When Adam returned home, he blew in like a gust of wind, slamming the door shut, and barging upstairs. His mom, who'd been talking to Anthony on the couch, and his dad who had been reading, looked at each other, eyebrows raised.
His mom started to rise from the couch, but Anthony put his hand on her arm to stop her, "I'll go."
Anthony felt bad for having not been there for Adam. The two were never close to begin with, but as Anthony got older, he realized he missed his little brother.
"Adam," he knocked.
No response.
He tried the handle, and found it open.
"Can I come in?" Anthony asked, pushing the door open.
The lights were off in the bedroom, but the grey afternoon gave enough light to show Adam laying face down, on the bed.
"Adam, you can't stay in these wet clothes," Anthony said, noticing his clothes were soaked.
"I'm fine," Adam mumbled into his pillow.
Anthony sighed and went over to Adam's dresser, pulling out dry clothes.
"Please Adam, I don't want to see you get sick."
Adam shook his head.
"I don't know what happened that's making you like this, but you do know that you can come and talk to me, right? I'm your brother Adam, I'm here for you."
Adam nodded into his pillow, sitting up. He fumbled with the hem of the sweat pants Anthony had put beside him, "It's Guy."
Adam suddenly felt weird. He had never talked to his brother about his boyfriend. He actually didn't even know how Anthony felt on his being gay and all.
"Did you two fight or something?" Anthony's voice was calm and reassuring.
Adam looked up at his brother, "No. I found him, at Connie's grave, talking about how he missed her and loved her. And," Adam looked down again, "I don't know. I felt like he didn't love me anymore."
Anthony reached over and patted Adam's knee, "It can happen Adam. I'm sure though, that Guy still loves you. He's going through a rough time right now. Him and Connie were really close back when they were younger. Though they may not have been close in recent years, they were at one point, and he still feels like he lost her. He just needs time."
"I'm giving him time. I left him at his house."
"That was a little harsh."
"I can't look at him right now."
Anthony nodded, "I understand. When I caught Kelsey cheating on me, I couldn't look at her ... but after time we were able to work through it."
"Kelsey cheated on you? And you're still with her? When did this happen?" Adam was lost.
Anthony chuckled to himself, "Adam that was almost a year ago. And no, we never got back together, I meant work through it by us sitting down and talking about what happened, and me dumping her."
"Oh, well then, 'cause I was gonna say," Adam smiled.
"He'll come around, just give it time," Anthony patted his little brother's knee and stood up, "Now, can you change into some dry clothes please?"
Adam nodded, and stood up, grabbing the clothes and heading out the door. Anthony sat still on his brother's bed until he was out of sight.
That was the last any of Adam's family saw of him for three days. He had locked himself in his room, wouldn't answer the door, and wouldn't eat.
"Adam," a banging came on his door.
Adam jumped up, quickly recognizing the voice as Guy's.
"Guy," Adam said, rushing to unlock his door and let Guy in.
"We need to talk," Guy said, looking down at his feet.
Adam moved away from the doorway, showing Guy he was welcome inside the room.
Guy shook his head and looked up at Adam. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, that looked even darker compared to his pale skin.
"You're not getting sick again, are you?" Guy asked, suddenly forgetting why he had even showed up at Adam's. He still stood in the hallway however.
"I'm fine. I just haven't slept."
"Adam, you need your rest."
Adam was quickly becoming frustrated, "Listen Guy, I know you didn't come here to lecture me on sleeping, so can you get on with it?"
Guy gazed deep into Adam's blue eyes, biting his lip. Was he making the right decision?
"Adam, I," Guy started, "We, I, we can't be together anymore Adam. It doesn't feel right."
Adam just stared. That was all he could do. It didn't feel right? What the fuck? For two years it felt right, and suddenly he wakes up and it doesn't? Adam was suddenly filled with anger.
Anger towards Connie.
"It's because of her, isn't it," he whispered, afraid if he let his voice come out normal, it would end up him yelling.
"Adam."
"Don't lie Guy. You're not good at it. I can see it in your eyes. She's dead. You can't bring her back."
"I know that, I just," Guy's voice was shaking, "I've had a lot of time to think since you dropped me off at my house."
"And so this is my fault?"
"I'm just saying that you didn't seem to think that I needed you when I did, so you just dropping me off and then locking yourself in your room for days doesn't exactly help me deal."
"Guy, I was giving you space."
"By giving up all of yours?"
"If that's what I had to do, I'd do it. You know I'd do anything for you," Adam sounded hurt.
"I'm going away, to Los Angeles, with Russ and Julie," Guy started off down the hallway.
"Guy, don't go," Adam stepped into the hallway, the most he had stepped out of his room in three days.
Guy stopped and looked over his shoulder at Adam.
"Dammit Guy! I'm asking you not to go. Please, we can get through this, I just, don't just walk away. You're stronger than this."
"Goodbye Adam."
Adam just watched Guy walk down the stairs, and what may have been out of his life.
Adam barged downstairs, and into the kitchen, grabbing whatever he could to eat, and took the same anger out as he stormed back into his room.
"Adam," his dad knocked on the door.
"Go away Dad. I'm not talking, I just want to sleep."
Adam's dad nodded his head and retreated back to his own bedroom.
Adam sat on the edge of his bed, looking down at his bag. It was the last bag that needed to be unpacked from school. He reached into the side pocket, pulling out just what he wanted, his pain medication.
He wasn't planning on overdosing, he just knew that they would help him sleep, and right now, that was all he wanted. He popped two into his mouth, changed his clothes, and settled into his bed. A little while later he was out cold, dreaming of nothing.