The Secret of Us

𝐕𝐈

When Mason eventually returned home, his body hurt, and his heart was still raw from the altercation with Rafe. Trying not to make a sound, he quietly pushed open the front door. The only source of light in the house was the flickering television in the living room. After adjusting his eyes, he was able to see the familiar scene: his dad sprawled out on the couch, a half-empty bottle dangling from his finger, and empty bottles of alcohol scattered across the floor.

Mason let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him when he saw that JJ wasn't anywhere near their dad. If JJ had been around while their dad was drunk, it could have gone badly. But the house was silent, and his brother was nowhere to be seen. He moved cautiously towards the hallway, his feet crunching slightly on a broken beer bottle as he went.

The floorboards creaked under his weight, but Mason didn't bother tiptoeing anymore. He walked over to JJ's room and silently pushed the door open. JJ was sitting on his bed, looking at the wall with a blank expression. His brows furrowed at the sight of Mason, and he nodded slightly.

"Where the hell did you go?" JJ asked in a low, nearly accusing tone.

Mason hesitated for a moment before answering, choosing his words wisely. As he forced the lie out, a knot of guilt twisted in his stomach. "Ward Cameron asked me to check on the boats," he said, his voice as steady as he could make it. He hated lying to JJ, hated the way it made him feel like he was betraying his brother. But what choice did he have? He could see the tension in JJ's shoulders ease slightly, his face softening as he processed Mason's words, and that only made the guilt cut deeper. "Are you okay?"

With a noncommittal grunt, JJ shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine," he responded, his voice missing the usual fire it held. Mason knew his brother well enough to know when he was hiding something, but he decided not to push the topic. He simply felt relieved that JJ was safe.

For a minute, Mason stood in the doorway, observing his brother. He could see that JJ's body language was closed off, his head was down, and his eyes seemed to be distant. Something about him had changed, and Mason was quite concerned about it. But when JJ was acting this way, he knew better than to push him. With a little nod, he retreated from the room and shut the door.

Mason heard muted voices outside as he woke up the following morning. He looked at the clock and groaned when he noticed how early it was. Through the open window, the sound of the Pogues' laughter could be heard. Rubbing his eyes, he stumbled out of bed and headed to the kitchen in the hopes of a peaceful morning.

His father was gone, but the house was still a mess—empty bottles, and the odor of stale alcohol lingering in the room. Mason shook his head, attempting to push away the familiar wave of frustration that rose inside him. At the moment, head more pressing concerns.

JJ was already outside conversing with Kie and John B while lounging against the porch railing. Mason's eyes narrowed as he stared through the window. JJ was acting different—quieter, almost detached. There was something in the way he held himself that made Mason uneasy.

He stepped outside after opening the door. "Hey, do you guys want breakfast?" Mason asked, trying to read JJ's expression.

John B smiled at him, but it was a little forced. "Nah, we're just heading out for a bit," he said, glancing at JJ. "We'll be back later."

JJ didn't look at him, didn't even acknowledge Mason's presence. Instead, he simply hopped inside the van with Pope and Kie. With a sinking feeling settling in his chest, Mason frowned. He watched as the van pulled away, the taillights disappearing down the road, and for a moment, he felt that familiar pang of disappointing JJ.

Mason stood there for a moment longer, the silence of the early morning settling around him. He clenched his jaw, pushing away the negative feelings that wanted to swallow him whole. It was as if there was a growing distance between them, one that Mason felt powerless to bridge. The bond that had always been unbreakable felt like it was beginning to chip away, piece by piece, with every moment that JJ kept him at arm's length.