she would have the access that she needed.

Francesca was surprised at how easily she was able to dispose of the Dawson girl.  It hadn't required any effort at all.  She simply showed an interest in Bobby and the rest of it just fell into her lap.  Marla had taken the break-up really hard and for a time Francesca had been concerned that her distress would sway Bobby.  But it hadn't.  It took her a while to realize that there was something eating at Bobby that he kept very carefully hidden. So hidden, in fact that even his own twin brother didn't realize it existed.

Bobby Evans was bored.  Bored half out of his mind.  He was highly intelligent and creative and had a tremendous amount of ambition.  Francesca found that what everyone else called "stubbornness", was actually an incredible amount of confidence in his own abilities and a generous dose of self-discipline.  He set goals for himself and then pursued them with the determination it took to achieve them.  Additionally, he was seldom swayed by the arguments of others once he had made up his mind about what he wanted.  Even more surprising was the discovery that he was incredibly good at deception.  The townspeople described him as serious and dedicated. Well, he was . . . it was just that most of them didn't realize that what he was the most strongly dedicated to was getting out of Rockport . . . for good.

He was a strange mixture of contradictions; a combination that excited Francesca more and more the longer she knew him.  He hated the small town environment and everything that came with it.  And yet, he could be deeply involved in projects that were highly community-oriented and enjoy himself enormously.  The Camden Christmas puppet show was an excellent example.  She knew that he enjoyed the children more than anything else, yet he was very vocal about not wanting children of his own.

Then there was his relationship with his family.  He loved his twin brother intensely.  And, if the truth were known, he loved his parents just as much. The fact that he couldn't get along with his father didn't change that.  But the older he got, the more desperate he was to get out of Rockport.  He had told her once that he felt as though he was being smothered and there were times when he literally couldn't seem to breathe.

Even more surprising was the discovery that deep down, Bobby envied Jonny Quest so much that it was like a cancer eating at him.  Jonny had everything that Bobby thought he wanted out of life.  Jonny had money, freedom, an exciting lifestyle, and a gorgeous, fun-loving girlfriend.  Not that Bobby ever had any desire for Jessie Bannon.  He'd had more sense than that.  But Francesca was certain that, long before she had made her appearance in his life, Bobby had compared Jessie and Marla in his own mind and Marla Dawson had come up seriously short.  The very idea of spending his life with a woman who would be happy to live out her days in Rockport and do nothing other than raise babies must have been enough to make him want to run screaming from the future.  So when Francesca had turned up looking for a new boyfriend, all it took was a sad look and the smallest hint of encouragement for him to drop Marla like a stone.

Francesca knew that a lot of her appeal to him was the "badness" that Jim Evans found so hateful.  She was exciting, mysterious, and dangerous . . . all of the things he'd been longing for and thought he had no chance of finding in this small, insular community.  The drinking, the joy-riding, the defiance of authority . . . she hadn't had to push him much.  He was open to just about anything.  Although she had been surprised over that incident with Davis Martin and his car.  It was the first time she'd seen Bobby do anything actively illegal.  Yes, he'd committed underage drinking - although, thank God he hadn't been doing it that evening - and he was prone to speeding when they were alone, but that was the extent of it.  But when he picked up that broken bottle and deliberately raked it down the side of Davis' car she could hardly believe it.  She knew he had been angry.  In fact, when he caught Davis trying to force himself on her, she really thought Bobby was going to take him apart.  But even in the heat of anger, Bobby could be introspective.  He tossed Davis off the front porch in front of all the other guests, calling him a host of vulgar names, and then waited for him to retreat back into the house.  Then the two of them slipped away and Bobby did a real number on the side of Davis' brand new BMW.  He'd been careful, too, using his handkerchief to hold the bottle and making sure not to touch the finish of the car so there was no chance of fingerprints.  They were sitting in the swing on the front porch of the Conners' house when Davis had come roaring up like an avenging angel.  It was Mr. Conners that called the sheriff after Davis began making threats against both of them. Bobby had told her later that he knew the sheriff would haul him in . . . Davis Martin had that kind of pull.  But he also knew that they couldn't prove anything, particularly after Francesca stated that she was willing to swear that they had been together the whole time and that Bobby had not gone near Davis' car.

