WARNING: TWINCEST!

Chapter Twelve: You've Never Kept Anything From Me Before.... Why Now?

‭“‬Fuck,‭ ‬I hate band practice‭!” ‬Tom groaned,‭ ‬taking his place on the field.‭ “‬Especially this time of year.‭”

Bill nodded.‭ “‬Yeah,‭ ‬we have the spectacular coming up next weekend,‭ ‬so you KNOW that Mr.‭ ‬Moore is going to be hard on us.‭”

“Alright everyone,‭ ‬let's hustle‭! ‬Get on your marks‭!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore yelled from center field.‭ “‬We don't have time to be messing around‭!”

Tom rolled his eyes.‭ “‬And so it begins‭ – ‬drill Sergeant Mode.‭”

Bill giggled a little and played along.‭ “‬Yeah,‭ ‬I better get to my mark before he has me drop and give him twenty.‭”

“Yeah,‭ ‬you better.‭”

Drum major,‭ ‬Adam Sheeley,‭ ‬climbed onto his little ladder that stood at the front of the field and gave his conductor's wand a little wave.‭ “‬Mark time mark‭!” ‬he called out,‭ ‬ordering the band to march in place.‭ ‬He used his wand as a metronome as he counted to three to commence the first song.

Bill clumsily moved along with the other clarinets,‭ ‬silently counting each beat in his head while trying to follow Mr.‭ ‬Moore's demands.

‭“‬Faster,‭ ‬faster‭!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore hollered at the clarinet section that was busy taking backward steps.

Bill did as he was told and quickened his pace,‭ ‬forgetting the fact that he needed to take much smaller steps than the rest of the clarinets.‭

Mr.‭ ‬Moore waved his arms in an angry fit as he tried to stop Bill from running into the saxophone section behind him...‭ ‬but it was too late.

It was like a domino effect once Bill hit the first person‭; ‬one after another fell down,‭ ‬and landed hard with one big crash.‭ ‬For a moment the field was full of griping students,‭ ‬groaning and complaining.

‭“‬Get off of me‭!” ‬Layne said,‭ ‬completely irritated,‭ ‬giving Bill a good shove.

‭“‬Bill,‭ ‬you idiot‭!” ‬a drummer shouted from behind.

‭“‬Yeah Bill,‭ ‬you klutz‭!” ‬another one chimed in.

Bill stood to his feet and dusted himself off.‭ “‬Sorry‭! ‬Sorry‭!” ‬he apologized.

‭“‬Kaulitz‭!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore yelled as he stomped furiously toward the clarinet section,‭ ‬his voice booming throughout the stadium.‭ “‬What the HELL was that‭?!” ‬he screamed in Bill's face,‭ ‬just like the drill Sergeant Tom made him out to be.

‭“‬I-I-I....‭” ‬Bill stuttered.

‭“‬I-I-I,‭” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore mocked.‭ “‬When I told you to back up faster,‭ ‬I didn't mean for you to do this‭!” ‬he said,‭ ‬backing up in a funny manner,‭ ‬making an example of Bill in front of the whole band.‭

Bill groaned and buried his face in his palm as Mr.‭ ‬Moore ranted on.‭ ‬Somehow,‭ ‬every year,‭ ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore managed to embarrass Bill in front of the whole band by making an example of him,‭ ‬and this year had to be the worst.

‭“‬Understand‭?!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore said,‭ ‬finishing his rant.

‭“‬Yes sir,‭” ‬Bill mumbled.

‭“‬What's wrong with you anyway Kaulitz‭?”

“I...‭ ‬I don't know.‭” ‬Bill clutched his clarinet and bit his lip as he toed at the earthy ground.‭ “‬I'm just not feeling very well...‭ ‬Do you think I can get a quick drink‭?”

Mr.‭ ‬Moore glared at Bill for a moment as he mulled over the question.‭ “‬Make it snappy‭!” ‬he finally said.

Bill nodded and hurried off to the school building with his clarinet in hand,‭ ‬hoping that maybe a quick break would help ease his mind...‭ ‬but he was wrong.‭ ‬It only gave him more time to think,‭ ‬and more time to worry.

