Disappeared [ Dylan Sprayberry Fanfic ]

Chapter 4

Dylan's POV
"I don't want a fight, little brother," Tyler held up his hands in surrender, feigning innocence. I didn't like how he had just waltzed in here, like the talk we were about to have was casual.
The way he stood, the way he looked, the way he talked--all of it, i wanted to destroy it. His lips curved into a smirk, clearly, satisfied with the reaction he was getting from me.

Instinct took over--it was fight or die trying. I grabbed the collar of his shirt and slammed him into the truck hard enough to break the glass.
I was so conscious of the blood flowing through my veins, I could almost hear the roar, like rapids in a river, pounding in my ears.
"You might not want to do that," He gestured with his head towards the flashing blue and red lights. I could feel myself slipping. Feel myself lapsing into the person I used to be.
I thought of Bridget as I stared into Tyler's emotionless eyes.
Black hair.
Brown eyes.
White smile.
I released his shirt, and unwound my fists at my sides. I needed to calm down, I wasn't thinking straight.
I watched the guy I once admired, looked up to, even. Memories clouded my mind, seeming to bust out from its bottle, uncontrolled. Dangerous.
Think about Bridget, I urged, I couldn't let myself slip.

It once pained me to look at him, fill me with regret, sadness. Now, it was nothing, hollow. Empty hatred. Our relationship was nothing but a game now, capture and destroy.
Kill or be killed.
"Look at you--" Tyler shook his head in disgust,
"I thought you'd changed, but one look at me and you revert back to your old self. Do you remember the past, Dylan?" I winced. I hadn't heard him call me by my name in a long time.
I didn't want to remember the past. Nor did I want to answer the embodiment of my mistakes, my brother.
"You know," Tyler spoke, his tone matter of fact,
"I don't think you've realize how much you've downgraded. Is it really okay for you to live this lie? Pretending to be someone you aren't is really low, even for you."
"Since when have you gained the leverage to judge me? As if you really know me? As if you or Dad care if I was living a lie or not--" Anger swelled in my chest, like one of mom's cakes in the oven. Tyler took a step towards me, the amplitude of the police sirens seemed to only increase.
"No matter how true that may be, you cannot deny the darkness in your heart." Tyler circled me slowly.
I stared at the oil stain on the ground.
"No matter how much your beloved Bridget kisses your scars, they'll always stay--" Tyler stopped pacing in front of me.
"You'll always remember." I hated the way he said her name, like she was a pawn--weak and powerless.

Tyler looked me in the eye, and for a second I swear I saw a flicker of sadness.
"Come back with me," He put a hand on my shoulder. I tensed immediately, and shook him off. I began to wonder what Jesse saw when he looked at me, a naive little child?
"Why the hell would I go anywhere with you?" I stared back.
"Because you love Bridget." Tyler said simply,
"because you would never want to do anything to hurt her." I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into the palms of my hands.
"Leave her out of this."
"And that is exactly what I intend to do--" He crossed his arms over his chest, defensively.
"Why can't you see it, Dylan?" His tone was desperate, but I didn't care.
"The longer you stay, the worst it'll hurt when you snap. How long exactly, did you intend to play this game of make-believe? You're going to hurt Bridget, its inevitable."
"I won't hurt her," I hissed,
"You don't know me."
"Oh no, not voluntarily. You'll black out, just like old times--tare her to pieces probably," Tyler jammed his hands into his pockets.
"It'll be a complete accident. Which do you think would hurt worse," He squinted at me.
"Losing your father when you were completely helpless, or losing someone you thought you loved when things were starting to go right again?"
My heart sunk. Maybe, that's all I've been doing--running from the truth, running from who I was, into Isabella's arms. She didn't deserve to be dragged into my problems, that was true.
She didn't deserve to be unhappy.
Tyler didn't break his gaze,
"You're not right for her."
I froze.