Sneak Out (2)
Tee walked through the forest holding Gina’s hand. He had only been in the clearing for two hours and all the others had left. In the end he had decided to go back to Gina’s house. Her parents wouldn’t mind they didn’t care how late she stayed out, where she went, who she was with or who she brought home. She had black hair with Neon orange streaks and a nose and two lip piercings on the bottom lip close together. She had a thin pale face with high cheekbones and big brown eyes, which slanted downward slightly. Her nose was small and skinny and you could barely see her lips because they were so thin. Tonight she was wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a boob tube, which showed, off her belly button piercing. Tee was smiling broadly and telling a joke, about a man and a horse, when they exited the forest. Suddenly Gina stopped a horrified expression across her face, Tee pulled her hand but she stood there looking at something on the ground about three feet in front of her. Tee glanced briefly at what she was looking at but in the dark it just looked like a black bin liner. He tried to pull her again and this time she did move, but towards the bin liner. Tee raised one eyebrow and followed her. “Its just a bag of rubbish, what’s so…”Tee stopped mid sentence. As he approached the bin liner he noticed a pair of Green converses hanging out the bottom of it. He ran in front of Gina and placed a hand on the converses. Tee’s eyes widened. He pulled the bin liner up revealing legs wearing skinny black jeans. “No” Tee said. Gina was at his side. She placed her hand on his, knowing what he was thinking. “It isn’t” She couldn’t bring herself to say his name “you know.” Tee pulled the bin liner further up the body. His hands met something warm and sticky he pulled them away in horror and looked down at his blood-covered hands. Gina pulled the bin liner up and a thin body was revealed with cuts all up the side, no shirt. Finally she reached the neck. “No” Tee said again. Reaching out and placing his hand on the bodies’ chest, it wore a silver chain with a black fang attached. Tee had seen the necklace before. Gina removed the bin liner all together. Tee felt tears sting his eyes. The bodies face, you could not tell anything from. The nose looked broken and there was a deep cut on the fore head. The whole face was crusted with blood. But the hair was black, and although it was matted with blood Tee could just about make out a green streak. He shook his head. “Look!” Gina cried “His chest. He is breathing.” Tee laid his head on Gene’s chest ignoring the blood and listened to the gentle thump of Gene’s heart. “He is alive.” Tee said then added “Barely” Tears filled his eyes and streamed down his face. “Who would?” was all Tee managed to say. Gina took her mobile from her pocket and dialled 999. She gave the operator all the details of where they were then disconnected and returned the phone to her pocket. Tee took his brothers hand. “Don’t die on me.” Tee said, “Remember last week? You said you would be there forever. You said that if anyone ever hit me again you would hurt them. Remember? Well what if someone hits me tomorrow. I will need you Gene.” A sob ripped through Tee’s body. “You can’t die. You just can’t you hear me?” Tee noticed that the rise and fall of Gene’s chest was becoming less frequent. “No. No. Gene.” Then his chest stopped moving. “Gene!” Tee shouted. Gina was at Tee’s side her arms around him. Tee could make out distant sirens, but he knew it was to late. “You git!” Tee cried. “I am your little brother! You are supposed to protect me. How can you protect me if you’re dead!” Tee shouted jumping to his feet and kicking his brother’s body. Tears spilled from his eyes he fell to his knees resting his head on Gene’s chest. He whispered “How are you meant to protect me if…” He closed his eyes “you are dead.” The ambulance sirens were louder now. “You are dead,” he said again. Strong arms reached underneath Tee’s armpits and pulled him to his feet. A guy dressed in green knelt down and hunched over Gene’s body. his hand on Gene’s wrist to find a pulse. Tee knew that he wouldn’t find one. The paramedic began to press down on Gene’s chest. “NO!” Tee shouted louder than he ever had. He wrenched himself from the other mans grip and flung himself at the one trying to resuscitate Gene pushing him off he put his hand under Gene’s head and pulled his body into a hug. Covering himself even more in Gene’s blood, but he didn’t care. “Look kid, let us do our job.” One of the