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poorly kept secrets !
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GREGORY GOLDSTEIN has been friends with Brian Reynolds for as long as he could remember. Therefore, it's safe to say that he knows everything about the boy.
He knows how nervous he gets around people, as he could never maintain eye contact for more than five seconds, or talk to someone new without stuttering or fidgeting -( poor boy was sweating like a cornered nun when he had to make an announcement for their book club.)
He knows how clumsy he was because every time they get paired up for Chemistry he has to always be the one to hold the test tubes -( because Brian couldn't stop shaking and whisper that hydrochloric acid could melt the skin off your bones.)
He knows how willing he is to sacrifice himself for other because one time he got hit by a car for jumping in front of it to usher a kitten off the road, - ( Gregory had to visit him every day in the hospital to make sure he doesn't miss his lessons.)
He knows how much he likes to cry, whenever he feels overwhelmed. Not that it's a problem, -( only when that one time, where he tried defending Peter Parker from Flash Thompson and ended up crying before he could do anything, causing Michelle Jones to punch Flash in the face because she thought he had been picking on Brian. The four of them ended up in detention, and Brian couldn't stop apologizing to both Peter and Michelle.)
Despite all of this, Gregory had never once seen him as pathetic, or worse, some kind of burden. He never stood by him for the sole reason of pitying him. The last person who told him that he was only friends with him because he felt sorry, ended up with a bloody nose.
On the contrary of what people might think, he actually looks up to the Hufflepuff. -( He actually had a crush on him back in middle school, but he found out that his tastes lingered more to boys like Peter Parker, not that he would actually say it out loud.)
He looks up to how kind he is, despite his recklessness he never hesitates to give way to others. That's how they were friends in the first place, he remembered six-year-old Brian, - ( the boy with chubby cheeks and nervous babbling ) shoving his own sandwich in Gregory's hands when he saw him not bringing anything during lunch time, before proceeding to run away.
He found out that it was the only thing he had that day, but he gave it nonetheless to Gregory, the lonely boy down the block whose parents always fight, whose sister ran away from home and never looked back for him.
Brian didn't know all of this back then, but then again, it never mattered to Brian Reynolds if you were Gregory Goldstein or Flash Thompson, his heart was filled to the brim with understanding and forgiveness -( he couldn't imagine anyone who'd forgive Flash Thompson, but Brian did it in a heartbeat.)
Therefore, it's safe to say that he knows everything about him.
Including the fact that he knows that Brian is a terrible, horrible liar.
It didn't mean that he never lied before, it was just obvious enough to spot from a mile away. He tried lying about his age once in Costco -( the pet store) claiming that he was eighteen, just so he could buy the little hamster-( " I swear Greg, he's being picked on by the other hamsters, poor little guy needs someone to take him home.") sulking in the cage displayed by the window.
When it didn't work, Greg had to call his mom to come down all the way from work to the store to help two sixteen-year-old boys buy a hamster - ( it was a good thing that Miss.Goldstein was fond of Brian, if she wasn't she would've yelled at Gregory for such a childish request.)
It would have been embarrassing if Gregory actually cared about what people said, but he didn't. So he walked out of the place with a triumph smiling Brian -( who looked as if he was about to cry as he cradled ' Crookshanks' in his arms like a pebble.)
That was the last time he had lied to anyone, but Gregory was starting to suspect something odd when he started coming late to their book club meetings.
He was hardly every late, always five minutes early with one of the books on his lap. It was one of the rare moments that he could see Brian express himself effortlessly, confidence in his voice when he talked about ' How the Ministry of Magic should have helped them in the battle of Hogwarts.'
He doesn't try to make a fuss out of it, until Mia Han - ( a Ravenclaw who he thinks is there to just flirt with the pretty Gryffindor from Social Studies class.) pointed out the dark circles under his eyes.
A few days later he bumped into Marie Hyung - ( the pretty Gryffindor ) in one of the hallways, and they managed to strike up a conversation about Brian, who she added have been absent in cello practice for the past few days.
That was when Gregory know something was wrong.
So when Brian nearly fell out of his chair earlier this morning, during the announcements, he decided that it had something to do with the field trip.
But what could possibly link Brian to the International Wakanda Research Center in Oakland?
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" Brian, who's Shuri? "
Gregory watched as Brian's eyes widened, the glass of milk in his hands spilling all over his chest. He coughed a few times, and Gregory passed him a couple of tissues, eying him skeptically.
It was a ritual for them to hang out every Thursday evening, either in Gregory's place or in Brian's. Usually, they'll choose Brian's because Gregory doesn't want him to walk on his parents yelling at each other, although it happened before.
Brian's house is always empty. With his mom in the hospital ever since last April and no siblings, Brian was always alone.
Sometimes Miss Jackson would come over to accompany him, every once a week, but Brian was always wary of the old woman because she would always bring her cat with her. The fat tabby would always end up in his room, a few inches away from clawing at Crookshanks.
They would always have movie nights in the living room -( they can never decide whether to watch ' Prisoner of Azkaban ' or ' Goblet of Fire' since they both agree that it's equally one of the best movies of the series.)
But sometimes they would just stay in his room, with Brian practicing a new song to play to his mom on Saturdays and Gregory reading the new books he bought.
Gregory hadn't meant to snoop around, but he had caught an old box peeking out of his drawers. Instinctively he reached out for it, and the box, who was heavier than it looked, pushed itself out of the closet.
A plethora of letters spilled out of it like water, and Gregory raised one of them questioning at Brian, who was so red that he looked like a criminal caught red-handed.
" Dear Shuri, princess of Wakanda."
" Greg," He shot out of his chair,"No! "
But Gregory, who was on the track team, was faster than Brian,whose only form of exercise was running down the streets of Manhattan to catch his morning train.
He climbed on top of the bed, holding it out of the other boy's reach.
" You want to explain? " Gregory murmured, trying to sound polite, not wanting to cross a line, even if he was a bit upset that Brian was keeping something from him -( but then again everyone has secrets.)
Brian froze in horror, the color drained out of his face. But then his shoulders slumped, and he sighed in defeat.
" Alright, I'll tell you,"He rubbed the back of his neck, pleading," But please don't laugh, or, or make fun of me."
" I won't," Gregory assured, promised was more like it, because Brian Reynolds was his best friend for as long as he could remember, and best friends don't spill each other's poorly hidden secrets.
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Thank you for your support on this story ! I feel like crying honestly, all of you are so kind and Shuri is getting so much love ! She'll appear in the next chapter so don't worry, this one will be a further introduction of who Brian is.
I hope you like Gregory's point of view !
Comments and feedback , even constructive criticism are highly appreciated ! :)
- Alylah xx