Rottinggggg

"Why can't he do it?!" His arm outstretched to the younger boy on the couch. Matt had just turned 13 roughly a week ago and was riding the "birthday boy" privilege for a while now. It wasn't lost on Ryan that his dad was showing Matt extra favor because of his mom, Mr.Magee's new wife. Jess was sitting next to Matt and pulled him close.

"We're so cozy!" She had this peculiar drawl to her voice. Seduction, Ryan recognized. He'd heard that tone from the many women that have sat there before. Ryan smirked knowing this information in spite of Jess. She wasn't aware of his father's promiscuity yet. His smirk fell quickly after his father grumbled and gave him a stern look. David made sure not to be too rough on Ryan in front of Jess. Ryan was told to hide the bruises on his body. If anyone asks, he just got into a fight at school. That's all. Ryan knew better than to talk back to his dad, so without another word (or breath for that matter), he took the trash out.

Just before heading back in, he slumped on the curb. It was stifling in there. Fake haughty laughter and an annoying new younger brother who always got what he wanted. He rolled his eyes. You'd think maybe there'd be a mutual solidarity between them, but Matt was satisfied being doted on even at the expense of Ryan. It made him want to punch the kid. He couldn't, of course, but man, he wanted to. Ryan whipped out a stale Marlboro he'd found in his dad's car and lit up. He doesn't cough anymore when he smokes now and that gave him some weird sense of manly pride.

"You shouldn't be smoking." Ryan jumped. He hadn't heard Matt come down the stairs. The boy was barefoot and covered in lipstick kisses. He seemed to be wearing some himself.

"The fuck are you wearing?! You look like a damn sissy." Ryan hadn't realized that Matt was already quite teary-eyed when he sat down next to him on the curb. There was a small twinge of guilt in his chest after realizing Matt was probably often ridiculed as such, but there was something else bubbling up in his stomach. Some sort of twisted amusement at Matt's humiliation. And he didn't look hideous with it on...