The Other Twin

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

*Playground Bullies and Shady Garage Sales*

The sound of screaming kids and water assaulted my ears as we approached the gate leading to the place I hated most - the Children's Playground. I surveyed the scene of kids running left and right, drenching themselves in the sprinklers then trailing their sopping clothing over the other playground equipment.

Don't get me wrong, I like sticky, wet kids and leaky slides just as much as the next person - kids really need to let loose and have fun sometimes - I just don't want to be there when they do.

A slight tugging on my arm broke my distasteful reverie, making me look down at Ollie. "Thanks for bringing me to the playground." He said sweetly with an adorable smile, it was so infectious that I couldn't help smiling back. It's impossible not to okay? The kid has dimples.

"Alright have fun." I said begrudgingly. He let go of my hand to run off but stopped and turned back to give me a hug. "You're the best." With that he headed toward the slides, leaving me with a goofy grin plastered on my face. I just love my brother.

My good mood however, lasted for a mere five seconds before my grin contorted back into its earlier grimace as I scouted for a spot to inhabit during my one hour stay in this place of torture. Call me insecure and over dramatic but I feel like I'm being stared at. The majority of the population at the playground was split between kids, parents and the elderly feeding pigeons. Plus, it's not like I can do anything at the park. Unless of course, the parents are okay with a sixteen year old giant like me trying to slide down the curly slide.

I'd probably get stuck anyway.

I finally sat down near the swing seats, that way I'd get a clear view of Ollie who was playing on the monkey bars and still get shade from the nearby trees. I settled as comfortably I could on the wooden bench, mindful of the softball game going on beside me - a group of guys lead by a teenager around my age were kicking the ball dangerously close to where I was - and pulled out a book Hafsa had recommended me, Gone with the Dawn.

The author of this book is so young yet exceptionally talented - it's no wonder why her books are best sellers. I had just finished the eighth chapter in which one of the characters disappeared, when I heard yelling. I looked over the rim of my novel to seek out the source, my attention instantly pinpointing at the far left near the water fountains.

The same group that had been playing softball was not arranged in a circle around two boys, one being distinctly taller and wearing a daunting sneer. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized the second boy to be my brother. Tucking away my book, I hurried toward the group in time to hear the sneering boy say, "Get lost, you can't play with us." Ollie looked put off my the rejection but tried to keep a strong face.

"O-okay." He stuttered out with an uncontrollable quiver. The sneering boy laughed at Ollie, prompting the rest of the group to start shouting names at Ollie. I spotted the teenager from earlier who had been leading the group, near the back watching the scene unfold with a slight smirk. That did it.

"What's going on here." I demanded, marching up to them with a murderous glare. Mess with my brother and you better hope there's a hospital nearby. They quickly backed up making me grateful for my towering height of 5'8 over the bratty kids. The sneering kid looked unconcerned though. "He can't play." I glanced around the group, astonished that they so easily allowed this to happen, not the least but ashamed in letting this guy bully Ollie. And the older guy was the most despicable of all.

"He can't play," I repeated, "Well okay then, Ollie doesn't play with mean kids who are too cowardly to step up against a giant bully like you." I grabbed my brothers hand and scowled at all of them - things like this made me sick, after hearing Gavin's story I hated bullying even more. "You should all be ashamed."