< -- two -- >

· ·

Walking out of school breathing in the fresh summer air the dented red door slammed shut behind me. Ethan rested against his new 2019 GMC Sierra Denali, his end of the school year reward was his parent's biggest gift making sure to outdo themselves from the previous year.

Ethan would always thank them and accept whatever the reward was to not hurt his parents feelings even though he preferred the newest technology pieces that could help with his small inventions or something simple like an updated computer. He's tried to give some of his unwanted gifts to me since he had no siblings but I always denied the offer and I always would. They weren't my rewards. I got by with good grades, not straight A's with perfect attendance like him but good enough with mostly A's and a few B's.

I got my own rewards like a bigger tv. It wasn't a 70 inch like Ethan's but I was okay with the 55 inch mounted on my wall. I didn't need to be transported into the tv or make my head hurt trying to take it all in.

My parents haven't rewarded me since the fighting started freshman year. Can't say that I care because I don't. If I wanted to go somewhere, which was usually to hang with Ethan, he would come get me or I would walk. I didn't watch much tv or stayed with my phone in hand because I enjoy playing music.

Guitar was my thing and Cresette was my baby. Getting her for amazing grades in seventh grade I've learned a ton of songs since then. Maroon 5 was my favorite band to learn from so far. I loved to put my headphones on and listen to the bass guitar play but that too came to a stop when Cas died. My mom has tried to get me to play but stopped once I threatened to break Cresette which was just a complete bluff. I would never ever hurt my baby.

Ethan even tried a few times, not as persistent as my mom but he would set the guitar case on my bed opened and tempting as ever but I just couldn't bring myself to do it so I made my way over to the keyboard. Cresette still has my heart though and that would never change.

"You didn't have to get out the truck." I said to Ethan walking down the cement steps. Getting closer I waited for him to lift his head from the book he was memorizing and acknowledge me but it never happened. "Ethan. Yo Ethan." Looking over to the truck's keys resting on the hood for anyone to take, I grabbed them pressing the alarm button making him jump so hard he dropped his book clutching his chest. Turning off the alarm I picked up his book brushing it off before reading the title handing it back.

"Geez, Lars. All you had to do was call my name."

Shaking my head I handed his keys over. "I did call you." I held up two fingers. "Twice."

"Oh." He pushed his glasses up. "Sorry about that then." Getting in the passenger seat Ethan pulled off turning right at the stop sign heading towards our house division. "So how was um . . . detention?"

Chuckling, I answered his question anyways, "Detention was fine dad."

Ethan smirked. "I don't really know what to say Lars. You wouldn't let me take the blame now your parents took your car and your coach -"

"I don't care about not having my car. That means I don't have to take Eloise to her friend's house and Coach can . . ." Resting my normal arm in the open window I pulled out my prosthetic arm from my pocket moving the bionic fingers and rotating the wrist hating that I sounded like a fax machine.

Pushing my hair back with my right hand I exhaled tiredly. "I don't care what he thinks. I was protecting my best friend from Griffin The Asshole." I shrugged at the truth the same way I did when I had to explain it to my parents.

"T-Thanks by the way."

"Stop thanking me dude. You've thanked me a million times today already."

"Yeah well I'll keep thanking you until that busted lip goes away."

Looking in the side view mirror I poked my bottom lip out inspecting the swelling around my piercing. Running my tongue over the split skin my eye twitched at the sensitivity. "It was his one and only hit."

"Yes but the entire school saw your arm twist around and I'm sure there are recordings going viral as we speak."

"I thought you knew me enough to know that I don't care about recorded fights or this stupid prosthetic. I can still hold my own and kick Griffin's ass with one arm."

"I do know you but I don't want you to keep fighting my battles for me."

"Oh yeah?" I looked over to him with a raised brow. "Would you rather be the one sporting this busted lip?"

"U-Um . . ."

"I didn't think so man."

After a few minutes Ethan cleared his throat, "Maybe you can teach me." He said quietly.

Turning my head in his direction I was hoping that he was asking me to teach him how to fight but I wasn't sure. "Teach you what Ethan? How to become a disappointment to your father or how to throw a punch?"

