CHAPTER TEN

I am just human, I have feelings too. I cry, I break down. I laugh. I'm not perfect, I never pretended to be. But sometimes, just sometimes, I wish it wasn't so hard being human

Victor Mairo

Tyler's POV

One word for me, I'd just call it "stupid". I've been so stupid. I watched Dean as he walked away from the throngs of students trying to act as though they knew him, or understood him. And, I just left him to fend for himself. I left him. But, in my defence, I had something to do. Something felt wrong somewhere even though I couldn't pinpoint it. But maybe, just maybe, it was from the twins. They were such perfectionists, it unnerved me. How many teenagers do you know that are smart, like dead smart, eerily beautiful and stay away from crowds? None? Me neither. So, I just had to investigate. I was doing this more for Dean than for myself. If only he'd understand. Sometimes, it scares me the way I've come to depend on his presence in my life. I'd always taken it for granted, but since the twins arrived, he changed. Well, to me. I had to know what was really going on with the twins. So, the minute we dropped off at school, I tailed them, receiving the occasional claps on the back, handshakes, hugs. I suffered through them all, making sure not to let them out of my sight. But as soon as a jock, Collin Crevey pounded me on the back, I stumbled. He had hands that could break a few bones if he put a little pressure. Large meaty hands. I suffered through it, but by the time I looked up, the twins were gone. I lost them. Ah damn.

"Hey Tyler, are you lost?" I heard an alluring female voice behind me. I mentally rolled my eyes. Debby again. The so called "queen bee" in this school. She'd always had a thing for me and I have never been interested. She was beautiful, sexy even. But.. Her character was nil. She had the temper of a raging bull. The patience of Zeus. To be honest, she was a live bomb waiting to explode in my face. So, yeah. Thanks but, no thanks.

"Hi Deb, seen the twins?" I asked as she scrutinized me with her eyes. To be honest, by my standards, I don't look good. But she obviously thought so, seeing as she licked her lips. Ewwww. 

"I saw them over there, walking into the last classroom, the empty one. So, let's walk to class together?" she held on to my arm as a lifeline and I kind of felt sorry for her. Kind of. I knew her type. It's all a game to her. Then, when she gets me, on to the next one. It's a sick depraved game, playing with people's emotions. But she seemed comfortable with it, so... Anyways, I wasn't in the mood for her shenanigans today. I had to get to the twins. This was my only chance.

"Uhmm Deb, can you run along? I'd come join you later. For now, I need to get to the twins. They owe me an explanation for something. Please?" I said, using my cute eyes as leverage. She didn't stand a chance.

"Okay, okay. You'll come see me later. Promise?" she said holding on to my pinky finger. I was quickly losing my patience.

"Pinky swear. Now, forgive me but I really have to go." I said putting some wistfulness in my tone. She smirked and walked away. I made a gagging gesture the minute she left. She was a whole new kind of trouble I really wanted no part in. Enough dawdling. I ran to the last classroom.

What I saw shocked me to my bone marrows. And, till date, I'm not sure I can get the image out of my head.

The twins were holding hands, looking at each other lustfully.

I was disgusted. It makes no sense. So, I walked in, careful not to make any sound.

Even after I walked in, they were oblivious to my presence. This was really really weird. I coughed as emphasis. Nothing. They remained there as though glued. It was really really freaking me out.

Then, all of a sudden, they seperated. The light coming back to their eyes. It was then I realized, their eyes were glassy before. Like as though they were staring at nothing.

"What the hell just happened?" I said to nobody in particular. They offered no answers.

"What? I don't remember when you came into the room." Brian said scrunching up his face as though he had one too many sweets.

"Well, here's what happened. You were about to kiss your sister." I said sarcastically. What kind of stupid statement was that? I walked in on them, in a really improper position, and they clearly saw me. So.. I'm not buying it.

"What did you just say? Kiss?? Kiss my brother? Stop. Really stop. That's too expensive a joke." Brianna said looking dead serious. One thing about Brianna, she rarely lies. If ever. She was honest to a fault.

"C'mon. Drop the pretense. You almost kissed him. That's Ewwww by the way. Honestly. Like... How can you stand yourselves?" I said tired of the pretense.

"Tyler, stop. For real stop. Tell me what really happened. From the beginning." Brianna said as she shared a uh-oh look with her twin. I could read expressions and theirs clearly said it's happening now.

That look, made me realize, they honestly had no idea. So, I told them what happened and how I entered and met them.

" This makes no sense. It's happening again. Last thing I remember is telling Brian I had something to show Dean. Later today. And then.. I saw you. Like you just appeared out of thin air." Brianna said, her eyebrows scrunched up in a I'll kill you expression. Trust me, it's scary.

" What do you mean by it's happening again? And, I just appeared here? How? What exactly are you saying? I was more confused than I cared to admit.

"She's saying that we have no record of anything happening like you just said. And, I won't kiss my sister even if I was paid to. No offense sis." Brian said as an afterthought.

"None taken. Let's go. We have work to do." Brianna said as she forced us out of there. She talked more to herself than to us, which was fine by me. She wasn't one you wanted to cross. I exchanged small talks with Brian, and sighting Dean from afar, I tried to wave but Brianna stopped me.

" No. Don't. Leave him for now. We have a lot of things to figure out. And you, never, ever, talk about what you saw, until I find out what went wrong. Now, we reconvene during lunch time. For now, Brian, come with me. Tyler, go to Debby. She's been looking at you for a while now. Don't, don't go to Dean. Not yet. Now shoo. "She said dragging Brian behind her. I just shook my head and did as she asked. I went to talk to Debby, which I regretted. Badly. 

Finally, the twins came and said we should go to Dean. I was happy though. It seemed like forever. It's only been a few minutes. I walked straight to Dean, the twins giving me looks like... Drop it

"Hey, where were you guys?" Dean asked as soon as we got close enough.

"Long story, we'll tell you later." Brianna said looking at me, begging me not to contradict with her eyes.

"There's nothing really, we'll tell you later." Brian and I said together. Weird.

"Hmm... Why the long faces then? What happened? Dean asked looking concerned.

"Not to worry, we'll tell you later. Time for class." I said rushing off.

Lunch was a muted thing, Dean trying to make jokes, but I didn't really feel the need to laugh. I was troubled. I knew for a fact that the twins were as close romantically as cats and dogs.. Yet, everything was all so fuzzy in my head. I was beginning to think I imagined it all.

"...... By 8pm, can you make it?" Brianna was talking. I had completely zonked out of the conversation, my mind on other things.

"No problem. 8 it is." Dean said as the bell sounded. Time for class again.

"...You just have to time it right, immediately he comes close. That's the only way." Brianna said as we stood at the edge of the field, watching the stars. Brian was fiddling with something. Was that a mouse? I decided not to ask.

"You're saying I should hurt him deliberately, and act like it's normal." I said quietly, keeping my rage down. I was so so angry.

"I know how it sounds but really, you have to do it. It'll save us all in the end." Brianna said, trying to convince herself. I wasn't buying it. I'd be hurting my best friend, and he may never forgive me.

"Save us from what?" I asked curiously. I really wanted to know why it was so important to break Dean. It wasn't fair.

"You'll see. Remember, nothing is ever fair. He'll soon be here. Remember." Brianna said as though reading my thoughts. Then she walked away. Brian was the victim here. I'd have to kiss him.

But if it would save Dean, I wouldn't mind if he hated me. I'd do it for him.