He leaned against the water fountain and sighed.‭ ‬He was taking more time than he should be,‭ ‬but he wasn't ready to face Mr.‭ ‬Moore's wrath just yet.

Fuck,‭ ‬he thought to himself as he stared at the metallic surface of the water fountain.‭ ‬How can I possibly get out of playing lackey today‭?

His mind ran with wild with all of the possibilities.‭ ‬He could fake sick now,‭ ‬and just go home....‭ ‬After all,‭ ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore knew he wasn't feeling well....‭ ‬But then what about the next day...‭? ‬He couldn't forever skip his duties as a lackey‭ – ‬as much as he wanted to.

‭“‬Kaulitz‭!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Moore yelled as Bill entered the field area,‭ ‬his voice rang loud and clear in the young boy's ear.‭ “‬I said make it snappy‭!”

“Sorry,‭” ‬Bill said,‭ ‬dropping his head a bit as he took his spot on the field.‭

His mind was now miles away from where it was before,‭ ‬making it harder than ever to concentrate,‭ ‬and he knew that he was up for a rough practice.

‭*****

“Bill where's your head today‭?” ‬Tom asked.‭

Bill turned away from his gym locker that he had been digging through.‭ “‬What‭?”

“I said,‭ ‬where's your head today.‭ ‬You've been acting weird all day‭!” ‬he said,‭ ‬taking off his over-sized shirt to put on a more fitting one for gym.

‭“‬What are you talking about‭?” ‬Bill asked,‭ ‬trying to play dumb.

‭“‬What am I talking about‭?! ‬What I am I....‭ ‬Bill,‭ ‬today at band practice‭ – ‬you sucked.‭ ‬I mean let's face it,‭ ‬you're not the most graceful person on the field.‭”

Bill nodded in agreement.‭ ‬It was true.‭ ‬In fact,‭ ‬he was probably the clumsiest person on the field‭; ‬he wasn't going to argue with that one.

‭“‬But today,‭ ‬it was like...‭ ‬like...‭ ‬you weren't even there‭! ‬And at lunch,‭ ‬you barely spoke two words to me‭! ‬You were too wrapped up in that...‭” ‬Tom paused for a moment,‭ ‬trying to remember the name of the problem,‭ ‬but found he was completely at a loss.‭ “‬That‭ ‬problem‭ ‬of yours‭!”

Bill sighed a bit irritated as he pulled his shirt over his head.‭

“Look Bill,‭ ‬I'm just worried about you.‭ ‬Something’s up‭ – ‬I KNOW it.‭ ‬And I can't figure out why you won't tell me‭!”

Bill glanced around the locker room before taking off his jeans.‭ “‬Tom,‭ ‬nothing is up.‭ ‬I wouldn't keep anything from you,‭ ‬you know that.‭ ‬Now please‭ – ‬stop worrying‭?”

“Fine,‭ ‬don't tell me,‭” ‬Tom said,‭ ‬crossing his arms as he leaned against his locker.‭ “‬But you should know that if you don't tell me now,‭ ‬I'll just figure it out later.‭”

Bill rolled his eyes as he pulled out a black pair of running shoes and dropped them on the cold concrete floor.‭ “‬There's nothing to figure out Tom,‭” ‬he said,‭ ‬plopping down on the bench.‭ “‬It's just...‭ ‬stress.‭ ‬I've got a lot on my plate right now,‭ ‬okay‭?”

“Yeah....‭ ‬Sure....‭ ‬Stress,‭” ‬Tom said,‭ ‬completely unconvinced.‭

Bill frowned and pulled Tom by the wrist to sit him down.‭ ‬He placed a gentle hand on Tom's cheek.‭ “‬It is Tom.‭ ‬Please believe me‭?”

“Alright,‭” ‬Tom lied as he put on a fake smile just for Bill.‭ “‬I believe you.‭”

*****

Bill and Tom stood alone in the middle of the gym floor,‭ ‬waiting to be picked for a game of dodgeball.‭ ‬It was Carter's turn to pick a player.

‭“‬You better not stick me with Kaulitz,‭” ‬Spencer said,‭ ‬scowling at Bill.

Normally Bill would have muttered some sort of remark about how he didn't want to be on Spencer's team anyway.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬considering the circumstances,‭ ‬being on Spencer's team didn't sound half-bad.

