Thorns

" find a new rose but don't be afraid of the thorns, because we all got thorns"- Gary Allen-

Like every other school day, as soon as me and my brother came home, we immediately ran to our room to play Gods of War on the Xbox. I was always first since I was the oldest by two years . Because were so close in age we shared, and took turns in mostly everything. The only way we took turns of course, was when one of us died. He wasn't as good as me so I mostly made it through the levels. It sucked for him. It even annoyed him but hey I was born to play.

"Can you die already?", Erik asked sounding impatient.

"Nope, ha ha" I laughed. Maybe he would have the controller longer if he didn't suck so much.

"Landon , Erik," our mom yelled from the kitchen an hour later.

"Whaaat?" I asked. No answer "What?" I yelled. I hate when she does this. Me and Erik made our way to the living room.

" Can't you see we are playing a game woman?" I asked walking out of the hallway.

"Yes and I'm thinking of trading it in for books, that way if your gonna be glued to something, at least your learning." She said annoyingly. "Foods ready."

Erik and I made our way to the table and sat at our usual spots. Then the door swung open. It was our Dad back from his job.

"I came just in time."he said dropping his things beside the door.

"Hey how are my guys doing, good? How was school?" he asked while doing that old stain on your shirt, so we can look down joke, on Erik.

" Good",we both said in unison as he kissed and said hi to Mom.

"How's your day?" he asked my mom while washing his hands in the sink.

"Good just did some chores, and talked to my sister on the phone. Then the kids came home and played the game. They are so caught up in them, I can hardly get them to do anything." She laughed.

"Speaking of games." my Dad said walking towards his duffle bags."Look what I got Landon", he pulled out a game. "I got you a present for your 8th grade graduation next week."

I lit up. My Dad was the best. He was my favorite person ever, besides my mom. Even though he worked a lot he still made time for us. A time I always took advantage of.

"Thank you!" I yelled.

"But you still have to do what your mom says.", he smirked.

"Yeah. thank you. wow." I said observing the case that was covered with plastic wrap.

"Just keep it up." he smiled.

"My baby's going to high school." my mom said excitedly placing the food on the table.

"Soon you'll be graduating, going off to college, getting a big job at the city, then knocking up a girl who looks like Jessica Alba" he said jokingly.

"Dad!", I said feeling embarrassed. He, like everyone else, had a crush on a celebrity.

My mom hit him on the shoulder. " I mean merry, a girl like her." he grinned.

After dinner, Erik and I headed to our room, but first my dad said he was going to Krispy Cream to bring us all donuts. I'll be back he said as he put his jacket on , to protect himself from the rain.

Hours later he was still a no show. Then my mom got a call that changed our lives forever.

8 yeas later....

"Dude hurry up!", said my roommate Mason, who was also my best friend since elementary. "We are going to be late!"

"Ok I'm ready. I'm ready," I said quickly locking the door. Then we ran through the building.

Like most friends going to the same University we tried to get as many classes together as possible. Mason, like always waited last minute so we only got two classes together. One each day of the week.

We ran out the housing building, and made our way across the street. We made it just in time, especially with the freezing wind outside making us go faster. Our first class was Accounting. So you can imagine how serious the teacher was. I was a business major.

Since that day, I took the hopes my Dad wanted for me and tried to accomplish them. I wanted him to be proud of me. Mason and I sat in the middle of the class. I was serious about college but when I had the chance, I liked to let loose and relax. Especially when my stupid teachers didn't give me mountains of homework. I mean, come on. I have 3 other classes to deal with.

"Hey dude check it out." Mason grinned nodding to the corner where these two girls were giggling and smiling at us.

College is awesome.

The rest of the day went the same. Professor's went on and on about the lessons we'd be doing, and what our final was going to be about. Blah, blah, blah. After that, we usually went to the dorms and looked for some friends who wanted to go out and eat. Already I was overwhelmed, as I scanned through everything in my back pack that I needed to do. I hate Mondays. Then we heard 3 knocks. I opened the door, there standing, was the most outgoing girl I knew. Yazmin.

Her head was down as she played with her phone. Her long black hair falling over her face that made her look like the Grudge or something with her light skin. It also didn't help because she looked Asian ,when really she was hispanic like me.

"Uh hum" I coughed.

"Oh hi" she greeted bringing her head up. She was beautiful. I met her in back home in high school but never went out with her. "Hey what are you guys doing? Did you eat yet?" she asked.

"nah not yet."

"cool let's go out to eat?" she said smiling.

"Yeah sure, we just got back" I replied.

"Hey Yazmin." Mason said walking up to hug her. "So what'd you have in mind?"

"Everyone's going to 'Rusty Mills" she grinned. "Let's go there. I haven't been there since Thursday."

We agreed grabbing our jackets. Rusty Mills was kind of a college bar, because it was close to the school. Also the food was awesome and cheap too. They had pool tables, couple arcade games, plasma T.V's, and a stage with instruments. There was probably a karaoke machine too.

Once we arrived, like always I ordered the barbecue brisket sandwich. Living in Texas, restaurants had a special recipe for there own barbecue. This one for sure, made me feel like I was in heaven.

"Can you close your mouth, when you devour that thing in front of me?" Yazmin asked looking away.

" You know it turns you on." I winked.

"Yup. Barbecue all over your face is a real panty dropper." she said sarcastically giving me a napkin.

"Hey look it's Steven and Ashley." Mason pointed out.

"Hey what's up you guys?" Steven said taking a chair from another table placing it in front of our booth.

" Hi you guys. hey girl how are you?" Ashley greeted, hugging Yazmin and sliding in the booth next to her.

"So losers I hear there's gonna be a party Saturday up in da fancy neighborhood Michael invited us to last time ." Steven said.

"Those parties get down. Last party in that neighborhood, there were shirtless girls in the pool." Mason pointed out, while I slapped Steven hands from getting another French fry from my plate.

"Grow up Mason." Yazmin said smacking him in the shoulder.

"Yeah." Ashley agreed.

"Ha I remember!" recalling the memory.