Just One Night

Chapter 1- Him

I'm supposed to be excited. I'm supposed to be grateful. I'm supposed to be happy. I'm supposed to be in love. And right now I'm supposed to be getting ready. Tonight is supposed to be the start of the rest of my life. Step one in the right direction my dad had said. I've worked hard during my four years in high school, making sure to get perfect grades, and even harder on my schools baseball team. I put my blood sweat and tears into that team. I made captain of the varsity team by time I was a sophomore which is pretty rare, but fuck so am I. I gave my everything to be where I am today, about to receive a full ride scholarship to Southern California. My dream school. At least it used to be.

As I sit here with my tie in my hands I can't help think about everything that lead me here. How it was my dad who told me that Southern California was the best school there is. How it was my dad who told me baseball is what makes you a man. How it was my dad who pushed me until I had nothing left. How it was my dad who told me I should date Chloe Mansfield when she's nothing but a shallow selfish bitch. How it's my dad's dreams I'm fulfilling instead of my own.

Don't get me wrong I love baseball and I love my dad, but is this what I really want to do for the rest of my life? Or at least all four years of college and then go work for my dad at his accounting firm. Do I really want to be some Wall Street douche bag with an expensive car and a wife who cares more about how much I make than she does me? Do I want to become my dad? He's got a pretty ok life for himself but is it the life for me?

The fact that I'm sitting here questioning everything tells me no. No I don't want to play baseball anymore. No I don't want to work for my dad. No I don't want to be a Wall Street douche bag. No I don't want my dad's life. But at this point does it even matter? My life has been mapped out for me from day one and as much as I would love to change directions I wouldn't even know where to go next.

A knock sounds at my door before my brother walks in with a proud smile on his face. He just finished the pre-law program at Brown and has just been accepted into Harvard's law program. He didn't have his life planned out for him like I have, he simply just chose to become a douche bag cooperate lawyer.

"You ready little bro?" He asks me.

"I guess." I sigh.

"Come on get excited. This banquet is in your honor. You're getting a full ride to Southern Cali, you got a perfect girlfriend, you're life's golden." He says slapping his hand on my back.

"Golden." I repeat.

"Need help with your tie?" He asks gesturing to the tie in my hand.

"No I got it." I tell him.

"Alright. The car will be here soon so hurry up." He tells me.

I don't want to go to this banquet. I don't want to go to Southern California. I have no idea what I want except that I want to just get away from my life. Get away for just one night and maybe get some clarity on what it is I do want.

"I'll meet you guys there. Chloe just texted and asked if I'd pick her up so that we can talk" I tell him making air quotations when I say talk.

"Women." He says laughing and shaking his head as he leaves my room.

I wait until the car comes and picks up my family before I grab my keys and head in the opposite direction.