Chapter 2

Justice and I never cared that we didn't have powers. We always thought that was our big sister's thing. We wanted our own things. Justice dreamed of being a star soccer player. He came home every night after practice wearing his uniform to bed. It was always grass stained. Mom was constantly washing it. I told him I wanted to become a writer. He seemed okay with that.

Deep down I think I hurt him. See even though we each wanted our own thing; Justice thought he and I would be doing the same thing together. He truly believed that we would just toss a soccer ball back and forth forever. He had this big plan in elementary school. He said it would just be me and him living the high life because we work better as team.

It was easier for me to let it go. For Justice, he took it hard and personal. When we got to Jr. High he knew my secret. He held it over me like a threat. He wanted things his way. He developed a strong anxiety disorder of separation from me. He changed. He started to only hang out with his teammates.

His teammates bullied me. I think Justice secretly enjoyed it because he felt betrayed by me. It was his own personal vendetta against me.

It got worse when this girl named Tabitha approached me at my locker one afternoon. Everyone called her Tabby. She was our age, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was sweet and charming, and she was a cheerleader. Although she had a skill set for sports she was in choir and drama. She's had a part in our school productions since the 2nd grade. She also sews and makes some of the costumes. Lastly, Justice has had a huge crush on her since the 7th grade. He dreams about her. I mean I should know I share a room with him. He's had to change his sheets over her. I wasn't really shocked when she came up to me. Girls are always coming up to me to talk. I thought nothing of it. Normally they want homework or boyfriend advice.

This time was different. She seemed very shy. Which is out of character for her.

"Um...Jess...Jesse?"

"Oh...hi Tabby."

She fumbled her fingers and twisted her hair.

"Something on your mind?" I smiled at her. She blushed. Oh no I thought. The way she acted was the same way I reacted to Josh on the soccer team everytime I saw him. Did she like me?

"Yes...I was actually thinking...um...I was wondering if...would you like to go to the movies with me on Friday?!" She blurted out. I just stared.

"Uh...mmm..."

I couldn't tell I was gay. I wanted too, but I couldn't say it.

"Let me think about it okay."

"Okay well here is my number."

She wrote the number on my hand and ran off with her friends. I heard them talking about me as they left. I just stared at my hand.

Suddenly I was hit by a book bag. One of the soccer players had a locker next to mine.

"Watch where your going nerd!" He shouted as he walked past me.

"Sorry..."

He met up with Josh. I just stared at him. The way his hair looked, his eyes. He was so handsome.

"I cant believe that guy is related to Justice." Josh told his friend.

"Yeah I know its like they fell from two different trees." His friend responded. As much as it hurt to have Josh to bully me too; I just wanted to get to know him better. My legs felt like jello around him. I keep a section in my diary where I write about my fantasies of the two of us. I longed for a love like that. Yearned for it. Justice saw me. He knew I liked Josh. And yet he made Josh pick on me more than anyone else.

I tried to ignore it. Justice and I did act like we were friends at home. It was hard to do especially in front of mom and dad; but we did it. It was a few weeks after our first days as freshman; someone attacked our sister and her family. Dad wanted to talk to us about it. Mom sat next to Dad's chair on the smaller sofa. Justice and I sat next to each other on the longer sofa. We sat on opposite ends of the couch away from each other.

"Okay...boys as you know...Harmione was attacked by Albedo...now, Vilgax has put a prize on Bryan's head...he wants him and the only way he'll get him is through us...your mom and me."

Mom nodded.

We looked back from Mom to Dad.

"We're into something really dangerous here...so-"

"I get to be in charge while, you're gone!?" Justice asked in excitement.

"No...Justice we think it's only fair for Harmione and Charlie to watch you while your father and I go out and stop Vilgax."

Justice folded his arms.

"Is she hurt though Dad?" I asked.

"No...thank God...she and Charlie and the baby are safe...for now...which is why Kevin and Gwen are also going with us to stop Vilgax...which means Genesis will be staying with you too...just for a little while." Dad explained.

"Now Jesse, Justice I know you two don't normally fight or act out but with Bryan having diabetes your sister has a lot on her plate...so don't make any trouble." Mom told us sternly

"We won't." I replied.

"Yeah...we never fight Mom...and we-"

"You'll listen to not just Harmione, you'll obey Charlie too, you understand?" Dad said promptly.

