Boarding school

Chapter 13

(Gage.)
"Logan, dude we were gonna go watch the Celtics at Beef's." I groaned to Logan as he kept getting ready.
This had been our tradition since we were little kids, and he was going to go out with Lola.
"Yeah bro, they're playing the magic. We know how this is gonna go." He rolled his eyes talking about the basketball game.
"Still dude, we've been watching the celtics play the magic every year for the past.." I paused trying to keep count "8 years." I finished.
It wasn't that I was that interested in the game, just the tradition itself. And I do like Lola, so I'm happy for him. But eh, I needed to hang out with my best friend.
"Dude, just..I don't know. I'm late, I'll see you later." He waved, grabbing his keys and walking out the door. I sighed and plopped on the bed.
Wait a minute, Logan forgot his phone. I picked it up and hurried down the hallway, he must've already headed over to Lola and Dani's room.
I finally got there after speed walking down the hallways with his phone. I knocked on the door "Yeah?" Dani asked.
"It's Gage." I said, I heard some movement "Okay, come in." She said and I did. I don't think I've ever been to her room before.
She was sitting on her bed, casually. A guitar was next to it and it was decorated how you'd imagine a teen girls room.
"Did Logan and Lola leave?" I asked her, she nodded. "He forgot his phone." I held it up kind of awkwardly. "Yeah, Lola left her's. They said something about leaving phones while on dates." She rolled her eyes.
"How gay." I said taking a seat opposite across from her on Lola's bed. She giggled a little bit, weird that she'd think I'm funny. My last girlfriend didn't. It was "immature"
"Want some pizza?" She asked passing me the box. "Thanks." I said taking a slice. "I ordered it, then Lola left so-" she shrugged assuming I already knew.
"I know! Me and Logan were gonna watch the Celtics like we do every year and he bailed for a date." I said eating. I have a bad habit of talking with my mouth open.
"Yeah, I hope they don't rub this in." She said, and I'm assuming she had the same bad habit. Only she'd try to cover it up. It was cute, funny, and gross.
"Me too. Dude these are huge pieces." I commented holding the pizza up. "I know, I could still eat about three." She said not-so-sheepishly. Finally, another person who could eat as much.
"Me too!" I said, it's hard to avoid eating. "Back when I played football, I had to eat a lot so I got used to it." I told her.
She nodded "Hey, you never told me...why you quit.." She trailed pulling a strand of hair. Almost like she was afraid I'd blow up at the question.
I had never told anyone the real reason, Logan didn't understand.
"Um..well honestly I really did like it. But not enough, I was good and it was a lot of pressure. Plus I ended up hanging out with people I didn't even like. Snobs, my dad was crazy about it." I started shaking my head.
It drove me crazy how comfortable I was telling her this stuff. "I know it." She responded, nodding.
The vibe became much more serious.
"I mean, my dad...he's just so serious about it. It drove me crazy." I told her, not exactly in full. There are much more details I didn't want to bother her with but I hadn't even told anyone this before.
"Yeah. My brother is really popular, and plays football and basketball and we're twins. I never fit in with his crowd and it was always so difficult. Then when my mom left I started taking care of things around the house. I never really had that kid phase, but Jack did. And I left it like that." She told me staring at her hands.
It hit me, she kind of had to grow up fast. Because of her mom.
(Dani.)
I ended up spilling that to Gage. How? I don't know this suddenly became a deep conversation.
"I just don't want people to think I'm a wuss for quitting football." He shrugged. I shook my head "No, you're not. My dad is just like that. He told me to only date athletes." I rolled my eyes.
He shook his head "Our dads would get along." He said leaning back and pressing his back on the wall.
"It was like I became Peyton's mom. He was three when ours left and I took care of him a lot...my mom was an alcoholic. " I spilled, I could never tell anyone this.
"Yeah, my dad...he stress drinks a lot." Gage said looking away. He had a pained look on his face. What had happened?
"But it just feels weird because after all of that time taking care of Peyton and all of them, now my dad sends me off. And they're not okay I know that they need help around there but he refuses it. It's like he doesn't miss me." I said running a hand through my hair.
Here I am spilling my problems to my crush. How cool am I?
"He probably does, Dani. Maybe he just wants you to have fun." He told me with an understanding look on his face.
"But I don't even care about fun, I want to help them." I said throwing my head backs
" I know how it feels, I'm always worried because I've been protecting my little sister and brother for a while. Now I'm gone." He told me.
Protecting? From what?
Was it his father? Who knew.
"Yeah, it's helpless." I said resting my head on the wall.
"I haven't been home since I quit football." He told me looking directly into my eyes, I could see the shade of light brown they were. Really hypnotic.
"I don't know if I want to go home. I kind of walked out during breakfast and just drove to Tennessee last time." I spilled.
"Wow. We've got some pretty heavy stuff." He told me and I smiled at him, somehow I smiled through this. "We do." I told him.
He stared at the ceiling and looked back at me, "You know...you're like the only person who understands me." He Said. My heart sped up as he said it.
Did he mean it?
"No one understands me...but you." I said turning my head to the side. "We're different." He said.
That we were.