My Brother's Best Friend (Shay Mooney)

Chapter 1

"Em, come on, we're gonna be late!" my older brother Dan shouts from downstairs.

 "Calm down, Dan, I'm coming!" I scream back at him, finishing tying up my loose ponytail.

 "Sure took you long enough. Come on, we still have to pick up Shay. Ugh, God, we're gonna be late," he says, his tone exasperated. Even though I'm 16, Dan still drives me around. I've failed my driving test twice. Hopefully I'll pass before he leaves for college in four months.

"Sorry," I whisper, not truly meaning it. Shay Mooney is my brother's best friend. He always has been. I don't know much about him- no one really does, except maybe my brother. He has a certain mystery about him that's always seemed kind of intriguing, yet disturbing.

 Dan and I ride the short distance to Shay's house in silence. When we arrive, Shay is already waiting outside. He jumps in the car and quickly greets my brother. He turns around from the front seat. "Hi Emily," he says. He winks before turning back around.

"Hey Shay," I respond, laughing.

His tight leather jacket drapes over his white tee shirt. His look matches his personality. Even though no one has gotten close enough to him to know all about his personality, there's one thing about him that's undeniable: he's a badass. He's constantly skipping school, constantly getting into trouble, constantly doing outrageous things that normal people don't dare to do. He's a player and constantly moving through girls. With his smirk, I can understand why girls always fall for him.

"Okay, when we get there, I need to meet up with Jason. We're gong to hang out backstage with Sydney and Bryan before they have to be on stage. Can you drop me off behind the stage?" I state. Two of my three closest friends are in the band that plays downtown every Saturday. The third friend is Jason Simeon, my best friend. I've known him since seventh grade and I trust him with my life.

"Backstage? Is that safe?" Dan asks eyeing me from the rearview mirror. Dan is extremely overprotective. Don't get me wrong, I love him and all, but he treats me like a child when I'm only two years younger than him.

 "Dan, for the last time, I'm not a kid. You don't need to check up on me and be so protective. And yes, for your information, going backstage is perfectly safe," I respond. 

"Really man, you need to cool it with the overprotectiveness. She's almost a legal adult. Technically, Emily has the freedom to go wherever she wants," Shay chimes in.

"Only if I could pass the damn driving test," I add, gaining a laugh and a fist bump from Shay.

 "Well excuse me for caring. I don't want you hanging out with the wrong people or getting yourself into trouble," Dan responds.

 "It's not your job to ensure those things. I can take care of myself, okay?" As our argument heats up, Dan pulls up to the venue in which I'll be spending the majority of my night. "I gotta go."

 "Be careful. We'll be back around 11," Dan says.

"Bye girl. Have fun," Shay says.

"Bye guys."

 I watch the car disappear from my sight. I sigh a breath of relief knowing Dan is gone and I'll be free the rest of the night.