‭“‬Bill,‭” ‬Carter pointed,‭ ‬leaving Tom to go to Spencer's team.

Bill pouted a bit and drug his feet across the room to Carter's team.

‭*****

SLAM‭!

The red dodgeball hit the wall with sheer force,‭ ‬barely missing Bill's face.

‭“‬Watch it Spencer,‭” ‬Tom warned as he picked up a yellow ball that lay at his feet.‭ “‬I may be on your team,‭ ‬but that doesn't stop me from kicking your ass.‭”

“I can't help it if your girlfriend plays like a pussy,‭” ‬Spencer laughed,‭ ‬and he threw a dodgeball across the room,‭ ‬and nailed a random kid who was running away.

‭“‬That's‭ '‬cause he is a pussy,‭” ‬Trevor teased.‭

Spencer chuckled a bit at Trevor's rude comment.‭ “‬Yeah,‭ ‬I think it's pretty clear who wears the pants in this relationship.‭ ‬Isn't that right Kaulitz‭?” ‬He hurled another ball at Bill's face,‭ ‬and Bill ducked,‭ ‬covering his head with his hands.‭ “‬Fucking fag.‭”

“Spencer,‭” ‬Tom said through gritted teeth.‭ “‬I'm warning you.‭”

Trevor,‭ ‬being the eviler of the two,‭ ‬began prancing around the gym in a girly manner to make fun of Bill.‭ “‬Look,‭ ‬I'm Bill.‭ ‬I'm a big flaming loser‭! ‬I like to wear makeup and paint my paint my nails like a little girl.‭”

The gym exploded with laughter from the other students,‭ ‬its taunting sound bouncing off the walls,‭ ‬and hitting Bill's ears with a burn.‭ ‬And what was worse,‭ ‬the students who were enjoying Bill's humiliation threw in a few insults of their own.

‭“‬I'm such a fag,‭” ‬Trevor went on.‭ “‬And I just‭ ‬love‭ ‬taking it up the ass from my boyfriend everyday.‭”

Bill bit his lip and swallowed hard,‭ ‬fighting back the tears that threatened to break loose.‭ ‬He wouldn't let them see him cry‭ – ‬he couldn't.‭ ‬It would only make things worse.

‭“‬Look at my nerdy glasses and my stupid notebook that I like to‭– ‬Oomph‭!”

Trevor received a harsh blow to the head from a dodgeball that Tom had thrown.‭

He scowled at Tom as he rubbed his head.‭ “‬What the fuck‭ ‬Trümper‭?!”

“Dodgeball man,‭” ‬Tom said with a sarcastic smirk.‭

“If you do that again,‭” ‬Trevor started but was quickly cut off by Tom.

‭“‬If you don't shut your fucking mouth,‭ ‬I'll give you more than just a dodgeball to the head‭!”

“Oh yeah‭? ‬Well I'll-‭”

“Can it‭!” ‬Mr.‭ ‬Gram shouted from across the room,‭ ‬gaining the attention of the two boys.‭ “‬Both of you‭! ‬This is gym class,‭ ‬not drama class‭!”

Trevor turned back to Tom and glared.‭ “‬You just watch back.‭”

“No,‭” ‬Tom shook his head,‭ ‬his voice carrying much threat.‭ “‬You watch yours.‭”

*****

Practice:‭ ‬the very thing Bill had been dreading all day,‭ ‬and the very reason why he felt so troubled.‭ ‬Nearing the stadium,‭ ‬he could feel his breath begin to shake.‭ ‬The thoughts of what happened before and what was to come haunted him to the core.‭ ‬It wasn't Spencer's bullying either,‭ ‬or Trevor's atrocious insults.‭ ‬No,‭ ‬it was the one person who never said a word to Bill,‭ ‬maybe a look or a little smirk,‭ ‬but nothing more.‭ ‬Bill never thought he could be more afraid of anyone other than Spencer...‭ ‬but he was wrong.