ambulance men, who had really bushy eyebrows, said crouching at Tee’s side. “You had a chance to do your job. But you were to late. He was dead before you got here. He is gone. Just leave him.” Tee said darkly. He raised his head and looked the guy in the eye. “If you got here earlier my Gene would still be alive. But you were too late. He wont ever be able to protect me now. He is dead. Understand?” Bushy eyebrows got up and went over to his companion who had mousy brown hair. He muttered something to him. Tee noticed another siren going off and in no time a police car had pulled up. A kind looking lady police officer got out of the drivers side of the car and a short stern looking bald man got out of the other side. Tee watched as Bushy eyebrows approached the bald guy and whispered something to him. The bald guy went over to Gina and took out a note pad. The lady came over and knelt next to Tee. “Hay, My name is Charlie. What is yours?” Tee just hugged Gene closer to him and said nothing. “Can I take a look at him” She carried on, nodding at Gene. Tee still said nothing; he didn’t loosen his grip on Gene. “ It is important that I get a look at him. Can you tell me your name? What is his name? Is there anyone important who needs to know about this? Parents?” She persisted. Tee still didn’t talk. What was the point in talking when the only person who had ever really listened was dead? And even if he tried he was sure nothing would come out. Tee felt someone brush his side. He looked round to find Gina crouching beside him. “You need to talk to them.” She said. Tee just looked at her blankly. “ Can you tell me their names?” Charlie said addressing Gina. “This is Tee.” Gina said placing her hand on Tee’s shoulder “ and this is his brother. Gene” Tee grimaced at the sound of his brother’s name. “Gene” Tee whispered. “Is there anyone who would need to know about this?” Charlie asked. “Their mum and dad.” Gina said grimly. The women took out her mobile. “Do you know their numbers?” She asked. “The numbers will be on Tee or Gene’s phone” Gina replied. “Tee can we have your mum and dads phone number” Charlie asked. It was then that Tee realised he was shaking. He kept one arm wrapped around his brother and with the other he took his phone out of his pocket and with a trembling hand he found his home number and handed it over to Charlie. He then wrapped his shaking arm around his brother and kissed his forehead. “O.k. Come on let go of him.” The bald Police officer said. Tee looked at Gene’s bloody face, he looked at Gene’s eyelids, which would never open again. He decided enough was enough. Gene was gone. There was nothing he could do about it. He laid Gene’s body back on the pavement and stroked his hair. Charlie got up and walked away holding her mobile to her ear. Tee sat with Gene and when bushy eyebrows tried to wipe Gene’s face Tee took the cloth and done it himself. Gene’s chest felt cold so Tee took off his jacket and covered Gene’s chest with it. “There’s the Gene we all know and love.” Tee said when he had wiped the last of the blood from his brother’s face. A car pulled up and his mum got out. She was tall and skinny with long waist length brown hair and green eyes her face was chubby and usually full of happiness but that night it was contorted with worry. His dad followed tottering along, still in his slippers. Jennifer Brome reached Tee and looked down at Gene’s face. A sob broke from her as she fell to her knees. Andy appeared over her shoulder and tears streamed his face. He pushed Tee roughly aside and knelt by his eldest son. Tee rolled over backward and landed in a heap on the floor. He got to his feet. No more tears came from his eyes he had run out of them. Chapter four Tee sat on a bench, which had a plaque on it saying “GENE BROME 1989-2007” Alice was by his side. They were looking out over the cemetery thinking of Gene. It had been two weeks since Gene’s death and Tee hadn’t cried once since that night. He missed his brother badly, so much so that it hurt. But crying about it wouldn’t bring him back. Tee hadn’t gone back to school in those weeks the next day would be his first day back since it happened. Police were still searching for the murderers; they had not found a murder weapon or fingerprints. The murderers had been wearing gloves. Tee looked at Alice. “I’m going home now. Do you want me to walk you home?” She shook her head. “I think I’ll stay here for a little while longer.” She muttered. She reached up and tied her long blonde hair back into a ponytail. Tee nodded and