Chapter One

Saturday 7th June - 23:35

Theodore pulled into his uncle’s driveway, steadily bringing his car to a stop. He peered through the inky blackness towards the palatial front porch beyond, carefully scanning the spotless lattice windows for any sign of life, but there was nothing. It was almost midnight, afterall. Surely everyone would be asleep by now?

Thinking the coast clear, the young man shut off the shuddering engine of his ramshackle red 2005 volvo and stepped out carefully onto the patio. He tiptoed cautiously up to the imposing black front door, sneering at the sight of the tacky lion’s head door knocker. The eighteen year old would have rather been anywhere else. Hell, he’d have rather spent the night in the town’s dingiest dankest motel than have to endure the awkward breakfast scene surely awaiting him in the morning - but as things stood he had no choice. School was out, and he was skint.

The teen lifted up the edge of the flower pot, feeling blindly around for the spare key he knew his uncle always kept there - or at least he used to. Throughout his whole four years at Holyoke Academy, Theodore hadn’t so much as dropped in on his Uncle Rob for tea - let alone allow Mom to rope him in to one of his extravagant holiday get-togethers. Why should he? Whatever she said, it was clear he wasn’t welcome. If Mom wanted him to be part of some big happy ideal family, she shouldn’t have sent him packing to boarding school.

Where the hell was the key?

Frustrated, Thedore shifted down onto his knees and started digging around in his pockets for his phone, only to be met with a loud crack as the flower pot teetered over and smashed against the paving stones.

“SHIT!” He exclaimed at the top of his lungs, trying to prop the flower pot back up again - but only succeeding in covering his white school uniform shirt in dirty black soil stains. Suddenly, the porch light flickered on. A moment later, the door swung open, his mother standing over him in her dressing gown with her arms firmly crossed and a disappointed frown fresh on her lips.

“Teddy…” she sighed, looking down in bewilderment at her son. A slender boy, the teen had always come across as a little younger than his true age, but in that moment Theodore’s messily swept back sandy brown curls, guilty big blue eyes, and soiled school shirt made the supposedly mature elite music school graduate look more like any other naughty school boy. “What on earth do you think you are doing?” his mother scolded him.

“Don’t call me Teddy…” Theodore growled, still floundering around trying to balance the half-broken flower pot. “I was looking for the damn key.”

His mother tutted. “You know how I feel about cursing.” she lectured. “Look at you, you’re filthy!”

“I told you!” Theodore snapped. “I was looking for the key. Doesn’t he keep it in the fucking…” A single glare from his mother made the boy lose his nerve. He started over. “Urgh - I mean, doesn’t he keep it in the flower pot anymore?”

“There’s a smart lock.” Mom explained, indicating a small panel to the side of the door. “It’s fingerprint activated. There’s a camera too.” She allowed herself just the tiniest of smirks as Theodore finally got to his feet, trying to wipe himself down but only spreading the dirt to his gray khakis too. “I’m sure your cousins would be very amused to see the full video of your little flower pot adventure?”

“I’m not in the mood, Mom.” Theodore whined.

“Well I certainly am,” his mother said. “Just where were you?”

“Where was I when?” Theodore said knowing full well what his mother was asking about. His Mother gave an eye roll before setting a withering stare on Theodore.

“The graduation ceremony,” his mother said. “The entire family was there to see you and what? You couldn't be bothered to show up?”

“Please,” Theodore said with a derisive click of his tongue. “They were there to see Jessica - not me.”

That seemed to be all the defense Theodore felt he needed. After all, it was the truth. Jessica was Theodore's cousin, they were the same age and had attended Holyoke academy together. Theodore had spent a lifetime of being compared to her and she to him, each of their achievements held up to one another as if it had been some sort of competition. It wasn’t like there was any bad blood between the two of them, yet the years of constantly being compared to another hadn't exactly brought them close. Not to mention, as Theodore saw it, she had the edge on him.

“We were there to see both of you,” his mother said, a weary fatigue in her tone. This wasn’t the first time this conversation had played out.

“She was the one who sent out the invitation,” Theodore countered.

