WISE FRIEND

LIFE LESSON

It has been a few days after Jackson woke up in the hospital and the news was streaming about his accident, the press kept coming to the hospital to try and interview Jackson, but luckily Dylan and Chase was more than willing to stand against them and to shunt them away. With this whole accident, Dylan was quick to learn about the friendship Jackson and Chase had and it all made sense when Dylan thought about Jackson's weird reaction when he saw Josh that day. Dylan did not care much about it anymore. Like Jackson's near death have had a huge impact on him and his humanity against Jackson. Dylan was alone in Jackson's room and thought to take the opportunity to talk to Jackson.

Conversation between Dylan and Jackson

Dylan: Hey little brother?

Jackson: (Turns around to Dylan) Dylan, Mom and Dad are not here so you don't need to call me that. You can drop the kind brother act.

These words felt like razor sharp knives digging into Dylan's heart and Dylan could actually feel the tears threating to fall. Dylan swallowed hard and cleared his throat.

Dylan: Would you believe me if I wanted to ask if we could drop the rivalry we have created?

Jackson: We? We did not create anything, you created this rivalry when you decided that our wealth was more important than real friendship and a brother bond. Or am I wrong Dylan?

Dylan: You make a fair point Jackson and...

Jackson: How long will it be before you have created a master plan to ruin my friendship with Chase. You know that he is my only real friend at this point, but I wonder why this plan is not being implemented yet. For you normally work with speed when it comes to bring misery over my life.

Dylan: Jackson! Stop this, please! There is no plan and I don't want to do this with you anymore. Yes! You where adopted and I made a mistake with my attitude and a payed dearly for my selfishness and I am picking those fruits! The truth is that I have been jealous of you since father decide to hire you in the firm and not me...

Jackson took a good look and saw that Dylan was really sorry, because Dylan's emotions betrayed him. Jackson could see the tears in Dylan's eyes and could hear his voice breaking while he was speaking. Jackson's face expression immediately softened.

Jackson: Your jealous about me for that reason? Dylan...I showed interest in our firm and father spoke to me about you. The only reason why father never asked you to join the firm was because he never saw the interest in you. He told me how he wished for both of his sons to work with him in his firm. I am suppose to be jealous of you because you carry the real bloodline of the Horten's and I am just a slapped-on sticker.

Dylan: Please don't say that about yourself! You have carried our name with high pride and dignity and father was always proud about it. I envy that about you. Me on the other hand has brought shame on our name...

Jackson: ( Jackson looked at his brother and thought hard before using these words) My big brother, let us put all of this behind us then and lets start building each other up and not break each other down! I will put this all behind me, I am really tired of the rival we have. I would like to have a brother I can trust.

Trust...what a popular word these days. Dylan sat there with his head down while his heart was happy yet sad. Should he tell his brother about his plan with Rikey and what Rikey did or should he leave it and take it to the grave. Suddenly Dylan remembered his mother saying, "the truth will always reveal itself even if a crow has to speak it", Dylan never understood this, but these words are being cleared for him. Dylan took a deep breath...

Dylan: Jackson...there is something I need to tell you and you might hate me for the rest of your life and I would never blame you for it, if you never want anything to do with me, I will understand.

Jackson: Well, this sounds serious.

Dylan: It is! Please have an open mind while I am telling you this and I really never wanted you to get hurt.

Jackson: What do you mean you never wanted me to get hurt? Dylan, what have you done!?

Dylan: (Exhales loudly) Remember when you and I had that argument while Josh was there with that whole merch buying?

Jackson: Well...can not really forget that day. That was the day I almost died, but go on...

Dylan: Right, no need to remind me of that, anyway! I called Rikey over to the house because I was so angry that you had the last word and I wanted to hurt you so badly. My idea was to turn our little brother against you so Sammy would hate you, but you bond is so strong and I knew that plan would never prevail. Rikey then said that he had an idea and called a random number and, and he gave your car's description over the phone and he said the time you left and everything. I was trying to figure out what he was doing until I saw the video...

Jackson: (Sits up straight) Dylan...what video? What has Rikey done?

Dylan: The video contained the footage of a dashboard cam and it showed the truck ramming into your car. I...I n-never thought he would be capable of this. Jackson! I really wanted nothing to do with this you got to believe me! Please!?

Jackson was sitting on the bed. He was struck with disbelieve and he really did not know what to say. He could see that Dylan was telling the truth, but he doesn't know what to think about Dylan.

Jackson: If what you are saying is true Dylan, than I believe you. Now I understand the sudden change of heart from your side. Keep in mind though that trust is like a mirror. You can fix it when it breaks, but you can still see the cracks in the reflection. Trust needs to be replaced.

Dylan: W-What do you mean by that?

Jackson: Well big brother...we will have to work on the foundation of our relationship and when you have proven trustworthy to me, that's when we have replaced it.

Dylan: You are willing to give me that chance?

Jackson: Everyone deserves to prove themselves a second time, just don't waste it!

At this point Dylan was balling his eyes out, when he heard Jackson said that he would give him a second chance he jumped up and hugged his little brother tight which caused Jackson to scream in pain. Dylan jumped back and apologized to Jackson. Jackson shrugged it off. The brothers sat there talking for hours. They actually noticed that they had much in common and started to build on their bond.

Jackson: Dylan, we will sort all of this out when I am released from the hospital. Promise me one thing!?

Dylan: Anything Jackson!

Jackson: Keep Chase a secret for now, please. If Rikey really wants to kill me and me and Chase's friendship came out, he would know exactly who to target and we still need to show him we can not stand each other. If we want to bring Rikey to justice. We will need to get everything in order.

Dylan: I understand, but what are you thinking of?

Jackson: Let us discuss this when I am home, we will show Rikey that the Horten brothers are not to be messed with, we will make him fear us. He will quiver in fear when we approach him, but nothing illegal!

Dylan: Okay, I understand and I would love to help you with this.

Dylan and Jackson are starting of on a rocky road, but Jackson felt like he could trust Dylan. If Dylan had the courage to tell him about Rikey and what he did then Dylan really wanted to fix things with Jackson. A life lesson would be that people would hurt you even if you have done nothing to them. Surviving in this world is a nasty game.