walked away from the bench and out of the cemetery. It took him 10 minutes to reach his house once there he told his parents he was going to bed and went to his room. After the initial shock of their sons death Tees parents had bombarded him with questions like “Why are you even here” Not wanting to loose the privilege of sneaking out at night Tee had told them that he had seen Gene sneak out and followed. He had followed Gene into the forest were he had got lost, and happened to come across Gina. They had walked out of the forest together and found Gene. It may have been a corny story but his parents believed it. Tee felt a wave of drowsiness rush over him. He wouldn’t go out tonight-just sleep. He stripped down to his boxers and got into bed. Sunlight fringed the curtains of Tee’s room and shone onto his face. His eyes flickered open and he jumped out of bed glancing at the time. He had an hour to get ready and go to school. He walked across the bedroom and into his bathroom where he showered and dressed in his black trousers, black blazer, white shirt and black and red striped tie. He was back out of the bathroom within 10 minutes. He walked over to his side and picked up a frame. It was a picture of Gene in a suit with his arms wrapped around Tee, who was also wearing a suit; Tee was looking up at his big brother. This photo had been taken just two months ago at their parents wedding. Tee ran his hand over the picture then set it back on the side. He walked down the stairs and into the red-carpeted hall. He looked at the door at the end of the hall and in his mind he saw Gene standing there laughing because he had just made Tee eat mums casserole. Tee went through a white door and into a spotless kitchen. Jazz, the cook, stood at the stove flipping pancakes. A lump grew in Tee’s throat. Gene loved pancakes. She turned round and smiled broadly her small brown eyes brightening. She had wispy grey hair that she was trying to control, by tying it back into a high bun. She held out a plate of pancakes. “No thanks, just cereal for me.” Tee muttered. He went over to the fridge, took out some milk and he made himself the cereal. He sat down at the table and had just taken his first mouthful when in burst his mum holding an empty glass; she had dark rings under her eyes, as she hadn’t slept well since Gene’s death. She walked across the room completely ignoring her son and slammed the glass onto the counter. Then spun on her heal and walked back out. Tee finished his breakfast and went slowly back upstairs to finish off getting ready. He walked out of his room completely ready to go looking at his watch he realised he had 15 minutes left until he had to go. So he walked along the hall from his room and stopped outside a green door, which hadn’t changed since Gene had died. It had stickers on it saying keep out and no smoking. Tee smiled to himself as he remembered his brother’s reaction when Tee had given him the no smoking sticker. Spock you twat! Like that’s going to stop me, he had said taking another pull from his fag then ruffling Tee’s hair. Tee felt a lump grow in his throat, that had happened two years ago and he could remember it as if it happened just two seconds ago. Everything he remembered about Gene seemed to have happened just yesterday, even the night of his death. Tee reached out and took the doorknob, but couldn’t bring himself to open it. No one had gone into this room since Gene had died and this was the closest to the door Tee had gotten. Tee dropped his hand from the doorknob and walked away from the door, he walked slowly down the stairs and to the end of the hall. He opened the door took one last glance around the hall and walked out into the cold morning. It took five minutes to walk to school. He went through the gates and into the school grounds. He walked around the school to the back and onto the hard standing where Gina greeted him. She hadn’t seen him since the night of Gene’s death. She took Tee in her arms and stroked his hair he held her waist and pulled her into a kiss. They pulled apart and Tee smiled at her, she returned the smile. She took his hand and they walked over to two benches facing each other. They sat on one bench facing Rocket, Sarah, Blake and Chase. They smiled weakly at Tee not knowing what to expect. It was the first time they had seen him since that had heard the news that Gene had died. They didn’t know weather or not he would cry or not speak or just be difficult. Him and Gene had been so close, nearly inseparable. Tee had cried when Gene had left