Golden Snow - Bennoda

Chapter Six

Mike walked around the small houses towards the clearing. He refused to go through town as everyone firmly believed he was guilty of a crime he hadn't committed. He was meeting up with his friends again and when he saw the clearing, he could spot them easily. They all seemed on edge and Mike could even see that Brad was pacing. He approached them shyly.

"Hey..."

"Are you okay, Mike?" He was immediately asked by Phoenix. Mike shrugged. He hadn't really thought about the way he felt. He was too concerned for Chester and the fact that he was being put to blame for a crime. He had to admit, it was incredibly upsetting.

"I don't know," He sighed in return and Brad stopped pacing to envelope him into a quick hug. He pulled away and was about to say something when a voice started to shout to them from just outside Lincoln's Clearing.

"Mike! Brad! Phoenix! Rob! Joe!" The person called to each of them one by one and Mike made out that it was his somewhat good friend, Mark. He quickly came up to them, trying to catch his breath, which was easily seen in the dry, winter air.

"What's up, Mark?" Brad asked him before looking to the snow on the ground. The blizzard had passed throughout the night and now there were several inches more snow than previously. It just made Mike more aware of the boy who was missing in this type of weather. He hoped he was okay.

"Mike... Talinda... She..." He was saying between each breaths and Mike already had a bad feeling. Talinda was this pretty girl at their school but she also liked to spread rumors. "She said you raped her."

"What?!" Mike snapped as he heard the others gasp. He was already growing so sick of this. A rapist was loose in their small town and they were letting Mike take the fall for all their crimes, it was disgusting. His thoughts went back to Chester and he remembered how slim his figure seemed to be when he was walking away. Mike had to admit he thought the boy was cute. He seriously needed to know if he was somewhere safe, away from the snow and this rapist.

"I'm so sorry. She also was saying shit like that boy who went missing was her boyfriend who lived in a different state and coming to see her... Who knows if the rape story is true," Mark sighed, running a hand through his short hair. Mike's blood was boiling. He didn't want Talinda to even talk about Chester, let alone claim he was her boyfriend.

"Fuck this," Mike muttered before leaving the group. He started to exit the clearing.

"Mike! Where are you going?!" Brad shouted but Mike ignored him. He had enough of people for today. He continued his trek back home, snow filling his shoes and dampening his pants that were hanging over them. He made his way back home within minutes and made his way up to his apartment. When he entered, he noticed his dad wasn't home but his brother was standing in the main room.

"Jay?" Mike said uncertainly, catching his brother's attention. He smiled at Mike but it wasn't returned. He and their mother lived in a larger city about two hours away from Mike and his father. His parents had divorced when they were a bit younger and Jay decided to live with their mom, as she'd never notice all the things he does of which he isn't supposed to do. "What're you doing here?"

"Can't I visit you and dad?"

"Yeah... Just wasn't expecting you," Mike admitted and watched him sit down at the table. Mike stood just in front of the door, taking his shoes off. "How long have you been in town?"

"Just got in early yesterday," Jay informed him and Mike nodded, immediately finding it strange he hadn't come sooner.

"Mom come with?"

"She doesn't know I'm here."

"Oh," Mike said flatly, not enjoying this time being spent with his brother. He removed his coat and tossed it aside. He stood closer to the table, but refused to sit down with his brother at it.

"She thinks I'm with a friend," He elaborated and Mike just nodded. "Well... If I knew you were going to be so crude towards me, I wouldn't have come."

"Maybe you shouldn't have," Mike murmured, mainly to himself, but Jay had caught it. He grew defensive.

"And what's that supposed to mean? At least I'm not going around raping people," Jay smirked and Mike scowled at him.

"You heard about that?"

"Yeah, I find it quite funny-"

"In no way is it funny that two people have gotten raped."

"-That you are being blamed. I know you wouldn't do such a thing but not even dad believes you."

"We haven't properly talked about it," Mike admitted and Jay rolled his eyes.

"Of course not. Dad never wants to do shit when life gets tough."

"He's not like that. It's your own fault you got so soaked into the drug life, Jay. Dad turned his back on you because he had to. You wouldn't have learned otherwise," Mike spat, sick of talking to his younger brother. He had gotten into heavy drugs last year and shortly after, their parents divorced. Jay lived with their mother because she was completely oblivious to the fact that he wasn't getting any better.

"Fuck you, Mike! Dad turned his back on me because he was a coward! He didn't care if I died and it didn't help me learn shit! Tough love? More like fuck you love because all it did was tell me that it's okay if I'm alright with losing people... which I am!" Jay snapped and rose out of the chair and went up to Mike. He stuck a finger in his face and hissed, "I'm just fucking myself up. At least I'm not like you who's fucking other people up by raping them."

"Jay-" Mike tried to comfort him as his brother went to the door and opened it, shoving his shoes on.

"Oh and that fucking missing kid around here is probably going to be your next victim because you're just that fucked up." And with that, he slammed the door shut, leaving. Mike was happy he was gone but couldn't get his words out of his head.