KEITH

I laid on my bed, my headache worsening. I lit a cigarette, bringing it to my lips. I inhaled and exhaled, grabbing some aspirin from my drawer. I took some of the pills. A little more than I needed to, I almost thought of downing the whole bottle but I know I shouldn’t get high. I walked out, lighting another cigarette. I leaned against the steel porch. Exhale, inhale.

“You okay Keith?” I heard a voice say.

The usual sassy voice seemed nervous. Ben’s curly hair was tied in a ponytail, she had no makeup on and wore a white tanktop and shorts. Her blue eyes pierced right through me, trying to find a missing piece to a puzzle, like a detective trying to solve a crime.

“My head hurts, but I’ll be fine… I want to sleep… sleep and sleep, but I’m too awake” I admitted.

Ben rubbed my back, her towering over me.

“Is there anything I can do?” Ben asked.

“I’m fine… I don’t need anything…”

My sister's face scrunched up when a whiff of smoke went into her face.

“Why do you smoke those things?”

“You used to smoke too!” I said, trying to defend myself.

“I used to do a lot of stuff! I smoked cigarettes to impress my friends! I smoked pot to forget the fights with dad or to get the stress away, why do you smoke?”

I couldn’t really speak of the answer. Maybe it helps suppress my deeper, darker thoughts. I can’t tell anymore. Three years of smoking, nothing has changed.

“KEITH! We need to talk” Tyzon said, coming up, my heart beating faster.

His overgrown dark blond hair covered his eyes slightly, over growing into a small tail in the back. His green eyes seemed to have the wonderful spark of enthusiasm. He wore a white shirt and brown pants that reached to his waist and to his ankles.

“I’ll leave you two be!” Ben smiled.

She walked into her apartment.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“It’s a special report that Wilson just gave me.” Tyzon said, disappointing me.

Tyzon and I were friends but he was more serious about work. I just do what I need to do, as long as the people I care about are safe. Tyzon wants to save everyone… even if he can’t. I nodded, opening the door for him. He walked in, me following behind him. We sat down on the couch. He placed some files on the coffee table. I opened the document.

“An experiment plantation?” I asked.

“We can save more people, people who actually need help, who are gonna die!” Tyzon said, standing up and walking back and forth.

“You're excited, aren’t you?” I smiled.

“This time… we can win no matter what! We have you! You are the most powerful person I have ever seen! It’s amazing” Tyzon enthused, making me blush.

I tried to hide it slightly behind my black curly hair. I crossed my legs, tapping my foot against the floor. Tyzon was smiling so brightly.

“You're gonna accept this project too, right? I know we usually separate the projects but this is really important!” Tyzon said, holding my hands.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Stop being cute, I thought as I became red.

“I will, you seem too excited to let down” I said, smiling brightly.

I shook his hands. We stood so close, it felt like me and him were gonna kiss. I shook the thought out of my head. I know Tyzon, we’ve lived with each other for 2 years because of being first generals and he hasn’t kissed me. He’s too respectful. I blushed slightly, still keeping the image in my head. He hugged me and exclaimed.

“THANK YOU!”

I hated how this feeling continued as my face burned. We pulled away from each other as Tyzon looked through the flies. I tied my hair into a ponytail.

“Well I’m gonna take a nap since I haven’t been feeling well” I smiled.

“Okay, we should go out after your nap,” Tyzon asked.

“Yeah, get some fun in before our schedules get full” I said, standing up.

I walked into my room, locking the door behind me. I opened my drawer. My journal and knife were neatly organized. I placed my finger over my knife. I picked it up, taking my jacket off. I hesitated when I looked at my arms. I placed my knife on my arms, slowly beginning to cut. I cut deeper than meanted to. I winced slightly at the pain.

I sat down on my bed. I wanted to cry, putting my head under my pillow.

I fell asleep, waking up some time later.

I sat up, looking at my clock. It’s fucking 8 pm? I sat up. At least my headache was gone. I put my jacket on, walking out into the living room. Tyzon was reading documents.

“Hey, do you still wanna go out?” I asked, still waking up.

“Yeah but do you even want to? You just woke up?”

“I would rather do stuff than nothing, what’ss the saying? Life is short, live it to your fullest?” Tyzon laughs.

“Okay then!” We both stand up.

“Where yo wnna go?” I asked, my accent coming out.

“I’ll surprise you” Tyzon smiled, making my heart warm.

I nodded. We both changed into outfits before leaving. I wore my usual leather jacket, black shirt and leather pants. He wore a light pink t-shirt and light blue jean pants that reached to his ankles. He drove me to Landry’s Club.

“Is it Laundry or Landry’s? Cause if you took me to a laundry mat? I don’t know how much you respect this friendship” I joked.

He rolled his eyes.

“Her last name just sucks, it’s a pretty cool dance club, trust me, you’ll like it!” he smiled.

We got out of his car. We walked in a line. After 20 minutes we got in. He seemed as excited as always.

“I should have gotten more dressed up,” I said.

“We can come back later in life, it’s a pretty popular place, it’ll stay,” Tyzon said, the loud music blaring.

I can feel my face warm up.

“You're always so red,” Tyzon teased, only making me redder.

We started to dance.

“I’ll order you a drink if you want?”

“We get the same salary?”

“Maybe but I have more money saved up,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes.

“Get us drinks and you want me to get us a table to chill at?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’ll surprise you with a drink!” I found a table for us after a few minutes.

I tapped my shoe. Thinking about Tyzon. He is so amazing. He placed two drinks on the table. He sat in front of me.

“Margaritas for you and me!” I nodded, taking a sip of my drink.

“So…” I placed my hand out on the table, tapping my fingers on the table.

The booth was so small, our legs touched. He seemed to be flustered but the lighting was hard to see through. He leaned closer, accidentally placing his hand on my wrist. He flinched away.

“Sorry!” “It’s fine…” I whispered.

Our legs were pressing against each. I took a sip of my drink. And they brought us another drink. And another. We talked and talked.

“Is Yara coming over any time soon?” I asked.

“She might, she’s been feeling bad lately, but she likes to visit you, mainly you. I call her so much, she says I’m like our mother,” he said, laughing slightly.

I chuckled.

“I wish I got to meet your parents-”

The music blared loudly.

“Do you like Yarra?” he asked.

I took another sip.

“Where’d you get that idea from, I may be bi but I don’t like Yara!”

“I don’t know why I thought that, I’m bad at knowing what you feel…”

“Who do you like?” I asked.

He drank his drink, chugging it. I blinked confused. I moved my face closer.