about to play my ace

Freak accident

Claire's p.o.v.
•••

I think the worst part about Tyler's freak accident was that I kind of envied him for getting so much attention. He got Brad and my parents. I couldn't see the fact that he was scared and vulnerable because I didn't want to be second best. I'm selfish. There he was, my twin, with amnesia and possible cancer. I have always tried to be more in the spotlight than Tyler. I'm so self-obsessed that he couldn't even tell me he was gay.

That's why I tried to end it all. I wanted to give Tyler a better life. I wanted him to be the one everybody noticed. I'm glad he stopped me, I can still be there for him, I'm just not hogging the limelight anymore. We can share it. I still have to be under close watch, but all of that is worth it to know I have a family that cares enough about me to stop me from committing suicide.

The best part? Tyler came out to us, to his family. He also was able to get a tumor removed that, if left untreated, could have killed him. He also has Brad. We both do. I'm glad Brad and I aren't trying to have a relationship, because Tyler needs a Brad. I can do without for a while.

Brad helped me learn more songs on the piano and we're back to being really good friends. He played and sang a duet with me and we had Tyler videotape it. We put it on YouTube and it's gotten some likes and lots of positive comments. I don't read the comments, for obvious reasons, but the good ones are read aloud to me.

School is starting next week. Brad has kind of officially moved in with us. Ross decided not to, but he comes and visits.

I'm pretty glad school is restarting, because this has been one crazy, amazing summer.

I'm texting Tyler's friend Ben and he's really nice. He wants to hang out sometime. I should probably ask Tyler first.

I got up from my bed, and walked across the hall to Tyler's room. I didn't want to barge in because Brad was probably in there. I knocked and Tyler told me to come in.

"Everybody decent?" I asked, entering the room.

"Ha ha. Very funny." Tyler said.

"Sorry if I interrupted anything." I said, taking in their rosy cheeks, heavy breathing, and the messy bed.

"You should be." Brad whined, cuddling Tyler's side.

"What's up?" Tyler asked.

"You know Ben?" I started, nervously.

"My Ben? I mean, my friend Ben?" Tyler asked.

"Yeah, him."

"What about him?"

"He wants to hang out. With me. I guess I just wanted a second. Maybe a third? Opinion."

"Go for it." Brad said.

"Invite him over for a movie tonight. I haven't seen him all summer anyway."

"Okay. You two have to behave yourselves then." I said, trying to raise my eyebrow.

"Stop making that face."

"Whatever."

"Can we cuddle during the movie?" Tyler asked Brad.

"Does this Ben guy care? I mean, I really like you Tyler, but I don't want to have a homophobe beat me up for it."

"I think he's fine with gay people. But you're right. We probably shouldn't."

"I'll text him?" I asked, feeling like I was intruding on a private moment.

"Yeah you will." Tyler said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Shut up."

"Make me." Tyler said.

"Gladly." Brad said, leaning in. I closed the door and texted Ben.

•••

To: ben
You should join us for a movie night tonight.

From: ben
what time?

To: ben
When you get here I guess.

From: ben
omw :-)

•••

Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang. I made Tyler answer it. We all went to Brad's room to watch the movie.

"Claire, what movie?" Brad asked me.

"I really like Holes." I said, feeling very outnumbered. Brad and Tyler shared a look and started cracking up.

"What?" I asked.

"That's a good movie." Ben said.

"Yeah." Brad agreed.

"Fine." Tyler said, faking upset. "But when I have nightmares, I'm waking you up."

"It's not scary." I said at the same time as Ben.

"That's what you think." Tyler said, sitting on the bed next to Brad.

"Somebody hit play." I said, feeling very lazy. "Turn off the lights while you're up."

The order of us lying on the bed went: Brad, Tyler, Ben, Me.
I feel left out. Well, I did until Ben started holding my hand. Tyler and Brad were whispering throughout the whole movie and it was kind of annoying. After Holes was over, Brad and Tyler went to go make popcorn.

"What's up with Tyler and Brad?" Ben asked me, after they had gone upstairs.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, they both went upstairs to make popcorn which isn't very hard to make, and you have a microwave and popcorn down here if I'm not mistaken."

"Oh. Uh, I don't know. Maybe they wanted to give us a chance to talk or something?" I'm a very bad liar.

"Claire, you need to work on your lying skills." When he said that, we heard a loud crash and laughter.

"What are they doing up there?"

"I'll go find out. Stay here." The door to the stairs opened and we heard Brad and Tyler talking.
They walked through the door empty handed.

"Where's the popcorn?" Ben asked.

"Oh. Um, it got knocked onto the floor."

"Why is there popcorn in Brad's hair?" Ben asked.

Tyler picked the popcorn out of Brad's hair and ate it.
"What popcorn? Claire do you see any popcorn?"

"Not anymore." I told Tyler.

"I'm serious. What's going on?"

Brad looked at Tyler and nodded.

"We're kinda like boyfriends."

"We are boyfriends." Brad said.

"What? You're gay?" Ben asked, loudly.

"Yeah. Is that a problem?"

"No. Why didn't you tell me?" Ben asked, looking hurt.

"I don't know."

"Can we watch another movie now?" I asked, trying to change the awkward tension.

"I don't know. Can we?" All three boys asked at the same time.

"Hey. I asked first."