These flashbacks are supposed to be like older Harvey and Gideon narrating what happened. So the voices are not written to match their younger ages.

[Age 7] Harvey: "Wanna Race?"

Gideon was a jerk.

I'd been very hurt as a kid when he'd rejected my offer to be friends like our Dads. I'd assumed that was it, we'd steer clear of each other, but no. Ever since then, he'd been doing everything in his power to make my life hell.

I didn't want to be friends with someone mean like him anyway.

And no, I wasn't a meanie like him, because I only retaliated. He'd started the whole thing in the first place.

Like the time he'd locked me in the closet and I'd panicked so bad that I'd passed out. I had to throw his backpack with all his books and art in a bucket of soapy water to get back at him. I could've easily tattled to the nurse and gotten him sent to the principal, but where was the fun in that?

But hating him and doing everything in my power to mess with him back didn't mean I was able to ignore him completely. I was always aware of him; of his stupidly neat behavior and the perpetual irritation that swirled around him like a dark cloud.

The same moodiness that he seemed to carry with him today, despite the fact that it was his birthday.

Scratch that, it actually felt like his mood had been worse this morning when he'd snapped at some poor kid for dragging his chair too loudly.

Suddenly, I thought back to the party in which I'd met him and his parents the first time. I remembered that when I'd gone home and cried about him being mean, my Mom had replied that I should try to be nicer to him because Gideon's parents were 'different.'

When I'd asked her what made them different, she'd told me that they were never home, and that he must be lonely all the time. While that thought didn't exactly make my hatred for him reduce, I felt some unwanted sympathy for him that made it hard to be outright mean to him the way he was with everyone.

I hate that I can't even be as mean as you, Gideon.

"Shall we all sing for Gideon?" Our teacher, Ms. Philips, clapped her hands to gain the attention of the class. All the kids usually perked up and get excited when it was their turn to stand in the front while the whole class sang to them, but Gideon just slumped in his seat, his fingers still idly messing with a card I'd seem him holding since morning.

I was on the seat behind his, so ignoring him was kind of impossible.

There was a chorus of 'yes' from the class, and Gideon sighed, standing up to straighten his brand new outfit. When he left his desk to make his way to the front, I couldn't help the curious peek at the card he'd left behind.

From Mommy & Daddy,

Happy Birthday! We Love You, Gideon! <3

For a second, I was confused.

Why would his parents give him a card? Wasn't that what grown-ups did when they were sending wishes to someone who was out of town?

Oh.

His parents weren't home even for his seventh birthday.

In an instant, all the irritation melted away, and I was filled with this overwhelming sadness on behalf of a boy who wasn't even my friend. I sang the Happy Birthday song half-heartedly, my mind occupied on what I could do to make my enemy feel better.

He might be mean and a jerk, but I gave back as good as I got. So honestly, even he didn't deserve to be alone on his birthday.

When Gideon returned to his seat, the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Students rushed out in a hurry to dig into their lunchboxes, and that's when I remembered what I'd brought that day for lunch—an amazing special recipe chicken pasta I had to beg for a week before my Mom finally made it for me, a slice of delicious pepperoni pizza with extra cheese from last night, and a frickin' lemonade.

I'd been looking forward to this lunch for two weeks, and even begged to order pizza for dinner last night so that I could bring the leftovers today.

An idea struck my mind.

"Hey, Gideon." I tapped his shoulder, noticing that he seemed to be reluctant to leave yet. Usually, he was one of the first ones to leave and he pretty much kept to himself, but he seemed so tired today.

"What?" He snapped suddenly, taking me by surprise.

Not so tired then.

"Wanna race?"'

One eyebrow shot up, an enviable technique he often used that I hadn't mastered yet.

"I'll take that as a yes. The first one to reach the first bench by the playground gets to have the other person's lunch."

He usually had these lame healthy lunches with plenty of greens and whatnot, so I could tell that it was an enticing offer.

"Deal." He nodded and we walked out of the building in silence. Once outside, we took position and I called out 'go!'.

We ran.

Unfortunately, I must've been tired that day or something, because I swear, just when I was about to reach out and touch the bench, Gideon shot forward and won.

Okay, fine, I let him win. Whatever. It's the kid's birthday.

"Aha! Loser!"

"Whatever," I mumbled, shrugging off my backpack. Gideon did the same, a huge smile of victory in his face.

I fished out my lunchbox, and I tried not to wince as I handed over my most precious possession. Since we were already out, I decided to ditch Axel and the gang that day and sit on the bench that had just cost me my lunch.

"Wow," Gideon exclaimed, eyes sparkling as he slowly set the box on the bench and opened it. "This looks yummy."

"Don't rub it in my face," I grumbled, feeling annoyed that I'd come up with such a stupid idea at all.

What the frack, Harvey? You waited two weeks for this.

"Here." Gideon handed me his lunchbox, avoiding my eyes. "Since I'm having yours, you might as well have mine. Don't want you to go tattling about why you starved today."

"Thank you." I looked pitifully at the healthy lunch visible through the clear plastic lid, wondering again, what on earth had possessed me.

We ate our lunch in silence, an unspoken treaty of peace in place for the day. Trying not to cry, I shoveled a forkful of vegetables into my mouth, sipping at the not-sweet juice container to wash it down. As I flinched and gagged with every bite, Gideon grinned and hummed, and I knew then that I'd done the right thing.

It was so worth it.

I'm writing these short flashbacks currently. I've updated 2 scenes today. One here and one after chapter 12.

EDIT: And one more after chapter 16.

There are 4 more scenes and I'll update them tomorrow.

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