Almost Like Family

Gracie. Chapter 1

I stood up, wiped myself off, and ran out from under the porch of an apartment building, ducking my head. I looked around me. There was an old green beat up truck not that far away. An old man sat in the cap. It seemed as though he was sleeping, but I waved anyway. Wouldn’t want to be rude. I heard a snore escape the cab through an open window, and felt embarrassed. I started walking down the street.

I hummed as I thought. Ever since my sister yelled “What’s wrong with you!?” and slammed her door in my face, I always wondered the same thing. What was wrong with me? A lot of things, I thought.

I was tracing the outline of windows, mailboxes, signs with my eyes, on my way to Noel's house. So far I’ve decided that I’m a hypochondriac, I have slight Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and I may have gone through a traumatic incident as a child, explaining my fear of toaster ovens, and my aversion to pastries. Also flamingo dancing. Yeah, something tragic involving flamingo dancing. Lord knows what might have happened.

I got to Noel's house early, but I didn’t want to sit under that porch for too much longer. It depressed me.

"Oh, you're early." her mom told me.

"Only by an hour,” I pointed out, smiling politely, as if I wasn’t verbally bashing her in my head. I focused on her eyes. I didn’t like looking at her face, so I didn’t notice her disheveled hair, worn down bathrobe she had tied tightly around her waist, and cracking cakey make-up. I'm unnecessarily critical but it makes me feel bad to think bad things about people so I try to not notice, which seems the best idea to me.

"Yes, dear. Why don't you come in?" She always called me “dear” and names like that. I wondered if she thought it seemed more maternal. Maybe it made her feel a little better for being drunk all the time. She was a nice lady though, so I just smiled, and said thank you. I ran up to Noel's room.

"You're practically late." Noel scolded me, jokingly. I smiled back, but noticed a piece of breakfast stuck in her teeth. I tried not to stare at it, or blurt something out at her. Noel turned around and her golden hair whipped around. Good thing there wasn’t much wrong with her most of the time, at least not that you could see. That’s why I spent most of my time with her, which seems shallow, but its just so that I don’t say something mean to someone and have people hate me.

"I'll try to get here earlier next time." I said back, and followed her into her room. She already had Life out, and all the pieces set up. I smiled, and sat down cross-legged across from her. Noel sat down also, and spun the wheel. It landed on a five. I spun it and it landed on a two. Without a word, she spun again and took her turn. She went to college, as was customary for us. I spun and I went straight out into the working world. It wasn’t hard to predict this game; I never went to college, and Noel always did.

The game went on for a while, and Noel won this time. It was usually half and half. We didn’t talk during the game.

I avoided looking at her the whole time I’d been there because I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold back a comment about the food stuck between her teeth, but once the game was over I immediately blurted out “You have something in your teeth, and its been grossing me out since I got here.” I didn’t look up at her.

“Oh,” she said, as she got it out with her tongue. She wouldn’t call me mean, but I knew she thought it sometimes. I don’t want to be mean, I really don’t, but its just the way I come across.

After that, there was a little awkward silence. Then I said I should be heading home, even though I didn’t want to. I left, saying goodbye to her mom who was drunk again by this point.

On the walk home, I traced the signs, and pretended to color them in, as if I were drawing them on that computer program. If there weren’t any signs to look at, I would watch my feet and count how many steps I had in one sidewalk square. This was distracting, and I almost walked right by my house.

That might’ve been nice. Then I wouldn’t have to go home. I stared at the place I lived, not daring to walk any closer. I thought of my options. I could go back to Noel’s house and try to avoid saying anything mean, try to avoid her mom altogether. Or maybe I could go back to that apartment building, and hide under the porch, waiting for someone to notice, and possibly abduct me. I don’t know if it would really be considered as abduction if I was waiting for it to happen though.

I could run away and find a job somewhere. Not at a bakery though. The thought of a pastry makes me shudder. As if to prove this to myself, I shuddered.

I wonder if there are still circuses accepting strange young people. But then I’ll just be mean to all the circus freaks, and they might take circus-y revenge on me in my sleep. Besides, I had no circus worthy talents.

I heard people yelling and a plate crashing. “GRACIE BRINE!” I heard screeched through the beat up front screen of my so-called home. “Get your ass in here this minute!” I stood there, and thought any sort of bizarre circus people revenge in the middle of the night couldn’t be worse than going into this crazy mess. “GRACIE?!” I heard again.

