Heartbreak High: New Hope

27

The storm clouds followed me all the way to Sarah's Diner, where Coach had brought us to celebrate the win. As I settled into a booth with Casey, her arm linked around my neck and her fingers combing through my hair, I couldn't help but notice Tyler sneaking off from the group.
I watched as he took his phone out for another seemingly heated conversation as he paced back and fourth, each step he took seemed to carry the weight of an unseen burden, his usual carefree nature replaced by restless energy.

With my friends and parents gone, I was stuck with Casey, her grip on me tightening more and more every day. My eyes caught a glimpse of heated glares from Nick at a nearby booth, but I shook it off, my mind too wrapped up in the mysterious text message to focus on anything much.
Tyler's expression didn't resemble his usually cheerful, easygoing self; instead, it possessed an uncharacteristic gloom. I observed as he came back into the diner and found his booth, putting his head down on the table.

Without much thought, I turned to Casey, "I'll be right back," I told her before prying myself away. Hesitantly, I walked towards Tyler.
"Hey,"
I said, sliding into the seat facing him. He looked up to see me, putting on a weak smile, his tired eyes betraying his true feelings.
"Hey," he replied. "You alright?" I questioned. He nodded with a simple "yeah."
"Are you, you look anxious?"
He asked.
"I'm fine,"
I lied.
"Why aren't you over there with Casey?" He asked. I turned my head to where Casey was sitting, not giving it a thought before turning back to Tyler. "I wanted to check on you," I smiled.
"Well, thank you. I'm fine,"
he insisted, but it was obvious he wasn't, and I didn't feel like backing down. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Yeah," he said, pausing before picking up again, "it's just a little noisy in here," he explained.

"You wanna get out?" I suggested. He raised his brow, "What about Casey?" He said, gesturing to her sitting alone at the table.
"She'll be alright, I could use a break too," I replied without giving it any thought.

I watched him think for a minute before sighing,
"Come on," he said. Together, we got up, leaving the diner and stepping out into the cool night air. I shivered, shaking off the cold as we began to walk slowly down the street.

Under the dim glow of streetlights, our footsteps echoed against the quiet murmur of the night, a chilly breeze carrying the scent of distant rain. The street stretched before us, bathed in the soft glow of lampposts. Our shadows danced on the pavement, and the distant hum of traffic added to the ambiance

"Is this better?"
I asked, looking up at him. He seemed distracted, "hmm," he hummed before realizing what I had said.
"Oh yeah, much better," he replied. I frowned before taking a step in front of him, momentarily stunning him as the streetlights above highlighted his figure.
"Tyler, tell me what's going on, and don't say nothing because it's obvious you're not fine,"
I said. He sighed, his broad shoulders slumping as if he was untensing himself. "It's nothing, just having some problems with Maya, and with the Michigan game in a couple of weeks, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep," he admitted. There seemed to be more bothering him, but I didn't want to push it. Instead, I took his hand as his gaze met mine, his hands were soft and cold.

He didn't pull it away like I'd expect him to. As I looked at him, the bags under his eyes begged for sleep. "I'm sure everything will be okay with Maya," I said reassuringly. He sighed, "Yeah, I guess." But his tone sounded as if he wasn't as sure himself.

The moment lingered on before I caught a glimpse of something on the other side of the street, in a dark alleyway. My eyes landed on a familiar figure. "Is that-Liam?" I uttered.
"What?" Tyler asked curiously. "I think I see my brother over there," I explained, triggering a simple "oh."

"I'm sorry; can you give me a second?" I said before letting go of Tyler's hand, storming across the road guided by my confusion. Upon reaching there, my eyes widened at the sight of Liam and his friends smoking in the alleyway.

"Liam,"
I called angrily, making them all turn to me. Liam's eyes widened as he saw me before erupting into a fit of smoky coughs.
"You're smoking now too. What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled angrily.

"Can you pipe it down?" he said in a hushed tone. "Liam, who is this guy?" one of the boys asked in a raspy voice. "He's my brother," Liam replied sharply before grabbing my shoulder, making me wince as he pulled me out of the alley. I glared at him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked icily. "I'd ask you the same question, but I think that's pretty obvious," I said before I began to go off.

"Are you stupid? Do you have any idea how bad that shit is for you?" I said, gesturing to the lit cigarette between his fingers.
"Why the hell do you care what I do?" he barked. I paused, unsure of why it seemed to irk me so much. "I don't," I replied blankly.

"So what's your problem then?" he asked. "My problem is you, dipshit. You know what would happen if Mom and Dad ever found out about this," I quipped.
"No, cause they're never going to, got it?" he said icily. "I'll tell," I argued. It was almost scary watching his face twist in anger like it did. "No, the fuck you won't," he said.
"I will,"
I replied threateningly. "Don't push me, Lucas," he replied, our gazes heated and locked on each other, never breaking.

"Fuck you, Liam. You know what? You can go fucking die from lung cancer for all I care," I said angrily without thinking before marching back across the street where Tyler stood waiting for me, there was a moment of silence between us as my mind raced over my interaction with my brother,
"What was that all about?"
he asked curiously.
"Just my stupid brother being a complete asshole," I replied angrily, feeling the steam radiate from my body when Tyler grabbed my hand, making me look at him. "Hey, calm down," he said calmly. I gazed into his eyes, steadying myself, taking a breath.

"I'm sorry; he's just such a dick," I said, feeling myself calm down. "Trust me; I know all about annoying brothers," he said softly, his hand still not moving from mine. I sighed letting it out.
"You ready to head back in?" I asked. He smirked his eyes fixed on me as a small smile lined his lips.
"Maybe we can stay out here longer."

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