February
You know it's a great night when Dom Menendez puts on the headphones, walks into the arena, and drops thirty-five on you.
"And that's another double-double for Dom."
That's his seventh on the year in a come-from-behind win.
After my game, I'm supposed to get ready for bed and brush my teeth, but I'm too wound up. A win does that. I toss the foam ball between my hands as I spin in my chair, head bobbing and lip-syncing along to "Pretend That We're Dead" as it plays over the TV, Dom high-fiving everybody on the court who wishes they were him.
When I stop spinning, I'm facing my screen. Mom finally received that class photo Mrs. Tudor took and forwarded it to me. She said that I could make it my background. I haven't...
A month.
A month without them.
It's too easy for me to lose myself in thoughts of what could've been. It's a busy sports month, Winter Games, the first major Fight Night of the year Valentine's weekend. Leo told me he was looking forward to the halfpipe events, but let's go ahead and forget that and forget talking to him about Kain Aguirre's FN main card debut.
I can't ask Beth how the other one is with her dumb crushes...
Other one? Have I forgotten her name already?
Adie? Amber? Ashley?
"...Oh, Jack. What's happening?"
I've only been missing a few weeks, and I can't remember the girl, our friend, our love-crazy fool whose...name starts with an A?
"Chase, it's bedtime," is Dad's friendly reminder through the door.
What is bed? How do I sleep? Where am I? Who am I?
"It's all for the best, Chase!" I whisper like Mom. "Who needs Leo or Beth or...Amy?"
Amelia? Aubrey?
I channel my Kieran. "Tchk. Dude, Chase...I told you, you shouldn't have opened up! Now look!"
What is it that Chloe once told somebody?
"Everybody comes and goes, but you'll always have yourself," I say, channeling her, then back to Mom. "Think of your future!"
I get up from my chair and go to brush my teeth.
"Lie Engrish!" I mumble, mouth of foam.
You love English, Chase!
"Oh shiensh!
Spit-take!
"Or alshebra!"
"What about algebra?"
I bite my lips shut. Talk about embarrassing. Dad catches me talking to myself in the hall after coming out of the bathroom.
"Uh, nothing," I say normally.
"Talking to yourself again?"
I do my Max brows impression. "No."
"Heh. Well, get some sleep, okay? Night, Chase."
I take Dad's forehead kiss like a champ. "Night."
Back in my room, I pay the love forward to Gumball, a kiss on his snout. I don't feel okay tonight, but he helps.
"Or shoshial shtudiesh!" I mutter, flicking the overhead light off.
A half-hour, lying in bed, trying to fall asleep later?
"Abbi!"
Her name was Abbi!
YOU ARE READING
Castling: A Novel (NaNoWriMo21)
Teen FictionIt's a slice-of-life centered around "Chase the Ace," who finds himself changing schools against his will mid-year to help make the most of that brain of his. It'll be good for him, they say. He won't be so bored. He'll get to be with an old friend...
