This is a different kind of story. For one thing it's from the perspective of Caesar Alexander, for another it's a collaboration with silverhuntresses, but in this story we alternate every two to three sentences.
Simple plot? Caesar moves to New York for the summer and finds out about Octavian.
Chapter 4
Monday comes slower than I wanted. I don't even know what time is it...
I check my phone then run out, I'm late for art class.
Or am I early?
Since the only person in the art room is a blond dude, I'm early. Not even Rachel is here. Which is weird, because she's always early. The blond guy looks up and I stifle a gasp.
He looks just like me, it's incredible.
And eerie.
"Caesar? You're early today..." When did Rachel arrive here...?
"Rachel who is this guy? He looks remarkably like me."
"No, you look like me."
"Now, Octavian... Let's not start the day by arguing with a fourteen year old that could be related to you..." What did she say?!
"What?" I snap, ready to leave because this is ridiculous.
"Octavian Alexander at your service, and I take it you are Caesar?" I pale at the mention of my last name. That's- that's not possible! Wait, Dad was telling the truth?!
"Are Steve and Victoria Alexander your parents?" His turn to pale.
"By Apollo, Rachel you were right this kid is my brother how did this happen?"
"I think I'll cancel today's class..." I hear Rachel say. "This won't end anytime soon..."
"So I really do have a brother..." I mutter, sinking down onto one of the seats. I hear the door being locked and Rachel coming back. But nothing else matters. I really do have an older brother...
"Did you know about me?" I ask hesitantly, feeling sick again.
"No." I suddenly feel sad. Why do I feel sad, I've never seen him before...
"Let's see, you're fourteen, this year?"
"Last year, fifteen in September.
"So I was six when you were born, and I got sent away when I was four, does that clear things up?"
"Probably, it was when you were in San Francisco, Octavian..." Wait, Rachel knows him?
Of course she does, she probably arranged this.
"Caesar, about our parents, do they hurt you?" I visibly flinch, not wanting to answer.
"You did this on purpose, did you Rachel?" I try to change the subject, kind of harsh. "You brought him here to meet me..."
"No, he's my boyfriend. He came so we could go out for lunch after class." So this was an accident, I'm too overwhelmed, my head is spinning again, breathe Caesar, breathe.
"Caesar, why don't you sit down...?" Rachel offers me a chair. "Ian, can you go get a glass of water for him and whatever you want to drink...?" I sit while the older boy leaves.
"Why do you keep doing this to me? Hitting me with these truth bombs that make me feel so much smaller in this world?"
"Oh, Caesar... It wasn't my intention, I didn't even know you'd meet him today..." Please, tell me she's not crying... Okay, great, she is.
"Please don't cry Rachel, if anyone should be crying it should be me." And now I am, and Ian or Octavian or whatever his name is comes back to see us both crying.
"Please, no, Caesar..." She gets closer and hugs me. Great, now I'm being hugged by my brother's girlfriend...
"Hey I got the water, we should talk. You know, get to know each other."
"Thanks..." I grab the glass of water he offers me. "Wh-what you want to know?"
"Have you lived in Sacramento the whole time? At the family Mansion?"
"Yeah, isn't it creepy, with so many empty rooms, and, and them?"
"Wait, you lived in a mansion?" Rachel looks at Octavian.
"Well yeah my mom has her own business."
"That's why we're in New York, she expanded the empire."
"If you ever need to escape the "empire" my place would welcome you, it's no mansion though."
"What kind of 'empire' does your mom run?" Rachel asks, curious. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked..."
"Restaurants and night clubs, fancy stuff." I explained. The empire had devoured all her time, but rarely seeing her was a good thing.
"Oh, good... Nothing I know..." She obviously jokes, because Octavian chuckles a little.
I feel sick again.
"Why, w-why wouldn't they mention you?" If I start blubbering again I would die, but I'm so confused...
"Drink, Caesar... It will make you feel better..." Rachel forced me to do it.
"No it won't! I need, I need answers alright?" A few tears slip out as I push the glass away, laying my head on a desk, thinking how stupid I am.
"I don't think I have the answers that you want, Caesar..." I hear Octavian say, which makes me feel even worst. "That doesn't mean that I won't help you find them..."
"I don't want to ask them." I mutter, wishing Rachel wasn't seeing this.
"They scare me."
"Rach, can you leave us?"
"OK, I have some things to do... I'll come back for lunch"
"Best if you come back with lunch, this might be awhile." She leaves and I sniffle.
"I'm sorry, I know how stupid I look, I feel that stupid too, promise."
"Caesar, you're a teenager. It's acceptable to be stupid." Octavian chuckles, patting my arm.