I sighed, and like a prisoner wrongly sentenced to death I held my head up and boldly walked my path to doom.

Matt. Chapter 2

I was just about to leave my house to go to work when my dad stopped me. “Come here, son,” He said to me, gruffly. That was my dad. Very gruff.

“Yeah, Dad?”

“Well, I was thinking.” He paused, rubbing his stubble.

“Yeah, Dad?” I prompted.

“You need to make sure you’re ready for college… and I just want to make sure you aren’t distracted… you know… from your grades. You’re gonna need a scholarship. Your mother and I can’t afford an expensive school for you, like with your brother. He got that scholarship with soccer. So… I’m just saying. Make sure you, uh,” he cleared his throat. “Stay focused.”

“Um,” I wasn’t sure where this was coming from, so I just agreed to it. “Sure, Dad. I’ll try to stay focused.”

“Try?” He slapped my back. “Your brother didn’t just try. He did it. Make sure you do more than try.” He looked down on at me.

I looked back, and nodded. He nodded once and walked away. At his back, I mumbled, “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna get anything…”

I left the house and jumped into my van, confused. What did he think was gonna distract me? Girls? Yeah right. I’ve been in love with my best friend for over a year, and she doesn’t know. It would probably be good for me to get a girlfriend, but I don’t think that would work out. Maybe I’m just being stupid, but I don’t think it would.

It’s almost at the end of my junior year in high school. The finals are coming up soon and I was planning on studying like crazy. I was going to do good on them. I couldn’t believe my dad really thought I wasn’t serious about going to college.

I didn’t know what I want to be yet, and there was always the off chance I could get famous with our band, but I doubted that. However, there was always a hope and when I was in a better mood sometimes I even thought it was possible.

I got to work, but I didn’t have to be there for another forty minutes. I thought I might as well do some shopping and maybe make myself feel better. I went in, and nodded a hello to a couple people I knew before going to the music store. It calmed me to look at the music. By the time I picked out a couple new CD’s, I had forgotten all about my dad and school. I bought them, and went to get something to eat at the food court.

I sat down with some pizza, when I noticed a group of girls about my age, maybe younger looking at me and giggling. I smiled at them, and they turned to each other and giggled more. I looked away, kind of embarrassed. Why were they laughing at me?

I was almost finished with my pizza, only the crust left, when one of the girls came over. She stood there, face scarlet, and looked like she was about to explode for a minute.

When she didn’t say anything I broke the silence. “Hello?”

“Hi. My friend over there,” She pointed back to the table. “Wanted to know if you wanted to go out with her sometime?”

How juvenile, I thought. Why wouldn’t she just come up and talk to me? I thought for a minute before I said anything.

“Well, I don’t know her, so I don’t know if I would want to,” I answered, honestly.

“Oh. Ok,” She ran back to the other girls and whispered. They were all giggling. I felt really embarrassed, so I just got up and threw away the rest of my pizza and soda. I went to check in to work. I was a mall security guard, and I hoped I wouldn’t run into those girls during my patrolling.

There hadn’t been an incident all day, and I was walking by a pretzel place when my phone rang. I figured it would be alright if I picked it up today.

“Hi, Matt?” I heard on the other end, "I need a favor."

Jim. Chapter 3

Band practice was at my house again today. That meant a couple of hours of watching Matt play his guitar. It was a perfect set up because he always played in front of me, so I could watch his muscular arms hold the guitar and slide up and down the neck.

Kyle was pretty hot too, but definitely not as much as Matt. Plus he’s dating Amy, meaning he likes girls, he’s taken, and if I ever tried to hit on him Amy would kick my ass. Not to mention he kind of annoys me. Like all he does is sit there, sing a little, and flirt with Amy. It’s actually really annoying.

Although I can’t hit on Matt. No one knows I’m gay… except for one person. I’d almost told Amy a couple times, but I chickened out. Plus I don’t think she would have believed me. I joke around too much, and make so many sexist jokes… she definitely wouldn’t believe me. I wouldn’t dare tell Matt or Kyle. They’d probably get too freaked out.

I was watching TV, admiring the abs of a man on an infomercial advertising a work out system, when my cell phone went off. “Jim?” I heard in his soft velvety voice. I felt my face get hot.

It was Chris. He wasn’t really my boyfriend, we both had crushes on other guys that we never had the courage to tell, but we were each other’s… secret friends let’s say. We got together and talked about maybe telling someone, and once in a while we did kiss… but it didn’t really mean anything to either of us.

