The Summer Everything Changed

Chapter 3

The day went by quickly. Nick had joined me and Chris in the ocean for a bit. We hung out on the beach for a while, talking and catching up. I wished Matt would've joined us. 

Chris told us all the ways Matt had changed recently. Matt decided to quit lacrosse and started spending more time alone. He had always been quieter and more reserved compared to Chris, but this seemed different. Matt never wanted anyone to see him struggle. He was a people-pleaser and tried to prioritize making sure everyone else was okay, even when he wasn't. 

I always thought so highly of Matt - like he was some strong, untouchable being that could do no wrong. His soft soul was what enamored me. He could be so sweet and thoughtful, and to think that something in him shifted to change that bothered me.

After dinner, I knocked on Matt's bedroom door.

"Yeah?"

I cracked open the door. "Hey, can I come in?"

He looked up from his phone to see it was me and nodded.

I came in and sat in his desk chair. "You didn't talk much at dinner."

"Didn't have a lot to say." He was too focused on his phone to look at me.

"Why didn't you come down to the beach with us today?"

He put his phone down and looked at me this time before answering. With a fake smile, he said, "I guess I just didn't feel like it."

I stayed quiet for a minute, hoping he would contribute to the conversation.

"Why did you quit lacrosse?"

"Oh my god. Why do you have so many questions?" 

He snapped at me. Matt's never snapped at me before.

"Sorry", I mumbled. "I just haven't seen you in a while and we didn't talk much today." I got up to leave the room, but Matt stopped me.

"Shit, Julie I'm sorry. That was mean." He gestures to the chair. "Stay."

I sat back down. "You don't have to talk about lacrosse if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine. Um, I don't know. I just don't enjoy it much anymore I guess." He brought his knees into his chest.

"Oh. Okay."

"It's no big deal, honestly."

I hoped to keep the conversation going when Nick and Chris came in.

"Hey, Matt. You ready?", Chris asked.

Matt cleared his throat and ran his hands through his hair before responding. "Uh, yeah. I just gotta put my shoes on." He got up off his bed and walked to his closet.

"Where are you guys going?" I didn't know they had plans tonight.

"To a party", Chris said.

"Can I come?", I asked excitedly.

Nick laughed. "Uh, no."

"Why not?", I whined.

"Because you're too young."

"I just turned 16, Nick."

"Doesn't matter. You're not coming."

"Our moms are heading into the town soon. You can hang out with them," Chris suggested.

"Great," I said flatly. Matt gave me a sympathetic look before grabbing his keys and the boys headed off. Typical. They always left me out of things.

I waited a few minutes before I went downstairs to get a drink from the fridge. My mother and Marylou were getting ready to leave. I wasn't even sure where they were going, but I didn't really care.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Jules?" Marylou asked.

I shook my head. "No, that's okay. I'm pretty tired. I'll probably go to bed soon."

"Alright, well be good", my mother says. "Call us if you need anything." She kissed my forehead and Marylou hugged me goodbye.

"Bye, honey." I waved goodbye as they walked out the front door.

I sat at the kitchen island alone. I decided I wasn't going to let Nick dictate what I could and couldn't do. He thought he could control me just because he's my older brother. I ran upstairs to wash my hair and change. I took out my phone to check Nick's location to see where the boys were. I made sure to lock the front door and I was on my way to the party.