Superstar// Brady Tutton

1// memory lane

Age 8

"Wow, you did really great!" I turn to see a boy my age in need of a haircut with shaggy blonde hair. "Thank you," I greet him,"This was my first big role in a play. I was super nervous." It was closing night of Milwaukee Theatre's Annie, with I being Annie.

"I never would have known," he said,"wait, how come I've never been in any plays with you yet? I've been with Milwaukee forever." "Just moved here from Alabama over the summer," I reply, "And I'm Genna." "Brady," he smiles. "You wanna see something cool?" He asks me . "Sure," I say curiously. He pulls up his sweater sleeve revealing a small gold bracelet with a gold seashell and pearl. "This is my good luck charm. It keeps me from getting nervous," He explains. "Wow, maybe I should get one of those, I get really nervous." "Actually," Brady says, "Have mine. It's kinda girly for me. It was meant for my sister, but was too small for her." He takes the bracelet off and clips it on my right wrist. "Oh gee, thanks Brady. I don't really have anything I can give you though." I stammered. "Don't worry about it," he says," Think of it as a welcome present. Or you could be my best friend?" "Done," I answer.

Age 10

I woke up nice and early to pick out my favorite pair of pjs for pajama day- lilac pants that said "queen" all over them, with a matching top that had a tiara on it.

I arrive at school with my fuzzy slippers on ready for the day. As I open the door, I find out I messed up. It wasn't pajama day.

It was picture day.

Heads turned all at once to me. Everyone was laughing, I ran with tears streaming down my face to Brady and I's bench that we met at everyday before school. As soon as the bench came into view my sobs grew louder causing Brady's head to snap up from his book. "Oh my," he muttered. He hugged me for what seemed forever and rubbed my back. "Don't worry G, they only take pictures from the belly up," he tries to console me. "Yeah, but everyone around me sees me from head to fuzzy slippers," I whimper. "Well in that case," he slipped his black converse off. "You wear these," he hands them to me, "And I wear these," he slips on the slides. He stands proudly and gives me a hand. We went through the school side by side with all kinds of funny looks, but at least they were with my best friend. "Don't worry Gen, I'll always protect you." I kept those words to heart.

Age 13
They were right. Our parents, my sister, Bray's siblings. I developed mature feelings for Brady that were never supposed to happen. Whenever we high-fived  it felt different,  almost electrified, or something. His touch was different and soft. Whenever he asked if his lips were chapped for a picture and I looked at his lips my insides twisted.

We sat on the dock looking up at the stars. "What if everyone was right?" B asks. "Right about what?" "You know... us." "Oh. I don't know, what if?" I say. "Would we be okay?" He questions. "Of course." I say looking at him. "Well, I think they were right," He meets my gaze," What do you think?" We were getting close. I gazed into his eyes that were only inches away and replied, "They are." Brady closed the space between us for a few seconds that felt like hours. First kiss. "Are we okay Bray?" I ask." "We are."

No one knew we had these feelings. We didn't dare tell anyone or even really talk about it. We were only able to decide that if it were to happen, it would happen on its own.

•••
Mid July

We splashed each other as the sun began to set. What a great day.

I step out of the pool, "Hey Bray, I'm gonna run home real quick for dinner." "Okay," he says, "Do you think you'll be able to stay over after?" "Most likely."

I ride my lavender bicycle down the street to my house. After a quick shower I'm dressed eating dinner. "How do you guys feel about California?" My dad asks. "Yes yes yes, a million times yes! Are we going for fall break?" "Well, longer than fall break," Mom pitches in. "Actually probably until you graduate." "Wait, like move? B-but, what about Wisconsin a-and Brady, h-he's my best f-friend," I tear up. "Of course you'll stay in touch," my dad laughs. "It's not the same!" I exclaim," He won't be there by my side, I-I'm gonna have to make new friends and go to a new school, new everything!" "It wasn't us asking, it was a confirmation," my father says sternly. I suddenly lost my appetite," May I spend the night at Brady's tonight?" My mom answers softly,"Sure Sweetie, just know you need to start packing." "What do you mean, we're leaving next summer, right?" She sighs," I'm sorry dear, but we leave this summer, in two weeks."

Two weeks. The dinner scene continued to replay in my head over and over on my way back to Brady's. And with each pedal, another tear stained my face. I arrive at the Tutton's hyperventilating and knock with all that's left in me. Coleen opened the door," Oh sweetie," she frowned," they told you?" I nod, well a shaky nod. She lets me in and I go straight to Brady's room. He's in the shower, so I just sit on his bed trying to sob quieter,"... and I know now, that I'm so do-oo-own," Brady opened the bathroom in just a towel and jumps at a figure sitting on his bed, but relaxed when he realized it was Gen. "Ugh, Gen you scar- whoa." He turned on the lights to reveal my blotchy red face dripping with tears. "They told you?" He asked. I was taken aback to realize literally everyone knew I was moving, but myself. I grew angry," You knew?" "Mama told me last week," He looked down,"I was just as upset as you are and still am." "You're missing the point, Brady."
He meets my eyes and realizes how hurt I felt by my use of his full name. "G, there's no need to," He tried to calm me down, but I cut him off. "No need to get so upset?" I mock him. "I can get as upset as I want to thank you very much." "It wasn't my place to tell you Gen, and at the time I was told it was still just a possibility," he tried to reason. "Brady, if you cared about me, you would have told me. If you knew me like you say you do, you would have told me as soon as you knew because you know I hate people keeping secrets."

"I DO know you Gen. I know you better than you know yourself. I know that you like water in every way: drinking it, swimming, rain. I know you love the puppy filter on Snapchat, but won't admit it because you don't like being basic. I know you like to eat pizza backwards because you believe everything should be eaten saving the best for last and you hate crust. I know whenever you're about to cry you slide your sleeves to your wrists to wipe your tears." "I guess you're right Brady," I say with sorrow. "Well, if you knew me so well, you knew I was going to be upset. You knew I was going to get hurt and let me anyways. Whatever happened to protecting me Brady Tutton?" I slammed his bedroom door and stomped down the stairs and out of his house. Just as I swung my leg over my bike, Brady ran out holding his towel around his waist. "G, please listen to m-." "No Brady listen to me. My name is Genevieve and I'm going home to pack for California, far away from you."

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A/N: This was just an introductory chapter, not necessarily important, I'm still deciding on using this for future reference etc. Your feedback helps!! Let me know if I move too fast or slow! < that's very important to me personally because I understand sometimes books are hard to follow because of the pace.

Feel free to vote, and comment :)