Maybe I Dreamt You

Chapter I

     "Ronan," called Gansey. "I need to talk to you!"
     "What do you want now? You gonna yell at me about my grades, mom?"
     Gansey just sighed and rolled his eyes.
     "I'd like you to meet Adam Parrish. He's from Latin," Gansey replied, pretending not to notice what Ronan had just called him. Ronan looked at Adam, immediately jealous of the effortlessly toned body and windswept, dusty blonde hair that the boy had. Adam managed to look good in the Aglionby uniform, an achievement that only Ronan was capable of until now. The tall boy rubbed his shaved head and scowled.
     "And I'm meeting him because?" asked Ronan.
     "Because he's coming over tomorrow to study for a calculus test with me."
     "Oh," replied Ronan. He was not excited about the test or the fact that Adam would be invading upon his home in just about twenty-four hours. He folded his arms and glared at Adam once again.
     "Don't even think about bothering me," he said, finally.
     "Ronan!" started Gansey. "Don't be rude!"
     "Sorry, didn't realise you were my grandma, too, Dick."

---

     Back at Monmouth, Ronan had already retreated to his room. Gansey arrived about twenty minutes behind him, so Ronan was well settled in and probably already drunk.
Gansey walked up to Ronan's bedroom and knocked tenderly on his door.
"Ronan," he started. "I know you're in there. We need to talk."
Ronan opens the door. His face is all sharp edges and his eyes are molten.
"What do you want, Dick?"
"Don't call me that, Lynch. What was with you after school today?"
"I just don't like that kid...he's weird." Gansey rolled his eyes.
"You're just jealous. Ronan, you have to know that you always come first. You're my brother," he chuckled, clapping the other boy on the shoulder.
Ronan just glared and said, "Yeah right. It's only a matter of time before I'm replaced."
"Bullshit, Ronan Lynch! You're an absolute idiot if you think that."
"Adam's like you. He's smart, I mean, he's gonna go places. I'm not." Gansey sighed. Ronan didn't give up his ground.
"You know I'm not good at calculus. I need help on the test. It's just one time, okay? And be nice; for me." Ronan looked like a kicked puppy; which was a rare expression to see the boy dressed in. It was vulnerable, and Gansey thought it made him look, well, softer, some how. It would have been nice, if he hadn't looked so hurt.
"Fine. For you."

---

The next day, Ronan took his BMW to and from school, avoiding riding with Gansey, and, eventually, Adam. He made his way home quickly, no different from usual, but this time with more urgency. He was aware that Gansey would dawdle, just like he always did, and Ronan wanted to lock himself up in his room. All Ronan wanted was something of his own, and now Adam was going to ruin all of it.
When Gansey got home, Ronan was already halfway to being drunk. With his inhibitions gone, he instinctually exited his room when the door opened.
"Gansey-boy!" he yelled. "And Parrish," he growled.
"Lynch," responded Adam, with a tone colder than Ronan's heart. Ronan just sneered.
"Cunt..." he muttered under his breath.
"Hey! That's not polite!" yelled Gansey. Ronan remembered his promise, and retreated to the kitchen. Several minutes later, he came back to the living room with two beers.
"Here, take one," he said to Gansey. He quickly obliged, as it was a locally brewed blend from a bar down the street. "You too, Parrish." Adam shot daggers at Ronan, and it looked as though he thought the beer was poisoned.
"I don't drink."