GOLD RUSH , [ cole walter ]

ten

( small town rumors )

From Eden by Hozier is playing through my headphones as I walk down the hall towards the auditorium. This whole morning has been full of whispers and people staring at me everywhere I go that I feel like I might actually be losing my mind.

Even Jackie was freaking out about Alex apparently being in love with Paige and her potentially being a rebound in Chemistry but I honestly can't even understand how that information correlates. Then, Grace went on some sort of gossip-policing spree and spread a rumor that Paige was one of the girls that Cole was sneaking into the house.

Which, by extension, mentions that Alex snitched on Cole about sneaking girls in.

Not to mention Grace said,"People are totally unsure how to feel about you and Cole seeing as you guys have been flirty, but everyone knows about his history with Erin."

So, I decided to support Danny and try to ignore all of the chaos. As I make my way down the auditorium steps, I see him reciting lines in front of Alex. 

"Hey guys," I drop my bag in a seat and sit on the floor next to Alex.

We're interrupted, however, by someone yelling, "What the hell, Alex?!" Of course, it's none other than Cole Walter.

Danny looks distressed, "Guys, no, no, no. Not in the auditorium, please."

"You told Dad I've been sneaking girls in?"

"Hey, Cole!" Danny goes to hold Cole back and I stand from my place on the floor, unsure of what my place in all this is. "What are you doing?" Danny asks.

Alex immediately replies, "No! He asked, I didn't say anything."

"Which is basically a yes," Cole replies.

"Yeah, you're one to talk. Brother of the year right here, telling the whole school that I cried like a little bitch."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Oh, is that how you're gonna play it? You're just gonna pretend like you have no idea what I'm talking about?" Alex starts becoming aggressive. "Cool! Good thing I have a great memory of you bawling your eyes out to Mom when your football dreams ended. Maybe I should start spreading that around, huh?!"

"Alex!" I yell suddenly, "Stop being such a dick!"

Unfortunately, Cole manages to get out of Danny's hold and now, the two brothers are wrestling. Danny and I are trying to pull them apart, but we can't seem to find an in until the other Walter boys arrive.

"Guys, help us out!" I yell across the theater.

I have a hold on Cole's right arm finally and just as we manage to pull them apart, Mr. Choudhry shows up and yells at all of us to go to the principal's office.

Katherine ended up picking us up, and I got the wonderful experience of my record's first blemish: a suspension until the next day (note my sarcasm). I was, however, spared the Walter family bonding seeing as the problems that surfaced today, ran deeper than my time in Colorado.

Apparently, George and Katherine forced them to stay in the dining room until Alex and Cole worked everything out. I couldn't help, but wish I could understand what was going on. They were brothers, didn't they understand how special that is? Or, worse, how quickly that could be taken away?