Alaric loves Brooks so much that he hates him. He hates him so much that he loves him. He hates that he loves him and loves that he hates him. But above all, he understands that Brooks needs him. Unlike Brooks, Alaric understands how life works and knows what it’s like to work for life. Brooks has had everything handed to him. No matter how hard Alaric tries in life, he’ll never have what classmate has naturally. But Alaric has Brooks. Alaric has Brooks’s trust. He has his ear. And he has the popular guy by the balls. All he has to do is twist. Brooks doesn’t realize that yet. But he will.

"Tending the Brood"