Rebellion Is Good For the Soul by Amanda Castillo (adventure books to read txt) 📕

children. I have a twin brother, Eric, who likes to pretend he’s something he’s not, just to rebel against my dad. I on the other hand, strive for perfection. I never go out, I never do wrong, and I pass all my classes with flying colors. And you know what? Not once, not once have I ever gotten anything more than a pat on the back, and a ‘good job’. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother…”
The tension in the air is palpable; I know he wants to say something… I can practically hear our hearts beating hard- his from surprise and mine from exertion.
“And I suppose that because of your last name, nobody even tries to get near you.”
I bite my lip, fighting tears.
“Y-yes. Nobody wants to risk upsetting the ‘princess’ so nobody even bothers talking to me. It’s an efficient system. How am I supposed to get mad about something when they wouldn’t talk to me even if it was to save their lives?”
He turns over and stares at me intently.
“If it’s any consolation, I won’t run. I know we only met, but… I know how it feels. To be isolated I mean. Nobody ever wanted to get near me because I was a ‘delinquent’. I would miss school constantly because I’d stay home to make sure my mom was okay. Then sometimes when we didn’t have money to get groceries, I’d steal from convenience stores and places like that. I got into fights whenever people said crap about my mom. I got suspended- a lot. So… if you ever need anyone to talk to, I’ll be here.”
I feel my throat clench up and take a deep breath. It’s the nicest thing that anyone’s ever said to me.
“T-thanks… I might just take you up on that offer… that is, unless… are you going to enroll in school or anything?”
He looks at me oddly before nodding.
“I already have. I’m going to that school a couple of blocks away… umm...”
“Genesis High?”
His eyes widen as he nods again, his expression that of disbelief.
“Yea… um do you go there?”
I nod and sit up, gazing at him intently. I wonder why he seems so surprised. Maybe he thought I went to a private school. He closes his eyes for a moment and when he reopens them, they are shining with something. We sit in silence for a few moments before I realize that the dryer has stopped its humming. I hang my head a bit and then stand up, an awkward air overcoming the room.
“Umm… the clothes are done.”
Jas looks at me for a few moments before comprehending what I’m saying and jumps to his feet as well. He has an awkward smile on his face. I don’t think he wants me to go- I know I don’t.
“Okay, let me get them and then-“
“April!”
Someone pounds furiously on the door and I turn around, moving towards the door. That voice… It can’t be! Jas is looking at me, obviously confused. I shrug and open the door, revealing none other than my brother, Eric. His face, identical to mine, is contorted in anger… and something else I can’t quite place. He looks over what I’m wearing, disapproval reflected in his eyes. He himself is dressed in some Goth get up, all leather and chains. His nails are painted black and he has green and blue highlights through his straightened hair. Hm, I guess he’s making his way through all the cliques again.
“Eric, why are you- I mean… how did you know where I was?”
He smirks at me, some of the anger dissipating from his expression and turning a bit bitter.
“Your cell phone- it has a tracker in it. I hacked mom’s PC and found you. Now, would you mind telling me what the hell you’re doing in this part of town?”
I bite my lower lip, remembering the incident that brought me into Jas’ life.
“I was walking home and then these guys… they attacked me. Jas, he stopped them, I was all wet because of the rain, and he offered to wash my clothes for me. They’re in the drier.”
Eric stares at me hard, and then motions inside.
“Can I… Can I meet this guy?”
I shrug because I know he’s just going to push past me and talk to him anyway. He frowns and then pushes past me. I turn around and see Jas waiting for us, arms crossed and my clothes folded on the bed. I smile wryly at him, and to my relief his expression loses some of the stoniness. Jas looks away from me, a slight smile on his face and appraises Eric. He sticks his hand out in greeting.
“Nice to meet you- I’m Jasmeil.”
My brother takes his hand and shakes it.
“Eric- So, you saved my sister?”
Jas nods as Eric lets his hand go. Eric’ expression is blank, which is never a good thing. That means that he’s plotting something.
“For that I thank you.”
Eric smiles then turns to me, an unreadable edge in his eyes.
“April, would you go change, please?”
