Reprobate - A River Bend Rebels M/M Romance - Book 1

3. Jamie

"Jameson!" my mother called up the stairs. "Come on down now, or you won't have time to eat! It's getting late!"

Sighing, I stood and set my guitar back in its case. I'd woken with a melody playing in my head over and over on a loop. Lyrics were there too, not quite a part of the song but dancing on the periphery. I'd shot out of bed and had pulled my dog-eared red notebook from between my mattress and box spring. I'd written frantically, quickly, desperate to get the music and words down before I could forget them. Then I'd taken my guitar from its case, gave it a quick tune, and relished the tingling excitement of the creative buzz taking me into my zone.

Into my escape.

"Jameson!" my dad bellowed. His ringing voice echoing from the bottom of the stairway jolted me back to reality. "Didn't you hear your mother?"

"I'm coming!" I called back. After shoving my notebook back into its hiding place, I hurried to the bathroom getting dressed as I went. I brushed my teeth and gave my dark hair a tousle with a dab of product. Then I stumbled down the stairs, loaded backpack hanging from one shoulder, to join my parents and siblings in the dining room.

For as long as I could remember, my mom made a big deal out of the first day of school, getting up early and cooking a hot breakfast for me and the twins. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and freshly squeezed orange juice to wash it all down. We always left for school stuffed as Thanksgiving turkeys, filled with both food and prayers for a successful year.

My dad was impeccably dressed as always, this morning in a charcoal gray suit and maroon tie. He gave me a disapproving frown as I took my seat. "There you are," he said. "What's kept you this morning, Jameson?"

"Sorry," I said. "I wanted to double-check and make sure I had everything in my backpack."

"I'm sure you didn't forget anything. You've been prepared for weeks." My mother got up, smoothed my hair down, ruining the artfully messy style I'd been going for, and kissed the top of my head as she poured me a glass of juice. Despite the early hour she was perfectly groomed, not a single chestnut-colored hair out of place, but I noticed her eyes were damp and red-rimmed.

"What's the matter, Mom?" I asked her.

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just feeling a little sentimental today." She gave me a sad little smile. "I was just thinking about how next year you'll be off to college, and you won't be having any more of these breakfasts."

"Can we discuss this after we pray?" my dad cut in quietly. "The food's getting cold."

"Of course." My mother went to her seat directly across from me. I leaned a bit in order for her to reach my hand, and grasped my little brother's hand with my other. I bowed my head and Dad began a lengthy prayer. In it, he beseeched God to watch out for the three of us in the coming school year, to help us stay on the straight and narrow path, avoiding all manner of temptation and sin. He called for God to move through Ethan, Hannah and me, and help us stand strong as a witness and example to our lost classmates and teachers, as shining beacons for them to find Jesus. As Dad droned on, Ethan squirmed in his seat. As for me, I don't know if one can roll their eyes when they're closed, but I'm pretty sure I managed it. 

Nothing would make my dad happier than if we kids shared our faith with our peers and teachers at school. I didn't know about my little brother and sister, but there was no way I was going to do that. I'd gotten enough crap for being a preacher's kid as it was. As young as the twins were, I doubted they were teased as much yet, but they would once they entered their teen years. Just like I had.

"So Jameson," my dad said as we dug in. He sipped his coffee. "I assume you have football practice after school today?"

I had just stuffed in a mouthful of pancakes, so I just nodded in reply.