And When He Is Here // hayes grier

Chapter 3

↠Bradie

I woke up to the sound of my alarm playing music. It was the first day of freshman year, and let's say I was excited. This year I was determined to make it eventful. And the good kind. A year I won't forget.

I took a shower last night so I didn't have to this morning. I walked into the bathroom and brushed my hair but left it natural; curly. It almost looks like you curled it with a wand.

I did my make up the same way I always do it; grey eyeliner on the top, black on my waterline, a light nude shadow and black mascara.

Then I went into my walk in closet to pick out an outfit. Once I was done getting ready I went to my brother Ryan's room. "Hey bro, ya almost ready?" I ask, popping my head into his doorway.

"Uh yeah. Ready." Ryan doesn't have to try for school, he never has. People always liked him without web trying.

We started heading down the stairs into the kitchen to eat breakfast. Our mom already had it made; pancakes, bacon and eggs, our traditional first day of school meal. Me and Ryan's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

My mom saw us. "Hey kiddos! looks like you two are actually doing something together for once."

My mother is unfortunately always right; my brother and I don't do anything together. Except we both play lacrosse. So that's really all we bond over. I wish we had a relationship though. I wish we were close, but Ryan was close to our dad and since our dad has been gone, he's not close to anyone. We just sat down and started eating.

"Not my fault she like replaced me with Dylan and made him like her brother or something." Ryan blurted out of no where. And he had a hint of sadness in his voice. I brushed it off the best I could.

I choked on my orange juice. "You have got to be kidding me right now. I never replaced you with anyone! Don't you dare accuse me of that when you don't even talk to me on the first place! Ever since dad-"

"Enough," my mom cut me off. I wanted to fight back more, maybe I was getting too heated at one little comment he made, but in my defense he has no right to make such accusations.

"Whatever." He mumbled.

"Guess you're walking alone to the bus stop. Dyl should be here any minute." I said and got up from the table to get my back pack. Just then Dylan walked in and snagged a piece of bacon off my plate.

"Hey Dyl, you ready? Ryan isn't walking with us because, well it's Ryan." He just nodded as a response.

I mouthed 'you okay?' to him and he smiled at me telling me he was. But it was a fake smile. I could tell. I've gotten to tell the difference with him. When he real smiles his cheek bones lift up and his eyes glimmer with joy. But his eyes just have sadness in them now.

That's all they've been lately. I try my best to help but he won't let me. It's like she shuts me out when it comes to these things.

"Okay well lets go. See you at the bus Ryan." I said while me and Dylan walked out the door.

Once we were out the door I broke the silence, "alright. Spill it. What the heck is going on."

He was not going to give me a lie.

↠Hayes

I saw Bradie and Dylan walking out of her house to the bus stop.

I was about to say something but they looked like they were in a deep conversation.

So I just walked by myself because Nash's girlfriend picked him up.

"Hey Hayes!" A perky voice chirped.

Who was that? It wasn't Bradie.

I looked around to see who it was and there was Stacey running towards me. Someone I did not like. She has this preppy attitude that made me want to rip my hair out. She's nice in all but it's like she only has a peppy cheerleader for a personality, the kind you don't usually know but hear about.

"Hey...Stacey." I said trying to give her a hint I didn't want her around.

"Hey! So you walking alone? Well I'll just walk with you then!"

"I like the say enjoying the company of no one. But I'm fine alone. Thanks."

"Oh! Okay it's fine, I understand. Bye Hayes!" with that she skipped away. Literally skipped.

When I got to the bus stop I saw Bradie and Dylan standing in silence. Almost like they were mad at each other. But they could never be mad at each other. I'm not even friends with either of them and I know how close they are.
I played on the school lacrosse team with Dylan back in middle school, and we will probably be playing together this year. Bradie's on the girls team.

I decided to get over my self and go talk to them. I approached them and began to speak.

↠Bradie

"Fine. Okay I'll tell you. The bulling hasn't stopped and neither has the abusing. God, I hate saying that damn word. But, just," he sighs and collects his words. "And my parents are always fighting. And a lot of times it's because of me and Julia. We both always hear them complaining about us being bad kids. I'm just so over it," he told me. I was speechless. I couldn't believe this kept happening. So we just kept walking to the bus.

"Dyl how come you didn't tell me until now when I had to force it out of you?" I asked him with a lot of concern in my voice.

"I didn't want you to worry. Like you are now." He had regret in his voice. His head was down and he wouldn't face me.

I stopped walking and stopped him.

"Look at me." He did, "I will always worry about you no matter what. No matter if you tell me or don't. But Dylan you have to tell me. I can't do anything if you don't. I love you so much I can't stand to see you like this. Okay, it will work its self out I promise. I'm always here. Okay. Always." I said tearing up. I just love him so much. We started to walk again.

"Me and Julia had promised to stay together no matter what. And she doesn't know my dad hits me. And we had to pick who's house we wanted to live at. She picked my dad. I picked my mom." He told me and I couldn't think of what to say.

"Wait?! Julia doesn't know about your dad?! what if he beats her!"

"B keep your voice down. You can't let people hear you. If my dad finds out you know I'm dead. And yes I understand that. She can't change it now. But I highly doubt that he hits her, she wouldn't be stupid enough that choose him if he hits her."

I just nodded in response and we both fell silent. We approached the bus stop and just stood there in silence. Until someone broke it.

"Hey B-Bradie, hey Dylan." It was hayes. Last person I expected. Dyl spoke up. "Hey bro. What's up."

"Oh ya know. First day of high school!" he said with sarcasm in his voice. We just laughed.

I spoke next; "so you excited for the year?"

"Uh yeah I guess. Probably mostly for lacrosse season," Hayes answered.

"Oh, yeah, me too." Dylan told Hayes, I hoped they could be better friends.

"Yeah. What about you Bradie?"

"Oh-uh yeah," I said.

Dyl just nodded towards the whole conversation. I could tell he was happy talking to a guy for once. When the bus came me and Dylan sat in a seat together and Hayes was in the worn up leather seat across.

I was kinda surprised he was talking to us because he's lived right by us his entire life and never said a word. But then again neither did we.

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Her guys! Hope ya liked the last few chapters. If you didn't understand B is a nick name that Dylan calls Bradie and Julia is Dylan's older sister