On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 28.5: The Lion is Also The Lamb

This short bonus chapter is written from Tyler's point of view!!!

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I don't remember stopping my friendship with Parker.

Part of me still sees us as eleven year-old boys starting the sixth grade. I remember trying out for baseball that year, and making the team. I remember Parker bringing home straight A's for all four report cards. I remember Parker coming to my games with Liz, cheering me on.

What I don't remember is anything like that for the last four years.

I remember Liz dying. I remember not knowing how to comfort my best friend who had escaped death by the skin of his teeth, but practically watched his sister die.

It all gets blurry after that.

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I remember going to school and learning stuff. I remember going to practice. The problem is that I don't remember details of the day to day. I don't remember hanging out in the halls between classes or on the baseball field before class. I don't remember running drills at practice.

I don't remember falling for Bella. I don't remember making the decision making the conscious decision to sleep with her. I remember being into it after it started happening.

I didn't expect to have my first time happen with her, but then again, it's usually with someone you never expect.

When Jackie showed up here, I was immediately attracted to her. She's every teenage guy's dream. She's hot, smart, and she likes sports.

The part I don't understand is why she started to hate me. I remember introducing myself. Did I mess it up? I probably did.

I'm usually a bumbling idiot around girls.

I always have been.

Parker would always tell me that I'd develop some smoothness over time. I have yet to see that happen with any girl.

But somehow I managed to sleep with half the junior class. I must be doing something right without knowing it.

~~~

I still have nightmares about Uncle Lee getting shot. My parents sent me to counseling at first, along with Tia. It didn't affect Tia like it affected me.

Something horrible from that day is when I saw the mugger pull the trigger, I looked away. However, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tia watch him die.

She was smiling. Not just a shy smile, but one those evil, demented grins. We were eight years old. What kind of eight-year-old smiles at their uncle's murder?

My sister. My twin freaking sister.

Ever since we were young, she was the spoiled one. The one who got everything she ever desired. She knew how to talk to everyone. She always did. Even after our uncle's accident, they bent to her every whim.

When she said she was done with counseling, they stopped it for both of us.

I still needed it.

I think that's why whenever I hear a noise resembling a gunshot, I close my eyes and grit my teeth, waiting for the noise to stop echoing in my head.

~~~

When Tia went away to boarding school, I was happy about it.

As twins, we have a connection that normal people don't understand. It's like we can finish each other's sentences because we know what the other is thinking.