Okay. As I told everyone earlier in the story, Troy is going to be very out of character. No one thinks he could possibly be mean and abusive, but in my story, he has a problem. If you don't like the idea of a dark Troy, then don't read.
Also, I've been mixing up my "You're and Your"s. I'll try to fix that.
And, in chapter 4, when Tip was talking to Mace about his bruises and Mace said he'd tell the guys, he didn't mean his brother. He meant that he'd tell the other guys in the locker room not to tell Chad and the gang because they think Tip doesn't want Troy to know because that would make Tip seem 'inferior' and 'weak' to the all-powerful Troy.
Chapter 7
Chad stared at Tip's arm, looking at the hand shaped bruise with curiosity. "Who?" Chad asked. "Was it Troy? Is that why you were scared?"
Tip shook his head, and pulled his sleeve down. "It was me," he said, covering for Troy. "I wanted to get more attention, so I did it to myself. Then I told my dad that Troy did it."
"Why would you do that?" Jason asked.
"I don't know."
Not convinced, Chad narrowed his eyes. "Why are you scared of Troy if he didn't do it?"
"And why is Troy being so harsh to you at practice?" Zeke asked catching on that Chad thought Tip was lying.
Tip took a deep breath. He was stuck, unless he could think of something quickly. Then an idea came to him. "Troy got in a lot of trouble when I told Dad and he got really mad at me. I know he wouldn't do it, but there's this look in his eyes like he's going to hurt me like I hurt myself."
"Troy's just trying to get even with you with all the running and push ups at practice," Jason said, summing up what Tip had just told them.
"Yeah," Tip lied. "I didn't mean to get Troy in trouble. He's just getting all the attention now, and I'm not used to it. I'm in the shadows," he added, trying to make his lie sound real.
"So Troy's not hurting you?" Chad asked, trying to get Tip to admit he was lying.
"Only my legs from the running," Tip said with a fake smile. "I promise I won't hurt myself anymore."
"Good," Zeke said, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "You can't be hurt, we need you Tip."
hsmhsmhsmhsm
"Good job Tip," came a voice from the door. He opened his eyes and saw Troy standing in the doorway. "Chad told me that you told him about the bruises. Glad to know you took credit for it."
Tip nodded. "I thought you'd be happy."
"But Tip you still screwed it up!" Troy yelled, slamming the door behind him. "You promised you wouldn't hurt yourself! How are we supposed to cover it now you brat?"
"You could stop-"
Troy's hands balled into fists and he marched to the bed. When he was close enough, Tip sniffed him. He sighed when he didn't smell alcohol. That meant Troy was doing this freely and his judgment wasn't blurry from intoxication.
This time Tip didn't fight it. He didn't tense up when Troy walked over. He let Troy's fist beat into his skin, taking the pain without moaning noises. He listened to Troy tell him he was worthless and awful. Tip knew Troy was stronger than he was, and he'd just be wasting energy fighting his older brother off him.
Once Troy was done, he walked out of the room as if they had just had a friendly talk. He shut the door lightly behind him, leaving Tip alone. Tip sat up in bed and stared in the mirror. There were new bruises everywhere. On his upper arms and chest there were red circles which he knew were going to be purple in the morning.
He had to figure out a way to cover up the bruises for gym. He knew Mace wasn't stupid and the more bruises Tip got, there was a better chance of Mace telling Chad about them.
And that was the last thing Tip wanted. Troy to lose his best friend. There would be serious consequences if that happened.
hsmhsmhsmhsm
Bree looked at Tip then at the rest of the class. They all had shocked looks on their faces. Bree was shocked as well that Tip hadn't gotten yelled at for falling asleep in class, especially since it was Darbus' class.
She didn't know what exactly was going on at his house, but she knew it probably had to do with basketball. He had told her that there was a lot of yelling and he couldn't get to sleep at night. But, for some reason, Bree didn't believe him. Maybe it was because Troy was bouncing with energy while Tip could barely keep his eyes open.
The bell rang, but it didn't wake Tip, who seemed to be fast asleep. Bree shook his arm lightly. "Tip?"
Suddenly his head started to shake and his eyes were forced shut as if he was in pain. Bree didn't know what to do. "Tip?" she asked clearly worried about her best friend. "Tip? Ms. Darbus!"
Ms. Darbus rushed over, attracting the attention of most of the class, who were on their way out. "Bolton?" she asked, gently tapping his shoulder. Even though he was asleep, he hissed in pain. "McFarland go get Coach Bolton."
Bree nodded and rushed to the science room where Coach Bolton taught. She didn't know what she'd say when she got there. "Your son won't get up" didn't seem like the right thing.
When she got there, she barged through seniors who were trying to get out. "Coach Bolton!" she said, tears filling her eyes. "Somethings wrong with Tip."
Jack rushed out the door following Bree to the English room. When they got there, most of the kids had left and Tip was awake, tears streaming down his face, his knees brought to his chest and Ms. Darbus examining his arm. Jack knelt beside his son and pushed a lock of hair out of his face. "Tip? What happened?"
"It was a nightmare. It was nothing. I'm overreacting."
"Jack look at this," Ms. Darbus said, showing Tip's arm to his father. Jack was shocked at the shape. Even though it was fading, you could tell it had been a hand.
"I want to play for JV," Tip whispered. "I can't handle varsity."
"Who did that to you?" Jack asked.
"I did it," Tip lied. "I was taking out my anger on myself. I'm not good enough for varsity-"
"Tip when have you ever cared how good you are?" Jack paused. "Wait, who told you that you weren't good enough?"
Tip swallowed and looked up at his father. "Troy," he whispered loud enough so he could hear it, but not Jack or Ms. Darbus.
"Who?"
"No one," Tip said louder. "No one did. I told myself." He stood up and walked out of the room, Bree following behind him.
"Jack he did not do that to himself," Ms. Darbus said. "He's covering for someone. The marks were too big for it to be his hands."
"Then who would it be?"
Ms. Darbus didn't answer.
"Tip!" Bree yelled as Tip ran down the hall. "Stop!" He turned around, and looked into Bree's eyes. "Why are you hurting yourself?"
"I'm not!" Tip yelled, slamming his body against a locker. He moaned from the bruises on his back hitting the metal. "I'm not."
"Then who is?" she said. "Tell me."
"I can't," he said simply. "I don't know what he'd do if I did."
So...what's going to happen?
Tell me what you think!
Review!