Love, war, and football

Chapter 47

The usual...late updates woo! Read the note at the bottom, please!

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The air was cold but that's what a hoodie and jeans were for. I was casually sipping on my can of soda, just enjoying the peace and quiet since everyone was inside. Nice to be alone.

Although it is Christmas Eve. So I should go spend time with the family, especially since we're still getting used to my Uncle's new wife and all her kids. But I just wasn't in the mood. Kind of what happens when your dog died a week ago and high school sucks.

I sat my drink down for a second because I noticed my boot was loose. "Whatcha doing outside?" Oh, it's Aiden. I waited till I tied my boot again before responding.

"Just enjoying the great outdoors. What are you doing?" He shrugged dramatically as he reached into the fridge to grab another beer. Popping it open, he walked over to me. I slid over and he sat down.

At first, he didn't say anything, then he turned to me and spoke. "How come you're not being social and such?" Now I was the one to shrug. He took a sip of his beer. Where's my drink? Oh, there it is. 

I went to reach for it when he grabbed it. Really? I asked for it and he just held it away. Not in the mood bro. Then he stood up. No, don't do it. And he bolted away. 

"Aiden!" I yelled while running after the jerk. That was rude, just stealing my drink like that. He just laughed as he ran to the backyard and into the patio. By the time I caught up with him, he was already inside talking to Grandpa. Meanie. I found my drink and took it before slipping back outside.

I sat on the bench in the front yard and relaxed into it. Well about as relaxed one can be on a metal bench. "Ya know, I was trying to get you back inside." 

Sticking my tongue at him, I held my drink close to me. "And you failed. Next time, hide my drink somewhere that I can't find it." He just shook his head with a small shrug. Sitting next to me again, he looked to me.

"Okay, what's going on? You okay?" Am I? Wait that's an obvious answer.

"Not really." No point in lying to him, he'll get me to talk eventually. That's like his superpower or just him being a really good big brother. So he just looked at me and waited. I lasted maybe a minute before I finally broke down and explained to him how I felt.

The dog I've known since I was a kid just passed away, none of my friends seemed to have cared about that, and some girls and guys in two of my classes were saying shit behind my back thanks to my over-weight problem. 

"Oh fuck them, who cares. You're perfect being your own imperfect you." I snickered at him before smiling and agreeing. "Just don't mind them, don't let them drag you down. Now can we go inside because the temperature dropped and my beard may be fluffy but it does not cover the cheeks and nose."

"But I thought you were supposed to be a Viking!" He shot me a glare before laughing himself. Man, I miss having him around. Aiden's pretty good at lifting someone up. Or maybe it's just because I respect him a lot and look up to him. Eh, who cares. I should go and hang with him and the rest. Family comes first.

Family comes first. Tomorrow I'll be skipping school to go to the hospital for Mom's biopsy thing. Joy. No, what's going to be joyful is telling everyone today. I was supposed to do it while we were still on break but here I am, sitting in Mr. Bailer's class and still haven't told anybody.