That was the side of Bobby Evans that no one else ever saw.  She suspected that years of having to stifle his intelligence and ambition while he waited to reach the age when he could strike out on his own had begun to turn him bitter.  Seeing his best friend given the kind of freedom and responsibility he wanted hadn't improved the situation, either.

Initially, Francesca had taken Bobby for a useful tool and nothing else.  It had been the day of the skiing accident that she had first begun to see that Bobby Evans might be more to her than just an avenue to get to Jonny Quest. She had been feeling trapped . . . caught between Connor Leeds' desires and Richard Baxter's might.  She had been alone with no one she could rely on to cover her back and she was feeling seriously in over her head.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, Bobby Evans had stepped up and given her something no one had ever offered her before . . . love.  He honestly cared for her as an individual, rather than being concerned with preserving her because of what she could do for him.   He'd even cared enough to risk his own life for her. It was a feeling she had never known before . . . not even from her own father.  What made her decide to risk her own life to save his she would never know, but it had been the best decision of her life.

It had taken some time for her to realize that not only had he come to care for her, but she loved him, too.  She hadn't wanted to admit it, not even to herself.  All her life she had been taught that caring for anyone or anything was a weakness.  But it was during those long days of waiting to see if he was going to live that an incident brought home to her how much Bobby Evans had come to mean to her.  She had been waiting for a call from Leeds.  When her cell phone rang, she had fully expected it to be him. At the time, she had been injured, exhausted, and under tremendous strain and it had caused her to let her guard down.  She thought the caller was Bobby, and she was totally unprepared for the surge of joy that filled her at the sound of his voice.  Nor was she prepared for that sense of desolation when she realized that the caller was not Bobby, but his brother Matt.  The depth of both reactions had finally forced her to take a close look at the way she really felt about him.  The truth had shaken her, but it was also like a ray of sunlight in the midst of utter darkness.  It gave her the strength to deal with Baxter and Leeds, as well as the news of her father's death.

Francesca chuckled ruefully to herself.  In many ways, she and Jonny Quest were a lot alike.  They had a lot of common interests and the same daredevil spirit.  But when push came to shove, Jonny was weak.  If he was as strong as she was, she would have died in Cairo, the way Connor Leeds had died on the beach below the Quest Compound.  She hadn't told Bobby about that. Maybe she never would.  Leeds had stood in the way of her chance to build a new life with Bobby.  As long as he was alive, he was a threat to her, and she wasn't going to allow that to happen.  So Leeds killed Baxter, she killed Leeds, and it all ended on that rocky beach back in December.  When Bobby woke from the coma three weeks later, she had been prepared to start again and she worked tirelessly to build the relationship between the two of them.  Now they were all but inseparable and she thought that there was very little that could ever come between them.  Except maybe for Matt . . .

The closeness of the bond between the two brothers was something that she didn't think could ever be broken.  She considered herself lucky that she recognized that fact very early on.  She'd made it a point to be pleasant to Matt, no matter how nasty he was to her - and he could be extremely nasty when he was in a bad mood - and she never said a bad word about any member of his family.   Because Bobby's family didn't have the sense to follow the same restraint when talking to Bobby about her, they had actually driven him even more strongly to her.   But no matter how angry he became, Bobby could never seem to imagine life without his brother.  Even when he talked about the two of them leaving Rockport for good, it was always with the assumption that Matt would go with them.  Francesca wasn't sure what was going to happen when the time came to go, because she got the distinct feeling that Matt Evans had no desire to leave . . . at least not permanently.

