Harmless

Chapter 1

JARED

"Dude, I really need to pee! I heard somewhere that if you hold your piss for too long, it can cause erectile dysfunction!" I yell, banging on the bathroom door repeatedly. " I'm too young to need freaking boner pills."

"I'm nearly done, I just want to finish the last chapter of Pride and Prejudice," Nico moans.

Not again. I'm going to strangle that shaggy blonde bastard. All this time wasted, and he hasn't even been using the toilet. He's just been reading that silly book again. Nico is obsessed with reading; I've almost never seen him without a book in his hand.

"Chapter? You have got to be kidding me!" I scream. "I'm gonna piss in your bed in about 3 seconds if you don't come out."

"Alright! Hang on, at least give me time to wipe my ass," Nico says, clearly aggravated that I'm taking away his bathroom reading time.

I hear the toilet flushing as Nico, his face clouded with annoyance, bursts open the blue door. I burst into laughter, shoving him out of the way.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today," I taunt.

Awarding my joke with a roll of his green eyes, the eyes that my mother and I share, he leaves the bathroom.

I dart to the toilet, finally feeling free.

"Aahhh." I let out a sigh of relief.
"Close the door!" Nico yells.
"Too late for that now," I chuckle as I flush the toilet and turn towards the mirror.

"Jared, you're really impatient. You've been up for at least an hour, but decided not to use the toilet like a normal human being," he lectures. "It's your own fault really."

I begin to zone out, staring at my reflection in the mirror, my green eyes looking right back at me. Nico carries on rambling.

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" Nico asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Just because you're my older brother doesn't mean you need to act like one."

"That doesn't even make sense!" Nico shouts. "You're so frustrating. Why do I even put up with you?"

"Because you're my older brother," I say, smiling happily.

He groans loudly in frustration, but that only makes my smirk grow wider.

I watch in the mirror as he walks into my room. I don't mind, as long as he doesn't touch anything.

I hear a loud smash coming from my room. I guess I spoke too soon.

Oh no. I hope Gracie is all right. I rush into the bedroom and scream in horror as I see that between the piles of clothes across my floor Gracie lies in a million pieces.

I rub my hand over my face trying to keep in my anger, resisting the urge to pull every strand of dark hair from my head. Against a background of old posters, Nico looks guilty and apologetic.

"Look bro, I'm sorry," he says sympathetically. "Look, I can buy you another bong."

"Dude, you..." I trail off, because I'm at a loss for words. Gracie has been my baby for a year now. "Was there any pot left in there?"

"Nah, I cleared it before I dropped it which is probably why I lost my grip."

"Shit happens, I guess," I sigh, forgiving him quickly.

"So, what you up to today?" Nico asks, clearly trying to change the subject.

"I'm not sure yet," I mumble.

I'll probably go to The BullDog Diner, like I have been for the past 2 years.

"Well..." Nico starts excitedly. "I'm actually meeting up with Chloé today, I think she's the one."

"Isn't that exactly the same thing you said about all the other girls?" I laugh, looking at the sharp pieces of Gracie, as if it would magically clean up with just the pure power of my gaze.

Nico gives me a puzzled look.

"Don't make me start naming the girls," I warn. He's silent for too long so I take it as my cue to begin. "Louise, Kara, Jenny, Amy, Vaness-," I say before he cuts me off.

"Ok, I get it," Nico says, feeling defeated. "I get way too attached too early, but I'm certain this time I will take it slow."

"Good for you man, you deserve someone special." I smile genuinely.

Nico gives me a sympathetic look and I know exactly what he's thinking. I turn away from his stare and carefully clean up the pieces from the floor.

Bad memories from the past return which cause my eyes to sting. Oh no, don't you dare cry Jared. Be a man.

"Look, Jared, I know you're hurting but you need to move-" Nico begins.

"Don't." I say, sending him a glare.

I get up from my position on the floor by Gracie and try not to meet Nico's eyes. I storm out my bedroom, down the stairs, and out the door which I slam in the process.

I get out my phone from my pocket and call Noah.

"Hey, can you meet me at the diner?" I ask.

"Be there in five, is everything alright?" He replies, noticing the sad tone in my voice. I tell him in one word.

"Lexi."