Friday rolled around pretty quick which was good as I had been looking forward to the weekend. Jack and I would be working on cleaning the arcade and making sure the old unused games were presentable enough for sale. I already had good offers on most of the games but the bid was still on so I was waiting for the best offers before I asked Jack to conclude the sale.

I was walking back from the library after lunch when I heard the unmistakable voice of Matthew around the corner of the hallway I was on. I had been avoiding him all week and I wasn't about to ruin a good streak so I turned around so as to avoid running into him. I didn't get very far when I recognized the person he was talking to or more like shouting at as none other than his twin Matthias. I stopped when the shouting got louder and I heard a body being slammed against the wall and my name being mentioned amidst their screaming match. I turned around and approached them trying to be as quiet as possible. I stopped just around the corner and peeked to see what they were doing.

Matthew had Matthias pinned against the wall, one arm on his neck and the other on his stomach. I knew the brothers had bad blood but to fight in school was taking it too far. Matthew looked stronger than Matthias but it didn't mean the nerd looked helpless. It was more like he just wanted his brother to leave him alone already.

"I fucking warned you to stay away from her, now I see you two all chummy around school. Why can't you just listen to me for once in your miserable life?"Matthew yelled shoving his brother harder against the wall.

Matthias winced but didn't react any further. Why was he allowing his twin to harass him like that?

I put two and two together and realized that I was the she in question as Matthias didn't really associate with anyone else around the school, not that I knew of anyway. Matthew didn't own me and I wasn't getting chummy with Matthias or anyone to begin with. Ever since Matthias and I had the talk to be civil around each other, I said hello to him at school whenever we ran into each other. He always acknowledged me with a nod or just a simple hello. It's not like I made out with him during lunch or at the back of the library.

"I swear to God Matthias if I see you anywhere near her again I will....." Matthew threatened and I just had to step in before he took it too far.

"Will what?!"I asked stepping away from my hiding spot so they could both seem me.

Matthew immediately let go off his brother, straightening his clothes as he tried to look all innocent. Matthias didn't even move but his eyes were on me probably anticipating my every move.

"Hi Willow, didn't see you there."Matthew chuckled nervously.

"Of course not, otherwise you wouldn't be threatening your brother to stay away from me. What gave you the right anyway? I'm not yours, I don't belong to anyone but me."I said taking slow careful steps towards them.

"It's nothing like that, you see...." Matthew cut in trying to defend himself.

I got close enough for us to be standing toe to toe so that I was looking up at him. He looked a little bit scared and he had every reason to be because if there was one thing I hated it was bullies. They were among the worst scum of people on earth.

"No you listen here Matthew jackass dickhead or whatever your name is, I don't care about whatever feud you two brothers had before I came into the picture, that was between the both of you. What I care about is when you hurt and bully someone in my name. I am not yours Matthew and never will be. I'd rather eat my own shit and wash it down with my pee than date a bully like you. I don't like you and never will , so you will turn around right now and walk away or else I will say you tried to force yourself on me. It might not be true but it will ruin your reputation and we both know you care a great deal about that."I warned feeling myself get angry the more he stood in my presence.

Matthew looked both angry and embarrassed that a girl had told him off. He raised his hand, fist clenched as if he wanted to hit me but Matthias jumped between us blocking me from his brothers wrath. Matthew changed his mind about starting another fight so he just pointed a shaking finger at the both of us, his jaw clenched in anger.

"You two deserve each other."Matthew gritted out spitting at our feet.

He turned around and walked away just like I had asked him to.

"Oh and Matthew if you dare go after Matthias at home, I will find out, trust me and I'll still make good on my threat."I yelled after him.

He didn't even turn around, just raised his middle finger at us before disappearing around the corner.

I stepped around Matthias and turned to face him. He looked down at me with an emotion on his face that I couldn't quite decipher. Was it awe, gratitude, confusion or dislike?

"I'll take a simple thank you as payment."I said deciding to speak first to cut past the awkwardness.

"For what?"He asked his tone cold with a hint of irritation.

"I just told off your mean bad bully of a brother for you."I replied expecting him to be a little more grateful than he sounded.

"You didn't do anything but make things worse."Matthias whispered through gritted teeth.

"I don't think so, I know idiots like your brother, he's too scared of what my accusation can do to his reputation for him to try anything."I explained.

I refused to feel guilty for actually stepping in. Matthias was not going to get bullied because of me while I just stood aside quietly and watched.

"I guess I should say thank you too for stepping in the way before he hit me. I can handle myself most of the time but punches hurt like hell."I expressed trying to lighten the mood but it didn't work.

He glared at me harder so I took a step back just in case he had a temper like his brother. Matthias didn't look like the violent type but you could never be too careful. Matthew on the other hand just made me hate him more from the fact that he just tried to hit me. I had told myself that I would stay away from both brothers but it seemed like the harder I tried the more fate tried to being us closer together. Well fuck fate because I didn't want to be close to either of the twins.

"You know what?! Here you go and please stay away from me. I don't need you to defend me."Matthias declared as he opened his bag and shoved a piece of paper into my hand.

"Matthias, I was just trying to help."I tried to explain.

"You didn't help shit and its Henry. Call me Matthias once again and I swear to God...."He cussed glaring at me.

I'd never seen him look so angry before. Looks like he really did hate that name.

"Sorry, Henry it is."I corrected quickly before he got angrier.

He huffed at me before turning around and leaving me standing on my own in the hallway. I unfolded the paper he had given me and it was the poster I had designed for the arcade only better. He had made the simple design I had given him into something exemplary.

