Lost Cause (Tyler Carter)

Chapter 35

This isn't the type of act that's going to shape my sibling into the person they'll need to be. I can't keep this up if I want them to end up a good kid.

Even if I didn't have a younger sibling on the way, I still shouldn't be acting the way I have been.

It's okay for me to loosen up every once in a while. But bringing girls into the house in the middle of the night? Not cool.

--

Today is Monday and I'm getting back into track. I've been skipping practice ever since Rachel died. It's time to get back to doing what I do best.

I walked to the field alone. When I got there, I was stunned with a warm 'Welcome back' from my team and coaches.

It was weird practicing without Rachel, but I did okay. Since its been a little while since I've ran, all I did was jog two and a half miles. Usually I would do a set of suicides on the football field after jogging, but I'm just not in the mood for it.

I sat on the bleachers as I watched my team run and exercise for the remainder of practice.

I love my team and I love my friends at this school. It's hard to decide whether or not I want to leave. I have a good academic reputation at this school and I won't at Westlake. I'll just be the new kid. But then again, everyone at the school I go to now knows basically everything about me. It's an extremely difficult decision to make.

After practice, I walked home.

When I got there, my mom's car was in the driveway. Usually, she was at work at this time.

I went into the house and she was on the couch in the living room.

"Mom, what are you doing here? I thought you had work today." I said.

"I switched to the eight o'clock shift." She said.

"Why?"

"Because me and a certain sixteen year old have a license and car to get." She said.

"Mom," I said. "How are we going to afford it?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. I can make it work." She said. "Now, come on. I'll let you drive."

We got into the car and drove about ten minutes to the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

--

Mom bought me a 2003 Mustang GT and I couldn't be happier with it. It's a little beaten up but I still love it.

She went home because she had to get ready for work, but I drove my car around a little bit.

After about 20 minutes of driving around my town, I found myself on the way to Atlanta.

While I was driving down the highway, Michael called. I answered and put it on speaker.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hey, Tyler, what's up?" He said.

"Just driving around a bit." I said.

"Okay, well, there's going to be a party at Chance's. You should come." He said.

"Chance?" I asked.

"Senior. Plays basketball." He said.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know him." I said. "I might come a little later."

"Okay, cool. See ya' then."

"Cool. Bye." I said.

I hung up. I'm not going to that party.

I kept on driving until I finally reached Westlake High School.

It was bigger than my school. I looped around the back of the school and parked next to the field. I got out of my car and walked onto the track.

I stood in lane one and just closed my eyes. I imagined myself at the last track meet with Rachel. How proud I was of her when she crossed the finish line in first place. I miss her so fucking much.

I opened my eyes and took off in a dead sprint down the track. I don't necessarily know why, I just did.

I would do anything to have her back. To have her next to me. To hear her say; "I love you."

This is a weak chapter after not updating for waaaaay too long, I'm sooo sorry! I really am... I have been extremely focused on school and I have an amazing girlfriend who I've been focusing on. I'm going to start taking some extra classes at a college in my town because you know, extra school is always good(not really). So I'll be even more busy hah, but I'm going to try my hardest to get back into the habit of writing a little bit every day if I can! Thank you so much for sticking around I really appreciate it!!!