"What is Camp Jupiter like?" He stiffens.
"Never mind."
"All you have to know is that it wasn't the best experience for me..." He admits. "I wasn't a nice guy before..."
"You did have our parents as examples."
"Caesar, I'm serious, if they hurt you I'll gladly make them pay." There's a fire in his eyes that terrifies me.
"What- what helped you change?" I need to distract him somehow...
"Rachel, mostly, and the fact that I never really wanted to be that guy."
"What about you, what do you like Caesar?"
"I like to be called Alexander, for one thing. "
"Our last name? Why?"
"Because Caesar sounds so pretentious. So out there. And I just like to hide behind this Alexander mask who can be everyone's friend and yet no one's at the same time."
"But, who is Caesar?" I stare at him, blankly. What kind of question is that one?
"I don't know. I guess he's this guy who really wants to be a doctor. And who's scared for anyone to find anything out about him beyond what he can control."
"Things can and will be out of your control, Caesar... Why do you wanna be a doctor?"
"Because I um, I don't tell people this, but I can heal things, by touch and, that got me interested in medicine and diseases and so on, and I want to help people." I blush heavily.
"Plus, maybe mom and dad would be proud...?"
"Looks like Apollo blessed you with the other side of the coin..." He points out. I thought he would be bitter or something, but he didn't even make a comment about Mom or Dad...
"What side do you have?" I ask innocently.
"Had." He doesn't look... What word can I use to describe it? Bitter? Just tired and sad, as if it brings up exhausting memories. Cautiously I lay a hand on his arm.
"I was the Augur at Camp Jupiter."
I blink, confused. "The Augur? Like you read the future?"
"Yep." He sounds so sad... I want to fix him...
I think of something to distract him a little. "You like art? Rachel is teaching me..."
"I know I like Rachel's art. She's the most talented person I know." I can tell how obviously in love he is with her, and it kind of makes me blush.
"Does she paint for you?" I see him smile. He really loves her...
"Occasionally, yes. I'm always surprised how good she can make me look."
"What do you like the most about her..? Like, her hair, or..."
"Can't pick. Wait- Caesar, do you have a crush on my girlfriend?"
"Ummmmmmmmmmmm..." Should I tell him the truth? I mean, he's my brother, he'll understand... He won't like it though... He must've seen my distress because he, laughs...?
"It's okay, I have a crush on her too." I force a smile, trying to feel more at ease with him.
I'm not sure how to keep this going. I don't wanna talk about my life at home. And it's obvious he doesn't want to talk about his previous life... Thankfully, Rachel comes back with food. She restarts the conversation and makes us all feel more at ease.
"So, Caesar... How do you like my class so far?" To this I could easily smile.
"It's been the only thing I've actually enjoyed all summer. Actually I've been practicing drawing that tree from last week, do you want to see?"
"If you have it here, I'd love to." She turns to Octavian, smiling. "Why don't we invite him for lunch tomorrow?"
"Sounds good." He says as I pull out my sketchpad to show off a little. I'm really starting to like art. I see Rachel pass the pages, not saying anything. Was it that bad...?
"Caesar, this is very good..."
"Really?" I blush hard and my brother smirks at me. I still can't believe I have a brother...
"If she says so, it's true..."
"Oh, c'mon, Ian..."
"It's as true as how adorable you look when flustered, like now..." They kiss and I look away. He's doing this on purpose... I'm not mad though, I know he's not doing it to hurt, just to tease...
"We should stop making your brother uncomfortable, Octavian.."
"Awh-"
"No buts, mister, I bet this is the last thing he wants right now..."
"It's kind of nice that you two have such a good relationship." I mutter. I haven't seen anything like it.
"Considering that we hated each other when we met, I think this in an improvement..." I stared at them, not believing it. They hated each other?
"Can I hear that story?" Octavian ruffles my hair, something I refused to let Rachel do just the other day.
"Maybe some other time alright?"
"Alright..." I agree, but I will hear that story. Someday...
Octavian writes something down on a napkin.
"That's my number and my address. Contact me if you need anything, Rachel does he have your number?"
Rachel doesn't even answer to him. She simply grabs the napkin from his hand and writes her own number. "This is from work and this is my personal one..."
I'm a little overwhelmed.
"Thank you, thanks so much..." I've never ever been comfortable asking for things, but maybe I'll start...
"No problem, Caesar..." I study the napkin some more. But I have to ask,
"Do mom and dad think you're dead?"
Rachel stares at me, a little surprised. "Of course not! They don't, right, Ian...?" Octavian rubs his neck, looking embarrassed.
