September 4th

Chapter 3: Grab my hand, I'm drowning

Sorry guys, but this chapter is shorter than my usual chapters. This is just a journal entry.

 The next one will be longer, I promise. 

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Teagen

So Rachel told me to add a snippet of my mind into this book, and honestly, I didn't know where to start, or what to say. I decided to start from the very beginning: when I was born.

I was born from a woman named Jennie Rae William, and my father's name was Paul Teagen Fyre. One year later, they had another baby, my brother, Justin.

Growing up, Justin had anger issues, and I was the only one who could control him after my father was murdered. My mom had a rough time raising both of us, and when we were old enough to take care of ourselves she started working nights so we had enough money for rent and food on our plates.

My mom went through boyfriends like I go through shoes and that's saying something. Her first few were fine, they were nice and all but they didn't love her. The last one she had was her longest-lasting relationship. Her boyfriend's name was Andrew, not the highschooler, this was an adult, good riddance. He was my favorite, he played football with me in our backyard, he helped me with homework, he was the father I always wanted. But soon he started to drift away, it was subtle, at first, but every day he would say "no" to our favorite activities more. My mom noticed as well, and when she spoke up, he would hit her.

This went on for months, until one day, when I was thirteen, I was looking for my mom's scissors in her room, and in her drawer, I found a gun, at least $5,000 in cash, and some knives. I quickly shut the drawer and ran to find my mom, but when I told her she looked mortified and told me to forget it. But the next week, her boyfriend came home from work with two of his friends. They were completely sober. They went to her bedroom where she was napping, and I followed them to the doorway, my eleven-year-old brother, Justin at my side, scared. Before I knew it, they were pulling the knives from the drawer, and I was screaming, I ran at one of them and tackled them, being big for my age. But Andrew stabbed my mom before I could do anything. I grabbed the knife from the man I tackled and stabbed Andrew and his two friends before they got away.

Justin was frozen in the doorway when I realized what I did. "Call 911, Justin."

And he did.

The police recognized it as self-defense and even gave me an award.

Since then I had a messed up brain. I saw a therapist for years, and I lied to her so I could be done finally. I haven't been back for a year.

Since the accident, I have lived with my aunt and uncle. They're amazing and have three kids, two are graduated, and one is nine.

I've dated seven girls in the past five years. First, it was Kennedy, we lasted two months. Then it was Everie, we lasted two weeks. Then Lacy, who lasted a year, she cheated on me with Charlie. Then was Ashley, Cate, and then Sara. And now Rachel.

The real reason I'm dating Rachel? Well for one, she's pretty, and I know I can change her.

And for two, I know she is caught up on my brother and I want to fix that. I want to fix what my brother broke.

I know people will hate my brother for everything he's done, but it isn't his fault completely. Take what happened to him, he was eleven, and it's not an excuse, but Andrew physically abused him. He never laid a hand on me, I was always too big for him to hit, because the one time he tried, I hit back, and he couldn't move his arm for three days.

If I'm honest, my self-esteem isn't what it used to be, that's why whenever any girl would have any interest in me I would jump at the opportunity. But I always broke up with them. Why? Rachel told me not to tell you for the suspense, pretend this was suspenseful and be excited to know my secret, okay?