Keeping Secrets

Amanda's Surprise

PEYTON

"Hey," I answered the phone when Amanda FaceTimed. "Please tell me you're done working and want to do something?"

She laughed and shifted the camera so I could see her car. "Yeah, leaving now. Want me to pick you up?"

"Yes, yes, yes," I practically shouted, a little over the top, but I'd been stuck in the house for almost three weeks with my parents, except for when I'd been able to get an occasional babysitting job. Christmas itself had been okay, but the days following were painful, and now it was almost New Year's Eve. I was dying to get out of the house.

Amanda laughed again and rolled her eyes at my dramatics.

"Alright. I'm on my way. Bring a bag, stay for the night."

I groaned with relief. "I love you."

Hanging out with Amanda was just what I needed. We hadn't seen much of each other because she'd worked in the salon every day since Christmas. And also, because I missed my freedom. Being back home was like taking a step back in time. I was constantly told what and when to do something. It was like my parents forgot I managed all by myself at college.

I needed to get out for a while. To do something. And not my mom's version of doing something, either.

Her solution for how I should spend my free time had been to help her. She said we were going to spend some mother daughter time together, which I thought sounded nice. It hadn't been just the two of us for a very long time, so I pictured we'd get our nails done and have lunch or something like that, but boy, was I wrong.

Her take on mother daughter time was cleaning out and organizing the basement. There were years' worth of crap down there. We dragged stuff out to the curb, made donation piles, and restocked boxes. All of this while Eli relaxed in his room because he had to "rest before his team practice."

It wasn't that I had anything against my brother, not directly. It was just that it seemed like he could do no wrong, while I did plenty. He also didn't have to do half of the shit I had to do at home, but I'd figured it was better to keep my mouth shut than question why he didn't need to help.

Thankfully, my phone kept me somewhat busy while Amanda worked. I had texted and talked to Max several times. He seemed to be doing good, but there was some kind of melancholy to his voice.

I wondered if he had to hide who he truly was even when he was home? If his sexuality really mattered that much to people? And if that was why he seemed a bit off.

How sad if he didn't feel safe enough to be himself around his own family.

But then again, I kept secrets from my family, too. Just not as big as Max's. So maybe I understood the need to fit in, even if it meant being quiet about things that mattered.

I decided to look more into that once I was back at school. If Max needed me to be his support system, I'd be the best freaking friend he'd ever had.

I heard from Beau too. And while Max kept me somber, Beau amused me. He kept me entertained with silly antics all while I went through boxes after boxes with years' worth of art projects from mine and Eli's elementary school days. Whether it was silly jokes, funny pictures or just a simple text. It made my time cleaning up the basement much more enjoyable.

The band was back in the states. I'd seen Justin, once, on Christmas Eve. He, just like Beau, seemed relieved and excited to have a break, even if it wasn't a long one.

Beau had been texting me more than ever before. I got from pictures from his parents' place in Wisconsin. On Christmas Eve he sent me a short video of some uncle dressed up as Santa Claus, and on Christmas morning I got a photo of him with his grandma.