One of the Boys

Chapter 6

Christopher

"So what do you think about our newest teammates?" Riley asked as I closed the passenger side door to his truck. "Lee seems pretty cool." I reply as he began to back out of his parking spot. "Yeah, Jason's super chill and a pretty easy guy to talk to." Riley answers putting the truck in drive before leaving the parking lot.

"Delaneys pretty cool too. Did you know she's player on an all boys team growing up? Not even once has she played on a girls team." Riley exclaims as I sat there in silence checking the unread text messages on my phone. "Dude, are you even listening to me right now?" He asked as he quickly turned his head to look at me. "Yeah, I'm listening." I reply. "Just not very interested in this conversation anymore." I add. Riley pulled the truck up in front of my apartment building and put it in park before turning to me.

"Dude, you didn't even ask her any questions to spark up a conversation to try and get to know her. That's so unlike you man!" Riley exclaims as I suck in a deep breath and reply. "Look, I've never had a girl play on my team before so it's just kinda weird for me. Just give me some time to adjust and I promise you I'm going to give her a shot. Just like you've been telling me to do." Riley gave me a serious look and nodded. "Alright man, just remember... I'm holding you to that promise." He replied.

"Thanks for the ride. I'll catch you later." I said before hopping out of the truck and grabbing my gear from the back before heading up to my place.

When I got up to my apartment, I unlocked the door and dropped my bag down to the floor. That's weird, the tv was turned on and I swear I had turned it off before I left this morning. I thought to myself. I locked the door and put my keys down on the small table that sat by the door. I took my shoes off and called out to see who had found their way into my apartment.

"Morgan? Are you here?" I shout before making my way to the kitchen as I waited for an answer. "Morgan?" I call out again after there was no reply. I quietly began to make my way down the hall towards my room to see if she had snuck in there.

Just as I was about to walk down past the washroom, the door opened and Morgan stepped out. "Morgan?" I questioned as she jumped. "Oh my god! Don't do that! You scared me!" She exclaimed looking up before hitting me across the chest. "Why didn't you text me that you were coming over? And why are you here?" I ask as we walk back out into the living room.

"I went out with a couple of friends and then came here because my phone died and I couldn't find my house key this morning. But I always keep the extra key to your apartment in my wallet so I came here. I was going to text you but I had to plug my phone in so it could charge up first." She replied.

"Does mom and dad know you're here?" I ask looking at my little sister who looked up at me with her blue eyes. "Yeah, I just texted her not too long ago." She replied. "Well now that you're here, why don't we spend the afternoon together?" I ask as she smiled. "Okay, cool!"

"Want to order pizza for lunch?" I ask. "Hell yeah! As long as you ask for bacon on it!" She replied with raised eyebrows. "You read my mind kid!" I laugh.

"So where we're you this morning?" My sister asks before taking a bite from her slice of pizza. "I had practice and met my new teammates." I reply. "How was practice? Same as always?" She asked. "Yep pretty much!" I reply before taking a bite from my own slice.

"How are your new teammates? They pretty cool?" Morgan asked waiting for me to answer. "Yeah, Jason's pretty cool and a nice guy." I reply trying to avoid what's about to come from her mouth next. "How about Delaney? Did you talk to her too?" She asked looking at me curiously. "Riley did the intros and all I said was hey. That's about it." I shrugged as Morgan rolled her eyes at me.

"You mean to tell me that you got to know Jason Lee a little more but didn't talk much to Delaney? What's wrong with that? You're the captain of the team Chris, you're suppose to be warm and welcoming to your new teammates." Morgan exclaims as I sat there trying to avoid eye contact with my sister. "Is it because Delaney's a girl?" She asks.

I sat there quietly for a moment replaying the scene from the locker room in my mind. Delaney stood in front of me nervously as Riley introduced us. I sat there taking off my gear and glanced from the corner of my eye and watched as she tried secretly studied my features nervously. Trying to read me like an opened book.

"Look Morgs, I've never had a girl play on my team before so like I told Riley, it's kind of weird for me so it's going to take some time to get used to." I reply. "Chris, I know it's new to you and most likely new to most of your team but what if I was in her spot? Would you have been the same way? No because I'm your sister. So treat her as if it was me in her shoes." Morgan said.

******
That night, I texted my mom and told her I'd drive Morgan to school in the morning on my way to optional skate. After I locked my phone, I put it down on the coffee table and looked over at Morgan who was half asleep on the other end of the couch.

"Why don't you go to bed?" I asked as she turned her head to look at me. "The guest room is ready for you and I put a pair of sweats and a tee on the bed for you." I added. "Thanks bro." Morgan said as she sat up and folded the blanket that was keeping her warm a couple of minutes ago. "Do we have to stop at home in the morning so you can change?" I asked.

"No, I bought a new outfit at the mall today so I'll just wear that to school." She replied picking her phone up off the table. "Night Chris." She said leaning down to give me a hug. "Night kiddo, love you." I replied before she disappeared down the hall.

I went to bed a few minutes after Morgan did and to be honest, I couldn't fall asleep once I had laid my head down on the pillow. All that was running through my mind was Morgan's words.

"What if I was in her spot? Would you have been the same way? No but that's because I'm your sister so treat her as if it was me in her shoes."

Maybe Morgan's right. Maybe I should look at it that way to adjust to this new change. Maybe I'll give it a try and tomorrow's game.