Chapter 2: When Things Begin to Change

Years passed, but some things never did.

The noise.

The laughter.

The feeling that wherever one brother was, the others weren’t far behind.

But not everything stayed the same.

Jay stood outside the school gate, checking the time on his phone.

“Late,” he muttered.

Again.

Rowand leaned against the wall nearby, arms folded, calm as always. “Relax. Nick will show up.”

Jay frowned. “That’s not the point. He’s been doing this all week.”

As if on cue, Nick came jogging down the road, slightly out of breath but grinning like nothing was wrong.

“Miss me?”

Jay didn’t smile. “You’re late.”

Nick shrugged. “So? I’m here.”

“That’s not good enough.”

Rowand glanced between them. “It’s just a few minutes, Jay.”

Jay shook his head. “It’s not just today. He’s been skipping practice, coming late—what’s going on with you?”

Nick’s smile faded slightly. “Nothing.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You are.”

Rowand pushed himself off the wall. “Hey, calm down. It’s not that serious.”

“It is serious,” Jay said. “He’s changing.”

Nick’s expression hardened. “Maybe I just don’t want to do the same things anymore.”

The words hung in the air.

Jay blinked. “What does that mean?”

“It means,” Nick said, stepping closer, “I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t have to follow everything you say.”

Rowand’s eyes widened slightly. “Nick…”

Jay’s voice dropped. “Since when do you feel like that?”

Nick hesitated—just for a second.

But it was enough.

“Since always,” he said.

The bell rang in the distance, but none of them moved.

For the first time in years, something felt… off.

Not broken.

Not yet.

But different.

Later that day, Rowand found Nick sitting alone behind one of the school buildings.

“You’re really pushing him,” Rowand said as he walked over.

Nick didn’t look up. “He pushes me first.”

Rowand sat beside him. “He’s just trying to look out for you.”

“I don’t need that all the time.”

Rowand was quiet for a moment. “So what do you need?”

Nick finally looked up.

“Space.”

That word didn’t belong to them.

Not to the brothers who used to fix things together…

Who used to promise no matter what.

That evening, the three of them sat at the same table they’d shared for years.

But this time—

No one spoke.

Jay stared at his plate.

Nick scrolled through his phone.

Rowand looked between them, uneasy.

The silence felt louder than any argument.

Jay finally broke it.

“Are we good?” he asked, not looking up.

Nick hesitated.

Rowand waited.

“…Yeah,” Nick said.

But it didn’t sound real.

And for the first time—

...Jay wasn’t sure he believed him. ...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...****************...

...----------------...

...----------------...

...----------------...

...----------------...

...----------------...

what do you think jay should do

follow up on his brother?? Or ignore his change of attitude and act nonchalant??

Should Nick reveal what he'shiding or keep it confidential ?? Hmm

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

......................

......................

......................

......................

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***