"Look, I don't know what they think or what Camp Jupiter told them. And I don't really care." Rachel looks like a fish. She opens and closes her mouth, without making a sound.
I haven't talked to them in almost 17 years. They haven't tried to reach me so I gave up on them."
"Um, OK..." That's all she manages to say. Can't blame her, though... I can't blame him either.
"But, but why would they just abandon you?" I really need to know...
Octavian shrugged his shoulders. "Embarrassment? Disappointment? Never said, and I don't wanna know now..."
"Sorry Octavian..." Now he probably hates me.
"Um, I should go."
"You don't have to go..."
"Rachel's right, Caesar... You don't have to go..."
"I don't want to inconvenience you..."
"Oh, OK..." Rachel backs down, holding her hands.
"Oh, OK..." Rachel backs down, holding her hands.
"And, what am I, then?" Rachel turns to Octavian, obviously surprised. "A lamp?" Though you could see in her eyes she was joking.
He kissed her gently.
"You're my everything, but we're not family yet. Gotta propose first." I open my eyes wide. And here I was crushing on my future sister-in-law! That's so embarrassing! I blush like mad and start gathering up my supplies.
"I'll text both of you later."
"Right, we'll get together tomorrow okay?
"Oh! I'll make lunch!" Rachel states. I don't have the heart to say no...
"You can come to my place." Octavian adds as I force a smile.
"Alright!"
Maybe, this won't be so bad... I'm even wanting to have this lunch already! I head home on my bike and just cruise for awhile before going back. I'm more excited than I have been since the summer started.
For a second, I worry if mom and dad will see me this excited. What if they find out about Octavian...? What would they say?
They kept him a secret from me for 14 years. I still don't know why. No way I could ask them, Octavian might get mad at me.
I decide to keep quiet about it. I rather keep quiet than lie. I'm a terrible liar...
Actually I'm a great liar. I've lied my way through life. I just hate to do it.
I walk into the house, after leaving my bike outside. Silence greets me. Too much for my liking...
It feels as if I'll disappear in a house like this. And when I'm gone, no one will miss me. I shudder.
I feel an urgent need to talk to someone. But, who would I talk to? I do the only thing I can think of. I grab my phone and text Octavian. I hope he's not mad at me for reaching out so soon. I get a reply almost immediately. 'Who are you?' I almost face palm myself for not giving my brother my phone number.
"Haha oops this is Caesar." I hate myself.
I really do hate myself sometimes.
His reply is immediate again. 'Hey, Ceasar! What's up?'
"I just... I needed someone to talk to. This place is so empty."
'Sure, no problem... Yeah, I remember the same when I was little... What you wanna talk about?'
"I don't know. Something. Anything, really."
'OK... Um, what's your hobby?' It's obvious I took him by surprise.
"Hold on let me think." I stared at the screen expectantly waiting for his reply, which was two words.
"Video games."
"That's cool, I don't play but it sound interesting." I sound stupid I bet.
'Rachel is the same. She likes to watch.' OK, maybe not that stupid then...
"I bet you're really good."
'I like the old video games... And I'm fan of Pokemon! Rachel says I'm obsessed...'
"Oh I like Pokemon." Huh, that's cool. I wonder what his favorite is.
'Really? What's your favorite one?'
"I like Litleo a whole lot and also Ponyta. Fire types." Don't know why, but I've always liked the fire types.
'Mine is Sandshrew... I thought to call my dog like that. Rachel said it didn't fit him.'
The little kid in me immediately goes insane and may have overdone it.
"YOU HAVE A DOG?! AWESOME XD XD XD !"
'Yeah, I do... Hold on a second...' Right after that text, I get a picture of Octavian and his puppy.
"I don't want to inconvenience you..."
It's literally the cutest thing.
"you have no idea how much I want a dog bro." whoa, I just called him bro.
'I know someone whose dog just had puppies. Interested?' That would be awesome, but...
"I'm so interested." Whoops. I'm going to get murdered.
'That's great! Warning, these are poodle puppies...' Um, OK...?
"Dude, it's a dog. Dogs are awesome no matter what." I think mom had a dog at one point, maybe she won't be mad...
'Awesome! I'll tell you everything better tomorrow...' This is really happening!
I fall asleep actually excited. Things are looking up, This hasn't happened before. I should give them a present tomorrow. What should I give them...? Maybe that picture of a tree. I worked super hard on that. Yeah, that can be a nice present. I'm so excited!
Tomorrow is gonna be awesome.
Guys this Collab is so fun. I'm actually ridiculously happy with it... It's so fun watching Caesar develop, and the word count is insane.
