Perfect For Me

CHAPTER 2 (Liam Williams)

The last period was finally over and the only thing left was soccer practise. The two teams had the same practise schedule but luckily different training areas. Still, we had to share the locker rooms and showers afterwards. Definitely a sign to do a double check if you have locked your locker, because on more than one occasion there were boys who had to walk home in only a towel and found their clothes the next day in a rival's gym bag. Not fun at all, believe me!

I was changing into my soccer gear and talking to Nate the same time, when Benn interrupted us: "Hey, there's a party going on this Friday at my place. You are coming, right? You can even bring the rest of your teammates if you want." He talked like "the rest of our teammates" weren't able to hear his voice even though they stood right next to us.

"Hell yeah, of course we're coming! Right?" Nate looked at me as if he was searching for my approval. Not because he couldn't decide anything without me, I was just his team captain, not his mom, but rather because parties were a problematic topic for me. I didn't really like crowded areas, like a few years ago I got panic attacks if there were more than three people around me.

Because of this -and a few other issues of mine- I had to take pills which didn't go along with alcohol. And I don't know if you've ever been the only sober person at a high school party but let me tell you, it is exhausting! And last but not least I would have to look for a babysitter for Ethan. Therefore it was really rare to meet me at one of the parties and as always I just shrugged my shoulders and mumbled a "Maybe" before going on the field to start warming up. Sometimes I really wished to be just a normal teenager. Not that I wanted to give up Ethan, no! But not being the only responsible one at home for once would be a nice change.

I was the first one out on the field but one by one each of my teammates joined me and when finally our coach was here as well we started with the training. I always loved it, even though my legs always felt like jelly afterwards. But it showed that I was working to achieve something.

Before we could really start though, a faint ringing of a phone could be heard. Oh, whoever forgot to turn off their phone was totally dead right now. "How often do I have to tell you that no phones are allowed during practise? Who ever is the owner will run fifteen minutes extra and then do push-ups til he pukes! So, who does the mobile phone belong to?" Shit, it could be mine. At least I had the same ringtone... Slowly I raised my hand. "Williams?! I really did expect more from you as the team captain! Now go and turn it off and then do what I said before!" Ashamed I ran to the changing rooms and pulled the ringing device out of my locker. This had never happened before, how embarrassing!

When I saw the caller ID ma heart nearly stopped. The name "Betty" flashed across the screen, the name of Ethan's babysitter. An incredibly nice elderly woman who, since she found out that we are kinda always short on money did not even take anything from me for looking after my brother. She would never call me during school unless it was an emergency. Shit! With shaking hands I pressed the green button and held the phone to my ear. "Hello?" "Liam? Sorry dear, I know you have practise, but Ethan ran against my drawer and cut open his forehead so he needs stitches but at the hospital they only will do something if a family member is present. Can you come please? It is not too bad but still needs medically taken care of. I'm sorry!"

Okay, soccer was important but Ethan was more important. The only question was how I would convince coach on that matter... I swear that man even slept with a ball in his hands!

Ten minutes later I jogged to the hospital. Waiting for the bus would have taken an eternity and although I knew a little cut on the forehead wasn't anything bad, I still couldn't help but worry. Ethan was the most important person in my life. Somehow coach got that too because he didn't even promise me punishment for missing practise!

A young receptionist smiled at me when I entered the hospital. I went up to her. "Excuse me, my little brother should be here. Ethan Williams, do you know where I can find him?" "Oh, are you the brother? Your babysitter told me you would come. You must have good genes... Handsome and caring...." I rolled my eyes. Seriously, how unprofessional could someone be?

I decided to ignore her comment and said nothing. After a while she seemed to get it that I wasn't interested and opened her mouth again: "I need contact dates of your parents please." She fucking winked at me! She gave me a piece of paper, a number scribbled on its corner. Without any words I took it and quickly scribbled down my dates in the provided spaces and handed it back to her. "I am the legal guardian and am allowed to decide everything that concerns Ethan." I could see it in the nurse's eyes that she was curious why I, an obviously young boy was the one in charge, but thankfully she didn't ask any questions and told me where to go. "Not that I'm hoping something bad for your brother but I really hope you will have to visit me more often!" She called after me. What the-?

"Lili!" Ethan cried as soon as I stepped into the room. -The nickname was something he wouldn't stop with, no matter how often I tried to get him to say my full name. Apparently it was too hard to pronounce. Sure. L-I-A-M. But whatever....

Ethan buried his head into my stomach and left a red stain of blood on my blue soccer shirt. Great, how should I be able to fix this? But this had to wait until later. I took him in my arms and examined his head. "You're doing things to me, I swear!" I sighed. Holding out my hand I introduced myself to the man in a with coat who was currently talking to Betty. "I am Liam Williams, Ethan's brother. Where do I have to sign so you can start giving him stitches?" The doctor gave me another paper and then quickly started to treat Ethan who was still holding onto my shirt with tears in his big blue eyes. I tried to distract him but he continued to cry. To be honest I hadn't really expected something different. I mean, imagine being four years old and cutting your head open! I remember being convinced to need surgery after getting a bruise on my ellbow when I had been in Ethan's age.

"I am so sorry Liam! I swear I only looked away for a minute and suddenly I heard him cry and.... I am so sorry!" Reassuringly I took Betty in my arms. She seemed to be a bit overwhelmed with all the blood on Ethan's forehead. We were currently standing outside the hospital again. "Hey, it's not your fault. Things just happen. Look at him, it wasn't even that bad." I turned to point at my little brother who got through the whole procedure perfectly and was licking the ice cream the doctor got him because "he had been so brave."

"Ok but let me make it up to you. How about I take Ethan for a night? Just whenever you need a bit time for yourself. I know how teenage boys can be, my sons were at different parties each weekend." I gratefully took her offer. She was right, even though I loved my brother to death and wouldn't give him up for the world I still shouldn't have to live the life of a single parent. If I had to cancel everything people at school would get suspicious and even if I wasn't ashamed of my little brother, people would start asking questions if they knew about him. And I was definitely not ready for that. Also parties may not be my thing but at least it was a way of spending time with my friends.

I patted Betty's back one last time and took Ethan's hand in mine. If we hurried, we may be able to catch the bus home. Walking would be okay too but I was sure then I would have to carry my brother on my back for the whole way.