The Secrets We Keep

The First Chapter

Part One: The Calm Before The Storm

Present Day

Hayden

As I stumble into the kitchen, still groggy with sleep, I find my brother hunched over the table in our breakfast nook. He seems sullen, or at least more so than usual.

He doesn't greet me as I head for the fridge and start pulling out the things I'll need to make the meal that will get me through the day. And even after I've completed my task, he doesn't look up from his cereal bowl. Instead, he just stares into the milk like it will answer some meaningful question of his.

"Good morning. Are you two ready for school?" My mom asks as she enters the kitchen. There's not a bit of her out of place. Her is done up in a neat bun and I can see that her pantsuit is freshly ironed. She glances over at us when she gets no response and her expression sours when she sees me. "Hayden, why the hell are you still in your pajamas? I won't wait for you to get ready. You're not going to make us all late!"

I sigh and stand up with my plate in my hand. I guess I'll have to eat while I get ready for school. "Good morning to you too, Mom," I grumble as I leave the room.

I pass my dad on his way to the kitchen. "Already in trouble?" He asks, a knowing look on his face.

"Yep," I say as I head down the hallway and into my room. I shut the door and pick up the sandwich I made to eat while I start looking around for the things that make up my new school uniform.

It's only been about a week since Damien and I started going to the private school my mom teaches. We get educated for free, or at least, at a steep discount. And while I'm grateful for the educational opportunity, there's something about Excelsior that doesn't just sit right with me. It makes getting ready in the mornings a chore since I want to prolong my time at home as much as I can.

After my sandwich is nothing but crumbs on the plate, I start attempting to tie the tie that comes with the uniform. I sigh when I mess it up on the first try. Eventually, I leave it as is and pick up my bag. I'll get Damien to do it for me in the car. Lord knows I don't want to be any more late than I already am.

-

The only problem is that Damien is still in a mood by the time I jump into the car. Mom takes off at a breakneck speed down the drive and when I turn to speak to Damien in the backseat, I find him staring out the window stonily.

I want to ask him what's up but I know he won't tell me anything while mom's in the car.

"I have a teachers meeting after school. You two don't mind waiting a little bit for me, do you?"

"Not at all," I answer when Damien continues to be silent. I watch my mom peer up and look at him through the rearview mirror. She catches my eye and mouthes something at me.

I don't know what she's trying to say or what's going on so I just shrug.

By the time we pull past the private school's wrought iron gates, I'm really starting to lose patience with his silent treatment.

"What time do you think you'll be done with the meeting?" I ask my mom once we're all out of the car and start heading for the school's entry.

"I'm not sure, Hay. I'll text you if we go on too long. You two have fun at school, alright?" Her attention is mostly focused on my brother as she says her last sentence. I give her a strained smile and wave as she heads to her classroom.

As Damien and I head to our respective lockers, I turn my annoyed expression on him. "What's with you this morning?"

"Nothing, Hayden. I'm just not feeling well," he answers stonily.