Francesca sighed.  "I know you hate it here, Bobby.  So do I.  But it won't be much longer.  As well as you're doing, you may even qualify for mid-term admission at MIT.   That would mean you could leave as early as January."

Bobby rose abruptly and turned away.

"What?" Francesca demanded.  "What's wrong?"

"I'm not going to MIT," he replied stiffly.

"Why not? You were scheduled to start last month.  All this has done is delay your admission."

"That was another bomb my dad dropped on me today," he replied bitterly. "There's no money to send Matt or I to school.  Everything that was set aside for that purpose went toward my medical bills."

"Well, if not MIT, then what about the University of Maine? That's in-state so the tuition will be a lot less."

Bobby shook his head.  "Not there either.  No money."

"But surely there's financial aid and stuff . . . "

Bobby shook his head again.  "We don't qualify.  You know that my dad owns his own business, right?  Well, all the equipment and stuff are considered assets, so on paper my parents look like they're worth a lot more than they really are.  It doesn't matter that if he sold all that stuff, he would have no way to make a living . . . it's still considered 'liquid assets' and he's expected to use it to send us to school."

"Can't he borrow against the value of the equipment?" Francesca asked, bewildered.

"No.  A couple of years ago, Dad took on a partner . . . a guy from New York . . . and they've pledged the value of the assets toward an expansion project.  It's security or something.  So if Dad tries to borrow against it to send us to school, the expansion project falls through."

"But . . .   Surely, he's not . . .  What did he say about school???" she demanded.

"He says," Bobby said carefully, "that I can go to work in the plant and maybe by next year or the year after we'll have enough money saved to send the two of us to the local junior college."

Francesca stared at him, aghast.  Bobby was on the edge already.  There was no way he would last for another year or two, being stuck in this dull backwater.  Anger flared and she stiffened in her seat.  Well, maybe his father couldn't come up with alternatives, but she could.  She wouldn't allow him to shrivel and die in this place! Rising swiftly to her feet, she crossed the room and hugged him tightly.

"You are not going to be stuck here for another two years! We'll figure something out."

"Yeah? And what would that be?" he responded bitterly.

"I don't know yet, but we'll find some way out," she replied, holding him close.  Reluctantly, he put his arms around her, returning her embrace.  She stared up into his eyes intensely.  "Bobby, do you trust me?"

"Yes," he sighed.  The last of his anger had fled, leaving him numb and exhausted.

"Then I want you to trust me on this.  One way or the other, we'll be out of here by Christmas."

His eyes snapped sharply into focus as he stared down at her, startled. "Three months? How?"

Her lips thinned as she gazed vacantly into the distance.

"Leave that to me."

* * * * *

"You don't know how much I appreciate all your help, Matt.  I'm afraid that math just isn't my thing." Marla Dawson smiled at the brown-haired young man sitting beside her, in gratitude.

"It's not a problem, Marla.  Math just takes practice.  I'm glad I could help."

She shook her head sharply, causing her shoulder length brown hair to obscure her face briefly.  "That's not true.  Some people are just naturally better at it than others.  If it hadn't been for Bobby, I probably never would have made it through geometry." She hunched slightly at the mention of Matt's brother.  "I . . . I mean . . ."

"I know, Marla," Matt replied consolingly, patting her hand.  "It's okay."

The girl closed her trig book abruptly and stood, saying, "Well, I guess I'd better think about heading home.  It's gotten dark already.  I'm gonna use the bathroom and then I'll be going." In the island of light formed by the lamp that hung over the Evans' dining room table, her face looked strained.

Unable to control himself, Matt reached out and caught her hands.  "Marla, I thought . . . I mean . . . You said last March that you had let go of the idea of Bobby . . . that you were ready to move on . . ."

She smiled down at him painfully.  "I've discovered that saying it is one thing, but actually doing it is another."

"Do you still love him?" Matt asked bluntly.

She was quiet for so long, he thought she wasn't going to answer.  "I don't know," she finally replied.

