My Sister's Best Friend

6

I get home from practice at eight the following night. Typically I'd get home around seven, but I always make an effort to smoke a joint in my car on the way back, and then I'll drive around to air out the stench. If I don't smoke weed after practice then I'm wired — so wired that it makes everything feel like it's completely on edge.

A lot of players are scared about having a surprise drug test, but not me. I could give two fucks if we get drug tested. Football isn't my life, and if it's in the cards for me to get tested and get kicked off the team then so be it.

I put a couple of eye drops in before I double check myself in the mirror, grabbing my backpack before I head into the house. My mom is busy making dinner in the kitchen, an old 80's band playing through the speaker.

"Hi honey!" She shouts over the music, quickly turning it down once I reach the island. "How was school? Practice?"

"It was fine." I shrug, the same response I always give.

"Ready for the big game this weekend?" My dad types away at his laptop at the dining room table, a ton of papers spread out around him.

If there's anyone I look up to in life it's my dad. He is truly the best father I could ever ask for, and I can only hope to be as good of a dad as he is someday. He's always been there for me through everything. He's at every game, but I know that if tomorrow I decided to quit the team then he'd support my decision fully. He'd never pressure me into doing something that I didn't want to do, and I love him for that.

People have always said that Maddie and I look exactly like him. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and very prominent jawlines. It used to be more obvious, but now that my dad has gotten older his hair has turned slightly grey, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"Very ready. You should have seen Cameron and I today. We're going to be unstoppable."

"Where is he?" My mom looks behind me as if she's expecting him to come around the corner. "I made that cornbread of mine that he loves to go with the chili."

"Uh, he said he was going to Mark's house for a get together or something." I say. "He'll probably be here later though. Just put a plate in the fridge."

"Figures. The day I make a double batch Maddie decides to go to Maya's and Cameron isn't here. You didn't want to go to the get together too?" She asks.

Definitely not. After the party last weekend I embarrassed myself entirely. Clearly I'm not in a place to even attend a party, or a small get together for that matter. My parents can't exactly know about the party that I went to though, so instead I just say, "no. I have a lot of homework to do, so I decided to stay back."

"How responsible of you." My father drawls, clearly not believing me. I'm too high to try and defend myself. It was a lame excuse, I'll admit it.

Not wanting to explain myself any further, I tell them both that I'll eat later and head upstairs to my room. I'd prefer to wait for the munchies to kick in. It'll taste ten times better.

I don't have homework, so I collapse down onto my gaming chair and start up the PlayStation. It's not everyday that I'm by myself after school. I'm used to having Cameron with me, and the silence is deafening. It leaves me alone with my thoughts.

As I start the game up, my phone rings. It's Cameron.

"Hey." I press my phone between my ear and shoulder.

"Hey, are you sure you don't want to come tonight? It's not too late. I can swing by and pick you up."

"Nah, I'm really okay." I reply, and images from the party last weekend flood into my mind. I refuse to have a repeat of that situation.