HATED

Nicolae is walking down the hall talking to his friends when a hand grabs his wrist and yanks him into a dark room. He hears the lock click as light floods the room. Squinting his eyes from the sudden onslaught of light, he can’t see who dragged him in here.

“Come on man, this isn’t funny. Even as a joke this is going to far, let me out,” he says in annoyance.

“Joke? Why would I lock the both of us in here as a joke?”

Nicolae’s eyes fly open at the sound of that voice. He’d recognize that annoying voice anywhere. A fair skinned boy with curly, ginger hair stands in front of him with a smirk. His green eyes filled with hatred.

“Killian,” Nicolae says with barely controlled rage.

“Nicolae.”

“What do you want with me? I see you enough outside of school so why do I have to see your smirking face right now?”

“You think I want to see you during school either? I’d rather study then be in here with you,” he says scoffing.

“Then why did you lock us in this fucking closest?” Nicolae shouts. He slams his hand on a shelf stirring up dust as spray cans fall over with a clatter. Some roll off the shelf falling to the floor by their feet. Killian looks down at the spray cans before sighing and raising his head.

“One of my friends bet twenty bucks that I couldn’t drag you into a closest then stay in here with you for five minutes.” He leans against the door crossing his arms. “Although the door locking was not part of the plan.”

“And, auntie, wonders why I can’t stand you. Get off the door, I’m leaving.”

“Um, did you forgot the part where I mentioned the door locked?” His eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Don’t you remember how we always snuck out when, auntie, put us on lockdown? We managed to get out because I could pick locks. It was the only useful thing I learned from my old man.” Nicolae starts digging through his bag.

“Oh, right. It’s been so long that I forgot you could do that. Can’t let you do that though, I got twenty bucks on the line. Sorry man,” Killian says that, but he doesn’t look the least bit sorry.

He drops his bag glaring at Killian. “This is so typical of you. Never caring what the other thinks, only doing what you want. See, this is why I couldn’t stand hanging out with you. I was always dragged around by you, caught up in your every whim.” The walls feel too close. The space too small. He can hear Killian breathing and feel his breath as it touches his skin.

Killian chuckles. “That’s why you hate me, because I forced you to hang out with me only doing what I wanted? Wow, and here I thought you had a legitimate reason for hating me.”

Nicolae laughs in disbelief. “You think that’s the only reason I hate you? You ruined my life. I was doing just fine before you and your family came into the picture. I didn’t need any of you.”

“Without my, father, you’d still be in those streets, leading a wretched life like your dads. We gave you a better life, yet you hate us with every fiber of your being. We rescued you and gave you a life worth living, why can’t you see that?” Killian asks flailing his arms. His hand hits the bottom of a shelf, causing more dust to fly through the air and cleaning products to fall. He rubs his hand wincing.

Dust floats in the small space between them. They both cough from all the dust. With tears glistening in his eyes, Nicolae looks up at the flickering light.

“You say you rescued me yet I’m still drowning. Still leading a life like my old mans. Pretending to be someone I’m not. Leaving me in the streets would’ve been the better option for everyone. At least that way I wouldn’t have a cousin who can’t understand how others feel yet forces his own feelings onto them.”

“I’m not forcing my feelings onto you. I just don’t understand why you hate the life we gave you, why you hate me. I never did anything to you; all I’ve ever done was try to be a good cousin!” Killian shouts the last few words. His cheeks flush red with anger. He grabs Nicolae’s collar pulling him close, forcing him look at him as his breath comes out in rasps.

“You’re right. You were just trying to be a good cousin, but I couldn’t stand that. I couldn’t stand your smile, your eyes that lit up when you saw me, your kind words, and actions. I hated it all. Every word you spoke, every action you took, every time you smiled, it felt fake. Everything you showed me felt forced. I hated you!” His voice rose to a shout as he spoke. His body trembles in panic. He has to get out of here, the walls are closing in and if he stays here any longer, he’ll be trap. Like he always has been.

Killian stands there in silence, staring at Nicolae in shock. The light overhead flickers. Sounds of students chattering can be heard through the door. A bell rings signaling the start of class. The chatter of students slowly disappears. Nicolae sighs.

“Move, I’m tired and we have to get to class.” He removes Killian’s hands from his collar before pushing him away and starts to pick the lock. A few seconds later they’re free. He picks up his bag and starts to leave the small space behind.

“I’m sorry. I... I never realized,” Killian says, actually sounding sorry for once.

He freezes before saying, “It’s to late for sorry, but… thanks.” He walks away leaving Killian behind, as he wished they did to him all those years ago.

Lauren Benson is from a small town in Florida. In their free time they like to read comics and novels or write short stories.