Page 114 of Pretty Broken Wings

I’m too tired for that shit. Plus, for an odd reason I can’t explain, the thought of pissing Raven off right now makes me feel… guilty.

Fucking alcohol. I need to stop drinking. Such a fucking buzzkill.

I take a step back, and when Raven storms past me, the guilt churns in my stomach, and I mutter, “Sorry about the animal crackers. I found them on your doorstep.”

I sense Raven freeze for a second. Then, she’s gone, disappearing down the hall.

Oh yeah. Definitely need to stop drinking. Who the hell did I just become? Gage?

Shaking myself out of it, I change, realizing that my stomach is growling, and I move to the kitchen for a snack. Once my head is in the fridge, I hear dishes clinking. I glance over to see a form that’s larger than Raven’s standing there.

I groan, “Cool. First tongue lashing by Tweedledee out of the way, now it’s time for Tweedledum.”

Only Gage doesn’t say anything. I stand there, waiting, but still nothing.

I arch an eyebrow. “Thanks for telling Raven my name, by the way. Real big brother of you.”

Gage doesn’t say anything, and I imagine that pinched look on his face. I shake my head, returning to the fridge and popping open a soda can, guzzling it down.

“Axel…”

There’s something off about Gage’s tone, and I stiffen. He sounds… torn.

“If I punched you last night, I’m not sorry.” I feel for the container of yogurt I know is in here, but suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore. “I’m sure you deserved it.”

Gage still doesn't say anything. Then, he asks, “What the hell happened with Rich?”

Rich? Nothing happened with Rich besides him sitting on the couch like an asshole. Oh, and Raven hitting him in the nuts.

I snort. “Raven and that bat are deadly. It’s only a matter of time before your nuts are next.”

“What?” Gage sounds genuinely confused for a second.

“You know. Raven. Rich. Bat. Nuts.”

“What in the fuck are you–” Gage pauses. “Wait, no. That’s not what I was talking about.”

So what in the hell–

Oh god. Oh… Oh fuck. My stomach sinks. He can’t know about that, right? I didn’t tell him. No way I’d tell him something like that. Right?

I grab the closest thing in the fridge and then shut the door. “Just needed a snack; see ya.”

“Axel.”

It’s the pity in his voice that makes my stomach sink.

He knows.

“That’s lemon juice.”

I pause, feeling the item in my hand. I pop the top, and a puff of lemon-scented air escapes. Embarrassment heats my cheeks. I never knew how to tell Gage about everything. Even thinking about it makes shame heat my cheeks. Immediately, I shake it off.

“Axel I–”

I hold up my hand, still facing away from him. “Don’t do the pity thing, Gage. I don’t need your pity.”

Silence.