The Rhodes Method

twenty-three

I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart
--- Never Tear Us Apart, Paloma Faith

OCTAVIA RHODES

"What did you do this time?" 

Damien's voice is loud, like usual, and even though he's not in the same room as me when he talks, I can hear him well. He does not give me time to answer, no, because he comes strolling into the living room a moment later. He knows exactly why I'm here. There's no reason I'd be on the floor, leaning against the coffee table, still and alone voluntarily. 

My eyes immediately zone onto the dirt on his shirt and his red skin. I shouldn't be surprised. Damien always gets into fights at school, so he is always coming home looking like this. Whenever he gets into these fights, he usually gets suspended, and as punishment,  Dad makes him rearrange and clean the garage every time he gets suspended. I'm a little shocked he hasn't got in trouble this time. 

I blink twice and gaze up at my brother who has repeated his question. His eyes skim over my page and my wonky handwriting. 

I sigh loudly. "Myles got into another fight with me." I drop my pencil and stretch my sore fingers.

"Ah," Damien hums, his eyes flickering back to me. "So Raymond is trying new shit to keep you in check."

"Damien," I hiss. "You can't call him that."

Damien shrugs innocently. He started calling Dad that a few months ago. Logan explained to me that it's because Damien's fifteen now and going through a 'phase.' I'm not sure what that means though. What I do know is that now, Damien talks back to Dad, he swears at the dinner table and sneaks out on Tuesday nights to meet up with Molly, his new girlfriend. I know she's his girlfriend because when I come back from practice, they're always kissing on the couch.

A finger pokes my cheek. I look up again at my brother and shoot him a hard glare. Damien only snickers in response. 

Then, he claims, "You started the fight."

"Huh?"

He smirks at me, waiting for a reaction. You told me that Myles started the fight..." He leaves the room and heads back into the kitchen. "It was definitely you — don't try to convince me otherwise."

I grumble under my breath and continue with my words, "Stupid Damien." I write one more line. I don't want to be doing this but I have to. While Myles gets to stay in his room and gets to play his video games, I have to write a full page of lines. Dad says that not only will I learn my lesson, but I'll improve my handwriting if I do it enough times.

My annoying middle brother comes strolling back into the room. He tosses an apple between his hands. He's a show-off, and usually, he juggles the apples. But then they'll all drop onto the floor and he'll put them back onto the fruit bowl and snicker when Vince goes to eat one.

Right now he isn't showing off. He takes a loud bite of his food which makes my stomach grumble. Damien then laughs. He laughs at the fact that I have to write all these lines and that he doesn't.

"It's so unfair," I complain because no one else is home to listen to me. "Myles gets to have fun in his room. He snuck in one of his video games and his new phone."