Free A Note of Madness by Tabitha Suzuma

not sure . . . kind of shy . . .’
    ‘Maybe . . .’
    Transfixed, Flynn flinched violently on hearing the living-room door open. He climbed back into bed, his heart thudding painfully in his chest from what he had overheard. Then came the inevitable knock on the door. He scrunched up his eyes.
    ‘Flynn, it’s Rami.’
    I know it’s you, you idiot. Just go away.
    ‘Flynn, come on. Open the door.’ His voice, deep and calm as usual. ‘I’m not going to go away, so you mayas well let me in. Stop being a baby – I only want to talk to you.’
    Stop being a baby
. How many times had he said that before? When was he going to realize that a twelve-year age gap meant nothing any more?
    ‘I’m getting concerned, Flynn. If you don’t open the door, I’ll have to force it.’
    He would too. Furiously, Flynn jumped up, kicked the chair out of the way and fell face down back into bed. He heard the door open, then close.
    His desk light clicked on and the swivel chair creaked. ‘Blimey, what’s been going on in here?’
    Flynn breathed heavily into his pillow, his lungs crying out for air.
    A hand on the back of his head. ‘Hey, you.’
    He screwed up his eyes. Go away!
    Another creak as Rami sat down again. ‘What’s going on, Flynnie?’
    Irritation sparked at the stupid childhood nickname.
    Flynn turned his head towards the wall a fraction to allow himself to speak. ‘I’m just tired. Leave me alone.’
    ‘’Fraid not. I’ve driven all the way down from Watford and I haven’t seen you in nearly two months, so I’m going to expect a bit more than this.’
    Flynn fought to keep his voice steady. ‘I’m tired, Rami. I didn’t ask you to come, so just leave me alone, OK?’
    There was a long silence. ‘I’m concerned, Flynn.Your friends are concerned. Professor Kaiser’s concerned. We’re just trying to help.’
    ‘I don’t want your help!’
    ‘You’re being childish.’
    ‘Oh, shut up!’
    ‘Listen.’ Flynn could tell by Rami’s tone that he was struggling to stay calm. ‘I’m not going to ignore you while you’re like this, however unpleasant you decide to be. But if you refuse to talk to me then I’ll have to find someone else who can. Do you want me to call Mum and Dad?’
    Before he knew what he was doing, Flynn sat bolt upright. ‘Don’t you dare! This is none of your business! You know how much Dad’s having to fork out for me to be here! You know how Mum worries about the slightest little thing!’
    ‘Flynn, OK, you’re talking to me now. I won’t—’
    ‘You have no right to blackmail me into speaking to you! You can’t just come in and demand that I do what you want! This is none of your business! Harry had no right to call you!’
    ‘Hey, hey, easy, Flynn! Calm down. I’m sorry I said that.’
    But the suppressed fury continued to erupt within Flynn until all he wanted to do was throw things and punch Rami’s stupid face. All he felt was anger, pure and undiluted and of such power it was as if he would burst with the force of it. He hated himself for actually wanting to hurt his brother, while at the same timeknowing nothing could bring him more satisfaction.
    ‘I just want to be left alone! Get that through your thick skull! This has nothing to do with you. Go back to Watford! Go and live your life and let me live mine! I don’t want you here! I don’t want you to come and – and – I don’t – I don’t want—’ Suppressed sobs were building up in his throat. He gulped for breath and pressed his hands to his face, horrified to feel hot tears against his cheeks.
    ‘Hey – hey—’ Rami was on the edge of the bed now, gripping the back of his neck.
    ‘I don’t w-want you to – to—’
    ‘You don’t want me to be here? But I am, Flynn, and it’s not the end of the world. Harry rang because he was worried. I know you just want to be left alone. If I’m feeling crap I usually want to be left alone too. But sometimes what we want is not always what’s