"It must be hell for you, being around me," he said bitterly, slumping in his chair.

Marla looked at him in amazement.  "What are you talking about? Why would you think that?"

"It's not like you can forget him . . . not when every time you look at me it's like staring him in the face all over again."

She sat down once more, turning to hold his hands tightly.  "Matt, your continued friendship through this whole thing has been one reason I've coped as well as I have.  If my friends had chosen sides when Bobby and I split, I don't know what I would have done.  And I really believe that one of the reasons they didn't, is because you didn't turn away from me." She smiled at him gently.  "You know, the two of you don't look that much alike to me."

Matt laughed uncomfortably, sitting up and carefully withdrawing his hands from hers.  "You were the only one we could never fool, no matter how hard we tried.  I never could figure out how you could tell us apart when even our own parents couldn't."

She shrugged.  "I can't explain it.  I just always knew."

"Well, as long as you aren't uncomfortable being around me . . ."

"Never!"

Matt forced a smile as he said, "Why don't you get your stuff together and I'll run you home."

As he watched her leave the room, his smile faded to be replaced by a stark look of yearning.  What was he going to do? He knew he should tell her how he felt, but what would it accomplish? Asking her to become involved with him was like asking her to live in constant torment.  Not to mention how Bobby would feel about it.  He was already upset that Matt continued to be Marla's friend.  What he would say if he ever found out that Matt was in love with his old girlfriend didn't even bear thinking about.  And even if Bobby could come to accept a relationship between them and Marla could learn to care for him that way, Matt wasn't sure he would ever be certain that Marla loved him for himself or because of some holdover of her feelings for his twin brother.  One way or the other, Bobby would always be there, between them.  Matt scrubbed at his face in frustration.  The ultimate Ladies man, he thought angrily.  That's what everyone always called me. Wouldn't they all laugh if they knew the truth?  Why the hell did this 'Ladies man' have to fall for the single worst girl he could possibly have chosen?  After a moment, he straightened and chuckled sourly to himself. No, that wasn't true.  There was one girl that would have been worse, but his brother already had that one covered.

God, aren't we the pair? he asked silently.  Then he stood, schooling his face carefully and smiled at his returning companion.

* * * * *

Carefully concealed in the deep shadow of the large lilac shrub that stood at the corner of the yard, Bobby Evans watched his brother through the big dining room window of the Evans home.  As he reached up to shove the hair of out his eyes, he could feel his hand shake with the force of his rage.  How long had this been going on? There was no mistaking the expression on Matt's face as he watched Marla leave the room.  He was absolutely crazy about her! As he stood watching them pack up her books, he wondered if this was what had caused the change in Marla . . . her sudden desire to do things she'd never done and to try to overcome life-long fears.  She knew he didn't mind her phobias.  In fact, dealing with the things that triggered those fears used to make him feel good . . . like he was helping her.  She told him she was doing it for him . . . so she could participate in the things he enjoyed, but now he wondered.  Who was it she was really trying to impress . . . him . . . or his brother? Bobby's feeling of betrayal was so overwhelming it nauseated him.

In some distant corner of his mind, a small voice of reason screamed at him, trying to make itself heard.

Matt would never do something like that to you!

and

He's your brother.  You should trust him!

and

Why should you care? You have Francesca now.  Why does it make a difference who Marla sees?

But his fury drown out that small voice until all that remained was the overwhelming sense of rage and betrayal.  On trembling legs, he turned away from the house and began to walk, knowing only that he didn't dare face any of his family at that moment.

* * * * *

A week later, the three men of the Evans family sat at the breakfast table together.  An uneasy silence reigned as Bobby sat staring sullenly at the tabletop, while his father buried himself behind the morning newspaper. Initially, Matt had tried to engage his brother in conversation, but Bobby refused to cooperate.  Matt kept throwing worried glances his way, unsure what had caused his brother's foul mood for the last several days.

