James' POV

Music sucks.

The only reason why I did it was because I was good at it- that was it.

I didn't think I was good at anything else.

And I hoped to come out to my family officially when I became eighteen.

I knew that they wouldn't appreciate it.

Not like it mattered, Octavia already knew.

She found out in a normal way. I was texting this guy who was interested in me and I left my phone unlocked. Octavia ended up reading the texts and we talked.

I expected her to condemn me or even scold me about my sexuality.

Instead, all she said was:

"Lock your phone when you're not near it you moron."

And then walked away.

I wanted to talk to her about my feelings. But I was scared of her and we didn't exactly have the best bond, not like I made it better.

I insulted her mainly to make myself look better in comparison.

I didn't feel better about it though.

And when I overheard all that she went through, I just felt shitty.

I didn't know Mom abused her.

I didn't know that she contemplated suicide.

I just assumed that she was strong enough to handle whatever insult I hurled her way.

I cried all night and I refrained from telling her anything since then.

*****************************************

Over the weeks, she got better and better.

She was being kind to all of us, despite all the things we said to her.

We didn't deserve her in our lives.

I knew this better than Dad or Kate.

She was slowly discovering herself with the help of Refael Koch.

He was a good influence on her.

He's cute, but not my type.

Plus, I don't make moves on straight men.

They looked so cute together and even I figured that they'd start dating the day he showed up at our house.

And now look at them.

Happily dating.

***************************************

Or so I thought.

Because in stormed an unhappy Octavia, flower crown and heels in her hands.

"What's wrong Oct-" started Dad.

She shot him an icy glare and he shut up immediately.

It was then I noticed that her eyes were red like she was crying.

I felt a surge of anger as I also noticed that Refael wasn't there.

That piece of-

Clatter!

The sound of the heels hitting the tiles made me wince automatically.

"Men are absolute garbage," she said.

Before Dad and I could even bother to ask, she stormed upstairs to her room and we heard the door slam loudly.

I went upstairs to check on her.

*********************************

I knocked softly.

"Go the fuck away," she said, "I don't wish to talk."

I flinched but kept my ground.

"I'm coming in whether you like it or not," I said.

"James, I will hurt you if you do," she said.

"I know, but I brought ice cream."

The words hardly left my mouth when the door opened and I was dragged in.

********************************

"He fucking what?" I asked, dropping my spoon.

We were in her room and she told me what went down at the dance.

Some girl just showed up and Refael just left her for that girl.

Ridiculous.

"He just let her stay in his arms and then he hugged her back. And then they," she sobbed, "they kissed."

I clenched my fists.

The bastard.

How dare he toy with my sister's feelings?

I turned to Octavia, who was crying.

I handed her a box of tissues and proceeded to hug her.

"Men are trash," I said, "I should know, I'm supposedly a man."

She laughed, holding back her tears.

"You're not yet sixteen, you're a little boy," she said, laughing loudly.

I smiled.

At least she was a bit happy.

I kept her company until she fell asleep.

When I left her room, my resolve remained.

I will kick Refael's ass.

How dare he make my sister cry?

That's my job.

*************************************************

The next morning, I headed over to the Richleys'.

Julianne and I were good friends and as it turned out we attended the same school.

She greeted me.

"Oye, James, fancy seeing you here!" she said, a smile on her face.

I nodded.

"Indeed. Where is Refael?" I asked.

"Oh," she said, her face falling, "he's out with this strange girl on a date."

I clenched my fists.

"Did he tell you where he went?" I asked.

"They went to Denver Wafflehouse."

That's all I needed to hear. I thanked her before getting back into my car.

"Driver, Denver Wafflehouse."

"Certainly Master Hale."

*********************************

When I got there, I was disgusted at the sight that set itself before me.

Refael was there.

With a blondie.

They were acting all lovey-dovey and it made me sick.

This was the guy I held in high esteem?

Really?

I stormed over to their table and without warning, landed a punch across his jaw.

"You fucking piece of shit!"

I know I was creating a scene, but repute was not more than my sister's tears.

She was crying in the middle of the fucking night.

Over this idiot.

I've never seen her look so dejected.

So sad.

It infuriated me.

She just stayed in her room today, talking to her pet cat and crying.

And he dared to be happy with someone else.

It made me so fucking pissed.

"You keep your filthy hands off my lover!" yelled the girl, pulling me away from the disgusting piece of human that was Refael Koch.

He simply smiled at me.

"Fancy you, fighting for your sister," he said, wiping the blood from his lips.

"You're not even worth it," I snarled, "I never want to see you near my big sister again. Fuck off."

Flipping him off, I exited the establishment, ignoring the gazes everyone sent my way.

***********************************************

My next focus was on getting home.

I needed to comfort Octavia in any way I could.

It was time to create an actual bond with the one person who knew my deepest secrets and kept them.

We had been terrible to each other for far too long.

In my musings, I didn't realize that I was in a dark alley.

I turned around to walk onto the road when I felt something pierce my chest.

A knife.

I looked up at my assailant.

A woman.

Black hair, grey eyes.

Creamy white skin.

Clad in black.

She smiled at me as I coughed blood. I struggled to get the knife out of me, but she sunk it further, laughing maniacally.

Her laugh, a symphony.

A diabolical symphony.

I closed my eyes and became her instrument as she pierced my body again and again.

As my life flashed before my eyes, one common thread wove through it.

Music.

Yes, music still sucked.

I still wasn't good at anything else.

And as I felt my body hit the dirt road, I realized.

I'll never know if I ever was good at anything else.

************************************************

Yeah, I'm crying right now.

It was an evil move, even for me.

I'm sorry guys.

-Safiello