He's My Brother's Best Friend
but all that changes when I remember that i
If I blow it today, I will blow it
op top. My black backpack, which I grudging
and to knock. I stop. I better find some
if someone has been waiting f
I am so shocked by who I meet in the front po
The one who teases me all the time. The one who walked on me naked
run upstairs and barge into my dad's
the room. Where h
Keith, I will ask him
tairs to see my d
and Keith is there too. They are ta
one man to
ad
oney?"
t in your room." T
o run by the o
e still doing in my hous
much I look at h
t?" He was trying to
e, alright."
oon give him somet
ng to get him to feel unwelcome. I want
on. He instead walks to the refriger
aking you to
? This clown ta
ay, Keith" Dad
sir". Ke
was supposed to take me to school on my first day,
uma and here he is pres
do this to me
e he knows exactly wh
a stranger to t
is Ben's best friend. I wouldn't give you to
ranger. I don't kn
s trying to figure out wh
ve to head back to the office." He doesn't see things the
t going
s nonchalant, I will sho
Now he gives me h
not going." I fold my hands
m sure he is deciding how
n gets to where they are through hard work. You
ant to hear. Why can't he get into
I ask
ves me a light
chool, Annabelle
e has left me alone with a stranger and he has
eet back to
lding an apple which, I'm sure, he to
me. *scoffs* okay, I admit. He
e set?"
e that stupid sm
guess,"
e points at the box of cerea
stranger's hand all over wh
"We should go, don't want
and st
be in college or something?" I
gives me a
t dropping m
there too." He sm
but I follo
cused on the road and it's a good thin
me, I begin to int
u are in college. How come you a
ed and he doesn't give me an answer. I'm beginning to think
out the basketball coach. Had an injury that is going to kee
he was a dummy who is still stuck in hi
Won't you miss lec
but will catch
ow
ways." He w
soar. He notic
ng to school with a staff," I
I'm a staf
for the basketball coach, doesn
cticing with the basketball
the talking. Can't forg
ks after some minute
dly. Of course, h
n
nough." I shrug
east tell a half-bad joke. Maybe with
pulls up in a s
han I pictured and it
legs won't move
coming ou
stare at me. It was so intense that I didn'
r and leads me to t
**
before the princ
people with zero social life were principals. Here bef
as he brushes through do's and do
he said, I ca
in. But the next thing I remember is standing be
's your name?" Mrs. Fred
teenagers staring back at me. I open my mout
elle Hopkins." The
would have stayed here
come to Annabelle.
The class says wi
school isn't the bes
The teacher says. None
eat, Annabelle
to trip, I walk to
A group of girls at my left. They are talking loudly. Loud enough to
(is that even allowed in high scho
ts my eye and I turn my gaze away. My instincts t
me. And I look away and i
ours. Luncht
e class, but still, none of
stand awkwardly, w
Ben who died in an accident
l girl. She is in a white sho
poken to me. I will ma
'm his junior siste
how good my brother was. How they miss him here altho
h her friend who looks similar
face can't be de
she is walking past me? Can
murs from her
the one." Her frien
ting you." She says. "Sh
t, they
happening in just my first day in school. Thi
na," I assure myself
gods I knew, to guide me and
ry inch of every space i
tight. I use my eyes to scan aroun
. At the far end of the hall. I walk
ss are sitting around the ta
six people but here two are sitting at
. And that's when the girls who I thought neve
ompassion or friendli
The one with th
. Annabelle Ho
you to think that you ca
ion has just
ught the seat was
ely it's no
arrassed is an
he ground to open
ing to each other. Is this going to be my life?
nd hide in the toilet. Their ey
run. And that wa
p. From the mean and gi
at I am in big trouble. I can hea
So that's her name, Taylor. The pink freak that I took m
dding me?"
I try to clean off the pi
hands off me." Sh
my mouth. I'm about to cry. I do
st been embarrassed by this gir
shoulder. I turn to see
He asks. With genuin
turn to look at Taylor
aning Taylor's body wit
ew I have gotten myself i
like bathing someone with your lun
o that?" H
't be standing here at the very c
is psycho, Keit
psycho? Can this girl
or. Annabelle made a mist
I've been nothing but rude to
. She looks from me to
w her?" She se
"she is Ben's
omes to a
d," Taylo
round seems to be surprised
s around here but I'm g
get you another
your blouse."
s with a smile. "it wa
Keith lead
th us. If you want."
with her? After all, that ju
een saying yes, I wanted to say yes and
o sit with me and the boys." Keith
dn't even give me a chan
l the way to t
able. It's like being handsome is one of th
ve at me. As Keith waits for me to
ou're Ben's sister
gh. "Why is being Ben's sis
other is a legend aroun
One of the finest
and with a smile. Of
vin." H
is hand
reply. Return
ing at us. Something tells me not eve
thoughts. He pushes his snac
e smiles. "I hav
laugh and