Mastery

Bro-code

Rory

I laid in my bed staring at my ceiling. Tears stung behind my eyes but i did everything to fight them.

Something was happening to me.

I had broken so many things the last week and i didn't know how or why. I have never been clumsy but now everything i would apply even the slightest of pressure on would just break.

That's why i was lying on a mattress on the ground and that's why my uncle hated me. Everything i broke was an accident and my uncle wouldn't understand. Not that I could either, but still. We would fight and fight and all i really needed was someone who'd try to help me understand what the hell was going on with me. I felt as if he was slowly distancing himself from me and I was afraid that he would stop loving me. Not him too. My aunt wouldn't even budge. She thought i was angry. That I had built up anger towards them and that's why i was breaking all their stuff.

That made me so frustrated that it actually went over into anger.

Now i was grounded, i didn't have a phone and i was too afraid to move or touch anything. 

Why was this happening?

I heard my uncle and aunt having dinner downstairs and tear finally escaped. I was starving. But to get downstairs i had to use the stairs and i already broke three steps. Why wouldn't they bring food up to me? This was absolute hell and I couldn't help but start thinking about running away. I was costing them so much money and I'm not even their son.

I brushed the thought away, i'd never leave them. I couldn't. They've given me everything my parents had never so I owed them too much. 

A message popped up on my laptop. It was Benjamin.

Hey man, want to talk?

I thought about it. Benjamin was the only other person i could trust so i decided to tell him everything.

Sure, Skype? I'll call

Okay

I got up and focused really hard on not breaking my doorknob as i closed the door. I completely relaxed and took a deep breath before i grabbed the knob and slowly twisted it.

It didn't shatter in my hands!

I sat back on my mattress and with that same focus i typed on my laptop, logged in and called Benjamin.

"What's up?"

"Not much, i wanted to talk about you"

"What's up with me?"

"I was hoping you could tell me"

I rubbed my face. Could i tell Benjamin?

"I've been breaking everything, Benjamin"

"What do you mean? Why?"

"Everything i touch just dents and shatters and crumbles and stuff. I don't know how or why but i can't stop it."

"You mean like some kind of superpower?"

I laughed. It felt good to actually say what had been happening out loud and now we could even joke about it.

"Listen man, just try to be more careful with everything."

"I will."
"How's school?"

"The usual... boring as shit"

We stayed quiet for a while. I fidgeted with the laces of my sweatpants. How did Benjamin know something was wrong and he wasn't the thoughtful type (no offense of course) so why did he come talk to me?

"Bennie, why'd you come talk to me? I asked him slowly. 

"Well i told some friends of mine i was concerned about you and this one girl suggested i'd actually come talk to you and let you know that i was concerned."

I looked down, ashamed a little.

"That's very nice of her"

"Yeah, she's one of the nicest people at school. And smart as hell"

"That's cool... is she pretty?"

"She's pretty, but Dave's already got her on lock-down"

"Oh"

"We're all going to break into the school's football field tomorrow night, you in?"

I was grounded, but i had to get out of this house before i crumbled it around us.

"Yeah, wait for me at the intersection at seven"

"Great"

We hung up. I was never around any girls so when Benjamin brought up one that was smart and pretty, i couldn't help but be interested. I was hoping that by 'all' he meant her too. But i couldn't hurt Dave. We weren't best friends but we were still friends and breaking bro-code was not my thing. I just had to see her.