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My little brother might not survive that. I want to make him understand that people can be cruel and hateful, and like-minded ignorance is stronger in numbers.
Around here, they would do worse to him for less.
I have to swallow down the lump building in my throat.
No. I’ll protect him. I can keep him safe—at least for as long as I’m around.
“Listen to me,” I reply soberly. “I don’t want you ever getting in a fight like me. You just keep your head down and don’t go thinking you’re tough enough to take them because you’re not. Don’t do anything to provoke them or give them a reason to hate you.”
“Jesus,” he mutters, clearly scared by my sudden humorless demeanor. He tries to laugh it off, so I grab his arm with my good hand.
“I’m serious, Isaac. High school can be brutal, and I won’t be around forever to protect you. Just…blend in, okay?”
His expression settles as he stares into my eyes, and that’s when I can tell he gets what I’m implying. I hate that I have to ask my brother to conform because of the close-minded world we live in. It feels wrong, but I refuse to let him go through what I did.
“Relax, Caleb,” he says softly, patting my arm.
Forcing myself to breathe, I rest against the back of the sofa and stare numbly at the TV. We watch the game for a while. I order a pizza while he puts some headphones on and hums a tune I’ve never heard before.
When there’s a knock at the door, I stand from the couch and go to answer it.
I expect it to be our pizza, but when I open it to find young Dean standing on the welcome mat, my eyes narrow, and I close the door a little to block Isaac from view.
His eyes rake over my broken arm and bruised-up face.
“Hey…” he stammers. “Is Isaac here?”
“No,” I answer coldly. “He’s, uh, off with some friends.”
Pain crosses Dean’s face and I hate myself. His molars clench, and I know he can tell I’m lying.
“I don’t believe you,” he mumbles.
“You don’t have to believe me,” I reply.
He stares at me with hatred, but I don’t care.
“You just don’t like your brother dating a guy,” he says like it’s supposed to hurt my feelings.
“No, I don’t like my brother dating someone that’s going to get him hurt.”
“I’m going to get him hurt?” he replies.
I step outside, closing the door behind me. “Yes, Dean. You’re too reckless. You think we live in a world where it’s safe to be yourself, and we don’t. Hate me if you want to, but you need to stay away from my brother.”
I can see his fists tighten at his sides and his nostrils flare as if he’s fighting off tears.
“Fine,” he mutters before backing away. Before leaving, he lets out a dry and emotionless, “Fuck you, Caleb. You’re an asshole.”
That’s fine, I think as I watch him walk away angrily. I’ll be the asshole. Anything to keep my brother safe.
* * *
Present Day
“Is that you?”
When I turn back around, the fans are mostly scattered, and Theo Virgil is standing alone on the opposite side of a tall chain-link fence. He’s staring at me quizzically.
