Friction

Chapter 1

"But mom! I can't go pick Luke up first because then I'll be late for art club." I pleaded. Pushing my bottom lip out and batting my eyelashes, I was hoping that just this once she would understand. Of course just like always, that didn't happen.

"No. Go pick your brother up, bring him home, and then you can go."

"Go where? It probably will probably be over my then. What's the point?" I mumbled under my breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!" I snapped. "Jesus."

My mom and I didn't have the best relationship in the whole world. I was close to her and all, but we just didn't seem to get along as well ever since my dad died. It has been hard on the whole family and I think my mom was affected the most. She just hadn't been the same.

"What did you say young lady?"

"I said, nothing." I tried to not sound like a total smart ass. I really did. Obviously I didn't try hard enough though. I wasn't sure if it was because I was a now a junior in high school and I felt like I could get away with whatever I wanted, or if it was just because I am simply, well, a smart ass.

"That's it! You're grounded. Go get your brother and come straight back here. We will talk about your punishment when you return."

"Oh joy." I mumbled as I grabbed my car keys off of the counter.

I knew that I shouldn't be talking to my mom like this because honestly she was doing the best that she could for me and my brother but it was hard. Ever since my dad died, she had been acting like she was the only one that got hurt from it. It's almost as if she's taking it out on other people instead of realizing that they are going through the same thing she is.

Walking out to my car, I had to take my mind off of what just happened, and focus on what I had to do next. Pick up my annoying little brother. Yay.

Although he is my little brother, it isn't by much. He's only a year younger than me. I started school late, and he started school early so therefore we only have one grade difference between us. It comes in handy but sometimes he likes to think he's older than me when he obviously isn't. We get along sometimes but most of the time he is just an annoying little pest that adds more drama and stress to my life.

Cranking the car, I backed out of my drive way and headed towards whatever friend's house Luke was at this time. I swear, to be younger than me, that kid had three times as many friends and quite frankly it was actually pretty sad. He was definitely living his life to the fullest. The only problem with that is that most of his friends are older. Don't ask why, they just are. That per say isn't really the problem, but the fact that they seem to find a way to always get into trouble. They smoke, drink, and have sex all the time and I don't want my brother near any of it. I guess you could say I'm a little bit overprotective.

Luke is at one of the boy's houses now. His name is Justin. Justin Bieber. He is actually the most troubled out of the whole gang of people that Luke hangs out with. He even has a criminal record! I've told him over and over that he needs to stop hanging around Justin so much because he is nothing but trouble. Of course, he never listens.

Justin is one of those guys that you see in school with their head down, hoodie up, and ear buds in. At first you think nothing of them but once they start to speak and become a little more social, you realize that they are nothing but trouble. Yea that's Justin alright, nothing but trouble. He's in Luke's grade, but he is actually older than me. He failed his grade once or twice. I dunno, no one ever really keeps track of him. He's a nobody, yet he's somebody at the same time. Does that even make sense? I don't know.