the high school to go college, what would he do now? In fact he was just like they remembered him, except when ever something that reminded him in the slightest of Gene came up he would completely avoid it. Lunchtime, and Tee had gone no were near the ground floor toilets, which were where Gene used to smoke, he hadn’t gone within a meter of Gene’s old form room and had refused to sit where Gene used to sit. After a bit of trouble over where to sit, Tee had refused to sit in their usual spot, they finally settled down. Only to be disturbed by a boy in year eleven called Josh, He had short brown hair, which was carefully combed into neat spikes. He had his blazer slung over one shoulder his tie undone. He had bright bronze eyes and a small nose. “So, Brome. How you doing?” Josh said. Tee looked up at him darkly, he was the one who had punched him a week before Gene was killed. “What do you want?” Tee asked. “Just saying, I’m sorry about your brother.” Josh smiled then continued “I’m sorry that he didn’t get a chance to slit his wrists before he died, or maybe that was how he went. What do you think?” Tee was on his feet and went to lunge at Josh but Gina held him back. “Leave him alone. Josh. Go on get out of it.” Gina snarled “Still grieving is he?” Josh spat. Tee tried to move forward again but Gina had a firm grip on his arm. Josh took a step forward. “You are still grieving aren’t you…? Spock?” Tee gave a cry of rage, he through Gina off him and lunged at Josh knocking him to the ground, Rocket and Blake had their hands around Tee’s arms in moments hauling him off of Josh. They held his arms behind his back, Josh jumped back to his feet. He grabbed Tee by the collar of his shirt hauling him from his friends grasp he held Tee so his face was an inch from Josh’s “I know who killed your brother, wouldn’t you like to know, Spock? I bet you do. If you found out you’d want to kill the person wouldn’t you? But I bet you’d end up the same way. Down the gutter. Thrown out in the trash.” Josh whispered. Tee lashed out punching Josh in the ribs. Josh through Tee to the ground and stood there glowering down at him holding his ribs. “I will get you for that” he snarled. Before walking calmly away. Chapter five Tee walked home on his own; normally he would meet Gene at his college and walk home with him. He reached the house and ran up the stairs he stopped at the top and instead of turning right towards his room he went and stood outside Gene’s room. He took the handle and turned it. Closing his eyes he pushed the door open, He stared into the room, it hadn’t changed. He stepped over the threshold and was over whelmed by the smell, it smelt just like Gene. The weirdest thing was he was most taken back by the fact that the room hadn’t changed at all, not even the smell. He walked slowly over to Gene’s bed and sat down on it, he put his hand on the quilt feeling the soft texture. Tears dripped onto his hand, he hadn’t realised it but he was crying. He blinked trying to fight back the tears, he wouldn’t cry. It wouldn’t do any good, it wouldn’t bring Gene back. Tee woke lying on Gene’s bed; the quilt under his head was wet. It hadn’t worked. He had cried and he had fell asleep crying, a glance at the clock told him he had been asleep six hours and his cheeks were still damp, he had been crying in his sleep. He realised he had missed dinner because it was midnight and Jazz had gone home, he would have made it himself but as always he wasn't hungry. He stood up and held back a yelp of pain as he kicked something hard. He reached out and turned on the lamp, looking down he realised he had kicked a plastic box, he bent down and opened the box and he nearly burst into tears again. I’m a boy, I’m not supposed to cry. That is what he told himself. In the box was a photo frame that he had made for Gene; it contained a photo of Tee. He took the photo out of the box and underneath it was a card he had made for Gene for his 13th birthday. Under that was a photo album containing family photos, under that was a shoebox. He took the shoebox out and returned the rest of the things to the box. He lifted the lid of the shoebox and found three ring binder books. On top was a note written in Gene’s handwriting. “Gene’s Diaries keep out, only to be read on one condition: the very unlikely event that I die.” Tee snorted and removed the books from the box. The first was labelled 2007 the one underneath 2006 and the one under that 2005. Tee opened the last page of the book labelled 2007 and found that it was dated the day before