“Umm, it was nothing, never mind.”
“So I was thinking since we’re dating now, that we should go out and do something today,” Kenzie says. Everything revolves around her, like always.
“Like what?” Brody asks.
“Maybe the mall or something.”
“Okay sure; Hails, you want to come?” Brody asks.
“No Brody, just us, as a couple,” my sister says, then looks at me smugly. “Sorry Haley, you understand don’t you?”
“Sure,” I shrug. “No big deal. You two have fun,” I say, before getting up off the couch to head back home.
“See ya Hails,” Brody yells as I run up the stairs.
I race out of the house, cross the street, shove open the front door, and run up the stairs to my bedroom. I can’t help it when the first tear falls. He was supposed to be my first boyfriend.
Chapter Two (End of 10th Grade)
“Hey sweetie, you ready to head across the street for Liam’s graduation dinner?” Mom asks.
“Yeah,” I say as I check myself out in the mirror one last time, “Where’s Kenzie?”
“She’s already over there with Brody.”
“Oh.”
Things haven’t been the same these past two years. With Kenzie dating Brody, I don’t get to spend time with him the way I used to. I can’t even remember the last time I talked to him on my own, without her hovering. Wow, how two years can change things.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” Mom asks as she enters my room.
“I’m fine,” I say, looking at myself in my purple sundress.
“Sweetie, you may want to change, I’m pretty sure Kenzie is wearing that same dress today.”
“Seriously?” I ask annoyed. She made fun of me for buying this dress. Then she went out and bought one for herself?
“Yes, dear. You can wear it if you want, you two haven’t dressed alike in years. It would be cute to see,” she says with a smile.
“Sorry Mom, I’m changing,” I say as I head into my walk-in closet and pull out a pair of blue and teal plaid shorts and a navy tank top, “I’ll be ready in a minute Mom,” I say as I quickly change into another outfit.
“You look nice,” she says, with a genuine smile, when I emerge from the closet.
“Thanks.” I give myself one more look in the mirror. My long blonde hair hangs in curls down my back; my blue eyes show a hint of sparkle. I want boys to notice me; well, one in particular. No, two in particular, but one is taken and the other is about to leave for college in a few short months. I just hit 5’6”, and I can tell my body is starting to make positive changes. If only I could grow some boobs, like Kenzie.
Mom, Dad, and I walk across the street carrying a few gifts and some casserole thing my mom made. Denise, Brody’s mom, holds the door open as we walk up the steps.
“Come in,” she ushers us. We all walk in together and put the food where it goes before setting the gifts on a side table.
Everyone is talking amongst themselves; I look around, but Liam is nowhere in sight. Kenzie and Brody are making out like normal in the living room. Mom and Dad are talking to the Masters. Isaac isn’t around either, so I decide to head down to the game room to see if the boys are there.
I get to the stairs and hear voices, knowing right away it’s Liam and Isaac’s, and it almost sounds like Isaac’s crying. I walk down a few more steps, so I can see what’s going on, when I hear Liam start to talk. Liam is sitting on the couch with Isaac right beside him.
“You’re going to come visit me and I’ll be coming home too, little buddy,” he says sweetly.
“But it’s not the same,” Isaac says through tears.
Liam wraps his arm around Isaac’s shoulder, “You’re right it’s not, but Bud, this is what happens when you graduate high school. You want me to play football, right?”
“Yeah,” he says sadly.
“I’m going to school to play football.”
“But it’s so far away. Can’t you go to a school closer?” he pleads.
“Bud, I’ve always wanted to go to Michigan, you know that.”
“Can I come with you? I can go to school out there. I promise I’ll listen,” he pleads.
“If I could take you along I would, but I can’t buddy. Mom and Dad would miss you too much. You need to stay here with Brody.”
“I’m almost ten Liam. I can make my own decisions,” he says adamantly, pulling away from Liam.
Liam chuckles, “Bud, you’re going to come visit me; it’s only a ten hour drive. I’m going to get you guys some tickets for a few home games so you can come and hang out with me, okay?”