My Brother's Best Friend

The Future

"What have you been planning on doing when you start college?" I asked as I flicked through the channels. He shrugged. "I don't really know." he replied. I glared at him. "You sound like Joseph right now. I never thought YOU'D be the one putting off the future." Drew just sighed. "My dad wants me to go pro but I just really want to go to med. school." I smiled. It just seemed right that Drew would be one of those people that helped others for a living.

"So what are we gonna do about Joseph." I want to know.

"I don't know but can we stop talking about the future."

"Sure but you're going to have to figure it out sooner or later. It's the middle of July already." i warn.

   He doesn't say anything. "We're gonna have to do like we did all those other times and follow him the next time he leaves." I agree to it and then we go back to looking at the TV.

        It's hard not to notice that his knee is touching mine. I know it's in a casual manner but it feels warm against me. I feel weird. I ignore it though because I'm with Drew now even though its only as friends. We're talking again and that's all that matters.

    The next day, I'm awakened by Drew and he's smirking at me. "Go away, I'm sleeping." I say tiredly. He ignores me and jumps on the bed and starts tickling me like Joseph and him used to. I start giggling. "Quit it!!" I say between laughs. he stops and rests his arm on my thigh. He has to realize that that's a little close for friends but he doesn't move his arm.

"Joseph's getting ready to leave out. We have to go now or else we'll miss him. C'mon." he tells me. I climb out of bed in only my tank top and a pair of shorts. I head to my closet lazily and toss a hoodie on and put on a pair of flip flops.

"Ok I'm ready." I say rubbing my eyes. Drew laughs.

"See that's what I've always liked about you. You're nothing like other girls. You really don't give a sh**. I don't think I've ever seen you put too much thought in an outfit." I'm not sure what he means by that but I decide to take it as a compliment.

        We watch as Joseph walks across the yard through my window and we wait for him to get in his car, but he doesn't. Instead, he just walks down the street.

"Now I REALLY wanna know where he's going." Drew decides. "C'mon Sky."

      As we did, five years ago, Drew and I keep our distance from Joseph yet not too much to where we'd lose him. We follow him all the way to the park and then we stop and hide behind the bush. Instead of going to where the older kids go at the park, he goes to the playground and takes a seat on a swing. He sits there for a while and Drew and I start to get a little fidgity.

Then she shows up. A girl. She has auburn hair and we can't see her face, only the back of her and she's wearing Joseph's favorite hoodie. Joseph stands up and hugs her and they walk over to an empty bench. I'm straining to see who his new mystery girl is.

      They sit on the bench and she leans over and presses her lips against Joseph's. And though I'm finally seeing her face, my mind won't let me register that it's her. Amber.

The first thing I think of is not the future, not the present, but the past. I'm already up on my feet running down the street as the tears stream down my face. I know Drew's probably chasing behind me but not even he can cure the betrayal I feel at that point. My mind is already back to three years ago... and I should've known this would happen.