A Different Age
Ashton had been in foster care for two years. After his second family put him on the troubled teen list, social services kept him in an orphanage full of unwanted kids. He shared a room with five guys, he didn't get along with them, they only got together to smoke pot together.
Anthony Minyard, his father, was in jail, having been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for drug trafficking. Ash hadn't seen his father since he was arrested, it's not that they'll get along badly but the jail was far from where he was and spending time with his father had never been a priority for him.
The only drug he liked was weed, it kept him relaxed and helped him not feel so miserable. He kept to himself, he enjoyed being alone; reading, trying new tricks on his skateboard and playing exy.
He didn't have any plans for his future, he didn't think he would live to be sixteen. He always thought that he would end up jumping from the terrace of the small apartment in which he had lived with his father, he imagined his brain crushed against the pavement of the street. He liked to think that one day he would die, that everything bad he had done didn't matter since no one would remember it. Now that he no longer lived in the apartment, he saw his future under a bridge, yet another orphan that the system had failed.
—
Andrew woke up feeling relaxed. Neil was the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes, he liked to watch his chest rise and fall as he breathed. "Mine" he thought. He reached up and stroked the red hair that covered Neil's face.
A noise made him move away from him, he turned his head to see Kevin climb down from his bunk. The two make eye contact, Andrew keeping the bored expression on him. Kevin smiled at him, of all the foxes he was the only one who saw a more intimate part of Andrew and Neil's relationship. When they were all together, although the couple was always close, they did not touch each other and kept their relationship as secret as possible.
Andrew gets out of bed and goes to the bathroom to clean up. Exy practice would start in an hour, he just wanted to stay in the dorm surrounded by his family, with Neil close to him. Neil walks into the bathroom, he's half asleep and his hair is messy. Andrew grabs his wrist and pulls him closer to his body.
"Yes or no?" he asks. "Yes," Neil answers, and kisses him before finishing. The kiss starts out slow but then it turns fast and hot. Neil lets out a little moan, which makes Andrew move closer.
-Come on guys, hurry up I don't want to be late- Kevin yells from outside the room. Andrew ignores him and continues kissing Neil, after a while Neil breaks away. "We should change now," he says, looking more awake now. -Ugh, brush your teeth- Andrew answers pushing him, while the other laughs.
When the two are ready they go out into the living room where Kevin is waiting with Nicky and Aaron.
"What's taking you so long?" Aaron asks in his early-morning mood. Andrew ignores him and heads for the door. They all follow him while they talk about the exercises they are going to do in the gym. The rest of the foxes are already inside when the monsters arrive.
The training progresses normally but an hour after starting Wymack calls the twins and Nicky. Coach was not alone but next to him was a man who was dressed formally. The first thing Andrew thought was that it was the police. Still he and his family followed them out of the gym.
-Hello my name is Thomas, I work for social services- Andrew kept his expression carefully. Would he be here because of his past in the system?, but then they wouldn't have called the rest. Maybe it was because of Tilda. "I wish to speak with you privately," he said, looking at Wymack.
-Of course, I'll leave you alone.-he said when he saw that his presence wasn't necessary.- If you need something I'll be inside.
-First I would like to know if you knew that Matilda Minyard had more children besides you.
"What?" Aaron asked, clearly surprised. Nicky moved closer to Andrew, he looked uncomfortable. When neither said a single word Thomas continued. -I suppose not. - He passed them a folder. Andrew grabbed it before either of the other two could.
Inside was a document and a photo of a boy. He looked like the twins. The same hair color, but in a wolf cut. His eyes are the same color but bigger. He looks thinner than them. He seemed tired and bored. He was definitely a Minyard.
Ashton Isaac Minyard. 16 years.
Anthony Jacob Minyard.-Father, federal prison in Downtown, Los Angeles.
There is no information about his mother.
According to the document, he was on the list of problematic teenagers.
Aaron and Nicky are at his sides, reading over and over the document.
-I was reviewing documentation on Anthony and found that he was married to your mother for two years. If you were Ashton's biological siblings, you might be entitled to become his legal guardians. If you are interested in being...
"We are," Andrew said without thinking, he wasn't going to leave another Minyard in the system. Aaron didn't try to make a fuss about it and Nicky just looked sad.
- Then I need one of you to take the test as soon as possible. At the moment I'm not going to say anything to Ashton. I don't want him to get his hopes up. First I need the results of the tests and for you to fill out some papers. Normally we need to test you to find out if you can be his guardian, but due to Ashton's age and his difficulty in finding a family, it will not be necessary. Tomorrow around 9, go to this medical center to do the test. If you don't have any more questions, I'll go.- Thomas didn't seem very fond of his work. Andrew gave him a dark look.
-Yes, if something occurs, we'll call you.- Aaron said before his twin could speak. Thomas gave them one last look and walked towards his car.
"How are we going to raise a teenager?" Aaron said, panicking.
-How come we never found out that Tilda was married? My parents never said anything, or maybe they didn't know. I always wondered where the last name Minyard came from- Nicky said ignoring Aaron who looked like he was about to vomit.
Go to the tests tomorrow. Andrew said, addressing his brother. Aaron nodded. - At the moment we will not say anything to anyone. Not until I have the proof. He looked at Nicky because he knew that even if Nicky told everything, he would know how to keep such a secret for at least a couple of days. Nicky seemed serious, still lost in his thoughts. - We will resolve it.
-Are you going to tell Neil, right?- Aaron said- I mean, Neil is the exception. - Andrew didn't even bother to answer, it was a silly question. Obviously he would tell her, just like Aaron would tell Katelyn and Nicky would tell Erik.
The three of them sat on the floor leaning against the wall. They stood there in silence until the training came to an end.
—
At night while Neil and Kevin watched exy matches in Kevin's bed. Andrew came over eating ice cream. He sat on Neil's mattress parallel to the one the other two were on.
"I might have another brother," he said without looking at them eating their ice cream as if he had said something ordinary.
"What?" Kevin yelled in surprise. Neil had an expression of surprise that was short-lived.
-Another twin?
No, he is 16 years old. Tomorrow Aaron will have some DNA tests done and if we are brothers we will have the right to be his guardians. He will live with us.
- Us? You live here- Kevin was still in shock
-It doesn't matter, we'll find a way to make it work.
"Okay," Neil said, looking seriously at Andrew. He knew that the junkie was going to support him but still the confirmation made Andrew relax.
"Don't tell anyone, we won't say anything until we're sure." Although Andrew had planned to tell Neil, he wasn't going to tell Kevin. Andrew decided not to think about it, after all Kevin was his best friend (or something like that).
—
A few days later Andrew's phone rang. The test results were already in: Ashton Minyard was Aaron's and Andrew's young brother.