“Hey baby,” I answered, trying to make my voice sound sexy for him.

“Mind if I come over for a little bit?” he asked. I smiled to myself. Band practice wasn’t for another couple hours…

“Sure,” I tried to say casually.

“I’ll be there in a few seconds. See ya soon,” He said. I smiled even bigger.

“Bye,” I breathed. I went into my bedroom and changed out of my pajamas into a pair of dark baggy jeans and a tight grey tee-shirt. I grabbed my checkered belt and put it on just as I heard a knock on the door. My parents were away for the weekend, and I was an only child, so no one else was gonna get that door for me. Of course, it was probably better to be alone when Chris was there. My parents might find it strange to walk in on me and a boy cuddling while watching movies, or doing something worse.

I went down, and opened the door. There he stood, wearing skinny jeans and a red tee-shirt. It was pretty tight around his torso, and I didn’t bother hiding the fact that I was checking him out. He was doing the same. I opened the door wider and motioned for him to come in.

“Come on in. No one else is home.” He smiled, showing his green braces, and walked in. He had longish blonde hair, was pretty scrawny and sort of freckly. He had the prettiest hazel eyes though…

He walked right to my couch and sat down. He motioned for me to sit next to him. I did, and he pulled my legs onto his lap. I smiled.

“Aww, you’re blushing,” he said. I looked away. “It’s cute.”

“So are you,” I loved flirting. And I didn’t feel guilty about pretending he was Matt. He said he pretended I was Brian, a kid he knew from school.

“So how’s Matt?” He asked, seeming a little coy, but Chris always did that when Matt was mentioned.

“Still straight. Well, as far as I know. But here’s to hoping!” I said with a smirk. “How about Brian?”

Chris paused. “He’s fine,” he sounded weird.

“What’s wrong?” He looked me in the eyes for a minute; it felt really intense. He was absently stroking my leg. I looked away first, so I didn’t see his expression when he said, “I think he has a girlfriend.”

“Doesn’t mean he doesn’t think you’re cute…” I muttered.

“Probably does though.” He sighed. “But it’s ok. He didn’t have adorable dimples like you,” he whispered and pulled my chin up. I looked him in the eyes before he kissed me. The TV was on still, and I heard the infomercial end and the next one, advertising a blender, begin before we stopped.

I glanced at the clock. “Oh wow.” I murmured. He nodded in agreement. “I mean the time,” I said louder.

“Oh.”

“The guys in the band are gonna be here in an hour.”

He looked disappointed. “Is there time for a movie?”

I smiled. “Well maybe a TV show…” his face brightened.

“Desperate Housewives?” he asked eagerly.

“Oh, alright. You know how to set it up,” I said and he pushed my legs off his lap to go to the television. He popped the disc in and as the show came up and we settled into the couch together.

Amy. Chapter 4

I turned my cell phone around in my hands, and felt the black plastic under my fingers. I flipped it open and looked at my background. I sighed and considered texting Kyle. I didn’t think he’d really want to hear from me, but I could be wrong. I mean he did smile at me the last time I saw him. I just averted my eyes, and blushed. Definitely not my style. I groaned.

I could text something calm and casual like: hey. I’m so bored.

He might answer: hi. What’s new?

I would say: oh, nothing. Just been dumped, and I don’t have anyone to kick the crap out of…

Scratch that. I would say: oh, nothing. How about you?

That’s casual, and kind of boring, but it would work.

Kyle’d answer something like: actually I’ve been thinking a lot, and I think I made a huge mistake. I want you back.

Nah. He wouldn’t say that right out like that. I know him. And that certainly isn’t

him. Now I’m just fantasizing.

I groaned and snapped my phone shut. I rolled off my bed and landed on the ground with a thud. I blew hair out of my face and sat up. I closed my eyes and laid back down. It was cool and relaxing there. I could space out and no one would notice. Or care.

I sat up and reached to snag my cell phone from off my bed. I opened it to make sure I hadn’t missed a message. Just in case. I hadn’t. I laid back down to get back to my day dream.

So instead of him saying I want you back, he might say: not much, but I’ve missed talking to you.

Yeah, that could work. He didn’t say he missed me which would sound clingy, but he said he missed talking to me. Which could just mean like a friend. Yep. I’m good at this role playing thing.

