With the permission from the principal, Ray pulled out random students at random times. He talked to these students individually, hoping someone had a relationship with either of the four students-or better yet, have any information. Ray got unlucky with most until he met a girl with striking brown eyes and long dark hair. She twirled her fingers together, “Nixon? Yeah, I knew him .. I had a little crush on him.” She laughed awkwardly but it faded away, “But he never liked me. I think he was gay or something-not that just because he doesn’t like me makes him gay,” Her face flushed red, “I-I just see him always leaving certain areas after this boy-I’m not a stalker, I just happened to follow Nixon in hopes of asking him out. And I caught him turning a corner. I stayed a couple feet back but I heard strange noises. Then a different boy left the area before he did.”

Ray stared at her from across the room, “What boy?”

“I don’t know his name .. but he has hazel eyes, pale skin. He’s really cute.”

Ray looked at her before pulling out a picture of Frank, “This boy?”

She stared at the picture, “Yeah.”

Ray tucked in his lips, “Interesting. What do you suppose they were doing?”

Her cheeks flushed again, “Well, they leave the only place where teachers don’t look around and where there are no cameras .. so you can kinda guess it.”

Ray asked her, “Did anyone else see them together besides you?”

“Nope.” She leaned in a bit toward Ray, “Wanna know something?”

“I’m a detective, of course I do.”

“While I was snooping from around the corner, I heard Nixon spitting vile words to that boy.”

“Explain.”

“He would cuss at him, tell him to shut up .. he even said one time, ‘shut up you fucking pig’ and it made me cringe.” Her eyes watered, “It .. it sounded like rape.”

---

Gerard hasn’t said one word. He always kept his eyes somewhere else. He slouches a lot now and it seems like he doesn’t have the energy to run off. I don’t tie them up anymore. Not since yesterday. I have no need to. Mikey stays by my side alongside with Gerard who doesn’t dare to leave his brother behind.

My plan was working. All I have to do is keep Mikey by me and I get Gerard too.

We were all watching t.v up until Mikey snuggled up against my arm. Gerard, on the other side of me, glared at his brother who didn’t look back. Gerard let out a weak sigh. It was getting late. Mikey had already fell asleep. Gerard and I continued to watch t.v. I knew I was tired but for some reason I couldn’t shut my eyes. I glanced over to Gerard whose eyelids were falling weak. I stared at him up until his body gave out and the side of his head rested on my arm. Two Way brothers were fast asleep on me. It was a moment I thought would never happen, but it did.

Very slowly, I moved out from in between the two. Gerard and Mikey both reacted the same way by leaning on the opposite side of the couch. I looked at Gerard for a moment before reaching down and picking him up-he was a bit heavier than I thought, but I managed to walk inside his bedroom and gently lay him down. His body shifted around the bed until he kept still. There was a moment of silence. I then decided to finally leave out of the room but Gerard’s raspy voice called, “Mikey?”

I stopped in my tracks. I faced him and he let out a hand to me, “C’mere, Mikey.” It was obvious he couldn’t see me because of how dark it was in the room but .. I’ve been wanting to cuddle with him for so long. And I wanted him to want that too. I walked over and laid under the sheets where he wrapped his arms around me and reeled me in. Gerard sniffed, “You smell funny.”

I did not reply.

He asked, “Tired?”

I nodded.

Gerard’s soft voice said, “I see .. I know you’re tired but I want to tell you something. Frank is delusional. He’s insane but I can’t stop you from loving him. You’re brainwashed…” He dragged on about how unstable I was.

I’m not unstable-am I? No. I’m not. I’m simply different. Isn’t different good? Is this what he rants on about me? Why can’t he just love me?

I growled, “I’m perfectly fine.” Before Gerard could move away, I latched onto his wrists and slammed them up above his head. I used one hand to latch his wrists together and the other to slam my hand over his mouth. His fears muffled against my palm. He jerked his body every which way, but I did not pay attention to his desperation. A small creak made me jolt my head up. Mikey stood underneath the door frame, “Frank .. what are you doing?”

I yelled, “Shut the door!”

Gerard jerked his head to the side, moving his mouth away from my palm. He screamed, “Mikey! Help me!”

I glared at Mikey, “Shut the door.”

Gerard and I looked at Mikey. Mikey stepped into the room, making me a little nervous-until he grasped onto the doorknob and started to close the door. Gerard called his name with tears streaming down his face as Mikey slowly left the room, and left us in the dark. I can see the mark of betrayal Mikey had caused on his brother.

Notes

xo