'What does he have that I don't?' Charlie raged in his mind as he watched a group of girls chatting with Don. School had let out, and for once, Don didn't have to serve detention. Charlie stood separate from the crowds and waited for his brother to drive him home. Charlie hoped Don remembered that he had an appointment with a math tutor after dinner tonight, and he wanted to be able to review the equations he had to do as homework. He thought about reminding Don, but he would probably get angry with him. It didn't take much to get Don angry with him these days.
Another group of girls walked out of the school, and Charlie's eyes were caught on Val Eng. The girl from bio class, the one who treated him like a normal kid. She smiled at Don, who grinned back. A wide, eye crinkling grin. Charlie felt an instant jab of jealousy.
Why wasn't she looking at him like that? So what if he didn't have the social skills his brother had? He had math. Math could do all sorts of things Don couldn't do. Don didn't even know what he wanted to do with his life, and he was eighteen.
Eventually, Don broke away from the gaggle of girls and made his way to the student parking lot. Charlie hurried to follow, knowing his brother wouldn't say anything to him. The ride home was in silence, each brother lost in his own thoughts. Don pulled the car into the driveway, and the comfort of the familiarity of the comfortable craftsman house filled Charlie with a sense of safety he didn't get anywhere else.
The two got out of the car and headed for the front door. "I think I'm going to ask Val to Prom." Charlie announced, and nearly collided with Don.
"What?" Don look stunned, and a bit confused.
"I'm going to ask Val to go to Prom with me." Charlie repeated, a bit frustrated. Don wasn't a genius, but he could still hear.
"Buddy, I've already asked her." Don said evenly. "She said yes."
Rage filled Charlie as he lunged for Don's midsection. "How dare you?" He shrieked. "I like her. She likes me."
"You're thirteen! She'd never think of you in that way!" Don yelled back. He pushed Charlie off of him, and Charlie hit the ground. He pushed himself back off the ground and at Don, who began trying to wrestle him. All Charlie could think about was the rage he felt at Don beating him at something. It wasn't supposed to be like that. He was supposed to be better than Don. Everyone thought so.
Everyone but Val.