I open my mouth to protest but then Jas shoots me a look and I find myself picking up my clothes. I look to my brother and mouth ‘No funny business’. He chuckles in response. I walk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me; instead of changing, I drop to the floor and press my ear to the crack in between the door and the floor. If I so much as hear my brother make a threat, I’m going to run out there. Jas is too good of a person to be bullied by my brother.
“So, tell me, why did you save my sister?”
“She was in trouble- I saw her and took action. It’s the way I was raised.”
“So just to clarify, you didn’t invite her in to get into her pants?”
“No- and by the way, you can stop beating around the bush. You don’t have to worry about me going after her. I know who she is, where she comes from. She’s a good person, but I’m not going to complicate her life by going after her when she’s clearly off limits.”
A slight pause follows, and I can feel my heart racing. The cool tile beneath my hands is the only thing helping me cling to reality. Jas… I close my eyes and rest my head against the tile, my head spinning faster than I ever thought it could.
“Good, at least I know we’re on the same page. I might act as though I don’t care about my sister, but the fact is that we’re flesh and blood. I’ll always look out for her.”
I pick myself up off the floor. I don’t want to hear anything else. I shouldn’t have even eavesdropped. There were just some things I wasn’t meant to hear and both of those confessions fall in that category. Methodically, I strip and change into my clothes, their silky feel almost foreign on my skin. I look at the pile of clothes on the floor, Jas’ clothes. A part of me wants to change back into them and confront both Jas and Eric about what they said. The larger part of me is the one that picks up the clothes and opens the bathroom door.
Eric is leaning up against the wall, twirling his keys in his hand. Jas is nowhere to be seen.
“Are you ready to leave?”
His voice is smug and his eyes are glimmering. I scowl and place the clothing on Jas’ bed. I cross my arms and look my twin in the eye.
“Does it matter?”
Chapter 4

Honestly, I don't think I'd ever be ready to leave Jas' place. It may sound cliche, but that's the freest I've ever felt, singing with Jas. Talking with him. Laughing. It almost felt like I had a friend.
Despite all of that, I trudge out into the cloudy afternoon and wait for my ever-so-loving brother by his car. The car itself is nothing impressive, just a beat up old junk heap that he bought on a whim. I don't have a car because my father thinks I'll end up crashing and then he'll no longer have someone to take over his company. I don't think he understood how twisted his words sounded at that moment.
Of course my mother agreed with him wholeheartedly. Why wouldn't she? After all he is the one that pays for her gooey gowns and cheap motels where she takes her various lovers. How my parents are still together I have no idea. I think it has to do with the fact that my mother never signed a prenuptial agreement, and my father would have a coronary if he thought someone was going to take his money. Greedy bastard.
I giggle, covering my mouth when the sound came out. My eyes go wide. I just called my father a bastard... I giggle again, the heady feeling of rebellion taking over me.
"Well I guess I'll see you around?"
My eyes go even wider when I realize that this entire time Jas has been watching me. He must think I'm a spaz. Still, I can't help the smile that comes to my face as I nod. I look at my brother, who at this point has a vein visibly pulsing in his forehead, when I speak.
"Definitely."
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I sigh as I watch her drive away. Her brother shoots me one last murderous glare via the rear-view mirror but I really can't bring myself to care. I pull out a cigarette and light it. I take a long drag as I process the events that unfolded. I smirk as I realize that I'm going to see April again tomorrow. I honestly don't think I've ever been this excited to go to school.
I take another long drag from the cigarette as I contemplate how to approach her. It shouldn't be hard. After all, she made it abundantly clear that her reputation is shot so I don't think being caught hanging out with the resident delinquent will have an adverse affect on her standing at GH. Hell she could probably wear a banana suit and it'd improve. I chuckle and then begin coughing when the smoke goes down the wrong way. With distaste, I snuff out the mostly new cigarette and put it back in the pack.
I open the door to my "apartment"-shack is a more appropriate word actually- and close it slowly, letting the heat sink into my bones. I really need to learn to don a jacket or something before going outside. I toe off my shoes and then flop down onto my bed, reliving the last half hour in my head. If only April's douche of a brother hadn't shown up...
I sit up abruptly at the thought of