Chapter 17

The next morning Dad dropped us off for school instead of mom. Even though those guys had their memories erased, they could still be a bad influence on Justice. Dad also wanted to see to it that Justice and I were gonna be okay before we entered the building.

"Jesse..."

I looked up at from the backseat.

"You know what to do if you have an attack right?"

"Yes sir...find Justice...let him take care of me."

"Good...and Justice if you're feeling down or like those guys are pressuring you?"

"Find Jesse...let him take care of me."

"Great..have a good day at school boys."

"Okay...thanks Dad." Justice replied.

"Jesse..."

I turned toward him as I got out of the car.

"Did you take your nerve and anxiety pills this morning?"

I reached in my pocket and took out a bottle of pills.

"Yes sir... and they're right here."

Dad nodded.

"Stay safe today."

We waved goodbye as Dad drove away. I tapped Justice's shoulder. He followed me inside. The hallways were crowded with kids. It was almost time for the first bell. Justice smiled at me and I smiled at him. We went separate ways in the hall. We knew we'd see each other at lunch. The day went on as normal until gym class. I was in the locker room. I normally don't do well in the locker room since what happened there. The memories are stronger. I heard the clicks of switchblades. The haunting laughter of those guys. I closed my eyes and turned from the locker room. I couldn't go in. I looked at my hand it began to tremble.

"Jesse!" I heard someone shout. I opened my eyes to see coach coming over to me.

"Jesse, you alright? We go through this almost every morning...you have to get over what you did to yourself in there...do I need to send you to the counselor?"

"No sir...I...you're right I'm sorry sir."

"Don't be sorry...just get dressed. Hurry up in there boys!"

He left me alone. I left the gym and went outside to the soccer field bleachers. I took out my phone. The person I was more than happy to text was Justice. He told his history teacher he had to use the restroom and came to my side. Like the brother and hero I knew him to be.

"Jess?! He called as he climbed the bleachers.

"You okay?"

"I...I don't know...I can't go in that...that locker room...I haven't been able to since what happened...and..."

"Alright...let's just sit out here...just for a little bit."

"Thanks Justice."

"Can you breathe okay?"

"Yeah...right now...It's when I get near the locker room my chest tightens..."

"Jess...about what happened in there...I'll never be able to take it back...it wasn't right what I did...but I want to show you this."

He pulled up his jacket sleeve. There was a scar there that was similar to mine.

"I did that just as Tyson did to you...I wanted to feel an ounce of what you did...you have no idea how many times I've thought of dying since then...I'd like to kill myself over it."

"Justice...you're an idiot...you suffered just as much pain as I did that day in the locker room. We lost each other and those guys messed with our heads...they did everything they could to not only tear us apart as brothers...but tear us apart as people...your pain isn't any different than mine...I knew about the suit...I knew about those guys tormenting you and I said nothing...I watched just as you did...and there is no guilt there Justice...not anymore...we have to understand; that what happened between us wasn't our faults...it was the cruel fate of time and life...and here we are in the aftermath...the aftermath that just...it really sucks..."

Justice sighed.

"That's why I want to be you Jesse...you see the world so different...and you have a better grip on life than I do..."

"I learned that a long time ago from our sister...she told me to follow me...no one else...to follow my heart...and that's all my heart believes along with realizing the key to happiness is accepting apologies I never recieved and doing things that make me feel afraid. You will be like that too Justice...there's always been more to you than just soccer... you just haven't known it."

Justice smiled at me. I smiled back. My anxiety lifted and I went back to gym. He went back to class.

That afternoon I went to my locker and saw Justice at his locker. Patrick came up behind me and put his hands in my front pockets. I placed my hands on top of his.

"Hey there's my boy." He said softly.

"Hey Pat."

I smiled and turned to face him. He took my bookbag and pulled up it on his shoulder.

"Walk you to the cafeteria?"

"Yeah...Say Pat...come here a sec."

I took his hand and pulled him over to Justice.

"Justice...this is Patrick...Patrick this is my brother Justice..."

"Nice to meet you Justice!"

"Hey."

They shook hands.

"Justice...Patrick is my boyfriend."

"Oh...well...it's..."

Justice paused.

"Thanks for looking out for my brother."

"No prob. Hey didn't need much help."

Patrick rubbed his hand on my head and messed up my hair.

"Pat!"

"Anyway...you two walking home together?" Justice asked.

"We usually just sit in the cafeteria and talk until your mom comes to pick him up." Patrick answered.

"You can join us bro." I told Justice.

"Thanks."

As we made our way to the cafeteria we ran into Tyson, Sean, Adrien, and Bentley.

"Justice Tennyson, I thought that was you...get over here a minute."

Justice exchanged glances with me.

"Come on Just...the guys and I just want to ask you something."

Justice sighed and walked over to them.

"We were wondering if you wanted to be apart of our gang...see we could use another guy that plays soccer as well as you do."

"No."

"We were thinking that- what did you just say to me?"

"No...Tyson...I won't join you...because I quit the team...there is more to me than just soccer and I don't need you or your legacy to make me into a great man...I'm ten times the man any of you will ever be."

I smiled and looked at Patrick.

"And you...so your brother is gay is he, that his disgusting lover right there?"

"Yes...yes my brother loves men...and if you even think about mocking him for that I'll kick your ass."

"You...kick my ass, I'd like to see you try...you're nothing but a weak spineless son of bit-"

I watched as Justice reared back and punched Tyson in the eye. He fell backwards into a trashcan. I gasped.

"Don't you ever speak to me...or my brother Tyson...I'm a Tennyson...and you can't mess with us."

"Can't I...well don't just stand there, get him!"

Sean, Adrien, Bentley took out their switchblades. The moment I heard them click I ran over to Justice. Patrick followed me. Sean started to stab Justice. Justice grabbed the blade with his bare hand. They guys gasped.

"I'm not afraid of you or your toys...I suggest you get out of here before you boys get hurt."

"I think he means it Tyson..."

"I'm out of here."

The other guys took off down the hall.

"You bunch of cowards!" Tyson hollered. Justice's hand was bleeding from where he grabbed the blade. He didn't care. He glared at Tyson. Tyson gasped. Justice was a different person. His eyes were dark and he meant business.

"How's it feel to not have any brothers...Tyson?"

Tyson held his eye that was turning black and went on his way. The rest of high school was going to be a breeze. It was to be the years Justice and I would remember for the rest of our lives.

"Here let me get that for you." Patrick retorted. He reached in his bag and took out his scarf. He tied up Justice's hand.

"Thanks Patrick..."

"Sure."

"Justice...you okay?" I said softly.

"Yeah you?"

"Yeah."

Justice opened his arms. I smiled and hugged him around the neck. He put his injured hand on the back of my head. I hid my face in his shoulder. This was my brother. The brother I knew. The brother I loved. The brother who once told me that we would always be there for each other. He was a brother that got lost for a little while and he finally found his way back.