"H-How to throw a punch - well fight . . . How to fight . . . and you're not a disappointment to your father by the way."

Nodding my head dismissing the last part the wheels started turning with ways to teach him. "Over the summer."

"Really?" Looking away from the road for a second he smiled at me.

"Yeah. We can start your training over summer break. Get you nice and fit by the time senior year starts. You might even have a nice tan going."

"Oh." He face dropped. "So we're going to be outside . . . in the heat."

"Where else would we be?"

"At the gym?"

"No." I shook my head. "You don't want to be around a bunch of musty people that are going to make you second guess yourself. You'll start comparing your body to theirs and you won't focus on what I'm trying to teach you, so no. We'll either do it at my house or yours but no gyms. You may want to lose the glasses though. I wouldn't want them to fall off your face and break."

"But I can't see without them."

"So invest in some contacts Ethan."

"Right." He nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

Once we passed through downtown and into the homes with perfect manicured lawns I knew we were close to home. I lived in the North Division of Lincoln Heights and Ethan lived in the South Division. Both were guarded with security that never did anything but smile and wave. I was sure they only carried pepper spray and zip ties anyways.

Tapping my fingers on the window seal of his truck Ms. Marshall came to mind. "I met this girl in detention and I'm trying to place her face but I can't remember where I've seen her before."

"Aside from at school?"

"I've never seen her at school either, I should know. Did you see a girl walk out before me? She has brown skin and black hair with multiple ear piercings."

Ethan shook his head. "You know how I get when I'm reading. I never looked up until you scared me with the horn."

"Yeah sorry about that."

"It's okay." He shrugged. "I really should pay more attention to my surroundings. What's her name? I could try and look her up in the school directory."

"I only know her last name. Marshall."

"What grade is she in?"

Rubbing the back of my neck I tried to go through our female class. "Oh wait! I saw her at her locker in the junior hallway. So she's a junior too, right?"

"Possibly. She could be sharing lockers with someone but it also could be hers." He looked over to me. "You falling for someone at first sight?"

"F-Falling?" I laughed. "Are you kidding me? I just find her fascinating mostly because I can't place her face." Ethan raised his brow at me. "Okay fine . . . She also extremely attractive. It's like her skin shines as if she had glitter on or something. I just can't help but to look at her. You would know exactly what I meant if you ever saw her."

"Point her out to me tomorrow if you see her." He said pulling into my driveway.

"Sure thing. Hey, thanks man. I'll see you at school."

"Be ready at eight o'clock."

Almost out the truck I paused turning back to him. "What?"

"You got in trouble for me so I will be taking you to school until you get your car back. See you at eight."

"You don't need to -"

"I'm not taking no for an answer."

Staring at my best friend I was proud of his small demand of not taking no for an answer. He was growing. "Alright man."

Closing the door I headed up the three steps that lead to my house. Unlocking the door I stepped inside immediately greeted by our golden retriever Lulu. She was given to Cas when he moved up to middle school.

"Hey there Lulu." I tried to scratch behind her ears while she ran around me going through my legs wagging her tail. "Hey pretty girl."

"Lars, is that you honey?"

"Yeah mom!"

"Come here before you disappear to your room."

Followed her voice to the living room my mom sat on the couch with papers scattered everywhere. On the other end of the couch she sat on, on the coffee table, on the second couch next to her. Reading glasses low on her nose her eyes shifted back and forth between two pieces of paper before putting one down to write something in black ink.

"Oh no." I groaned already knowing what the abundant amount of papers meant.

"Oh yes mister. Come sit down."

"Where mom?"

Looking over her glasses at the mess around the room she took them off a little surprised at the amount of papers. "Hm." She waved her hand dismissively at the clutter. "Just find a seat honey. I don't care where."

Leaning against the wall next to me I slid to the floor bringing my kees up to my chest resting my arms on my knees. "Mom -"

"No no no. This is your last birthday that I have a say about."

