Your Not So Average Nerd

Chapter 2.

I don't say a word the whole car ride home. I just sit there and stare out the back window. There was no way that I was going to drive home after the squirrel incident. I don't say anything when we get home either.

Running straight to the basement, I blast my favorite radio station and practice. Sound of Madness by Shinedown was playing when I turned on the radio. It's one of those songs that's absolutely perfect to have playing while taking your anger out on a punching bag. I usually warm up this way before practicing. What I really love to do is taekwondo. I'm newly a black belt as of two months ago.

That was probably the only good thing that happened to me in October. Other than that, there was nothing but disappointment.

I wasn't always the super quiet nerd. Well, I was always a nerd don't get me wrong there. But, I at least used to talk to more than just my brothers. Now it's even hard to talk to Greg since he's always hanging around his gaming buddies.

I've given up talking to people when their other friends are around. I always seem to get lost in the crowd. So I've taken to only talking to Greg or Kelly and Phil when no one else is around. It's safer that way. If something private slips out of my mouth, then at least only people I trust and care about will hear it.

I guess you can say that I have trust issues, but there's good reason for it. Everyone who knows the full story, knows that I've built up these walls for a reason.

Two months ago wasn't exactly the best time in the lives of any of the O'Connell children. I think I guess I just took it the hardest. I think there's good reason for it. The story goes back to October 3rd, a day that I will never forget a single detail of...

"William Rhyse O'Connell!!!! Give me back my phone!" I screamed while chasing Will into the basement. He loves to take my phone out of my room while I'm in the shower. Don't ask me where the fun is in that, but my brothers sure love it. It was almost noon on a Saturday, after finishing practice for the day I didn't want to do anything but hang out with my older brothers.

I picked up a pool noodle on the way down the stair and began to swing. When that did not work, I jumped on his back and tickled him until he feel to the ground. My brothers always seem to run around without shirts on. It made for a much easier tickling target since no fabric would get in the way.

I pulled my phone out of his grasp and made a break for it. Since it was broad daylight, my parents would both be working until at least eight at night. Not that any of us were complaining, my parents screaming at each wasn't something I wanted to hear all day.

I stopped short as I reached the top of the stairs. While running, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, Chris standing in the kitchen. He looked as if he was almost frozen. His attention was focused on something on the counter top. The look on his face scared me.

Was it fear? Hate? Nervousness?

I really could not tell, and the thing about Chris is his emotions are written so clearly on his face. He had this scowl when he was angry to the point where anyone from a mile away would know not to cross him. But this emotion was just impossible to read.

That cannot be a good sign.

Making a move to see what was wrong, Will crashed into me full speed. Lying on top of me from the collision, "Why the hell did you stop geek?"

I pushed him off of me without saying a word and walked back down the stairs towards a motionless Chris. Will followed watching with confusion on his face. Following Chris's gaze. I gasped as I realized what he was staring at. It probably looked as though the three of us were terrified of the counter coming to life and eating us.