"Hey kid." I looked up to see my older brother, Richard- but I call him Ricky- who had just turned 16, walking over to me. "What grade are you in again, squirt?" He questioned and I smiled. "I'm in 7th grade!" I beamed and he chuckled then ruffled my hair.
"How do you feel about getting your hair dyed?" He asked and my eyes lit up. "Really?! But mom and dad?" Ricky scoffed and batted the air as if swatting a fly away. "Who cares what they think." I bobbed my head to the side. "Fair point," I murmured and he rolled his eyes and opened the front door. I ran out and he hurried after me. "OI! Slow your roll mister!" He called and I laughed, running ahead.
"So, what color do you want?" Ricky drawled and I hopped up on the seat. "Light blue! Your favorite color," I answered and he chuckled.
"Breaking news, the dorm room building of Meadows High School got fire earlier this afternoon. Everyone but one student made it out. We haven't gotten any information on the boy or who it even is. But we know he died..." I droned the TV out as I just stared at it blankly. He, Ricky, had gone there after we got my hair dyed. A-And. Oh God.
Two years later
"Did you hear that they finally got information on that student's death two years ago?"
"Yeah, Richard Renegade was the guy."
"Wasn't he supposed to take over the company?!"
"Yep, but they switched it over to the youngest, Joshua Renegade."
I don't want to. I never wanted to lead the company. I'd rather let it die and burn just like the dorm rooms did. But some things we just don't have control over.
"I-I still can't believe he died." I heard a voice say and I glanced over to see a boy around my age with circled rimmed glasses and short dark black hair and shimmery black eyes. He also had little black bear ears popping out of his hair- on the top- and a little ball of fluff out of his pants behind. I sighed, it doesn't matter.
"Joshua, I want you to meet someone," Mr. Lock said and stepped to the side, revealing the kid I had heard two days ago talking about my brother. "This is my son, Xavier. He's been really down about your brother's death so I thought maybe you two could hang out," he explained and Xavier looked down. "Dad, I told you I'm fine. I don't need anyone else," he muttered and I pursed my lips. I took my hair tie off of my wrist and pulled my hair back into a small pony tail then reached my hand out to Xavier. "Name's Joshua Renegade, which you might already know, but come on man, who knows, maybe you'll have fun?" I said in a questioning tone and he glanced up. He glanced at his dad then rolled his eye and lifted his head. He shook my hand then fixed his glasses. "Whatever."
A week later
"Oh my God!" I wheezed as Xavier mimicked Harry Potter. "You really are the real Harry Potter!" Xavier laughed and I tried to get my laughing under control.
"Hurry up slowpoke! I'm not waiting for you!" I called back at Xavier who was trying to keep up with me. "I- can't." He came to a stop and bent over, coughing.
"I said, I'm fine!" Xavier snapped at me as I tried to comfort him. He had just gotten bullied for coming out to his group of "friends". I frowned and crossed my arms. "Fine, but if it makes you feel better... I'm actually bisexual," I mumbled and he looked up. "Really?" I nodded. "Have you told your parents?!" He exclaimed and I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Hell no! I-" I trialed off and looked away. I didn't want to get kicked out of the house like Ricky did. It isn't fair.
"Hey guys." We both looked up from where we were, sitting on the bench, to see a short boy- around 5'4"- walking over. He had ginger red hair and freckles littered his nose and his shoulders. He also had friendly hazel eyes and a slim build. "Flynn?!" Xavier asked in surprise and I glanced at him with a confused look. "Who?" I questioned and Flynn chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was your brother's boyfriend," he said and my eyes widened at him. "What! How come he never told me?!" I asked and he shrugged. "Beats me."
"Woah-" I mumbled as Xavier pinned me on the ground after he had tackled me cuz I stole his phone. Right now his phone was lying a couple feet away from us. "I-" Xavier's face turned bright red and he quickly got up. "Sorry!" He blurted out and I stood. "It-it's fine man," I reassured him and picked up his phone, then handed it to him. He took it and looked away. Cute.
