Not the Only One (Book 1 in the Four of Us Trilogy)

Fifteen

Luke

"So, you and your delinquent boyfriend have detention after school today, right?" I asked, elbowing her as we filed out of Mr. Brooks' classroom.

"He is not my boyfriend. And yes, as a matter of fact, we do," she replied, sticking her tongue out at me.

"Yeah, yeah, semantics. He'll be your boyfriend soon enough," I sighed.

"What?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Rach...I just...Are you sure about him?" I asked, not wanting to upset her.

She chuckled. "No. I'm not, but...that's sort of what makes it fun," she said, shrugging.

"I know what you mean."

"How so?" 

"Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I've been having fun with Brooke this past week."

Rachel's eyes widened. "Really?" Then acknowledgment crossed her face. "Wait. Do you like her?" she asked, clasping her hands against her chest.

Rolling my eyes, I say, "I didn't say that. Just that I've been having fun with her. That's all." I scoffed. "She's way out of my league, anyway." Rachel stopped, and I turned around. "What?" 

"Brooke is not out of your league. And let me tell you this: if she's hanging out with you, she at least likes you as a friend. She doesn't waste time with people she doesn't think are cool. And that, my friend, is a start," she said, putting her hand on my shoulder.

Just then, Vice Principal Milton's voice blared over the intercom. "Detention is beginning in three minutes. If you're late, you'll have a Saturday detention to make up for this one. Thank you."

"Shit," she said, giving me a swift hug. "I gotta go. Saturday detention is so not an option. See ya later, Luke!" She turned and ran down the hallway toward the library.

I shook my head as I watched her scamper off. Seeing Rachel Cross run to get to detention on time was surreal.

My phone dinged in my pocket, and I fished it out. It was my dad.

Hey son, your mom and I want to take you out to dinner tonight. Where do you want to go?

I almost dropped my phone. This would make the second time in just a few days that we have eaten together as a family and the first time in years that my dad has asked me where I want to go. 

Hey Dad...can we go to the Back Porch? I'm craving oysters.

Sounds good. Meet us there for an early dinner.

K. See ya there.

Love you, son.

Love you too, dad.

As soon as I put my phone back in my pocket, I remembered something. I had detention today too. I checked my watch. 3:01. 

I guess I'd have a Saturday detention...it was worth it to have dinner with both of my parents at the same time.

I left school feeling better than I had in months.

My parents and I sat at the Back Porch for an hour, talking and catching up on everything from my grades to my dad's work to my mom's AA meetings.

At one point, I just sat there and looked between them, realizing how good it felt to have what felt like a normal family. My dad was in a great mood, my mom wasn't blitzed, and I had a decent day at school.