Glitter and Hate

Hate Forced to Act Normal

Caleb heard the car and looked out the window to see Bethany and Adrian sitting in it. It was still weird to see them together, but it somehow was fitting. He didn't know Bethany that well but from what he remembered she was nice and had a great sense of humor. Dyson had talked about her a lot but the three of them rarely spent time together. Adrian looked happy with her. Just because Caleb couldn't be happy he wasn't going to ruin it for them.

He walked down the stairs, caught himself on the railing as he tripped at the bottom, and jogged to the door. He opened it only to watch them back away.

"Hey!" He called out and stepped onto the front porch.

"What the hell?" He groaned. Were they leaving him again? Had they forgotten that he was there? His eyes saw the bag and he had an idea of what was happening. "That little bitch."

"Caleb?" Dyson stood at the side of the house. "They said you weren't coming."

"You have got to be fucking kidding me?" Caleb threw his arms up in the air and stomped back to the house.

"Where did they go?" Dyson asked his bag because Caleb was already gone, the door slamming behind him. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw that there was no signal. "I'm going to kill you, Bethany!"

"Leave!" Caleb yelled through the door.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Dyson yelled back. "Do you see a car anywhere?"

"Walk!" Caleb yelled back through the door.

"Like hell!" Dyson grabbed his bag and stomped up the stairs. "You can leave."

Caleb didn't respond. He couldn't. This was too much. He sank down to the floor and tucked his head against his knees.

"Unlock the damn door. It's freezing out here." Dyson jiggled the handle.

"Go away." Caleb pleaded in a whisper.

"Caleb, it's going to be okay." Dyson tried to hug Caleb but Caleb jumped back. Dyson looked hurt but Caleb didn't care. He couldn't imagine touching him. It was too hard. He wasn't ready.

"Caleb, we're safe. We'll be okay."

"Leave," Caleb said it like a whisper but it came out as harsh as a slap to the face. He was huddled in the corner of his room. His arms, bandaged, but the blood was seeping through.

"Let me help you." Dyson stayed crouched in front of him for what felt like forever. Caleb waited for him to try to hug him again, but instead, he just sighed. He stood up and left. Caleb had never felt so alone as he sank back into blackness.

"Don't worry," Dyson said from behind Caleb. "I let myself in."

"Why are you here?" Caleb asked without looking up.

"I imagine our friends are playing their own twisted version of the parent trap."

"Why now?" Caleb groaned. It had been three months.

"Probably because they're dating." Dyson rolled his eyes. "How? I still don't really understand."

"Really?" Caleb looked up. "You're the one who always wanted to set them up."

"No, that was you." Dyson laughed. "You're the one who planned the whole trip to Seattle where we left them and they would have to find their way back to the hotel."

"No way!" Caleb laughed. "That was you. Remember? You had a plan to steal their phones and wallets so they would be stuck, having to walk."

"It was definitely you." Dyson shook his head. "My plan was to lock them in the bathroom."