Challenges

Part X

***2015***

The sky started to grow dark as Justin and Matt drove back towards town. Justin did not recall there being any rain in the forecast, but then again the New Mexico weather changed quickly. 

As they got into town large raindrops had started to splatter the windshield. Justin loved the rain; One of the upsides to living in Seattle. He made his way through town and reached his house. The rain was pouring quickly, and it made it difficult to see. Lighting arched across the sky. 

Before getting out of the car he looked in the rearview window. His eye was starting to turn blue where Matt had landed a blow. He rubbed it a bit and figured it would grow bigger before tomorrow.

"Great!" he said to himself. "What a way to meet someone." 

He got out of the car and ran to the house, knowing that the faster he moved the more he got wet, but still, it was something he enjoyed as a kid. Rain was a rarity, and he enjoyed every minute of it. 

Once he got inside he knew he wanted to avoid his mother, and father if he was home, with his shiner. He made his way up to his room to get out of his wet clothes and to take a nap. He was emotionally and physically weak from his afternoon: Emotionally drained from having to deal with Nate, and physically drained from his fight with Matt. He needed that release of energy. He just hoped Matt would not get hell from his wife for having a knockout brawl with his little brother.

He got to his room and sat on the edge of his bed. He could really use a nap, but he could also take a shower. He still had dirt in his hair from his fight. He grabbed some clean clothes and laid them on his bed, and then he went to take a shower. 

In the shower he let the water run over his body. He washed off, and put his hands on the wall under the showerhead, and let the water run down his back. He watched some of the dirt run down the drain and sighed. He had cried for a long time with Matt, and he did feel somewhat better. However, the pain was coming back. He also could feel the anger within him, rising once more. He had to fight to keep it under control. 

He decided he needed to take a nap. Turning off the water, he grabbed a towel and started to dry. He looked at himself in the mirror, and frowned. He wasn't sure about it, but there was something different about him. He never was comfortable looking at himself in the mirror, but now he looked like a stranger. Maybe Matt was right. Maybe doing what he did, changed him, and made him a different person. 

"Bah!" He said to himself as he wrapped the towel around his waist. He had some defined muscle on his arms, but the rest of his body was smooth. He always thought he was good looking, but sometimes he wondered. Ever since Nate left him he always had an image problem. Now he was feeling foolish forever thinking Nate left him because he was no longer attractive. It was because of a woman.

He made his way to his room, and started to put on his clean clothes. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He looked down. He had shorts on, but no shirt. Figured he was decent.

"Come in."

The door opened and Lori stepped in. "Oh." She said as she saw Justin standing with his shirt off. "I am sorry." She started to turn around.

"It's okay." Justin said, grabbing his shirt, and pulling it over his head. "Nothing you haven't seen before."

"I suppose." She stood by the door. "Matt is taking a shower. He is incredibly dirty, and has a swollen jaw. He said he had fallen down in the mountains with you, and hit his jaw on a rock. Now I see you with a black eye." She crossed her arms and leaned against the door opening. "You two had it out." She fixed him with her stern eyes.