My Best Friend's Brother

Farrah Happened

"Hey, Dad, it's me again... I miss you more than you know."

I sit criss cross beside my fathers tombstone, and feel the rain start to sprinkle.

"I don't know what to do... I could really use your help, and a hug right now. Mom tries to act like nothing is wrong, but she is working herself so hard.. she is barely home, and you know I hate being home alone."

The sprinkling rain started to pick up, the wind was beginning to swirl around.

"I wish I could see you," I brushed the tombstone with my finger, "I love you, Dad."

The rain was now at a downpour as I walked to my car. 
I send mom a text to see if she is planning on being home for supper, she quickly responds that she is working late.

I picked up a pizza on my way home to have a movie marathon by myself, but I was surprised when I pulled into my driveway.

Liam was sitting on my front porch.

"Do you want to sit out here all night, or come in?"

He smiled and followed me through the door, "I can't stay long, but I wanted to come see you. You left without saying goodbye."

I open the pizza box offering him a slice, "I'm sorry about that, I was just ready to go home."

"Did Sarah get pissed?"

My heart sank, I hadn't told her yet. I couldn't bring myself to answer.

"That bad, huh? She will get over it. We can give her some space for a little while," he looked around, "Where is your mom?"

I chew the bite of pizza, "Working late."

He frowned, "You good by yourself?"

"I'm not by myself," I shrug, and he stares at me confused, "I have Dean and Sam Winchester."

He put his hand on his chest and laughed, "Ouch, picking another set of brothers over me. At least they fight ghosts and stuff."

We both laugh, and then silence sets in.

"I should probably go. I told my mom I was running to the store to pick up some Tylenol, she will probably start calling me if I'm not back soon. Evidently, when you get beat up, your family starts to actually give a shit about you."

"I might try that next time."

He rolls his eyes and pulls me into a hug, "Are you sure you are okay by yourself?"

I nod, my head against his chest, "I'm home alone a lot, I will be just fine."

I pull my head off of his chest and smile to where he can visibly see my reassurance. He smiled back and kisses my forehead.

"I will see you tomorrow."

I sit in Biology 101 trying to stay awake. I had found myself struggling to sleep last night. I was so zoned out that I hadn't heard Grant saying my name the past two minutes. Finally he tapped my shoulder.

"Hey, how are you doing?"

I lowered my voice, "I'm doing okay, everyone keeps asking me that."

"I feel responsible in a way, I'm sorry that it happened."

I shook my head, "It's not your fault, Grant."

"A group of us are meeting Vannatta and his boy Lex at the court tonight, I'll kick his ass myself."

I closed my book, "Don't do that. Please, just let it all go."

"I can't do that. Besides, once plans are made, you can't go back on them. Not this kind."

I sighed, "Will Liam be there?"

Grant didn't have to speak, his face gave me my answer.

The bell rang and I sprinted out into the hallway looking for him. Several people tried to stop me and talk, but I was on a mission. Finally I found him talking to a few of the basketball players beside the lockers.

I pulled him backwards by his backpack, "I swear to God, Liam White, I will recreate your black eyes if you go to that-"

"Slow down, slow down..." he put his hands on my shoulders, "What's going on?"

"You tell me! The court, tonight?"

His shoulders slummed and his head raised backwards. He closed his eyes slowly, "Who told you?"

"That doesn't matter, when the hell were you going to tell me? Never?"

He semi-laughed, "That was kind of the plan, but so was telling Sarah about us."

My eyes grew wide and my heart stopped, I opened my mouth but only a squeak came out.

"Yeah, I know you didn't tell her."

"How did you-"

"You said you needed to be the one to do it, so do it," he pulled his backpack off his shoulder, "I have to go to class. I will text you."

"Liam, I am not done talking to you!"

He kept on walking down the hallway, not even turning back. I see Grant coming down the hall out of the corner of my eye, and I pull him over to the lockers.

"What time tonight?"

He laughed, "Oh hell no, you aren't coming."

"Time."

He looked over his shoulders and around me, then whispered really low, "Six fifteen. Do not bring anyone with you."

I stopped him before he walked away, "I need a favor.."

He cut his eyes around again, "What?"

I whispered lower than him, "Let me get a punch in."

He was no longer whispering, "Hell no. Liam would kill me, and you could get yourself killed. You aren't supposed to be there at all, you aren't getting anywhere near them. Keep your ass hidden."

"Please, it would help me."

"I would love to help you, but this is not the way."

He pushed around my arm and left me alone in the hallway, or so I thought.

"What was that about?"

I jumped at Sarah's voice, "What was what about?"

She made that resting bitch face, "That." She pointed at Grant walking down the hall.

"We were just talking about some stuff, nothing important."

She laughed, "Looked like y'all were conspiring a drug deal or a murder or something."

I watched her as she laughed, she was genuinely happy in life. She was my best friend, and I was scared of losing her. Liam and one of his buddies walked across the end of the hall into Anatomy, and  I know that I have to tell her soon.

"Sarah..."

She stopped with a smile and gave me her attention, "Yes?"

"Why did you make Rule Number One? Did something specifically happen?"

Her face grew cold, and she angrily bit the inside of her cheek, "Farrah happened."