Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 24

(Hendrix's POV)

My dorm room stinked.

So bad.

It stinked of uneaten pizza and male testosterone.

My roommates were lounging on the couch, surrounded by empty pizza boxes and video game controllers.

It had been a while since I'd hung out with my roommates. But after everything that had happened, I'd withdrawn from them, unsure of how to face them again.

Now, I was trying to make an effort to reconnect. I didn't want anyone to become suspicious of me, to notice that I'd changed. So, I joined in on their conversations, relating to their stories about sexual escapades and wild parties. It felt forced, but I knew it was necessary.

Eddie was his usual self, cracking crude jokes and making us all laugh. Thomas was quieter than usual, his eyes fixed on his phone, only looking up once in a while to comment. Bundah was his usual careless self, speaking over everyone.

I listened, nodding and laughing along with them. But my mind was not there. It was exhausting to pretend to be the same old Hendrix while secretly struggling with my own demons. But, I needed to keep up the ruse to avoid suspicions since I was going in head on in my investigation of the center.

Eddie, the self-proclaimed comic king, was telling us with a story of his latest sexual conquest. It was disgusting at best, but I was trying my hardest to blend in with the guys as before.

"I'm telling you, guys, she was a total wildcat," Eddie said, a sly grin was on his face. "She wanted me so bad. I had to wrestle her to the ground just to get her to calm down."

his nose in disgust and shook his head. "You're such a dog, Eddie." He seemed not to believe that any girl would want someone like Eddie but I believe his blue balls was what got him here in the first place...well same as

his voice laced with sarcasm. "Nothing says 'stud' like

they high fived each

I exchanged a look and

I was back to hanging out with my friends, carefree and

up the act. It felt like I was living a double life... like I was undercover. As the night approached, I found that I felt more and more disconnected from my roommates. They were still the same, but I had changed. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was just going through the motions, pretending to

keep up the act. I couldn't let anyone become suspicious of me, not now. So, I continued

up

he asked, his voice low and concerned. "You've seemed a little off

"Whaat?" I stressed, "I'm fine, I'm cool

but I could tell he didn't believe me. "If you ever need to talk,

the offer, but I knew I wouldn't confide in him. So, I just smiled and nodded,

....

(Angel's POV)

to focus on Dr. Nixon's lecture. Suddenly, Dr. Nixon looked at the door and her expression changed, and she smiled like she had been forced to. The smile in itself was a rare sight. Although it looked more like a grimace. The

our new superintendent, Dr. Joe," she said,

of a place like this. He began to make his way around the room, shaking hands as he asked for our names. When he got to me, I only said my first name, and he lingered giving me

blue eyes looked like he was staring deep into my soul. What was with tone? I was pretty sure someone had

and he walked on to the next person, not without giving me one last

seemed to cower at the sight of him, her eyes cast downward as she nodded and smiled. It was a