4 Chapter 4: Trust

Years passed, and unfortunately, Brooke slowly grew to work with her husband, and, slowly, disregard her son, Mark. The one person who said she’d always love him, had turned her back on him at a time that he needed her the most.

You can’t do that to a child. Mark thought to himself as he sat on his bed looking down at a gift his mother had given him. The last gift he had received, on his tenth birthday, it was a book. A book about a child who was forgotten, a child who was hated, and yet, through all of his pain, he was loved. He hoped, he prayed that his mother was that one person who loved him. But, soon after his tenth birthday, she started to stop talking to him. He read that book over and over again, at least twenty-seven times. He looked as his mother changed. He was a senior now, though. He was graduating in a few months, and he wanted to feel the warm embrace of his mother again. He wanted to understand why exactly she stopped caring. He wanted to know. Mark could piece together many things, and he could understand an almost endless amount of equations. He could read his brothers like a book, he could tell when his father was going to slap him before he even walked into the room, but for some reason, he didn’t know how to explain why his mother had thrown him away.

I loved you, I trusted you. Mark grabbed the edges of the book, I wanted you to stay with me. His eyes started to tear up. But you turned around, and never looked back. He flexed his arms, It was all pointless, putting hope in someone who, who… you “YOU NEVER EVEN CARED ABOUT ME!” he cried tearing the book in half, “you never cared, you never cared, you never cared.” his tears burned his cheeks. He looked down at the ripped book. He started to cry once again, “this book was pointless.” he threw the ripped book across the room, the pages flying out. The last page of the book fluttered to his feet.

He stood up from his bed, and picked up the paper. The story ended, happily. He ripped it apart. “Happy endings don’t exist for me.” He grabbed his school supplies, and packed them in his backpack, before he finished getting ready for school. No one was awake yet. He walked into the kitchen, afraid. He reached a hand to the fridge, and his fingers touched his brother’s.

“Good morning, Mark.” William said, with a smile.

Mark’s eyes widened, why was he so stupid? He was loved, not by his mother, not by his father, but by his two brothers. He loved them, he loved all four of his family members. He looked into William’s eyes, they were kind, loving, and he genuinely cared for him. “I’m an idiot.”

Now it was William’s turn to be surprised, “An idiot? Really, Mark?” he started to laugh. Which made Mark laugh.

Even if he no longer could hear his mother’s voice in his nightmares, even if he could never escape his father’s hatred, he always had his brothers. They loved him. They cared for him. They were there for him. He knew they would always be there, always there to lift him up, and make him smile.

He walked with his brothers to the crossroads, where they went two separate ways. He looked at them, and smiled, “You guys are awesome!”

“Thanks, bro.” William responded, “You too.”

“Heh, I know, Mark.” Joe laughed, “And, to be honest, the girls think I am as well!”

“I figured.” Mark responded, trying to hide a smile. He waved good-bye to his brothers and headed off to his high school.

“Yo! Mark!” John Deflen cried waving an arm.

“Hey, John.” Mark said, clapping the eighteen-year-old’s hand.

“Mark Joseph Twilighz.” a voice said from behind him.

Mark flinched. He wasn’t ready for this.

“I missed you too much!” the voice said as she wrapped her arms around the thirteen-year-old.

“Amy Rose, it was only a weekend.” Mark said, used to her random hugs.

Thomas laughed, David nudged John, as Hannah walked up to them, “Hey, John, have you introduced Mark to your sister yet?” she asked.

“Haha, no.” John replied. “Everytime we see each other, it's at school, and Alex has school, too.”

“Psh, such a party-pooper.” Hannah sighed, “Mark,” she said turning to him, “You need to meet Alex, I think you two could hit it off pretty well.”

Mark sighed, “Yeah, totally.” he said sarcastically, “because I really want to bother myself with things other than school.”

“Oh, come on.” Amy said, letting go of him, “Mark. You’ve got to like somebody.”

“Um, no.” Mark said, smiling.

“It’s cool, bro.” David said, “I don’t like anyone either.”

“Me neither.” Thomas said, lightly punching Mark’s shoulder.

“What about you, John?” Hannah and Amy asked, “Do you like anyone?”

“Heh, no.” John hesitated.

“Sure, John likes someone, and I know who.” Mark teased.

“I thought we were friends, Mark.” John whined.

