Page 14 of Poetry of Flowers

“Why? What happened during the summer?” I raised an eyebrow as I turned from Kayden and Theo to my cousin again.

“Oh nothing.”

“Autumn.”

“You know, we got drunk and somehow woke up next to each other in the same bed, butt-ass naked and the room smelled of sweat and... well, sex.”

“You two slept with each other?!”

Never in a billion years would I have imagined that.

From Autumn, yes, but Theo? He never really showed an interest in anyone, not even physical. Autumn was totally different, she liked physical contact, physical love.

“Shh! You want a megaphone or what?” she shot me an angry look.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but you… did it? With Theodore Weston?”

“Yes, you don’t believe me, little cousin?”

“No, of course I believe you, it just sounds like a story from a movie or something like that. Not like our Theo,” I mumbled as I heard the bell ring for our first period.

“It’s weird, I know. But it happened, and you know what’s the worst. Theo acts like it never happened. Like everything is normal between us.” Autumn grabbed her backpack and locked her arm with mine. “It’s back to the old hatred between us, and I don’t understand why.”

I lay my head on her shoulder as we walked in the building. “Come on, he doesn’t hate you. It’s Theo, he has problems with difficult situations and emotions. He shows affection differently.” I tried to make her feel better, but she just shrugged.

“Let’s just get this day over with, and then you come over to my house for a girl’s afternoon.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

I nod with a small smile, “Yes, Remy is staying with his friends until the evening, and Dad is at work. We have the house to ourselves.”

“You have no idea how much I love you, little cousin,” she grinned.

ChapterFour

KAYDEN

“Can I come over to your house later?” Theo asked me as we walk past the basketball field. Neither of us played. We preferred music. Still, I liked to keep fit. Sometimes I ran with Tillie at night when she couldn’t sleep. I always had my phone on, just so I could get her calls at night. Grand Lee was a safe city, but I still didn’t want her on her own at night.

“Yeah, sure man, but why?”

“My mom asked me to go with her to my brother’s musical, and I’m not in the mood for thirty children performing Hercules,” Theo explained as he bit in his apple. His dirty blond hair fell on his forehead and over his glasses.

“Timmy really does theater class?” I asked.

“Yes, and it’s my new hell, he’s running around the house, singing his parts off-key. I’m considering moving out into our garage. Mom just finds him adorable, wants me to encourage my brother’s newtalent. Talent shouldn’t sound like nails on a blackboard.”

Laughing, I walked over to my car. “Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?”

Theo wasn’t good at being kind. He always said exactly what he thought and never felt ashamed or embarrassed.

“Not at all, I’m the one suffering in my home. I would prefer a cat or a dog instead of my brother. They are quieter and easier to care for.”

We both got into my car while I shook my head laughing.

“Are you laughing at my misery, Kidd?” Theo asked as he pushed his glasses back up his nose, looking puzzled.

He wasn’t great at reading other people’s emotions or understanding jokes. Same for sarcasm. He didn’t understand it, and we had to explain it to him every time.

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