I was going to be seventeen on July Fourth and ever since I can remember my mom has thrown a neighborhood block party for me. She would order clowns, face painters, a deejay, and bounce houses. She would spray paint our yard for gigantic Twister, using our neighbors yards for other jumbo games like Scrabble, Dominos, flag football, corn hole, all of that. Then of course at the end right after they sang happy birthday and everyone got a cupcake, the dads of the neighborhood would light the fireworks. It was fun and cute when I was a kid but I was turning seventeen. I just wanted to chill.

I've been trying to nicely give my mom hints that I didn't want this party for almost a month but she was refusing to listen. I didn't want to outright tell her that I didn't want to party fearful that she would start crying. It's not like I had plans to go somewhere else anyways. If anything I would hang with Ethan or just lounge in my room.

"So this year since you're turning seventeen, I was wondering what you wanted to change? Did you want to add anything or take out something? Keep in mind though that there will be little kids that need to be entertained too."

"I thought it was my birthday."

"You also share your bday with a national holiday Sweetheart."

"It doesn't matter to me mom. Everything you did last year was great."

"Thank you Lars." She smiled sweetly making me feel better for agreeing to this nonsense. "Okay then, just help me with this. So, I was thinking about a possible snow cone machine or maybe cotton candy instead. Oh! What about one of those ice cream things with the ice cream that look like little balls?"

"Dippin Dots?"

"Is that what they're called?" Putting her glasses back on she grabbed the laptop placing it on her lap making the papers underneath crunch. "Dipping dots." She began to type.

"Dippin Dots mom. Without the g."

"Oh." She replied pressing heavily on a key pad button I'm guessing was the backspace.

"Mommy can we get the cotton candy machine!" I heard Eloise running down the hall. Stopping in the living room she panted just a little as her ginger ponytail smacked her in the mouth once she stopped moving. "Please mom?"

"It's not your birthday Ellie, it's Lars." Mom said without lifting her eyes from the laptop screen.

"But he's so old and he doesn't care about us kids."

"Old?" I scoffed definitely offended. "You're going to be seventeen in seven years."

"Please don't remind me." Mom shook her head. "Ellie, you have to ask Lars."

Eloise looked at me trying to give me her puppy dog eyes that work on our parents faithfully. "Lars -"

"No."

"Lars!"

"That's enough Ellie" Mom spoke looking over to my sister knowing she was about to start whining. "He said no. Maybe we can do it for your birthday."

"But that's four months away!"

"Eloise Christianna Crawford, straighten your face. If you're going to cry and complain about what Lars wants for his birthday then you can go straight to your room until dinner. I have five weeks to put this together and I don't need you crying in my ear so go somewhere else."

"Mommy -"

"Now Ellie." Mumbling something under her breath. As she walked away mom put her laptop back on the coffee table, "Lars?"

"Yes mom?"

"Ethan -"

"Mom -"

She raised her hand up to stop me. "Ethan." She paused making sure I wasn't going to interrupt again. "Ethan is a great kid and his parents are very nice people but you cannot continue to fight his battles."

"I'm not fighting his battles mom."

"Then what are you doing Lars? Every time we have to sit in the office with your principle the only explanation you give us is that you hate bullies. Who is bullying him honey?"

"You'd have to ask Principle Howard. He's the one that's always letting the douchebag go."

"Watch your mouth young man and I most certainly will have a word with Principle Howard. Now you need to get out of here and up to your room before your father comes home. You're still in trouble Lars."

Nodding my head I got up from the floor and walked over to my mother placing a small kiss on her cheek. "Love you mom."

Cupping my face she smiled at me with watery eyes. "You're a good boy Lars and I know you're protecting your friend but he will have to fight his own battles sooner or later. I just want you to be safe, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you too."

Going up to my room I dropped my bag on the floor taking off the rest of my clothes right where I stood until I was down to my underwear. Just as I was about to step out of my pants my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling them back up I unlocked my phone pausing at the opened camera app forgetting that I took Ms. Marshall's picture earlier. Deciding no to send her picture to Ethan to help with his search, I opened his text smiling at the four simple words.

[Ethan] : Neema Marshall. Eleventh grader

· · ·

A/N: Don't mind Ethan being shirtless lol