Ch 1: THE PAST

EASTON

July 2009—Crestview City

Have you ever hated a particular time of the year so much that you wished it never comes?

Well, I did.

I hated summer. I hated that time of the year, and every things that usually happens in my life, and around me, during that time of the year.

For a 12-year-old, and the only child of my parents, I hated that my parents always make it their responsibility to ruin every summer for me. And ever since I turned five, I had never seen summer the same again.

Ever.

I remembered when I was four, my parents had made it known that I would never have any siblings. I never really liked the idea of having someone else sharing my parents with me, but Mommy and Daddy must have thought I wanted siblings like my friend, Maria did.

But that was wrong.

I hated the idea of having someone else occupying the little space I had in my parents hearts.

Everything changed the summer I turned five. My Dad had brought home a stray, not like a stray animal but a stray human. Dad had told me the kid would be living with us for six months until they help find him his family.

I never really liked the idea, and didn't feel like going downstairs to see the stray that day, but mom had made it her role to dress me up in a fine tux and forced me downstairs to welcome the stray.

The stray was around my age, when he saw me, he had a bright smile plastered on his ugly face and introduced himself as my brother.

Brother?

That made me mad.

I never wanted no brother and the fact he had to call himself my brother made my hate for him grow deeper.

For the six months he lived with us, mom paraded him around me, she stopped giving me much of her attention and half of her love were directed at the stray.

I was more than happy the day I came back from school and found the stray gone. For the first time in six months, I was happy. But it only last for a few months when another summer came and Dad brought home another stray.

That was the beginning of my hate for summer. It didn't stop, the misery kept going and going every summer. It never stopped.

So you should know how I must be feeling right now when our housekeeper, Belinda, dressed me up in a neat tuxedo, getting me ready to welcome another stray into our house.

For the first time in seven years, I had almost believed there won't be any stray this summer because Dad always brought them every first week of July. But when we got to the second week and there wasn't no stray, I had almost believed that was the end of my misery but I should have known better to believe I could escape this summer without any ugly stray roaming freely in our house.

I got back from school just an hour ago to meet our housekeeper waiting for me at the front gate, telling me to quickly get in and get ready to welcome my new brother.

No. Not my brother.

It was just stray. You have to liked people before you call them brother. But I never liked any of the strays.

"Bel," I groaned out, struggling with my bowtie as I looked myself in the mirror.

Belinda, the 42-year-old housekeeper who never get tired of my whining turned to stare at me, flashing me her signature smile.

"Yes, Easton dear?" She smiled, brushing my curls out of my face.

I swallowed down nothing, picking on my fingers. "Is it possible to tell Dad to stop bringing stra..." I stopped myself before I could say that word out loud to ever loving Belinda.

"The kids? Is it possible to tell Dad to stop bringing them home?" I groaned out, pouting my lips.

Belinda smiled, shaking her head gently. "No, dear." She let out, squatting to my level. "What happened? Do you not like your brothers?"

That was the problem.

Those strays were not my brothers and they would never be. Just why did everyone kept calling them my brothers anyways?

Not like I would ever see them again.

"I don't know." I lied, frowning my face. "I just want to spend this summer with you guys, alone. Not with stranger."

"They're no longer a stranger to us once master brings them here. We should love them and care for them like a family." Belinda replied, brushing my hair with her fingers.

Family?

Really? Who in there right senses would bring stray home and calls them their family?

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.

Just then, I heard a honk outside our building and I realized the worst moment of my life was about to begin. For the next six months, I was going to share my house, my food, my clothes, my parents, and even my school with some ugly looking strays while I had to act like it didn't affect me one bit.

"Guess it's about time you go downstairs and welcome your brother, Easton dear." Belinda said with a smile, patting my shoulder as if that would make me feel better.

If only I could just close my eyes and the next six months would just go away, I would have done that.

"God." I sighed, staring at myself in the mirror, hoping I could get to manage a smile but I couldn't. "This is so annoying."

"Go now, Easton." Belinda called out my attention, she walked over to the door and opened it for me.

"As if you too won't change when tomorrow finally comes." I grumbled under my breath as I walked out of my bedroom.

Because yes, everyone of them, including Belinda would start focusing more on the new stray. Instead of me.

I freaking hated it!

Walking down the stairs, counting every steps I took towards the front door. My heart was racing in my chest and it felt like I was going to die.

Standing in front of the door, I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. The door clicked, and I prepared myself for what was about to happen as the door finally opened and Mom was the first person to step in.

"Easton," she nodded at me, that was her way of telling me to behave.

"Mom." I grumbled, clenching my fists as Dad walked in, together with our new stray.

All hate I had been harbouring for the new stray since I got back from school rolled down my body and slipped out of the window the moment my eyes landed on him.

Pale skin, long fingers, blonde hair, and golden eyes. He was a little bit taller than me, and also beautiful. But that wasn't the point.

Unlike the other strays that had ever walked through our door, this one right here was different. He didn't seem like he really wanted to be here. He looked sad, angry, pissed, and maybe... Furious?

He was different from the other strays.

Somehow, that made me smile. I was happy.

For the first time since I turned five, I was happy to share my space and everything I have with another kid... this stray.

Smiling, I closed the distance between us and stretched out my hand for a handshake. "Welcome. I am happy to have you here... Brother!"

I said it!

I really called a stray my brother without being forced to do it. I said it because I was willing to do so.

The kid remained still, he moved his eyes from my hand to my face, to my feet and back to my face again.

He seemed to be accessing me and I didn't know why. Was he scared? Or was he nervous? Did I intimidated him?

Slowly, he batted his long lashes that fanned his cheek bones as he did so. His lips parted slightly, and with a deep scowl on his face, he growled at me.

"Get your stupid hand out of my face before I break it!"

Stunned. I let my hand dropped to my side with my mouth hung open in shock.

What the hell just happened?!