Brothers by Blood, Brothers in Arms

Chapter 2: Becoming

"So," Toby grunted, attempting to pull his sock on. "You're gonna do the play?"

"Yeah," Jim was looking over the flier again. He recognized Douxie's own artistic touch to it, and his gut began to stir with anxiety once more.

"You're not much of an actor," Toby pointed out, moving onto his second sock.

"Yeah, well, maybe some of Douxie's talent rubbed off on me in the last fifteen years." He tucked the flier away.

Something caught his eye. A shadow moving past the lockers. Jim stood, following it curiously.

"Douxie," Toby said pointedly, grunting as he fell off the bench in his attempt to put the sock on. "Is a theater kid. You are not."

Jim ignored him, following the shadow towards the showers. He poked his head in, confused to see all the shower heads running. "Uh... hello? Anyone in there?"

It was silent for a long moment before the shadows seemed to move again. Jim jumped and quickly turned away.

"Jimbo?" Toby called, poking his head around the corner. "Come on! What are you doing?"

Jim shook his head, following Toby back to the lockers. "I thought I saw something."

Toby snorted, grabbing his backpack. "You're starting to sound like your brother."

"Speaking of," Jim pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking his messages. "Nope. Still nothing."

"Mm," Toby pursed his lips, pushing the door open and they walked outside. "That's super not like him." He paused for a moment. "Did you piss him off again?"

Jim rolled his eyes. "That was not my fault, and you know it."

"Eh," Toby made a so-so gesture with his hand. "It was kind of your fault."

Jim rolled his eyes, grabbing his bike. "No, I did not piss him off again."

"Well," Toby clicked his tongue, wheeling his bike alongside Jim. "Let's hope he hasn't gotten into any trouble. Again."

Jim had to smile at that, because Toby wasn't wrong. "The day Hisirdoux Casperan Lake doesn't get himself into deep shit, is the day the world ends."

The slamming of a locker door cut the humorous mood in half. They both looked over, cringing to see Steve Palchuk once again stuffing Eli Pepperjack into a locker.

"Okay," Toby muttered. "Nothing to see here."

"We can't just let him do that," Jim said, frowning.

"Oh yes we can!" Toby hissed. "If Psycho Steve's terrorizing him, he's not terrorizing us."

Jim ignored him, walking towards Steve.

"Tell me again, dweeb-face." Steve was saying, slamming his fist on the locker. "Tell me about the creatures, and maybe I'll let you out!"

Jim steeled his nerves, took a deep breath, and spoke. "Or you can let him out right now."

Steve turned to him, seeming surprised Jim even had the gall to talk to him. "What?"

"You know, it would be nice."

Steve glowered at him. He glanced around for a moment, probably looking for Douxie. When he didn't see him, he grinned savagely, getting in Jim's face. "Nice would be you minding your own business."

"Oh, hi Jim!" Eli called from the locker.

Steve snickered, turning back to the locker. "So, where were we? Oh, yeah, okay. You were telling me about the monsters you saw this morning, with fangs and. What was it, again?"