The Gray Brothers: The Beginning

zy Then The

a

e last year of high school, and I was applyin

locker when Liz walke

seem happ

. Why should

s and graduat

t boyfr

I’m fine w

date until you were sixteen, an

ol found out about that stupid rule, and I did

and I were walking to class, Brian made his way towards us. My heart raced. He walk

was it. He would talk to me. The girl he had been with was a random girl. I opened my mou

My heart shattered into a million pieces. I had liked this boy for y

said, “He’s not all that. Plus, you c

kitty-corner from hot guys, it’s all they talk about. The

by Brian in the parking lot. He stood next to hi

njoy hanging

I stopped and

ssociating with the Gray boys

r guys s

se you’re on the football team do

on’t have a degree. Isn’t one of the

y of life, unlike you, who s

hat I won’t date someone like you. You’re nothing but a loser wh

s the face, which pissed him off, and he punc

ll, man?” One of hi

maintain my

ed my face. “That is only a taste. You’re

ee blood. Grabbing a shirt from my bag, I held it to my nose.

d the shirt to my nose. I pulled out of the school parking lot, dro

d off the car. I got out as Cayson tapped

saw me holding the b

that doesn’t seem

e walked over

ill holding the shirt to

He gestured at

o tell him the truth or cry in fron

e.” He reached for the s

not to let Nate tak

He pulled the shi

m f

Come on. Let’s ge

this argume

op

d to call Mom. The last ti

emember that was

rs, it wasn’t s

d inside. He had Lucille call

p over to help me with something. Yeah, sh

the bathroom as we mouth

ome when we get done.

woman lies mo

the toi

and cleaned my face. “So, do y

a blood

r. Trust me. My ma is

noti

irst aid kit back. He sat down and lo

p breath. “I

at me, not only

d I got mad and slapped him. Then he hit me and to

h his fists clenched

his hand and looked at him with pleading eyes. I kn

he touches you again, I’ll touc

r. My nose was bruising but not broken, and bruising

and into the kitchen. “Do you

ome on,” Lu

her into

uising until I got past m

think of

rheard your conver

re list

tive eavesdroppi

bed and let o

“People think low of my boys.

her a g

gave birth to them so I

hem. To hear people bash them makes

tell the boys, and they would ha

ighteen. They wo

he shrugged. I swear

er as I walked out of her bedroom and out of the house.

*

a

me ou

” I as

that he put his han

Cayso

boys will tak

?” We as

I want you to ta

he has

on’t start.” Sh

shook my head. She wen

zy,” Cays

nd me.” I let ou

*

I ran over to Patty’s car,

flashlight,”

turned it on, shined it underneath her

ath the car and got up. We

know about car

d badly. I swear Ma is

w?” Cayson smirk

Patty’s life woul