Into My Own

Forty-Five

"Coda!"

I spun around, almost smacking into a shelf, to see my big brother striding towards me. A huge grin was plastered to his face and he had something clutched in his hand.

The store was empty and we were just about to close up on Tuesday night. 

"Uh, hi, Charlie."

"Don't seem so excited," he teased, coming to a stop. "Where'd you go last night anyhow? I didn't hear you come in but Tommy said you did."

"I was at Blake's house."

"Oh, oka--wait a second...doesn't Blake live with Kellan?" The look on Charlie's face would've been comical had I not been so exhausted.

"Yeah. But you can calm down, mama bear. Oakley and Blake were there and we were roping."

"I'm not a mama bear," he grumbled.

Oakley came sprinting in with an excited grin. "I heard my name!"

"I was just saying that you and me were roping at Blake's last night."

"Hi, Charlie. And yes, we were. So no need to be upset," she winked.

"Since when do you rope?" Charlie questioned, appearing slightly hurt.

"Since she met me and I forced Blake and Kellan to teach us how!" Oakley exclaimed. "We even competed in a rodeo and it wasn't near as bad as she thought."

"How come nobody tells me anything around here?" My brother bellowed.

"Well I'll tell you something. Mom and dad are getting divorced."

Instead of the surprise I expected, I received a dull look.

"I know."

"And you say nobody tells you anything?"

"They don't. That's why I'm here right now." He shoved the contents of his hands towards me and took a step back.

I glanced down to find a brand new smartphone in its box, a nice case and a combined wall and car charger.

"W-what's this for?"

"For you," he motioned with his chin. "I'm really damn tired of not knowing what's going on and I know you dropped your phone in a watering trough so I picked this one up. You had to get a new number though... Something about not being able to put an old number on a new phone while the old device is still in use--which doesn't make any sense since yours is broken, but whatever."

I stared at my brother, guilt setting in. The poor kid was still oblivious as to what had actually happened at spring show. Our previously close bond was deteriorating as quickly as my friendship with the other graduates. 

We'd only conversed a few times since the night of mom's explosion. He was right to say nobody told him anything. Even when we were both staying at Tommy's it wasn't often we had a chance to sit down and talk. One of us worked while the other slept. 

"Well, thanks," I finally replied, my grin genuine. "You didn't to get me a fancy phone, y'know." 

He shrugged. "I have the money. And it's worth it if you actually use it." 

"Well I'll pay for the plan."

Charlie shook his head vehemently. "Nope, I got it. That way you can't just forget to pay it one month and have a valid reason to ignore me."