That had always been Jessica's way. Over his time at the academy, Theodore had taken his studies seriously enough. He had made great strides in his mastery of the violin, his chosen instrument of study, and he had even garnered himself some praise for it by the teaching staff. All in all, Theodore did have a genuine love for it and it was perhaps the only thing that gave him any pleasure at school. It was a welcome reprieve from all of the misery that accompanied it, everything from bullies to Theodore's own seething resentment at having to be there in the first place.

Unlike Jessica who had been eager to invite her own family to recitals, Theodore's own mother had only been to a few. Theodore had been apt to keep them secret from her. She had only ever showed up on the occasion that Jessica had let slip that they were happening at all. That suited Theodore just fine.His mother had made her choice, and it was clear to Theodore what that choice had been. He knew she didn’t care about him - not really. No matter what she said.

She had sent him off to boarding school to get him out of her hair. All so she could focus her attention on her youngest son Charlie, the apparent golden child. The one she really cared about..

“I just don't understand why you are like this,” his mother sighed. “I've only ever wanted to support you, but you won't let me,”

“Save it,” Theodore said, issuing a curt wave of his hand. He didn't want to hear her platitudes, he had heard them enough over the years. His mother looked at him with a pitiful look which made Theodore feel just a tinge of guilt - yet not enough to change his demeanor.

“It's late,” his mother said after a long silence. “Maybe it's best if we all just go to sleep.”

Theodore only nodded. He and his mother both knew that dragging out the conversation any longer would only serve to set them both off into a full blown argument - a mainstay of how all their interactions ended.

Theodore followed his mother into the house. “You're bunking with your brother tonight,”

“Greeeat,” Theodore said, a melodramatic glowerplaying across his face.

His mother looked like she might launch into yet another airing of grievances, but Theodore didn’t allow her the opportunity - kicking off his shoes and retreating up the stairs. He knew the way. Theodore had stayed at Uncle Rob’s place enough times as a kid that he’d practically had his own bedroom at the place. At least it had been his own until Charlie came along.

He roughly pushed open the door and flicked on the lamp. Despite the late hour, the argument with his mother had left Theodore in such a state that it didn’t even occur to him that his little brother might already be asleep. If he was honest, he did feel a little bad when he saw the yawning ten-year-old’s golden mop-head peeking out from beneath his comforter - tired blue eyes identical to his own wincing at the sudden bright light.

“You’re back…” Charlie yawned, sitting up fully in his bed. He was wearing a bright green minecraft t-shirt, the rest of his outfit for the day folded up neatly on the dresser beside him. He managed a weak smile. “Where were you?”

“What do you care?” Theodore snapped back, stripping off his khakis and flinging them uncaringly on the ground at the foot of his own bed.

“I dunno…I wanted to see you.” Charlie admitted innocently. He gave a few disorientated blinks, peering at the time displayed on his digital clock by the dresser and then back to Theodore. He narrowed his thin blond eyebrows in suspicion. “Why are you covered in dirt?” he questioned.

“Don’t you know when to shut up?” Theodore growled cruelly. Finished unbuttoning his soiled shirt, he balled it up and threw it directly in Charlie’s face.

“Hey!” Charlie objected in a whine, desperately deflecting the sweaty disgusting garment. He showed a disappointed betrayed pout. “What’s wrong with you?” he demanded.

“Huh?” Theodore responded, a little taken off guard by the seriousness of his little brother’s tone.

“You never come home.” Charlie went on. “And if you do, you’re always angry at me. Or fighting with Mom. Or…throwing a tantrum!” he accused.

“Oh jeez…” Thedore dismissed, rolling his eyes. Now dressed just in his boxers, he sat down on his bed, starting to get under the covers. “Listen. Mom just gets on my nerves sometimes. You’ll understand when you're more mature.” he told him condescendingly.

“You always say that.” Charlie complained. “But you’re like the least mature person I know! You’re supposed to be my big brother, but you act more like a big baby! I wish…I wish you’d just act your age!”

Theodore snorted in amusement. The kid sounded like a mix between a kindergartener throwing taunts on the playground, and his Mom. “Just shut it, okay? The last thing I need is another lecture.” he complained. And with that, Theodore rolled over, closed his eyes, and instantly fell into a deep exhausted sleep.