White Lies | All American

fourteen

"Alright, boys, let's go!"
Billy yelled.

The Beverly High players slowly approached their coach, not ready to start the early morning practice.

"As you boys know, Arturo or Mr. Decker, he will be working with our offensive coordinator. I expect you to treat him with the same respect that you do in the classroom."

"Wait, what?" Jordan voiced.

Arturo smirked at the teenager, jokingly patting Billy on the shoulder.

"Excited to work with you, man."

Jordan looked to his father for an explanation, hoping he wasn't serious. Billy paid him no mind, going over the goals for practice.

In Crenshaw, Haiden snuggled into the football player's pillows. His bed was comfortable, not to mention the fluffy blanket.

"Hey, you should come to my game." Cameron suggested, taking a bite of the cheeseburger.

Haiden glanced from her phone to him then back to the TV.

"I know you heard me."

"I did. I simply chose not to respond." She shrugged.

"Oh? That's how it is?" He spoke, wiping his hands then tickling her.

She laughed, struggling to away from his grip. He increased the intensity for a few seconds before letting her slide off the bed.

She heavily breathed, struggling to get her breath under control.

"I hate you."

Cameron laughed, shrugging his shoulders. He got off the bed, helping her up then going to his closet.

"What are you doing?" She asked, laying on the bed.

"Chris is having a party later, I gotta get my outfit together. I thought Zuru would have told you."

Haiden burst into a fit of laughter.

"Her name is Zuna."

"I said what I said."

Haiden was alerted by her constant vibrating phone. She looked at the messages from her mother and siblings urging her to come home.

Laura needed to tell her children altogether; unsure if she could tell the hurtful news over and over again.

Haiden agreed, taking in her mother's urgency. She needed some of her things anyway; this way she could kill two birds with one stone.

Once the siblings all sat in front of their mother, she prepared herself. Billy flooded her mind, thoughts of him with Grace, resulting in her tears.

The siblings looked to each other with concern as Laura wiped her face.

"Mom, you okay?" Jordan asked.