"Well, here's something interesting," Jim commented, lowering the newspaper. "There's been another jewelry store robbery, this time in Portsmouth. Whoever's doing it seems to be moving down the coast.  There have been robberies in Bangor, Ellsworth, Rockland, Portland, and now two in Portsmouth."

Matt looked up with interest.  "Around here? That's pretty weird."

His father scanned the news story again.  "According to the police, it looks like it might be a crew that had been operating in Montreal and Quebec a couple of months ago.  The officer in charge of the case says the crew may be working their way south toward New York."

Neither of them noticed Bobby stiffen.  After a moment, he rose and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" he father demanded sharply.

"Out," Bobby replied shortly.

"You're scheduled to be down at the plant at 9:00 this morning to fill out all the hiring paperwork so you can start work tomorrow.  I don't want you running off somewhere and then turning up late."

Bobby whirled, his anger clear.  "I told you that I don't want to work at the plant.  I can't stand the place!"

With an effort, Jim controlled his temper and, trying to sound reasonable, he replied, "Bobby, we've been over this.  We need for you to work . . . we need the money.  And with your healing injuries, there are limits to what you can do.  The job at the plant will allow you to work in the office at a desk where you can prop your bad leg up when you need to."

"I don't care!" Bobby snarled.  "I WON'T work there.  Not now.  Not ever. Just leave me alone!!!!"

Jim's face turned dark red as Bobby stormed out.  Before his father could rise and go after him, Matt jumped up and said, "Let me try to talk to him, Dad.  Maybe I can reason with him." Before his father could reply, Matt trotted out.  He found Bobby shrugging into his jacket in the front entryway.

"Bobby, wait!" Matt followed his brother out the door and down the front steps.  "Please! Dad's only trying to help . . ."

"Help?" Bobby snarled, turning on his brother.  "Is that what he calls it? He might as well chain me to a wall and feed me bread and water.  He knows that I've never wanted to work in that place.  That's always been your thing . . . not mine.  So when he decides that I have to go to work and he goes to find me a job, what does he do? He slots me into the one place he knows I hate.  Why do you think that is, huh? It's so he can keep me under his thumb and watch me constantly.  He wants to be able to control my every move.  Well, I won't do it, you understand? I won't!!!"

"He's only doing it because he's worried about you," Matt countered desperately.  "We all are.  You've been so upset the last several days.  Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

Bobby's eyes narrowed and his mouth twisted bitterly.  "How can you ask me that? You, of all people? At the very least, I would have expected that you'd be honest and come to me, but nooooo! I trusted you and you turned on me the minute I wasn't looking!!!"

Matt stared at him, dumbfounded.  "What?"

"Oh, don't play innocent with me! I know.  How long, Matt? How long had you played me, huh? I was a blind, stupid fool . . . I admit it.  I didn't see what was going on right under my nose.  Did you enjoy playing the Judas, and making me look like an idiot?"

"Bobby, I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"I'm talking about Marla!"

Every ounce of color drained from Matt's face.  "Oh, God," he whispered hoarsely.  "Bobby, I swear . . . I never meant . . . I don't know how it happened! I've never . . . "

"Oh, stuff it!" Bobby interrupted in fury.  "I don't want to hear it.  You want her so badly? Well, she's all yours, brother, and I hope you're happy, because she's all you've got left.  You've burned your bridges with me!" Whirling, he stormed toward the street.

Matt leaped forward frantically and grabbed Bobby's arm, dragging him to a stop.  "NO!  Bobby, you don't understand.  I never . . ."

With a snarl, Bobby turned and lashed out with his fists, the rage finally overpowering him.  The blow caught Matt in the stomach, doubling him over with a gasp of pain.   Bobby followed up the attack with a full force right to the jaw that flung Matt backward and left him lying unconscious on the sidewalk in front of their house.

"FUCK YOU!" he screamed and then he turned and fled.

(Continued in Part 2)