"Thank you."I whispered to myself because he was long gone.

Gathering my thoughts after that weird interaction I walked to the lockers to get the books for my afternoon classes. I didn't want to believe that I had made things harder for Matthias, sorry Henry. I didn't like the way his brother treated him so I had only hoped to help but Henry saying I had made things worse made me feel bad. It only made me want to interfere more but if I did that then Henry would just get angrier and that was the last thing I wanted.

My first afternoon class was Math, the one I shared with Matthew. He glared at me the moment he stepped inside the class. If he had expected me to cower back then he was greatly mistaken because I glared back. I was used to dealing with bullies so he was no threat. I just hoped he took me seriously and would leave Henry alone. I was serious about my threat because if I found out that Matthew messed with Henry then I would do some damage to him that he would not like.

When I got to the arcade later that afternoon I was tired both physically and emotionally. I passed by the comic book stand to say hello to Charlie before making my way behind the counter where Jack was.

"Rough day?"Jack asked when he looked at me.

"You have no idea."I groaned setting my bag down.

"High school can do that to you, it's why I don't miss those days."Jack sympathized.

"I didn't know the God of Thunder went to highschool."I replied with a cheeky grin.

"Ha ha ha. Make fun all you want but I will tell you one thing, as much as high school is brutal it does teach you life lessons so don't take it too hard. It's also your last year so take courage in that."Jack explained.

"Thanks Jack."I said with a grateful smile.

Reaching into my bag, I retrieved the poster Henry had given me and passed it to Jack.

"Wow, you guys did a really great job on this. So what's the next step?"He asked staring at it in awe.

"Thanks it was a team effort. Now all we need to do it make as many copies as we can and plaster them all over town."I answered.

"I have a printer at the back so I'll make all the copies that we need."Jack replied.

"Great."I cheered sliding off my stool.

"Where are you off to?"Jack asked as he eyed me curiously.

"To beat another one of Henry's high scores."

"You two will break my machines with the war you have going on."Jack commented with a chuckle.

All week I had taken it upon myself to beat all of Henry's high scores. He did the same so it was a battle that no one had won yet.

"No we won't but speaking of Henry, how long have you known him?"I inquired wanting to know more about the mysterious twin.

He didn't like talking about himself so I had to find another way of getting information about him.

"Someone has a crush."Jack said in a sing song voice making me laugh.

"Nothing like that, just trying to gain tactical advantage by learning more about the enemy."I replied but Jack was having none of it.

"Sure kid, whatever floats your boat."

"So are you going to tell me anything of value?"I asked Jack.

"There's not much to tell, I've known Henry since he was about ten, that's when he had his brother started coming here. After a while, Matthew stopped coming but Henry has always been a regular customer. He's a quiet geeky kid who loves video games."Jack explained.

"Has he always been that quiet and reserved?"

"I feel like I'm betraying Henry by talking about him when he's not around."

"You shouldn't as long as what you're telling me is not personal information."I encouraged wanting to know more.

"Okay fine. Henry is a good kid, the only one in his family who isn't rotten to the core. He keeps to himself because his twin Matthew already shines in the spotlight enough for the both of them. He wasn't always that reserved but after a while of living in his brothers shadow he sort of blended into the darkness and disappeared."Jack expounded.

I nodded in understanding as I'd already guessed most of what Jack was telling me. I always avoided judging anyone before I really knew them but something about the Brown's never sat right with me from the moment I met them. I still didn't know what to think of Henry but so far all I was seeing was a damaged kid with a messed up family just like me.

"Thanks Jack." I said to which Jack responded with a simple nod.

Instead of beating Henry's high score like I'd said I would I decided to start cleaning up instead. I was too preoccupied to concentrate on a game anyway. I still had no idea what to with the Henry situation so I would just let time dictate the terms of our relationship. As long as he didn't compromise my plans of leaving after senior year, I wouldn't think too much about it. Like clockwork Henry came to the arcade at his usual time but we avoided each other. It was for the best anyway as I didn't know what to do about him yet.

Charlie and I got home later that evening to find my mom waiting for us in the living room. It was the first time we were seeing her all week yet we lived in the same house. She didn't even care if we were alive, if we ate well or went to school. She only cared about herself and as much as I tried not to let her ignorance get to us, it hurt sometimes. Everyone deserved a caring and loving mother, but Charlie and I were blessed with a selfish one instead.

"I thought school let out at three. Where have you been for all those hours?"She demanded in a scolding tone.

"Not that you actually care but I got an after school job."I replied.

I really wasn't in the mood to deal with her but she seemed to have an agenda in mind.

"Don't you use that tone on me young lady."She yelled.

I didn't bother defending myself so I just gave her a blank look in reply.

"I don't have the time for this."She huffed.

"Neither do we."I muttered under my breath.

"I'm hosting guests tomorrow and I want you both out of the house."She declared.

"Okay."I replied shortly.

We weren't even going to be at the house in the first place so why bother arguing with her. It was no secret that my mom was ashamed of us. If she could have her way, she would have put us both up for adoption but I would never let that happen. Charlie and I would never be separated for as long as I could do something about it.

My mother gave us one last glare before she turned on her heel and left us alone. Taking deep breaths to calm myself I plastered on a smile for Charlie's sake.

"So bud, what do you want for dinner?"I asked as I wheeled him towards the kitchen.

"Mac and cheese."He answered.

"Coming right up."

In as much as our lives were messed up, I tried doing right by Charlie so he would have a good upbringing and not take after any of our parents. For him I would go to the ends of the world.