Adrenalin

Chapter 7 - Sydney

Well well, let's see how this goes. Hope you enjoy it!
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        That stupid idiot. He knows just how to get to me. Why the hell did I agree to meet with him? I’m not a coward; my mind just doesn’t function properly when I’m around him. It’s dangerous. I like to be in control – but I’m not when he’s around.
        I chuck my phone on the bed-side table and return to my laptop. The bank closed hours ago and I hadn’t had time to get there, so I’ll have to transfer the money online. I mean, I’d already payed this week’s rent but we are so behind I may as well pay some off while I’ve got the money.
          Bentley walks in and dumps a text book on my bed. “I don’t understand any of this shit.” He says. God, he looks so much like our dad. His hair is the exact some shade of blonde, the same long nose, the same build. He’s the complete opposite of Riley and I.
      “Don’t swear.” I jump onto the bed and pull the books towards me.
        “It’s History.” Bentley tells me.
         I raise an eyebrow. “Are you telling me that you don’t know any of this History stuff even though it’s all I talk about?”
         “And cars. You don’t shut up about cars either.”
      I grin and read through what Bentley’s supposed to do. “Dude, this is all World War II and Nazi Germany stuff, it’s bloody interesting.”
          He groans. “I don’t care about Hitler. The bastard is dead.”
          “True. Just let me finish this and I’ll help.” I tell him.
         I return to my desk and he sits on my bed, trying to read through his text book. The kid has ADD or ADHD or some shit. Not to mention his anger management issues. He can change from an angel to an evil bastard in zero-point-two seconds. And he can’t concentrate on anything for more than three minutes, which makes it considerably harder to teach him. I feel bad for his teachers.
           “When’s mum gonna be home?” Bentley asks me.
            I sigh. “I dunno, mate.”
            “Do you hate her?”
            I turn and look at him. “No. Why?”
           “Because she makes you do everything and she’s always out drinking with whatever new boyfriend she has.”
          It surprises me how observant his comment is. I didn’t think he even noticed. Usually he just lives in his own little bubble than only contains himself and football. Occasionally some Xbox if he feels like. Otherwise, he couldn’t give a shit about me, mum or Riley.
         “No. I do it because I love her and respect her. And who else is gonna do everything? You certainly could help out more.” I tell him.
        He shrugs and I know I’ve lost his concentration. Sometimes we can have a good talk, but it lasts about thirty seconds until his mind wonders to something else.
       I shut the laptop and jump onto the bed next to him. “Okay, first question?”
         "When did World War Two start and finish?”
     “When do you think?” I try not to say it rudely, reminding myself that not everyone finds history as interesting as I do.
         “Like 1940 or something?” He guesses.
         I smile. “Close. It started in 1939 and ended in 1945.”
       “Thanks.” He writes it down. “What is the Treaty of... Ver-say-lees?”
          I laugh at his pronunciation. “Ver-sai.” I correct.
          “So what is it?”
        “The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 to end the First World War. It required that Germany accept responsibility for the war and pay back heaps of money in compensation. They had to pay something like $33,000,000,000 which was one of the main causes of the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of the dictatorship of Hitler which then pretty much lead to World War Two.”
          “$33,000,000,000? Well bloody hell, who can blame Hitler? Did they even have that much money to pay back?” Bentley asks, his eyes widening.
           “Not really,” I laugh. “See, it’s interesting, isn’t it?”
           “Well not really this stuff. I like the movies about it though. Why don’t they teach us about the guns they used?” He says.
           “Fair point, little bro. That’d be cool too.” I nod.