A Loser's Guide to be Noticeable

23: People Will Either Like You or Hate You

AN: Just to make sure. The chapters onwards will be Jaeden's POV. Thank you.

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Sleep seemed impossible. My mind was still on that place, the excitement I felt at what happened earlier, winning a spot in Phryme's band, was a great feeling. But that moment with Felix was the best.

I didn't know why after I got home from the audition, I wanted to see him. It was just a whim, I didn't even think about it, or the fact that I couldn't wait tomorrow to do it. I just grabbed two beer cans and bags of chips and walked toward his house while calling him. Well, maybe it was because Felix was the only person who believed in me. Fine, I was skeptical at first about me going to audition, but Felix was right. Ever since we were children, he was the one who was level-headed between us, even if I wouldn't admit it under my dead body.

I smiled as I closed my eyes, remembering those happy moments with him: the time when we went to every neighborhood and rang their doorbells before running away when they opened their door; the time when we played "What will the sky's color in the afternoon?" which Felix always won; the time when his parents went to the beach, inviting me and we picked up beautiful corals and shells in the shore.

But the most memorable was the time I accepted a challenge to climb a huge tree that no one dared to climb. Felix warned me not to do it, but I didn't want the kids to call me "chicken-shit" after accepting the challenge. So I climbed. I wasn't even close to the trees's branches, just a little above their heads, when my hand slipped and fell. But instead of falling to the ground, Felix caught me. I was bigger than him so I ended up flattening him on the ground. He was coughing, eyes watered.

"Shit," I said and stood, helping him on his feet. "Are you okay?"

Felix was still coughing, wincing at every move he made. He had bruised and scraped his knees and arms. "I thought I could catch you," he said between his breaths.

Other kids were staring at us, with wide eyes. But I didn't give a damn. I carried Felix on my back toward his house, running and shouting that Felix needed help. My eyes stung but damn if I let my tears fall. When his mother saw him, she was frantic, running toward Felix.

"I'm fine," Felix said and he smiled at me.

I let Felix explain his version of what happened. He said he climbed the tree and fell. His mother grounded him, and I felt shit about it. So one night, I went to his house and threw a pebble on his window. When he came down, we went to the playground. Felix was covered with bandages, but he was smiling. And I did, too. It was one of the most amazing things happened in my life.

Mom's voice made me open my eyes. "Jaeden, honey! It's already ten! Wake up!" The knock on my door was so loud I almost thought she was punching it. I blinked as bright lights invaded my vision.

I groaned, burying my face to my pillow. "It's weekend! Can I sleep in peace!"

Even though my words were muffled, Mom heard what I said, because she retorted. "No, young man. That's your problem. How can you be productive if you didn't wake up early?"

"Don't care!"

"Heard that! Look at the kids your age who always wake up early. They finish everything in time, they achieve more in life. Look at Felix or your brother."

Sighing, I sat at the edge of my bed. I hated every time Mom would talk about other kids, comparing me, especially to my brother, Gerrald. Perfect Gerrald who was in the college with high grades and a soccer player. Perfect Gerrald who had a pretty girlfriend. Perfect Gerrald who was a disgusting two-faced asshole who was a prick to me, but rarely show it to my parents. Perfect Gerrald who doesn't even wake up early in the morning, but Mom doesn't care. Thank God I now only saw him on holiday.