A Midsummer Storm

Chapter 1

A/N: For LexiScott123 and ObsessedwithTidam ;)

Adam Henry Rupp had a rough life. It was rough for him growing up in the shadow of his "perfect" older brother. The "talented" brother. The sports loving, sports playing brother. The brother who was seemingly good at everything. At least that's what his mother always said. It was rough for him when his baby sister came along. She was the only girl in the family and was treated like a little Princess.

Her attitude matched the title, he quickly found out. She thought she was the one and only child and deserved special treatment since she was the only girl. Adam was stuck as the middle child. He didn't play sports (and definitely didn't like watching others play), he didn't dance, he wasn't a girl. His interests were video games and music. His brother played piano but his parents would never let Adam try anything.

So, the young blond sat in his room and began to learn how to beatbox. Tristan wanted to be an actress and singer so they helped her with musical lessons and urged her to try out for every school play. Adam was just there...existing. When he was old enough, he was tasked with cleaning. He thought most kids had chores so he never thought his treatment was wrong. He not only had to clean his bedroom, but both his siblings' rooms as well.

The older he got, the more chores he had to do. It didn't slip by him that neither of his siblings had to do any housework. Soon he was doing all the vacuuming, sweeping & mopping, cleaning of the bathrooms (even in his parent's room), the dishes, cleaning the kitchen. By the time the blond-headed boy was twelve, he was doing all the cooking as well. It was expected that he'd have breakfast ready for everyone before he went to school.

If he burnt anything, his parents would beat him. Adam got used to the beatings because he could never "do anything right", according to his mother. If they let him eat, it would be mostly scraps. He was soon tasked with the laundry. Everyone's laundry. Adam did his best in school but most of the time, he had a hard time staying awake or focusing because he was so tired from all the housework he did each day.

By the time he hit high school, Adam was so depressed he debated on committing suicide just to ease the pain he felt. His parents treated him worse than a stray dog most of the time. The blond-haired, blue-eyed boy saw no future for himself. He saw no "light at the end of the tunnel". All he saw was pain, suffering, and hopefully death. Adam knew he'd never be that lucky. Chris graduated with honors and a football scholarship. Tristan was excelling because their parents nurtured her dreams and aspirations.

Adam was just free labor when he did their chores and cooked their meals and a burden every other moment of the day. He curled up in his blankets, his parents decided he didn't need a bed to sleep on, and cried each night. When his alarm woke him each morning, he sighed heavily. Death hadn't come for him yet. He would begrudgingly walk downstairs and begin preparations for breakfast. Put the coffee on, get the newspaper, try not to cry in front of his family.

He hoped once he graduated high school, he'd be able to go off to college like his brother. That dream was smashed when his parents refused to even discuss him going to college. 'You're needed around here, boy.' his dad told him without looking up from the newspaper. The small glimmer of hope he had was dashed away from him. Adam Henry Rupp was merely existing on the planet.

It was the first summer after he graduated high school. He was an 18-year old with no dreams, no aspirations. Everyone loved going to see Chris at his football games. Adam was never allowed to go. His parents locked him in the dank, dark basement until they returned. Usually after a meal with their favorite son after the game. Adam didn't get much food and he was terrified of trying to "steal" some out of the cabinets. He did that once and his mother held his hand over the hot stove nearly scalding his hand.