Twice the Hands to Hold

Chapter 1: Wednesday Jake “You’re such a bastard, Brian!” Matt said. “He’s lying!” Brian said indignantly and made his way from his room, clutching a towel around his hips with water dripping down his torso, the picture of outrage. Jake sighed and walked down the hall. “Here we go. The annual first-day-of-school Walker implosion,” he muttered. “I swear to God,” Matt said. “Wait a second.” He eyed his nephews unenthusiastically. “What exactly is your brother lying about?” Turning to Matt, he said, “And why are we hurling insults so early in the morning?” “He was up all night playing video games. Now we’ve got two seconds before we’re late, and he’s not even dressed yet,” Matthew said. “And as usual, he won’t let me drive.” “I just finished my shower, Matt!” “Hold it,” Jake said more forcefully. He stared at his nephews who were turning into the spitting image of their father by the day. He wondered, not for the first time, how two people who looked exactly alike on the outside could be complete opposites in almost every other way. Somehow twelve years had turned into a wink and here they were, first day of senior year. “I asked him if we could leave early this morning. I asked you, didn’t I?” Matt turned to Jake with pleading eyes. “But then he was playing his grade school computer games till four this morning and then couldn’t get up.” “You guys are just wasting more time standing around here annoying me.” “That’s what I told him when he started yelling at me to finish up in the shower,” Brian said, completely indignant. Jake smiled wryly at his nephew’s ability at turning any situation into one where he is the victim. “It’s not funny, Jakey,” Matt said, calling him the name they’d used since toddlerhood. “He pretty much ruins my schedule every day. And now he’s gone and hidden the car keys again so I can’t leave without him.” “Oh my God, you’re so dramatic,” Brian said, grating his twin’s soul even further. “You bottoms have to turn everything into a Broadway musical. I’d be done in a minute if you’d just get out of my face!” “Watch your temper,” Matt said, antagonizing his brother. Jake held up his hand before another fight lifted the roof. “You,” he pointed at Brian’s room. “Get back in the there and get ready.” Turning to his other nephew, he said, “He’ll be done soon. Just deal with it. And please, no more fighting. I’m getting a headache so early in the morning. Sheesh.” Matt sighed but made his way wordlessly to the landing, his book bag already around his shoulder. Brian was already on his way back to the shared bathroom that connected his and Matt’s rooms together. “And Brian,” he said just before his nephew’s head disappeared behind the door, Matt already well out of earshot. Brian popped his handsome face out the door. He made his way over to Jake, seeing the seriousness in his eyes. “I don’t want you referring to your brother in a denigrating manner again, at all, yes?” Brian looked at him, doing a pitiful job of trying to look offended, “You know I didn’t mean anything by it.” “I know that. He does, too, probably. But I don’t want to hear it again.” “Sure, Uncle Jake. And I’ll make an effort to get up earlier.” “Good boy. Now get.” * * * * Matt “Come on, Brian! We’re going to be late!” The first day of their senior year had gotten off to a rotten start. And as usual this was all his brother’s fault. Matt kicked at the runner at the foot of the stairs where it had started to lift. He adjusted his book bag in irritation and sighed. Fourteen minutes he’d been waiting already and time wasn’t standing still. Why he and his brother were still forced to share a car was what frustrated him to no end. He was sure they could afford a third car now. “Brian…already!” For someone who always ragged on him for being a supposed bottom, his straight-acting brother could take up mirror time with the best of them. If someone was obsessed with his mop, it was…”Goddamn, Brian! I’m going to leave without you right now if you don’t get your butt down here.” “You’re the one who kept me from getting ready with your dramatic performance.” Brian stared him down accusingly from the top of the stairs…finally. Matt bit his tongue. What was left of it after eighteen years with his brother. It was pointless. Brian looked at his watch as Matt held the door open. “Goddamn. Why didn’t you tell me we’re running late?” Matt rolled his eyes and closed the door behind them, really trying not to hate his life. * * * * “See you later,” Brian threw Matt their Camaro’s keys, already making his way over to his friends crowding on the school’s lawn. Four minutes to spare to first bell and assembly. Matt pocketed the keys and walked up to his friends. Brian always insisted on driving when they rode together—he was such a control freak. But did he want the hassle of holding onto the keys? God forbid. So he stuck Matt with it. The usual currents of excitement flowed through him as he approached his two best friends. Lexie’s light African-American complexion seemed to vibrate all over with the rest of her from pent up enthusiasm, which was nothing new, while poor Martin looked as painfully awkward as always. His unruly ginger curls swaying freely in the wind. Matt hoped his dear ginger friend would outgrow this awkward phase, at some point. They made their way to the lockers to dump their books in time for first assembly. His friends hassled him for being late and filled him in on their summers. The bell shrilled and the hallway cleared almost instantly, save for a bunch of weighed down and haggard freshmen trying to find their way. As though naturally drawn, Matt’s eyes were pulled to a guy with honeyed skin and golden hair, walking past them with a confident swagger but desolate eyes. Lexie fell silent from her ramblings as she noticed the boy who’d caught Matt’s attention; Martin, as usual, was seemingly unaware of anything. Matt was downright staring, but surely he could be forgiven. The irresistible mix of self-confidence enthused with misery had a way of evoking this type of reaction in Matt. How could someone be so handsome and appear so painfully vulnerable at the same time? The guy had to be new to Santa Monica High, but even so, he seemed to know exactly where he was headed, and just as fast as he’d walked into Matt’s life, he disappeared again.