So, thanks for reading.
Chapter 5
Tip panted on the floor of the gym. Troy was looking at him, and even though Tip couldn't see his face, he knew his older brother was upset. Tip was supposed to be doing curl ups, but his stomach began to hurt and he lost count after a hundred.
"Are you still alive over there?" Chad joked, throwing a ball over to Tip. It bounced off his foot and Tip just watched it bounce away from him. "Dude, is your brother okay?" Chad asked Troy.
"He's fine," Troy told him before turning to Tip. He walked away from the team and grabbed the ball. He then jogged to Tip. "Now do push ups, I'll tell you when to stop."
Tip's heart was pounding in his chest. He turned onto his stomach and hissed as the bruise hit the court. "Ready?" Troy asked. Tip got into position and nodded. "One...Two...Three..." After a hundred push ups, Troy deemed Tip worthy of practicing the plays, starting with diamond.
Tip looked about ready to cry from the pain he was in when he stood in his position for the play. Chad noticed this and motioned for the defense to huddle up. "I'll cover Tip," he said, looking over at the freshman. "Just follow my lead."
They broke apart and Chad covered Tip as planed. Jason shouted "break!" and they all moved to do the play. When Tip got the ball, he went for the lay up, ready to have to dodge around Chad. But Chad wasn't there.
"Chad!" Troy yelled.
Chad winked at Tip before turning to Troy. "Yes Troy," he said, as if he didn't know what he did wrong.
"What was that!"
Tip backed up into the group of players, afraid that Troy would blame him and attack him right there. Zeke raised his eyebrows as Tip went and looked at Jason, who had caught Tip backing up too. After Troy and Chad had argued for the good part of twenty minutes, Troy shook his head. "Go run suicides."
"You're not the coach," Chad said.
"Yeah? Well I'm the captain-"
"And you're treating Tip like crap!"
"I can treat whoever I want, however I want," Troy hissed. Tip was now against the wall at the back of the gym. He was shaking, knowing Troy was mad. The look in his eyes were there. The cold look, Tip knew very well.
"You've changed," Chad said. "I'm out, call me when we've got practice with the real coach."
Chad stormed out of the gym, slamming the door behind him. "Anyone want to go with him?" Troy yelled. "Then go ahead."
Troy looked generally confused when the team followed Chad out the door. Tip's lower lip quivered as Troy turned his glare from his teammates to his brother. "Look what you did!" Troy yelled, rushing toward him. Tip shut his eyes, ready for contact.
hsmhsmhsmhsm
"What did you do to egg them on?" Jack asked as he put a bag of ice on Tip's eye. "That's going to be a black eye in the morning." He turned his attention to Troy. "Did you see who they were?"
Troy shook his head. "They wore hoodies and hid their faces."
"Tip how did you manage to get beat up so bad," Jack moaned.
"I don't know," Tip said, turning his head toward Troy. "They didn't like me I guess."
"Or maybe they had something against me," Troy lied, covering his tracks. Jack had no idea it was Troy that beat up Tip, and Troy wasn't about to get caught. "It could be someone from West High, right Tip?"
Tip looked from Troy to Jack before nodding his head. He hated lying, but he couldn't tell his father that his brother was hurting him. He didn't want to look like he was trying to get attention, and he didn't think his father would believe him.
Jack shook his head. "Troy watch out for these kids. I don't want this happening again."
Troy nodded, as if he cared dearly about protecting Tip. "I'll try my best."
"Tip if you see them, go find Troy," Jack said, placing a hand on his youngest son's shoulder making him wince. "Sorry."
Once Jack had left the room, Troy's sincere face fell. His eyes narrowed and he turned to Tip. "What are you going to tell everyone about the black eye?"
"I got beat up by West High kids," Tip said, not looking Troy in the eye.
"Good," Troy said. "Don't let it slip to anyone that I had any involvement."
Tip nodded and watched Troy leave the room. He rolled up his sleeves to see purple marks covering his forearms. They were the shape of Troy's hands, and he couldn't help but feel branded.
hsmhsmhsmhsm
By Monday, the bruises on Tip's forearms and stomach were beginning to fade, but the newest one on his eye was more apparent than ever. He tried to avoid glances from curious students, but he could feel their eyes on him.
"Tip what happened?" Chad asked, walking up with Zeke and Jason.
"Nothing," Tip said in a small voice, his eyes focused Troy who was approaching. "I just got beat up by some West High kids, that's all."
Troy nodded before making his presence known. "Yeah, it probably would have been worse if I hadn't found him. Remember Tip, I can give you a ride today."
"Wait," Jason said. "Why would you walk instead of get a ride with Troy?"
"I thought he was going to Gabriella's," Tip said, reading Troy's lips. "So, I walked-"
"And got beat up," Zeke said. "Look if you ever need a ride, don't be afraid to ask."
"Okay," Tip said quietly, his eyes focused on the ground. "I've got to go."
Chad watched him walk off in the distance. "You know Troy," he said, his eyes narrow. "It's kind of suspicious. We leave him alone with you and the next time we see him he's beat up and is scared to talk to us."
"Are you telling me I beat up my little brother?" Troy asked disgusted. "You know I wouldn't do that!"
Chad nodded. "I know, but-"
"But nothing. I didn't touch a hair on his head. I would never hurt Tip," Troy said. "I thought you'd know that. You're my best friends," he directed at the three of them.
"Yeah," Chad said, shaking his head. "Preposterous thought huh? Forget I said it." Troy nodded, but Chad's eyes were focused on Tip as he walked down the hall.
So, what do you think? Troy's pretty persuasive huh.
Anyway, tell me what you think!
Review!