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“Do you want to fight, little brother?” I asked. “I can arrange that.”

“What’s the matter, Asher?” He asked. “Are you upset that I’m better at hockey than you?”

I scoffed at his transparent inferiority complex.

“Please, I haven’t played in over a year, and I still outshine you.” I said. “Even your girlfriend is cheering for me. I saved what you ruined, after all.”

Our eyes locked as our competitive spirits fuelled the flames of rivalry and hatred. He smirked before slamming into me and shoved me against the barrier. He skated away, but I followed him with fierce determination. In the middle of the ice, we met in a thunderous collision; the impact sending us backward. Gloves dropped as I charged for him. The crowd’s bellows reached a deafening crescendo as we delivered punches. Every blow was a testament to our year-long rivalry. Our teammates rushed in, attempting to separate us, but our determination to harm each other was too strong. Blood trickled from our split lips, and bruises were forming on my already battered skin. Once the team separated us, they escorted us to the penalty box, but the glass failed to separate us from our intense glares.

24

“Someday you will find me.”

Champagne Supernova, Oasis

Josh

The tension hung heavy in the living room as our dad stood in front of us with his hands behind his back and a stern expression. His disappointment was palpable. Concern drenched my face, while Asher’s face etched with defiance.

“What is wrong with you two?” He asked, his voice a low rumble that echoed off the walls. “You couldn’t get along for one game?”

I shifted under our dad’s gaze, while Asher met it with a stubborn glare and a jaw set in arrogance. He pointed an accusatory finger in Asher’s direction.

“You may have cost your brother a chance at a scholarship because of your selfish actions,” Dad said, his voice rising with frustration. “There were scouts out there and you blew it for him.”

Asher clenched his fists, his anger simmered beneath the surface.

“My bad.” He said with indifference. “It’s been a while since I disappointed you. I figured I needed to step up.”

Dad’s features contorted into a mask of rage. His skin took on a red hue, as if his blood was literally boiling.

“You never fail at that, Asher,” Dad said, his words venomous. “It’s the only thing you have yet to fail at.”

Sweat beaded on Asher’s forehead as his eyes shifted into dark pools of anger. His muscles twisted like a spring, ready to snap. Without warning, he stood up and swept Dad’s paperwork off the desk with a violent swipe of his arm. His outburst hung in the air, suffocating me as if the room closed on us. He stomped out of the room with a scream of frustration before slamming the door so hard that Mom’s favourite vase fell to the floor and shattered into dust. Dad, not one to be outmatched, stormed out of the room and upstairs.

Sniffles echoed through the room. I turned and found Gracie in the doorway, her eyes wide with fear. I launched myself out of my seat and approached her, kneeling in front of her to wrap my arms around her quivering shoulders.

“It’s okay,” I said, my voice warm and reassuring. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

I held her as she buried her face against my chest, her tears soaked into the black fabric of my shirt.

“They fight all the time.” She said, her words muffled.

I placed a kiss on the top of her head and pulled her closer.

“They do.”

I don’t know what’s been going on with Asher, but it’s as if he’d morphed into a darker version of himself overnight. My twin had become nothing more than a stranger.

??

In the cozy corner of the cafe, I sat slumped over my coffee with my head in my hands. Sawyer sat across from me, her brows furrowed in concern as she reached over the table to grab my hand.

“What’s going through your mind?” She asked, her voice filled with gentleness.

I let out a heavy sigh, my shoulders sagging under the pressure.

“The scholarship,” I said. “It’s as good as gone.”