Bad News From The Zones, Tumbleweeds

Kid wearing his helmet stands outside looking at the house.
PP He’s been out there most of the day.
FG What’s he doing?
PP Just staring at the house.
FG You should go talk to him.
PP Yeah. He grabs his helmet and walks out to talk to his brother.

Kid sees Poison approaching. He’s glad he has his helmet to hide his tears.
PP Hey bro, what’s you doing out here?
KK Nothing.
PP Ghoul and I are worried about you. Do you want to talk?
KK No.
Poison sighs and steps closer; Kid steps back.
KK Look Gee, I’m trying to keep it together here but I … I can’t talk about it.
Poison grabs him and hugs him tightly. Aw Mikey, it’ll be okay.
KK No, it won’t. He hugs Poison and cries.
PP Wanna get outta here for a bit? You and me? We can go see Dr. D.
KK Yeah, okay.
PP I’ll go tell Ghoul what’s going on.
KK I’ll get the car.

PP I’m taking Kid to see Dr. D.
FG Okay? What’s going on?
PP I’m not sure but looks like you’re right. He’s having a hard time. He was out there crying.
FG Jesus. Poor Mikey. Want me to come along?
PP Always, but I think we need brother bonding time.
Ghoul stands and wraps Poison in his arms and kisses him.
FG Be safe and hurry back.
PP Will do.
They kiss again.
You wake up in Jet’s arms and he’s staring at you.
OC What?
JS Nothing, just looking at you. You are so beautiful.
He strokes your cheek and you lean in for a kiss.
OC I’m hungry.
JS Laughs, well it had to happen.
OC What?
JS We had to leave the bed at some time.
You laugh and climb out of the bed; grabbing you bag and some fresh jeans. Instead of one of your shirts, you grab his off the floor. When you turn to him, he’s dressed in sweats and a t-shirt.
JS My shirt looks good on you.
OC you think so?
JS Well you look better without anything on but yeah…
OC Smooth talker.
You close the distance between you two and wrap your arms around him and turn you face up to him. He smiles and kisses you.

Walking into the living room, you see Ghoul and Poison kissing. Jet walks into the kitchen.
OC OH, sorry you turn away.
Ghoul and Poison break their kiss and see you standing with your back to them and laugh.
FG No worries, Poison was just getting his goodbye kisses.
OC Goodbye?
PP I’m taking Kid to see Dr. Death Defying; he needs to get outta the house for a bit.
OC Oh, realizing it’s because of you and Jet. I’m sorry.
Poison leaves and Ghoul sits down in his chair and you on the couch. Jet walks in with a couple of cans of Power pup and spoons; and sits next to you trying to figure out what he missed.
OC I hate that I’m the cause of all this.
JS All of what?
FG Kid is having a hard time and Poison is hoping he’ll talk to him if he gets him alone.
Jet feels a pang of guilt and just nods. You both begin to eat. The joy of everything fading as
You both feel guilty for causing Kid pain.

In the car, Poison drives while Kid stares out of the window. PP You want some music?
KK Nah
PP Okay, talk to me.
Kid sighs heavily. I want Jet.
PP Yeah I see that.
KK He wants her and I hate her and I wish we never met her. Why couldn’t she have been dead when we found her?
PP Oh Kid, I’m sorry man. Really. They didn’t do this to hurt you, you know that right?
KK Yeah I know that’s what makes it worse. My head knows it wasn’t on purpose but when I see them together I just want to kill her or throw up.
PP What can I do to help?
KK I really don’t know Gee; it just hurts all the time.
Kid begins to really cry. Poison pulls the car over on the side of the road and throws it in park. He pulls his brother into a hug and holds him while he sobs.
PP Let it all out.
Kid grips his brother around his shoulders and holds on tightly. Crying.
PPIM Jesus, this is bad. He’s a mess.
PP Look, I really don’t know what to say Mikes. I just know they didn’t try to set out to hurt you and you do to. AND I know that doesn’t help the hurt. But Jet knows how you feel, yeah?
Kid sobs weakly NO.
PP Wait, I thought you two talked about this in the car yesterday. Didn’t u tell him how you feel?
Kid cries harder and shakes his head no.
PP Why didn’t you tell him?
KK It. Wouldn’t. Change. Things. He says between sobs.
PP Try to calm down and tell me what happened in the car.
Kid’s ragged breathing slows and he stops sobbing. Poison offers him a bottle of water and Kid takes a drink.
KK Jet asked if I was jealous because I wanted him for myself. And I lied and said no.
Tears still falling from his eyes.
PP Why? Why did you lie?
Kid looks at Poison like he’s the dumbest person alive.
PP What?
KK It wouldn’t make any difference would it? He already loved her. He doesn’t love me. It wouldn’t matter. He cries harder. How am I supposed to deal with her in the house? With them together? With them….? HOW Gee?! He breaks down again and places his head in his hands.
PPIM Ah FUCK; he’s right. It’s not fair to tell him to man up and deal with this when his heart is broken.
PP You’re right Mikes. It wouldn’t make a difference. It’s not fair little brother and I wish more than anything I could take away your pain, make him love you. But I can’t, you can’t and hell even Jet can’t. You can’t turn feelings off. We’ll come up with something to help you deal, I promise. That’s something we can do.
Kid just shakes his head in agreement.
PP let’s go home and talk to Ghoul, he’s bound to have some idea.
KK Good, I’m not up for Dr. D anyway.
Poison smiles, and turns the car around heading for home.

You’ve barely eaten, your just stabbing at the food in the can. Jet nudges your elbow as you both sit on the couch.
JS Hey I thought you were hungry.
OC Huh? Oh I guess not so much.
Jet looks at you for a moment then over to Ghoul. He’s tinkering with some device not paying attention to them.
JS Ghoul? What do you think we should do to help Kid?
FG I’m not sure. It’s hard when you have feelings and they aren’t reciprocated. It’s bad enough to know someone doesn’t feel the same but to see it shoved in their face every day, its worse. Don’t be angry at him Jet.
JS Angry? No I feel guilty
OC Me too.
JS We can’t help that we fell in love. And for the most part I don’t think we’ve been shoving it in his face.
OC I should just go.
JS if you go, I go.
FG Don’t be such drama queens, sheesh. And I’m the one who’s gay. This is your home Star; you and Jet shouldn’t have to leave.
OC So what do we do? Avoid him?
JS We can spend the rest of our lives in the bedroom, I’m okay with that.
FG OH my God
OC Seriously Jet.
JS Maybe we should just discuss it and get it all out in the open.
OC When they get back; you four should talk. I’ll be in the bedroom, maybe I’ll take a nap.
FG This involves you too Star.
OC Yeah but you four have more history and should talk first, and then I’ll join you if you think it’s necessary.

Notes

Thank you to all readers; I hope someone is enjoying this story. I'm enjoying writing it.