King of Freaks ✔

Chapter 16

Bryn Atkinson's POV

I was hanging out with Jared today, and after that crazy kidnappings, I felt like I needed someone else with me. So I invited Gemini, whom of course invited Grayson as well. It turns out, they're very much alike, and I guess that's just how they molded together. Although they do crash sometimes since they're both super bipolar, they get around. Anyways, we were at Walmart, Jared and me acting like idiots while Gemini and Gray acted like proper young adults.

"Bryn, go faster!" Jared yelled as I pushed him on the rolling cart. He grabbed a large bag of skittles on our way, while we both laughed in excitement.

"Wait, s-slow down! Bryn slow down!" He yelled. I was so caught up, I didn't see the guy in front of us. I made a raggedy turn, losing control of the cart when we suddenly knocked into a pile of toilet paper. I groaned while Jared frantically got up and ran off. I quickly got up, looking at Jared's retreating form.

"S-sorry!" I apologized to the guy. He had a look of shock plastered on his face, but I didn't think of it. I quickly ran off, wanting to find Jared. I finally found him, leaning against an aisle, panting with tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"Jared? Are you okay? Are you bleeding?" I asked, searching for the source of his pain. But then I realized, it wasn't physical pain; it was emotional. Jared started pointing at the direction of our accident, taking deep breaths to calm himself down.

"T-that was my big brother." He said, running a hand through his hair. "H-he saw me, Bryn! We need to get out of here."

"Hey, what's wrong with seeing your brother?" I asked, grabbing his forearm to stop him from running.

"He's family Bryn, and family is what kicked me out of my home." He replied, yanking me towards Gray and Gemini. They had to ponder faces on upon seeing Jared's teary one.

"What's wrong?" Gemini asks, genuinely concerned.

"Nothing, we kinda just crashed," Jared replied.

"Dammit Bryn, I was telling you not to go too fast," Gemini mumbled, more to herself than scolding me. I looked at Jared, and he looked at me, but his eyes went wide at something behind me.

"Yep! So yes, let's go, guys, I'm really hungry. We should go for some Buffalo Wild Wings, yea? Okay." Jared hurriedly said, yanking Gray towards to doors, his large frame covering him. I look behind me but saw the guy there instead. I realized he saw Jared trying to hide from him, a pained look on his face. I felt bad for him, but I'm respecting Jared's wishes.

So I turned and walked away.

~

A few days have gone by since the little Jared incident, and he's been fidgety ever since.

"My family is supposed to live a city away. What the hell is my brother doing here?" Jared exclaimed at Eliazer.

"Honestly dude, I think they moved over here," Eliazer replied. He's been really swift at avoiding to talk to me under any circumstances. Yea, we could be in the same room, but he's really good at making 'no talk'.

"My family can't be here. That's means I'm gonna be bumping into them all the fucking time!" Jared yells, laying his head on the table with a frustrated groan.

"I don't know what to tell you, buddy, you gotta face your fears sometimes," Eliazer said, walking away while patting his back.

After his footsteps went silent, Jared turned to look at me. "You saw them, didn't you." He whispered, a matter of factly. I nodded, casting my eyes downwards, guilty.