𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒ˎˊ˗
↳ TYLER HERNANDEZ grew up too quickly, evident by the soft brown circles sinking his eyes into their sockets, growing deeper with every breath he takes. His mother has tried to take him to a psychiatrist, begging them to fix her son;...
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HOW MANY years have gone by since they'd last called each other by those stupid nicknames? Three? Four? Five? Holy fuck it was six years ago.
"Don't kill me, just help me runaway"
That simple little thought sent Tyler's head reeling as his feet push harder into the pedals, trying to get further from the motel on Jackson and Fifth. But the memories had already begun to spill back in. The motel, specifically room eighteen on the second floor, is where he'd spent most of his days; mixing chocolate powder into a cup of milk, flicking through the cartoons with small bickers back and forth. Taylor never came with him there.
"From everyone, I need a place to stay"
It had specifically been those days when Mariana took his dad to the hospital, clenching her hand in his the entire way to the place. Verity had been the one thing the twins hadn't shared ever, and at three years old, that was all he wanted; something just for him. Something that he didn't have to share with his sister.
"Where I can cover up my face"
On rainy days that he'd be over there, a coat from her at the time, seven year old brother, would be handed to him. With the yellow adorned over his skin, the sleek rubber hood pulled up and over his dark hair, they'd skip outside just the two of them. Jumping in puddles and trying to catch raindrops on their tongue, running and ducking underneath the patio when hail began to chuck down onto the concrete.
"Don't cry, I am just a freak" [phase]
During the sunnier months, his mom would walk him the two and a half blocks just so he could splash around in the pool with the little brown haired girl. All of which he cared for wasn't their mothers sitting on the chairs with cigarettes between their fingers, it was that this girl was his. Only his.
"I am just a freak" [phase]
When late August would pounce on Tyler, slapping him across the face with a harder year of school, he'd kneel by his bed and pray that Verity would be sat beside him in class; pray that she'd even get into the same class as he was in. Up until third grade it had worked, but the stupid Gifted and Talented program had to sweep her up in early September. So then, he was praying for that to be a fluke.
"I am just a freak" [phase]
It didn't work like that, or so his father had to tell him while he lay dying in the hospital bed as he sat on the bed, kicking his feet outwards than inwards. Losing two people at a time, one for good and then other his best friend, that messed him up particularly bad.
"I am just a freak" [phase]
Two years had passed by then, and he was standing over his father's grave, watching his sister on her knees and hands pressed together before her chest. His mother was hunched beside the stone, fixing flowers against the gray color that in no way represented what his father's life had been.
"My head is filled with parasites"
After the funeral had ended, after the pity of people on their street and heartfelt letters from family out of state; Tyler felt the need to jerk himself up and began taking care of the home. When he'd done this, the power dynamic of the Hernandez household had shifted. He was now the one on top with a mother heavily in denial, and a twin sister struggling to get by in their new life.
"Black holes cover up my eyes"
Spending hours on a decent dinner after swinging a metal bat back and forth to hit a single ball has grown tired, but at the age of fourteen it isn't quite yet legal for him to get a job.
"I dream of you almost every night"
Unfortunately, he hasn't really forgiven himself for never even explaining to Verity what had happened, why he'd just stopped trying. At school though, she has new friends, everything about her has just changed. The only identifiable aspect of the girl anymore was the bike she rode home.
"Hopefully, I won't wake up this time"
Watching her in the one class they have together, History, makes Tyler feel bile stir in his stomach; whether it's caused by guilt or hate is unidentifiable. His eyebrows crinkle together whenever he smells her signature perfume, and there's a small tug at the end of his lip.
"I won't wake up this time"
God must just love him too with the gesture of assigning her to the same group for the project. If she's going on that trip, that means he has to interact with her; that's not something that sounds particularly appealing, not after six years of distance.
"I won't wake up this time"
Only time will tell however, with the slips still sitting on Mr. Thomas's desk and everyone tucked in their groups. Had assigned seats been necessary at the beginning of class? Or was that some sort of power play on his part?
"I won't wake up this time"
Nobody in the group had really interacted prior, sure there was history with Tyler and Verity, but how were they supposed to work with people that they can't be talkative with? Talking to friends is just about the best thing when it comes to group work. This semester is about to be the longest of them all with this stupid thing.
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946 words VOTE & COMMENT POOKIES SEE YOU IN CHAP ONE SUCKAS [jk, ily all!!]
