Broken Mirrors | All American

eighteen

"I can't do that.." Lauren declined, adjusting her chair at the small cafe table.

"You can, and you will. He needs to sit down before I put him down." Tyrone threatened.

"Do not talk about my brother that way."

"Well, get him in check! See, Flip likes to test me, and I'm only being nice to avoid a war. Well, that and Sydney. Did you forget about her?"

"Do not use my daughter against me."

"Don't throw those titles around. Talk to Flip before I do."

"What do you want from me?"

Tyrone ignored her, getting up and walking away. He'd already had other plans in motion in case this one failed.

Lauren sighed, rolling her eyes. She hesitated before deciding to message Laura Baker.

Laura happily helped her friend, pulling Tyrone's file, again. She wondered what the connection could be between the two.

She wouldn't get the answer out of Lauren however. Despite the circumstance, the woman still decided to take her regretful action to the grave.

"He's popping up more often.. Something is going on."

"I just need to know about him."

Laura sighed, opening the file and telling the mother what she could.

At the James' home, Sydney sat on Spencer's bed, watching her stressed boyfriend.

Spencer had been zoned out, repeatedly tapping his pencil on the notebook. Sydney poked his chest a few times.

"You okay?"

Spencer snapped out of his thoughts, clearing his throat and nodding.

"Yeah, just thinking.. Mr. Vega is gonna fail me if I don't rewrite this paper."

He read what he'd already written in hopes of continuing but his mind said otherwise.

"There's something else, actually... I found an old tape of my dad. It was amazing! I mean, you should've seen him. He was a beast on that field."

Sydney giggled, watching him become excited.

"I saw some of him and coach's other games too! My dad was killing it! Makes me wonder why he gave it up."

"Have you asked your mom?"

He shook his head.

"She don't say much about him."

"You ever wonder why?"

Spencer thought to himself, not knowing if he did. It crossed his mind at times but Corey wasn't even close to the first thing on his mind.

"I try not to.."

Sydney frowned, staring at her sad boyfriend. He was definitely in a funk that she wouldn't let him stay in.