This is based on the premise that Octavian is capable of murder and the killer of his two truly horrible parents. He is on trial for it and has to face Rachel, who he might be falling in love with, and his younger brother, who he didn't know existed, as well as own up to the monster he is and figure out how to become anything else.
Ah, to be fourteen. The young innocence, the just sliding into being comfortable in your own body, the 22nd restatement of the alibi that pardons you from being a murder suspect.
Let's just say Caesar hadn't planned on doing his algebra homework in the police station waiting room. To indicate that the boy was mourning the death of his parents would be a blatant lie. But he certainly wasn't celebrating. At that moment, while he puzzled out X equals negative seven and Y equals 48 and why all of that mattered when he was now an orphan kept from his own home, he was mostly just in shock. Someone had killed both of his parents. And the family he had been spending the night with when it occurred had confirmed his alibi but people look at you differently when you're in a situation where you need an alibi confirmed.
Caesar shivered in his seat. It was cold for summer in Urban Cali. Then he realized it was only him. Out of nowhere tears came rushing. No one even looked at him. Social services had yet to come for him and he felt very alone. And so tired...
"Caesar Alexander?" Caesar Victor Alexander, his full name. And he hated it. Had always gone by Alexander. Had put up so many walls and masks to be seen as cheerful, and normal. Now he was crashing fast. He followed an officer to the interrogation room, where, as a formality, he was hooked up to a lie detecting machine. Maybe it was for the best, he could lie tears into people's eyes, and his biggest lie was the smile on his face. It wasn't there now, but there wasn't a person he hadn't fooled outside of this station with the "Oh Alexander's so happy all the time isn't that nice?" act.
The questions started basic, stuff he wouldn't have to lie through. Where he'd been the night, at a sleepover with his friend Charlie, and how he'd found out about the murder, by a call from their gardener. Then they asked him what his parents were like, and if anyone would have motive to kill them. He faltered.
"No, of course not... My parent's weren't bad people." The lie detector caught his fib.
"Be honest Mr. Alexander." They reprimanded sternly.
"Okay so they weren't the best but I don't know anyone who would murder them."
"We looked into it and found your father drank frequently and had emotional stability issues. Perhaps he angered someone at a bar?"
"He only drank at home." Caesar replied coldly and honestly. He didn't even twitch in his seat, and the smile he was so known for was nowhere in sight.
"Did he ever get violent?" Caesar couldn't reply. He always smiled for a reason. His father only lost it when facades crumbled and someone appeared unhappy, as many people were in Steve Alexander's presence.
"How'd you get a cut on your cheek?" They thought they were being gentle but they weren't.
"Shaving." Another truth. A search for bruises would prove a whole 'nother thing. Prove that sometimes even cheery, charming "Alexander" broke down sometimes.
"Alright. Now we need to ask you what you know about a suspect. You must answer honestly and keep our suspicions confidential, alright?" Now they were babying him. No matter, he felt a little more at ease. Confident he was unfamiliar with the killer whoever it was. Unless they had killed themselves, which had been suggested.
"Yes sir."
"What do you know about the whereabouts of your brother Octavian?"
"I HAVE A BROTHER?!" He screeched, falling out of his chair. His reaction was legitimate. He had had no idea. His parents had, while alive, never mentioned having another son. There were no pictures. If they did have another son, if these people weren't confused they had been proud enough of him to bring him up. When they were pretending to be a good family, when, for instance, business associates came over, Victoria might mention Caesar's adequate grades or something to make her sound like a proud and involved mother. He knew it was fake but it did spark a light in the almost hopeful teen's eyes that she actually sort of noticed him. She obviously wasn't proud of or involved in the life of Octavian, if he was even real. Caesar mulled it over as he got back in his seat.
What would that mean for him?
If he really did have a family somewhere?
Of course, they thought this mystery man might be the killer.
Perhaps he should thank him, if he was...
No... No, those were his parents.
Were they though?
No, no perhaps not.
He would never have a family.
How cold was it in here?
He hit pavement, not knowing until he did that he was falling.
So that's things from Caesar's perspective, and honestly, he is one of my favorite people to write... How do you think I did? Did I write the shock well? How about his cheery exterior melting away? I love him... Let me know! I love feedback.