“And friends don’t keep secrets.” Mark replied, “don’t worry, your deepest darkest secret is safe in this brain here.” he said tapping his forehead.

“Oh, come on, Mark.” Amy said, as they walked into the school building before the bell rang.

“Where are you going to college?” Thomas asked thoughtfully.

“Harvard.” Mark replied without hesitation.

“Wow, smart one here.” David teased.

“Well, I don’t know yet.” John answered Thomas’ question.

“I do!” Amy exclaimed. “I’m going to the college of William & Mary.”

“Exciting.” Hannah said. “I’m going to go to a state university, I’m not sure which one yet, though.”

“What about you, Tom?” David asked, as they grabbed things out of their lockers.

“Oh, I’m not going to college.” he looked down at his shoes.

“I’m sorry.” Mark replied, “but, have fun with that entrepreneurship!”

The bell rang, and Mark ran off, dodging the football players in the hallway, before he reached his homeroom. School was school, as usual, when the final bell rang, he dipped his way through the high schoolers, before he reached the front door. He waved at who he called his friends, and started to run off to meet his brothers on their way home from school.

“Is that him?” he heard a voice faintly as he happily ran down the sidewalk.

“Yes, Alex.” John responded, “Don’t go chasing after him now, though.”

“Hah, why would I do that?” Alex laughed, “Sure, he’s cute, and smart as a bonus, but I’m only twelve, besides, I’m trying to focus on my studies.”

“I hope that’s true.” John said, as he began to walk off.

“But,” Alex said, joining him, “I wouldn’t mind if you sent me a few pictures of him.”

“Ha.” John laughed, as they walked in the opposite direction that Mark was heading.

Mark reached the crossroads and saw his brothers waving at him, a girl walked next to Joe, clinging to his arm. Mark chuckled to himself, knowing his brothers will never change.

“Hey, Joe, got a new friend, huh?” Mark said, meeting his brothers.

“Oh, hi.” she said shyly, “I’m Donna.”

“Nice to meet you.” Mark said.

“I tried telling them that they shouldn’t come home.” William sighed.

“Yeah, because you just want more food.” Joe punched his brother’s arm, but instantly regretted it.

“Always thinking with your stomach.” Mark laughed.

“Come on, I’ll race you home.” William said, pushing his older triplet brother forward.

“Ok, fine, but, I’ll lose, you’ve got the speed of a cheetah.” Mark joked.

“If I have the speed of a cheetah, you have the speed of the fastest three cheetahs added together.” William said, trying to think on the spot.

“Heh, that was stupid.” Mark said, “but you're on!” he said as he dashed off.

“No headstarts!” William yelled, leaving Joe and Donna to walk alone.

“Oh, come on.” Mark said, “the predator doesn’t wait for their prey to walk into their mouths.”

“Who's the prey?” William said catching up.

“I am.” Mark said, running a little faster.

“Oh, so, does that mean I’m gonna win?” William asked.

“Yeah, probably.” Mark replied as he came to a sudden stop.

“Hey, Mark, why’d you stop?” William asked.

He saw him. His father. “Um, I forgot, I was gonna hang with friends today.” Why is he here early? He normally doesn’t get off until after I finish my homework. Why is he here? Why? Why? WHY? He quickly turned around, fixed his backpack, and ran off. Passing Joe on the way. “I’ll see you tomorrow!” He laughed as he ran. Today was going great, I was able to stay out of eye contact with him and mom today, why, why, why. He stopped at his school, and began to go in, but remembered they locked the school. He turned, John isn’t that far away from here. Maybe he’ll let me stay the night. He picked up his feet, and began to run that way, before his father could catch him. This time he wasn’t going to have a nightmare. This time he wasn’t going to panic. This time he was going to escape.

He reached the front door to his friend’s house, and knocked on the door, before realizing they had a doorbell. He stood there patiently, the door began to open, and a girl, a year younger than himself stared at him, speechless.

“Um, hi. I’m Mark, John’s friend. I was wondering if I could talk to him for a bit.” he said.

The girl stared at him, with her jaw dropped open, Did he really just speak to me? She thought, “Oh, um, yeah, I’ll go get John.”

“Ok, thank you.” Mark said, after she walked away, he kicked his feet back and forth.

“Oh, stop being flustered, Alexandria!” John’s said. “Hey, Mark. Come on in.”

