Smoke And Smiles (A 2020 Jeff The Killer Story)

5

The two boys strolled along their mostly quiet road. Each of them tried to find something to talk about through the spiraling emotion.
"I didn't start that fight."
Jeff muttered defensively,  just in case Liu was going to bring it up.
"I know you didn't, it's okay. I'm not mad at you, that kid had it coming."
He responded looking at the kids riding their bikes past them.
"Then why did you stop me?"
Jeff asked, keeping his hands in his hoodie pocket.
"I was in class and I heard Melanie and a few other people scream your name. I thought you might've been in danger or something so I ran out and saw you beating up Randy.
You looked like you were enjoying yourself a bit too much, so I had to stop you before anymore damage was done."
Liu explained as the they turned onto another block.
A small smirk appeared on Jeff's face as he recalled the relief he felt that soon ended.
"You were laughing like it was funny too, I didn't know you had that in you."
Liu added, chuckling a bit nervously.
"Little shits like him deserve pain."
Jeff stated bluntly, as if there was no emotion behind his words.
"I mean... you have a point. Just don't go too far okay?"
His brother said cautiously.

"Why were you acting weird today?"
Jeff asked, changing the subject after recalling what happened with Melanie.
"What do ya mean?"
He looked at his little brother with confusion.
"Mel said you were freaking out and acted like you didn't know who she was. She also saw you run off somewhere."
Jeff explained, growing a bit concerned for his brother.
"I don't remember doing that."
Liu stated, completely unaware of the memory.
Jeff looked downward, knowing his brother had something to hide as well.
"I guess we both blacked out."
Liu nodded in agreement. 

"Jeff, have you been... okay lately?"
His brother questioned with worry clear in his tone.
"Yeah, why?"
Jeff answered quickly, he hated to lie but he didn't want his brother to be more anxious than he already was.
"I know when you're lying, we've told each other everything. Whatever is going on, you can tell me."
Liu confronted as they walked across a crosswalk.
Jeff felt a shiver go down his spine as he tried to put his jumbled thoughts into words.
The soft buzzing returned as he felt the dagger his pocket. A fuzzy red color came into his vision as he stopped walking.
"Hey... what is it?"
Liu asked softly, trying to get his attention.
The red turned into heavy black smoke floating in the corner of his eyes.
"Jeff!"
Liu called out, breaking him from his strange trance once more.
He blinked hard and looked at Liu, smiling softly trying to pretend like it was some kind of joke.
"I'm worried about you..."
Liu admitted as his voice broke softly.
"Don't be, I'm just exhausted. I'll be okay after I get some rest."
He responded tiredly, he looked into the distance at the bakery near them.
"Are you sure?"
Liu asked shakily.
"Well... you wouldn't understand if I told you..."
Jeff admitted softly.
"Well I need to know what I won't  understand first."
His brother responded, making him smirk a little.
He hated that his brother knew just what to say in that moment.
"I've just been having weird dreams.."
He muttered, avoiding himself from going further.
"What are they about?"
Liu asked curiously in which Jeff didn't want to explain his graphic dreams and visions.
"I don't really remember..
Let's go pass out on cake and doughnuts. I'm starving."
He added abruptly as he sped off, Liu snickered slightly and followed him.

They sat down in the warm, quiet establishment with the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries flowing through the air.
"This place isn't as crowded as I thought it would be."
Liu stated before taking a bite out of his cresaunt.
"They might be busier on the weekends. I saw a bunch of people here last Saturday."
Jeff replied, looking out of the window at people passing by.
His mind started to wander as he thought of how everyone seemed to be the same. Yeah, everyone's lives are different but all humans have something in common. The capability to do cruel things, which a lot of humans unfortunately do.
He thought of how sometimes the worst kinds of people get away with the evil they put into the world, while victims are left to suffer.
Sadly those people rarely change and the innocent ones are left traumatized in some way.
What if those humans were persecuted and what if the innocent ones haunted by the abuse could finally be set free? All of these thoughts seemingly came from nowhere.
"If you're not gonna eat that giant cookie, its mine."
Liu chuckled, interrupting his deep thought. 
He picked up the sugar cookie that was half the size of his face and smiled.
"Get your own."
He snickered, eating the sweet dessert.
"Get your own! I will, I need to go the bathroom anyways."
Liu playfully mimicked his younger sibling before getting up.
"Be right back."
He said before going to the restroom. 

Jeff looked outside again and got lost in thought, that's when he saw Nina and her friend passing by the window.
He recalled a memory of him overhearing a conversation between Nina and her friend. Something about the goth girl hitting Troy? Whatever it was, it made him laughed a bit.
Something about the two intrigued him, he didn't wish to be with them.
He just wanted to know who they were for a reason he wasn't sure of.
He looked away to see Liu paying the cashier for the cookie and coming to sit back down.
"Money doesn't have value, neither do we.."
He thought, accidentally saying it out loud.

"Okay edgelord."
Liu giggled, sitting down.
"The edgelord and the nervous wreck, a dynamic duo!"
Jeff exclaimed jokingly, drinking his soda.
"Screw you for that."
Liu grumbled, pretending as though he was offended.
"Anyway, Are you going to that party thing on Friday?"
Jeff asked, snickering at his brother's shocked reaction.
"Sorry dude... I can't, I have a job training I have to go to."
Liu confessed.
"You trader."
Jeff snickered jokingly, feeling defeated.
"That night when we're both home, we can hang out and stuff okay?"
Liu cheered as Jeff smiled softly, feeling a little better hearing that.

They eventually headed home as the sun began to set.