"Yes sir." We said together.

I wasn't sure if I could really promise that. Justice and I hated each other. I think deep down we wanted to get along and act like brothers again, but we didn't know how. Neither one knew how to apologize. We were stubborn and stuck in our ways. We could act like everything was all rainbows at home and in public, but we weren't so sure we could fool our sister. I especially wasn't so sure that Sunday after we got dropped off at Harmione's place. I took a shower but the ink from Tabby's pen was still deep on my hand. I scrubbed and I still couldn't get it off. I knew if Justice saw it, he'd kill me. I was hoping he wouldn't notice, but my brother doesn't miss anything.

All we were doing was watching TV with Genesis. She was older than us, so if we weren't minding our parents or Harmione she was the boss. Although that didn't matter this time. I thought if Justice and I got into it she'd be able to put a stop to it but she couldn't. Justice was too upset.

We were sitting on the couch and he saw my hand. He noticed that not only did Tabby leave her number she wrote her name underneath it. It had faded some but you could tell it was her name.

"Jesse what the hell?!" He suddenly screamed.

"Hey!" Genesis said after.

Justice stood up from the couch and stared at me.

"Why do you have Tabby's number on your hand?!"

I stood up to meet his level.

"It's not what you think!?"

"Sure it is, she asked you out didn't she?!"

I sighed.

"She did...but Just-"

"What kind of a brother are you, you're no kind of brother that's what!"

"Justice...please..."

"This is so typical of you, first you don't even try out for the soccer team, and now you're trying to steal my girl!"

"Boys!" Genesis yelled over us. "Are you really going to get mad over some girl, you guys are brothers."

"It's not just some girl is it Justice?! You've been mad at me ever since the end of 8th grade, you let your little friends bully me constantly!"

"That's your own fault, you know how many people come up to me and feel sorry for me because I have you for a brother...that's constant...but we're not talking about that! We're talking about the fact that you stole a girl you knew I was crazy about!"

"Justice..."

"I mean...why would she ask you out, and not me!"

Justice leaned close to me and whispered in my ear.

"You don't even like women. Why don't I tell Genesis that?"

I gasped to myself. He leaned away from me.

"Hey Genesis..."

"Justice...please I... I'm sorry."

"Oh you're sorry...well why don't I go ahead and tell her so you'll know what betrayal feels like!"

"What the heck are you two talking about?" Genesis asked.

I felt my heart beating in my ears. Justice smirked and glared at me. I began to sweat. I never should have told him.

"Well Gen...my brother is-"

"Shut up Justice!"

About that time by the grace of God, Harmione entered the living room.

"Jesse, Justice, do you mind?!" She said sternly. "Seriously, I've got lots of work to do and Bryan is trying to take his nap, can you please stop fighting!"

"I tried to tell them." Genesis said after.

"Thanks Gen...now what is it you two are fighting about...you're brother's for pete's sake."

"Jesse started it-" Justice began.

"Start nothing, you're the one who got all mad!" I blurted out.

"I don't care who started it...just please come to an agreement."

"We can't." Justice replied. His eyes never left mine.

"Why not?"

"Because there is this girl at school okay her name is Tabitha...but everyone calls her Tabby." Justice began to explain.

"Short version please."

"Anyway...I think Tabby is hot but she didn't ask me out, she asked Jesse, and Jesse doesn't even like her..."

"And that's Jesse's fault? Look Justice, if you like her so much why don't you talk to her, and Jesse if you don't like her you need to tell her...and if she ends up not going out with either of you forget it...okay?"

Justice scoffed.

"Okay?!" Our sister repeated.

"Okay..." We said together.

"Good...now be quiet for about an hour or so."

Harmione left us alone again. Justice glared at me and went outside. He slammed the door pretty loudly too. Genesis sighed and sat back down on the couch. She returned to watching TV.

I sighed to myself and looked down at my hand. I had to call Tabby. Perhaps I could get her go on a date with Justice instead of me. I knew if she knew the truth she'd understand. But I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I'm too afraid. I'm afraid all the time. It's this terrible weight on my shoulders. A dark cloud that just lingers over me. I can't breathe, but I can't tell anyone. Ever. I don't know how I'm going to live the rest of my life this way but I've got to try.