Childhood Sweethearts

CHAPTER 4

Hey again.

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"So he's your brother?" Edward asked Clayton what seemed to be the hundredth time.

"Yes!" Clayton was beginning to lose his temper. It was bad enough having to know that Jake was his brother, but having to say it a lot was frustrating. "That fact is not going to change, so just back off of that damn subject." He felt sorry when Edward's eyes showed a flash of hurt when he heard the harshness of Clayton's voice, but to be honest he was too angered by everything that had happened today to care.

"Sorry, man." Edward said. "It's just really hard to fathom. You two are just so different! I get it must be quite hard on you, considering how much you hate him, so sorry I keep mentioning it. Where should we sit?"

Clayton felt a rush of relief fill his body; he was so glad Edward understood! Not to mention that he didn't ask why he hated him so much, considering the fact that he had no idea! He nodded to an empty table and bent down to sit opposite Edward, slamming the tray on the surface in a futile attempt to release some of his anger and causing his drink to topple over; fortunately it was bottle rather than in a cup. Clayton had only just been able to tell Edward about his sibling because they had had different classes after music.

The relief that he had felt just a second ago was quick to dissipate into the air around him and be replace with rage and disbelief. Clayton's back when rigid and his entire body stiffened.

Jake had just sat next to him.

"Hello, little brother. Care to introduce me to your friend?" He said in his normal care-free tone, acting as if nothing had happened the last time they had spoken.

Clayton was so shocked by the fact that his brother had the cheek to sit near him, (let alone next to him!) that he stayed silent. He would have thought that after how angry Jake had been, he would have been spreading something around or just destroying his life again, like the prick he was. Not that that would have made a difference, everyone hated him already and he had no life.

Edward filled in the silence when he realized that Clayton wasn't going to reply anytime soon: "I'm Edward, nice to meet you." He held out his hand for Jake to shake, which he did. "It's Jake, right? You're Clayton's brother?"

"That's me" he said with a nod. "Sorry about him being so rude as to not introduce us." Jake pretend chastised his brother, even though it looked to Clayton like his glare was real; but it was quickly gone and replaced with a smile as he began to engage with Edward in conversation. He couldn't believe Edward, his best friend who knew how much he hated his brother, was having idle chatter with the bastard like they were friends!

Clayton had had enough crap for one day and stood up abruptly, nearly knocking the chair over in the process, his momentary paralysis now over, grabbed his tray and strode out the cafeteria with anger plainly visible on his face. Amid his dramatic exit, he was aware of Edward saying a hasty apology and following after Clayton, almost running in order to keep up with Clayton's frustrated pace.

-oOo-

Gretchin had seen it all.

At first, she was just checking out Clayton and Jake, but then she realized something was going on. Firstly, she remembered Clayton giving Jake the evils during music as if he completely hated Jake (and judging by the scene she had just watched play out, he did.) Secondly, she saw how tense Clayton became when Jake sat down at his and Edward's table. Thirdly, he hadn't moved a muscle or uttered a syllable since Jake sat down and looked like a volcano ready to erupt.