Happy Thanksgiving guys! These aren't my characters and am making no money from this story. Michael is 15 Linc is 21 Please enjoy and review if you can
Prison break: The Teenage Angst
The cool crisp night air had only made me panic more as I ran from the bus stop up to the stairs of the brownstone to our apartment. I was panting, out of breath and the bitter cold air stung at my lungs. When had the time change happened? How did it get so dark so quick? I peered down at my old beat-up black watch and the time glared at me, mocking the fact I was so late. I frantically opened the busted-up glass door into the apartments and ran to the elevator, which still dawned the out of order sign. I wiped my sweaty hands on the front of my jeans cursing and ran up the apartment stairs taking two at a time 'till I was outside our apartment door. I nervously grasped the silver doorknob; my hand wouldn't stop shaking and I pulled my hand away from the knob as if it had burned me. Trying to get the nerve to just open the door and face my brother.
If I didn't go in, I could sleep on the streets, at least this morning I remembered my warm brown jacket and it could be transformed into a blanket. Right? I shook the thought from my head, and I could see the yellow glow of the apartment light from under the door. I knew he was home and I cursed myself for making fun of my history teacher today in class. With all the nerve I could muster I took my house key out of my blue denim jeans pocket. I inserted it into the doorknob, hands shaking something fierce but before I could unlock the door, it flung open as bright light flooded the hallway.
"Goddammit Michael! Where have you been?!" Linc yelled at me tugging me into a tight hug. His head rested on top of my recently buzzed black hair and I felt like I couldn't breathe. It was rare for Linc to show so much emotion and I realized he must have been terrified about coming home and not finding me here. He pulled me back and visually checked me over before dragging me into the apartment by my jacket, closing and then locking the door. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" Linc gruffly asked. I shook my head yes and hung my backpack and jacket on the coat rack. Linc glared at me and went into the kitchen, which was across from the front door. He was still in his greased up white shirt and baggy black jeans from work.
He opened the fridge pulling out a cold beer and motioned for me to sit in the kitchen at our small table. I felt my heart racing and I became nervous because Linc looked so angry. He looked at me pointing to the chair, "Sit your ass down and tell me why my baby brother is getting home at 6 pm instead of at 3:30 like he should be?" I felt myself not wanting to move from the safety of the coat rack and looked down at my grey shoes. Linc chuckled his ominous laugh that was always a warning sign he was about to blow and snapped his fingers. It was a warning that if I didn't look up and do as I was told I'd be getting a warmup spanking.
I scoffed at the idea, I'm 15 and I always thought spankings were meant for little kids, but I knew better. Linc was always a physical person with his feelings and I'm sure it had saved his life a few times in fights. Just, unfortunately for me, it meant that when I was in trouble, he only knew one way to handle me. That's what had me stuck to this spot and I knew when I told Linc what happened he'd be upset. I looked up locking eyes with Linc and his face was red with frustration, "Michael, I'm not playing games with you tonight. I've worked all damn day and I'm tired. Instead of coming home to fucking relax, I've been worried that my baby brother got kidnapped or killed on those fucking streets," Linc pointed out our apartment window as veins popped out of his muscular arm, "but thankfully your school called me and told me where you were. So, come sit your ass in this chair and tell me your version of what happened!"
At least he was giving me a chance to come clean but I was still nervous as hell, "But Linc, I….don't want a spanking." I sounded like a chastised 5-year-old begging to not get in trouble. Pathetic, probably, but I hadn't been in this much trouble in a long time. Not since I hadn't paid the heating bill a few months ago and I cringed at the memory. Linc sighed heavily running his hand down his face and setting his beer on the counter. He started to unbuckle his belt and I started to panic at the sight. "Nooo Linc, please I'm sorry. I'll come to sit down at the table, I'll behave, please Linc, I'm sorry!" Tears rolled down my cheeks involuntarily and I tried blinking them away.
I choked on my snot as Lincoln pulled his belt through the loops and stomped over to me. "Too late!" He yelled out. I flinched away from him throwing my hands out to block him from me and backed up almost knocking over the coat rack. Lincoln now even more angry grabbed my right arm turning me to the side landing a blistering swat with the belt against the seat of my jeans. It burned and I screamed out in pain, "No more games Michael! Do you want more?" I shook my head No, unable to catch my breath and choking on my tears. Linc shook my arm and let it go, "Then, you better go sit your ass at that table!" I walked to the table sniffling knowing it could have been worst and I sat gingerly in the hard-wooden chair.
Linc was walking behind me and laid the brown worn out strip of leather next to his beer on the counter. I looked up in Lincs eyes now a stormy grey and proceeded to wipe my snot on my black long sleeve thermal. "Why is everything a fight with you lately huh? You need to do what you're told and not throw tantrums like you're a damn child. We've got a problem here Mikey because I get a call today at work that my little brother is smarting off in class. That you've got behavioral problems and now have detention all week. Then, instead of coming home right after detention, you go where? You should have been home explaining to me what happened at school and instead of being here you were out screwing around! So, where were you? What happened at school?"
I looked down at my shoes scuffing them into the white stained linoleum and took a shaky deep breath. If I told Linc the truth, then I'd be in trouble but maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't spank me. Who was I kidding? He was going to lay into me, and a frightening thought crossed my mind, "Will you still love me if I messed up Linc?" I sounded like a baby but if I keep messing up, maybe Linc would send me away. I heard Linc sigh heavily and suddenly his calloused fingers were lifting my chin so I would look at him.
His face was less angry, and his eyes softened, "We've been over this Mikey, there isn't a single thing you could do that would ever make me send you away. It's okay to mess up every once in a while. I know you think 15 is a grown-up but it's not kid, and you'll always be my baby brother. Now, tell me what happened at school today? You've been doing so well, and I just want to understand what happened, okay?" His voice was sincere and laced with worry. I wiped at my eyes with the back of my hand and nodded as Linc let go of my chin.
The truth was always the way to go with Linc, "I went to history class today and my teacher had a cold of some sort. My friend was laughing because he sounded nasally, and I laughed too. Without thinking I said out loud he sounded like a dying cat. The teacher heard me and asked me to repeat louder what I had said. It was stupid but I was embarrassed, he singled me out when Jasper was the one who started it. So, I told him he sounded like a dying cat and he should shut up." I rushed out what happened, and it sounded stupid saying it out loud to Lincoln. Linc just glared at me and nodded his head for me to continue, "Well, after that the teacher told me I had detention after class and that if I didn't apologize, I'd be sent to the principal's office. I felt my cheeks getting hot and I was having a panic attack Linc cuz everyone was staring at me." I whined.
Linc grabbed his beer taking a sip, "Then?" He prompted me to continue and I felt my hands sweating. I took a deep breath, "Then I stood up and told him to fuck off because, I don't know why Linc, I just got so angry." I put my hands over my face and felt a sting at my eyes. A lump in my throat formed and I tried swallowing the lump down.
Linc sighed, "You know Mike, for a kid so smart you really do stupid shit sometimes." I heard the belt buckle jingle and lowered my hands daring to look at Linc…..