Lives in Crime

Chapter Three: Alex

I couldn't believe my quiet-as-a-mouse little brother got a concussion at school. I received a phone call notifying me that an ambulance brought him to the hospital, and I headed to the area where I could find him. He meant the world to me.

He was lying on a hospital bed, watching public television. The show was a recorded concert of a professional clarinetist. When I entered, he didn't even turn to me or look, he just continued to stare at the TV.

"Kyle Alexander Lane!" I whispered angrily. "How the hell did this happen? Are you okay at the very least?"

Slowly, he nodded. Kyle wasn't a very good sight. His dark brown eyes were dull and lifeless, not sparkling like they always did when he smiled at me. His hair, which was the same color as his pupils, was just a big mess.

"The hospital told me that this happened from you leaning back in your seat. How many times have I told you not to do that? Your straight A's don't matter to me anymore, you're an idiot."

He attempted to shrug, but just focused on the soothing jazz sounds. In middle school band, he played the clarinet. He wasn't as good as the guy on the screen, but for an eleven-year-old, he was pretty damn good. I didn't know why he had stopped because I honestly thought he had so much potential. Then again, he was better on the keyboards and didn't want to practice two instruments.

"Kyle, you're a smart boy. I'm sure you have lots of common sense. Next time, use it." I told him.

I sighed and sat on the couch, where visitors usually sat. According to my old heirloom watch, it was 3:55 PM.

A cute young lady with tan hair and freckles came in, holding a card. Sweetly, she smiled and gave it to me. "I'm Savannah Frampton, Kyle's classmate. Send him my regards and give this card to him." she said. 

I nodded in reply, looking at Kyle. He fell asleep when I was talking to him. When he was tranquil, he looked so different. Sure, he was considered a bit of an outcast at his school, but I never thought that he was unattractive. He had dark brown eyes with a rounded apex and a flat nose, which he inherited from our Korean mother. He also got our father's strong lower lip and thick, dark brown hair. My brother and I were also half Anglo-Saxon, so we had kind of an ethnic look to us.

However, I looked nothing like my brother. I had lighter brown hair, wide dark green eyes, a western nose, and a long chin. Nobody ever thought that we were related from far away, but we both did look like our parents.

Not only were are looks distinct, but so were our personalities. In school, I was always the rebel and the party girl, with a very loud and crazy persona. Kyle had always been the studious kid who kept to himself and worked hard, but everyone seemed to perceive him as boring. I envied him because teachers always praised him, but hated me. I could get suspended for something, but if Kyle did the same, he'd only get a warning. Believe it or not, that has happened once before.

I stood up and walked over to my peaceful baby brother. While rubbing his bangs out of his forehead with my left hand, I placed Savannah's card on his chest. I hoped he would find it when he woke up. Walking away, I blew him a kiss, then exited the room. Kyle needed rest, but he didn't need me there with him. He was a big boy, and I needed to learn that.