nathan dawson's pov

What tells you you've done something Bad with a capital letter? Or just that it would be in your best interest to listen to what the other has to say? I don't know about you, but to me it's one simple word.

"Nathaniel Dawson, stop running right now." Let me tell you that no one — absolutely no one — calls me by my real name if I haven't done something Bad with a capital letter. Or in this case, if I keep running even after my brother has chased after me all the way across the school yard. 

I halted, turning to look at my brother with panicked eyes. It didn't take long before he reached me. The look on his face was a mixture of worry, incredulity and mild amusement.

"That idiot Clarke hit you, didn't he?" Nicholas asked, his gaze wandering to my bruised nose. I nodded, not trusting my voice. Then he huffed angrily: "I made it crystal clear to him that if he ever tries that again, he's dead."

"But seriously though —" Nicholas started all serious, but then he cracked up and he couldn't finish his sentence. He had to take a deep breath before continuing, his face red all over from trying not to burst out laughing again: "You really are one of a kind. Why on Earth would you run?"

I hate to say this, but he did have a point there. My plan was to go and find him after the practice and have a nice and sophisticated conversation about the mystery guy. I wasn't angry anymore, I just wanted to know if Nicholas was in trouble. He didn't usually have enemies and he didn't pick a fight with others, as far as I know.

"I w-wanted to find you and ask if you're in some kind of trouble, but I didn't know Gray Eyes would be there." I explained, my cheeks burning.

It had all gone according to plan until I was standing right in front of the person I had spent the past day trying to hide from. When our gazes locked Gray Eyes had looked as shocked as I did and he had opened his mouth to say something. 

Yet, instead of listening to what he had to say, like any sane person would have, I turned on my heels and ran away. I mean, seriously, who does that? I felt like a character in a B class tragicomedy, but I had yet to know how to laugh at myself. 

"Gray Eyes?" Nicholas cracked up again.

"Just leave me alone." I snapped at him and turned to leave, but I didn't make it far until he had seized my wrist and forced me to stop.

"Okay, okay, sorry. I won't laugh again. It's just that.." Nicholas halted, sadness clouding his face. It was hard to believe that only a few seconds ago he had been holding back a laugh. "You can't keep running from everyone."

"I don't run from everyone. Just the ones who punch my face for no reason." I quickly defended myself.

"That's not what I mean. You have to stop being so scared of people. They're not all out to get you, you know?" Nicholas huffed. 

"It sure seems like they are."

°°°°

This time when I slouched to the car after the last class of the day, Nicholas was waiting by his car with Audrey Grace. They were talking with quiet voices and Nicholas had crossed his arms on his chest. He seemed uncomfortable, whereas Audrey Grace had a small smile on her deep red lips.

When you looked at Audrey Grace Thompson, the first word that was likely to pop in your head was gorgeous. She was short and petite, but she turned heads when walking by. Audrey Grace was known for her deep red lipstick — she didn't even go to her soccer practices without it — and big dark brown eyes. Her dark brown hair was curly and thick, her skin golden like the sweetest honey. 

In addition to her good looks, she was kind, funny and smart. She even volunteered at the care home at weekends. As you probably already guessed, Audrey Grace is the gorgeous girlfriend of Nicholas'. It was only fitting that the perf*ct brother/friend/student/son/whatnot had a girl like her. 

"You're here." Nicholas seemed oddly relieved when he saw me closing them. 

"I'm aware of that." I shrugged and handed him his car keys. 

Then we got in the car. I took the back seat while Audrey Grace sat on the front passenger seat. She chose the music and started chatting cheerfully about the band, which was called.. Stray Kids, I think? Anyway, she was doing her best to lighten the atmosphere and I felt bad for her, because neither me nor Nicholas were in a chatty mood. 

I knew something was going on with Nicholas and I think that something had something to do with Audrey Grace. My first thought had been that they had broken up and that that was the reason Gray Eyes was so angry at Nicholas, but I wasn't so sure anymore. I was going to find out what it was during the weekend, so that I could make a war plan just in case Gray Eyes wasn't done with me.

We stopped by the elementary school and I could feel a smile spreading on my lips when I watched Jonathan rushing towards us. He had been waiting by the school gates and as soon as his baby blue eyes spotted me, his face lit up with happiness. 

"I want to make chocolate chip cookies with tons and tons of chocolate." Jonathan announced when he opened the door and slumped down on the back seat next to me.

"I don't think.." Nicholas hesitated, but Jonathan wasn't looking at him.

"Please?" He pleaded.

"Okay, but only if it's fine with mom." I gave in, just like I always did. The mom part was only there to hide the fact I had no control or whatsoever of the situation. Jonathan was my soft spot and I just couldn't say no to him, which he probably knew a little too well.

Jonathan was born with extra chromosomes in some of his cells, having a condition called Mosaicism. Which is more commonly known as a form of Down Syndrome. His symptoms were mild, but there were certain things he needed more support with than the others. When people looked at him, they were likely to pay attention to his flat facial features, atypically shaped ears and upward slanting eyes. But when I looked at him, I saw his beaming smile and blue eyes sparkling with joy.

Gosh, I love that kid. 

The funny thing was that out of all our family members and people in the world Jonathan seemed to adore me the most. So you bet we were making chocolate cookies with tons and tons of chocolate, if it made his little face lit up like that.

°°°°

"No, no, no, don't eat all of it!" I exclaimed with a horrified expression on my face when I noticed how little was left from the chocolate we had chopped just a moment ago.

"Yeah, let me take that somewhere safe." Nicholas chuckled while tying his apron. He never really spent time with us like that, so it was surprising yet delightful when he offered to help with the baking.

We were laughing, making a mess and filling the house with a rich chocolatey aroma. By the time the third batch of cookies was out of the oven, mom and Jeffrey came back from work. They were both in a good mood seeing us laughing and spending time together, but Jeffrey made us swear the kitchen would be all cleaned up and spotless by the time he would start cooking dinner.

Mom put on the radio and we all danced and sang along like one quaint happy family. For one evening I got to forget all about Gray Eyes and the weight of my previously uneventful life. For one evening I could dance around the house, eat cookies until my stomach hurt and sing along to all the hits I never willingly listened to, but also couldn't avoid hearing over and over again. 

I was so happy the smile didn't fade from my face even when I was already fast asleep. It was always the little things in life that held so much meaning and brightened up the day. I had missed that so much, I had missed us.