‭“‬Kaulitz‭! ‬Just the person I wanted to see,‭” ‬the coach said as he approached the back of the school building.‭ “‬Somebody's filling in for your duties today,‭ ‬so you're free to go home.‭ ‬I won't need you back here until Monday.‭”

A big smile spread across Bill's lips,‭ ‬teeth and all.‭ ‬This news,‭ ‬had to be the best news,‭ ‬he'd heard all day.

‭“‬Yes sir,‭” ‬Bill grinned.‭ ‬He happily skipped off to the hallway where he knew Tom would be waiting for him.

‭“‬Back so soon‭?” ‬Tom asked,‭ ‬confused.‭

“I don't have to stay for practice today,‭” ‬Bill replied mirthfully,‭ ‬that grin still plastered on his face.

Tom jumped onto his feet,‭ ‬a smile spreading as wide as Bill's.‭ ‬It was good that he didn't have to sit around and worry about Bill for a whole two hours,‭ ‬especially after what happened today.

‭“‬Well,‭ ‬what are we waiting for‭?” ‬Tom asked as he grabbed Bill by the hand.‭ “‬Let's go home.‭”

*****

Bill's fingers swam over the ivory keys with such poise and grace as he filled the music room with that familiar sound.‭ ‬And what a beautiful sound it was‭! ‬As always,‭ ‬Tom settled himself in the big armchair that sat next to the grand piano,‭ ‬and busied himself with a book while he listened to Bill play.‭ ‬He found that a bit of classical music was quite insightful when doing this,‭ ‬and became rather accustom to it.‭

Tom smiled when he noticed the expression on Bill's face as he climbed up and down the scales.‭ ‬He seemed much happier now than Tom could remember him being all week.‭ ‬It was no mystery to Tom why either.‭ ‬He knew it had something to do with practice today,‭ ‬and the fact that he didn't have to go.‭ ‬That alone sent a few red flags up in Tom's mind.‭ ‬There was no doubt about it,‭ ‬Spencer was giving Bill trouble after school‭ – ‬a lot of trouble.‭

Bill came to a gentle halt as he finished his song.‭ ‬With a look of satisfaction evident on his face,‭ ‬he finally rose to his feet and closed the lid on the piano‭; ‬he was finished for the day.‭

Tom snapped his book shut and glanced at the antique clock that hung above the fireplace.‭ ‬Bill had only played for one hour that day.‭ ‬Quite odd,‭ ‬considering he had been playing for a regular three hours or more all week.

‭“‬Finished already‭?” ‬Tom asking,‭ ‬quirking an eyebrow.

‭“‬Mhm,‭” ‬Bill nodded,‭ ‬strolling up to Tom.‭ ‬He relaxed his body,‭ ‬allowing himself to fall in the chair with Tom in a most lazy manner.‭

Tom wrapped his arms around Bill's delicate frame and nuzzled his face into Bill's dark mess of hair,‭ ‬heaving a sigh as he sunk further into the comfy seat.‭ ‬He closed his eyes,‭ ‬and listened to the still sound of the clock as it ticked away,‭ ‬his eyelids becoming heavier and heavier with each swing of the pendulum.‭ ‬He felt Bill slowly relaxing in his hold‭; ‬he was drifting off to sleep as well.‭ ‬Except for in Bill's case,‭ ‬he was talking himself to sleep.‭ ‬It was soft,‭ ‬barely audible,‭ ‬but Tom could make out a few words here and there.‭ ‬Bill was definitely running some sort of math problem through his head.

Although it was normal for Tom to hear Bill do this,‭ ‬he often wondered what was really running through Bill's mind.‭ ‬Even as a child,‭ ‬Tom could recall Bill murmuring to himself while he played with his toys alone in the corner,‭ ‬his genius already showing though,‭ ‬though the other kids didn't seem to think so.‭ ‬They quickly had him pegged as the‭ “‬weirdo‭” ‬in class,‭ ‬and Tom was the only one to think otherwise.‭ ‬And to this day,‭ ‬Bill still carries that label of the school weirdo,‭ ‬the freak,‭ ‬the kid that likes to people watch while he scribbles god knows what in his notebook.‭ ‬But do they really know‭? ‬Are they really aware of the beautiful mind Bill possesses..‭? ‬Of course not‭! ‬They're ignorant‭! ‬They don't see what Tom's sees...‭ ‬and they probably never will.