Gene died. “I’m going shopping with Tee tomorrow, I really can’t wait. It has been ages since I went shopping with him. I decided that I was going to buy him a present. I’m not too sure what yet…but I’ll get it. I’ll give it to him Monday morning when he comes into my room to wake me up. I’ll tell him how much I love him then reach under the bed and pull out the present. I don’t know what I am going to do tomorrow night though. I don’t think I want to go Alice’s encase her dad catches me and I have only just recovered from the last black eye I got. I think I’ll follow Tee out of the house since I caught him sneaking out I’ve been wondering where he went. I will play spock at his own game!” A lump grew in Tee’s throat, Gene had been following him. If he had not gone out that night Gene would still be here. No, pull yourself together Tee, stop crying it wont do any good and you know it he told himself. He put the books back in the box and placed the box on top of the plastic box. He looked under the bed and found a small brown parcel with Tee scrawled on the side. He pulled it open and unwrapped a small black box. He opened the box to find a chain, attached to the chain were two silver tags one with the green day heart grenade engraved into it the over had “Spock” engraved on one side and “<3 Gene” on the other. Tears sprang to his eyes but he told himself off again before slipping the chain over his head. He glanced at the digital clock it was 12:35. Tee got to his feet and walked out of Gene’s room turning off the light. He intended to have a shower then go downstairs and watch T.V. in the main lounge. He walked along the hall and went into his room. He flicked on the light and nearly had a heart attack when he saw Gina sitting casually on his bed. “What in the world are you doing there?” Tee gasped. “I was worried. Josh, his threat…”she replied. “Well I’m fine.” Tee said. Wiping his eyes with his hands. “Oh Tee come here” Gina cried getting up from the bed and walking over to him she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the lips. He took her waist and kissed back. Pushing her back onto the bed, she moved her hands over his back and he rubbed her side. She pushed him gently away and removed a condom from her pocket. Tee smiled and kissed her again. Chapter six Gina’s head was resting on his chest when Tee woke up at 9:00 am. He gently eased her off and let her head fall back onto the bed. She was shattered. Where as Tee had slept as soon as he got back from school Gina had not got to sleep till 3:00 am. Tee walked silently across the room and into his bathroom he took a long shower and re-entered his room at 9:30. Gina was sitting on his bed pulling on her socks; She got to her feet fully dressed. “Doesn’t look like we will be going to school today” Gina smiled “Mm…you hungry?” Tee asked. “Just a bit…yeah.” Tee took Gina’s hand and led her out of the room down the stairs and through a white door into the main kitchen where Jazz was bustling about making lunch for Tee’s mum. “Aren’t you two meant to be in school?” Jazz said “Didn’t feel like going in.” Tee explained. Jazz made a grunting noise. Normally Tee would have made a comment about the grunt…if Gene were there. “Can my friend here have some lunch?” Tee asked. “Sure I’m making burgers, that alright for you?” Jazz said addressing Gina. Gina nodded. “Aren’t you going to have anything?” Gina asked Tee. “No, I’m not hungry.” “You need to eat something Tee. As far as I know all you have had to eat in the past two days is half a bowl of cereal.” Jazz commented. “I haven’t been hungry.” He said quietly then changing the subject “Gina do you want to walk to the pond and back? Your burger should be done by then” Gina nodded. Tee took her hand and led her out of the kitchen, down the hall, round the staircase, into the conservatory and out into the garden. They walked, through the grounds of Tee’s house towards the pond, in silence. After walking for about 3 minutes Gina said, “You really should eat something you know?” “I’m not hungry” Tee grumbled. “I know why you aren’t eating. It’s because of Gene’s death. You are depressed aren’t you?” “No” he replied bluntly. “I am worried about you, you hardly spoke yesterday, which isn’t like you, you got into a fight, which also isn’t like you, and now you aren’t eating.” “Just leave it.” Tee grumbled. “I can’t. Tee I love you and…” “I told you to leave it “ Tee grumbled “Tee” Gina reached out and touched his arm. They had stopped walking and were facing each other.
Copyright © 2007 Jodie Brown |