Mark reluctantly stepped inside his friend’s house. It was bigger than his own, by a lot. It was also a three bedroom home, but each room was nicer, and twice the size of the rooms in his own home. He felt bad for asking to stay the night here. He accepted John’s offer, and sat down on the couch, as John sat in the loveseat across from him.

“What is it this time?” John asked, sympathetically.

This time? Alexandria thought to herself as she listened from her bedroom next door, Has he come to my house before?

“Well,” Mark began, but stopped.

Why’d he stop talking? Alex tried to listen further in, but she couldn’t hear anything.

“So, that’s why I’m asking if I can spend the night here. I didn’t bring any change of clothes though. I’m fine with staying on the couch.” Mark finished.

Why is he staying here? Alex blushed.

“I see, Mark, it’s fine, I understand. I’ll talk to my mom, and dad, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. Plus, I have a few clothes left that we haven’t donated yet when I was thirteen.” John responded.

“Thank you, John. You're such a friend to me.” Mark replied, as John left the room.

Alex peaked her head into the living room, “Mark?” she realized she spoke his name out loud, and hid behind the wall, covering her blushing cheeks and her mouth with her hands.

“Yes?” she heard.

“Oh, um.” she replied, walking over, and sitting where her brother had left, “Your name is Mark, right?”

“Yes.” Mark replied.

“I’m Alexandria.” she said.

“I figured, when you opened the door. John calls you Alex, right?” Mark replied, giving a smile, he didn’t care if it was fake or not.

She blushed.

“You are ok, right? No fever?” Mark asked, standing up.

“What? Fever?” She replied, flustered.

“Your cheeks,” Mark said, walking a little closer to her.

“Huh?”

“They seem unusually red. They’ve been that way since I came in, and seem to be getting worse.” Mark said standing arms distance away from her.

“Oh, that. No, I’m fine, I don’t have a fever.” She said quickly, hoping that he wouldn’t leave.

The back of Mark’s hand pressed against her forehead, causing her to blush harder. “I see.” Mark responded backing up, then he sat back down in his seat, “You shouldn’t get all flustered that I’m here. I consider your brother a close friend, and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt someone he cares about even in the slightest. So, you don’t have to worry.” he smiled.

“Flustered?” Alex repeated, “Oh, no, I wasn’t… I mean, I was, but… um… I guess I… I mean, I’m not worried.” she smiled at him, hoping he would forget her stuttering.

“Okay.” Mark said, “but, I don’t date, okay? I’m flattered, but, I am too young, and… I’m not interested in getting into any kind of relationship.” he smiled.

Alex blushed, That’s not what I meant, “I didn’t mean that.”

“Oh, well, I guess that would be the first time I’ve misunderstood someone.” Mark looked down, relieved.

“Mark, I…” Alex began.

“My parents are cool with it, bro.” John said as he came in the room, “Alex! Seriously?”

“Huh?” Alex asked as she looked up at her brother, obviously trying to pull the innocent act.

“I know you like him, and all, but do you really have to pretend to have a fever?” John started saying.

“Pretend?”

“Mark’s a nice guy, he’d literally do anything to make sure someone is happy, can’t you see that? That’s why he’s here.” John told his sister.

“Why he’s here” Alex repeated, looking over at him, then she grabbed her brother’s hand and rushed into her room. “Why is he here?”

“I told you, Alex, he’s here to make sure someone’s happy.” John said, sighing.

“Who?” Alex asked.

John stopped, he froze, Should I tell her? No, I can’t. Mark realized she was listening and that’s why he whispered it to me. I can’t tell her, I’ve said too much. “No one.” he said, and left the room.

Alex wanted answers. She needed answers. Who was it he was trying to keep happy? It couldn’t be her, maybe her brother? No, he’s usually always pretty happy. Her mom? Her dad? Maybe, it was someone that was in his family. But why would he come here? Wouldn’t his family be happier if he was there? She didn’t understand.

Mark fell asleep after doing his homework, Mrs. Deflen came in, and gave him a blanket, whispering ‘poor thing.’ she finished tidying the kitchen before she turned off the lights and went to bed. Alex lay wide-awake in her room, staring at the dark ceiling. She sat up, she was thirsty. She stumbled her way in the darkness, and stopped to look at Mark, he was sweating.