So I would say back: that’s too bad. I’m only talking to you ‘cause no one else was answering me.

Is that too mean? Oh, I know, I’ll add an “lol” so it’ll be a joke. It is a lie, but a joke is close enough.

So then he would respond: haha. I’m glad you’ve gotten over me.

I would say: pfft. I’ve already had like 6 boyfriends since you.

More sarcasm. Good, casual and joking.

He would say: in two days? Wow, I didn’t think whore was my type. lol

He would add the "lol" to make sure I knew he was kidding.

I would say: and I didn’t know jackass was my type.

No. Bad. That would make it awkward. He might think I meant it. And I might mean it. Ok, so I would say: oh, I’m the whore, but I’m not the one who got three girls numbers at a party the day after dumping the person you supposedly loved.

Nahh. That’s also too accusatory. This might be harder than I thought.

Ok. So I would say… what?

I sighed and rolled over on my tummy. Maybe it would just go back to how it was? Like the time we were out by the baseball field.

It was windy, and the wind was even chillier from being out in the open. I felt the goose bumps rise on my skin. I hugged myself to keep away from the cold. It wasn’t working. The metal bench I was sitting on was no good either. It was me, him, and a couple of his sporty friends. We were going to play catch, but I was so cold I just sat down. Kyle looked so cute, his hair in blowing in his face, goofing off with his friends. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. He looked over at me and smiled bigger than I had ever seen someone smile. I blushed and looked down. He started to jog towards me. He took off his hoodie (oh, my how it smelled like him!) and put it on me. I stood up to get a kiss, and he wrapped his arms around me, shielding me from the wind. I buried my face in his warm chest, trying so hard to absorb the moment. Kyle kissed the top of my head, and I could have stayed there forever. Then I heard my cell phone ring.

Wait, that’s not part of the story… I opened my eyes, and slowly opened my hand to look at the caller ID. I hoped above all hope it was him. I felt my heart beat up into my throat. I peeked at it. I knew it wouldn’t be him, so it shouldn’t have disappointed me so much when it said Mom, but I still felt my heart sink back down. Down, down. Past my chest, where it should be, and way down past my feet even. I was heartless. Maybe it wasn’t the fact that it wasn’t him calling, but that it was her instead. It just made it that much worse.

I sighed once again, and flipped open my phone. “Hello?”

“Amelia, Darhhhlllinnggg!” she said, so exaggerated I wanted to slap her out of it. No one called me Amelia. I was just Amy. I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, mom?” I said as casually as possible to throw off her fake fancy accent.

“Oh, Dahhling. I’m going to be in town this weekend…” she started to use her stern voice with a sales associate and I knew she was trying to bargain with the poor kid over something I’m sure was overpriced, but either way, everyone knew she couldn’t get the price changed. She would charge it on her new husband’s credit cards. I rolled my eyes.

I knew not to interrupt her when she was attempting to haggle. After a few minutes I heard her say “Oh, fine. I’ll just settle this one time, but if I find out it was possible for you to give me a discount, I will have you fired. Do you understand?” she puffed out her breath and came back to me. “Yes, so dear,” back to her fake proper mask. “I would loooove to come take you and your brother out to lunch this weekend. How about it, Amelia dahhhhling?”

I made an imitation gun out of my fingers and shot my self in the head with it as I said, “Yeah, sure. Sounds cool.” I had to refrain myself from saying what I was thinking.

“Oh, that’s just fabulous!” she exclaimed. “I’ll pick you up at eleven. And Amelia, dear, do watch your grammar, please. A lady like yourself should speak like a lady. Bye bye dear!” she said and I heard her snap the phone shut. Yeah, and you shouldn’t make up stupid words just because you married some rich snot, Dahhhling. Seriously, I wish I wasn’t in the same gene pool as you.

I closed my phone as well and checked to see if I had any new text messages. I didn’t. I saw the time and realized I was supposed to pick up my brother from middle school. I jumped up, threw on my bright red converse, checked my hair, and grabbed my keys on the way out of the door.

I locked the door heading out into the hallway of our apartment. My dad would be wicked pissed at me if I was late picking him up again, so I ran out into my ancient maroon box of a car and shoved the key into the ignition. I raced out into the street and towards the school. I wasn’t really late yet. Just… not exactly on time. Who am I kidding. My dad’s going to be mad. Maybe I’ll buy my brother and ice cream and he won’t tell? Hey, it’s worth a shot.