The Town Plaza

Gemini

I been standing there with Jason longer than I should have, right behind Alex and his girlfriend doesn't even notice me. It wasn't long before I got tired of listening, so I swung my sword on my back since I had been leaning on it.

"You know Jason did eventually catch up with your dad, same as how I finally caught up with mine and slaughtered him like a cow." I said.

Alex

I follow Taylor out the door and we head off, walking anywhere and everywhere. Jason and his girl end up behind us, but we don't notice them until she speaks up. I stop in my tracks and turn around, looking between her and him.

"What?" I ask.

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Jason

I swallow at what Gemini says, not even thinking about talking with Alex about that yet. He waits for an explanation and I have no clue what to say. Yes, I slaughtered our father.

"For mom," I finally say, "You didn't know him, A. He was nothing like we imagined. Trust me. He deserved what he got. Mom deserved the peace."

He just stares at me, his eyes dull and lifeless as he does. I've never seen him so serious...

Taylor
I just stand there in shock. How could he do that? I look Alex to his brother. The look of confusion and devastation in his eyes is unbearable. Not thinking, I grip Alex’s hand and pull him away. “What are you doing?” He says. He does not pull away though.

“You are mad and confused. You need to calm down before you talk to him about this.” I say. He stands there in shock. I hug him. I wrap my arms around him and just stand there.

Alex

My own brother...

Taylor grips my hand before I can think and pulls me away from the two of them.

"What are you doing?" I ask, too shocked and mixed up inside to pull away.

"You are mad and confused. You need to calm down before you talk to him about this," I say.

We stop and I just stand there, looking at her. Before I can respond, she wraps her arms around me in an embrace. I don't know what to do, so I bring my arms back around her and close my eyes.

Taylor
His arms wrap around my waist and I lay my head on his shoulder. His chin rests on my shoulder and we just stand there. “I am so sorry this happened to you. This is a horrible situation that no one should have to go through.” I pull my head away and put my hand on his cheek. “I do not know why such a horrible thing happened to such an amazing person.” I say. I just called him amazing. Do I have a crush on Alex? That would not be bad. He is really sweet, funny and attractive.

Alex

I look at her, finding her hand against the side of my face somewhat comforting. Did she just call me amazing? Before I can get a big head about it, I lean in and kiss her. I don't let her go, needing something to keep me grounded.

Taylor
He leans in and kisses me. My eyes shut as he presses his lips against mine. He pulls away and looks at me. I smile at him and kiss him again. I was right, I do like him. We look at each other and smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I see his brother looking at us. I grab Alex’s hand and turn him in the other direction. He puts his arm around me as we walk.

Alex

I pull back once I figure out what's going on, only to find her smile and kiss me again. I flash a smile and relax, relieved. She likes me? We pull back once more and look at each other, smiling. She sees something and takes my hand, turning me in the other direction. Not wanting to know what she saw, I slip my arm around her shoulders and walk beside her.

"You...You're okay with this?" I ask, unsure.

I'm so used to being rejected, even this felt strange. Like walking on broken glass.

Taylor
“You… You’re okay with this.” He asks.
“Okay with you kissing me or you putting your arm around me?” I ask.
“Well both.” He says.
“Well,” I begin. We walk over to the bench and we sit down. “I am okay with you putting your arm around me, and I am definitely okay with you kissing me.” I say. “Are you okay with it?” I ask a little worried.

Alex

I flash a smile at her and sit at her side, my arm still around her.

"Well, I am okay with you putting your arm around me, and I am definitely okay with you kissing me," she says, "Are you okay with it?"

I easily notice the worry in her expression, which for some reason makes me want to hold her even closer and never let go.

"If you are," I say, "I am."

Taylor
I let out a sigh of relief. He smiles and puts his arm around me again and I lay my head on his shoulder. I look at the fountain we are sitting across from. The wind blows a gentle mist on us. It feels relaxing sitting here with him.
Things start to tense up and Alex’s brother comes over. Alex pulls me really close and holds me tight. It is not going to be a sweet sonversation.

Alex

She sighs of relief and I smile, wrapping my arm around her again. She lays her head against my shoulder and looks out to the fountain. I watch her, something peaceful about it all, until I see Jason, by himself, walking towards us. I tighten my grip on Taylor and tense, unknown emotion coursing through my veins. I look away from him and down, clenching my free fist.

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Jason

"I'll be right back," I whisper to Gemini, kissing the side of her face, "Why don't you find us a nice place in the park to talk? I'll be right there."

She kisses the side of my face before nodding and heading off. I watch her go before searching for Alex. My heart is shriveled in a vast amount of emotions, guilt and shame topping the list.

I had to do it, A. You didn't know what he'd done. You don't know how many other families he'd left behind just like us. He killed Mom. I couldn't just let that go.

I find him all cuddly with the girl by the fountain. He doesn't look happy to see me, not facing me at all.

"I need to talk with you, A," I say, awkwardly standing in front of the two, "Privately."

"Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Taylor," he responds, meeting my gaze, "But I really don't want to speak with you at all right now."

Taylor
“But I really don’t want to speak to you at all right now.” He says. I move closer to him. His brother scares me. He killed someone. My heart is blasting in my chest. His brother looks at me and I can feel my body shaking. What if he tries to hurt Alex?
“Please,” My voice is even shaky. “You being here right now is not good for anyone.” I say.

Alex

Taylor moves closer to me, frightened. She's afraid of my brother? I look up at Jason, wondering if what he did changed him. I noticed nothing before something was said...

"Please," Taylor says, her voice shaky, "You being here right now is not good for anyone."

Jason looks away, his jaw tightening. His body language expresses a mixture of hurt and frustration.

"Alex...I wasn't going to tell you like that," he says, "I...I wanted to have time to explain what happened. You didn't see him, what he did. You didn't see every one of your comrades slain before you by his."

He swallows and looks down.

"You didn't feel his death with the one you love standing right before you," he whispers, "You didn't die with her right there."

I just stare at him, unsure as to what he wants me to feel or say about that. Die? Yeah, and I'm a fluffy bunny...

Taylor
I see the expressions on both of their faces. Alex looks so confused and his brother looks so desperate for Alex to understand. I look from on to another. Alex just stares into open space while his brother explains to him what happened. His father killed his mother and his brother killed his father. Both of his parents are gone and all he has is his brother that killed his father. Is he going to lose his brother to? Before I know it, the sunsets and it is dark. Everyone just stares at each other and sits and silence.