knowing dylan created a sense of happiness inside my chest. my heart filled with wonder and amazement at his life. everything that he is and does is beautiful.
there was one thing he told me that particularly caught my attention: his parents died in an accident. he didn't explain to me in detail, just told me he never knew them. that his grandfather took him in.
i didn't expect him to be so open with me. he explained his childhood and his favorite music, movies, activities, and small facts that you'd never think important until you find yourself intrigued.
i found it strange how much we actually had in common. i told him enough about me, but not everything. there's no need for me to explain my past. it's all a blur, really, something i shouldn't dwell upon.
we exchanged numbers and haven't stopped messaging each other since then. it's been only a week and a half, but he's instantly becoming a part of my everyday routine.
"brin, you want some?" jackson offers me some of his beer which i deny. he's watching a football game with the boys, all of which have on their matching jerseys. most of jackson's friends have girlfriends. neither of them are interested in the game. there's chloe, who's with derek, sophia who's with kade, and catherine who's with alex.
i'm most fond of catherine and alex just because of the fact that they hold back when they know they cross the line with anything. it ranges from stopping someone from drunk driving to apologizing whenever a rude thing is said. i talk to catherine quite often, the other girls not so much. i know they don't like being around me, not in a rude sort of way, but it's just that they aren't my type of crowd; they actually enjoy the party lifestyle.
every time the boys' team scores, jackson grabs me by my shoulder and shakes me vigorously. all the shouting and groaning after their team loses is my cue to leave. i wiggle out of jackson grip and head towards his kitchen to find some food.
always hungry, i say. alex walks into the kitchen while i sit on top of the counter eating pickles. he grabs a drink from the fridge and flashes me a smile in which i return. slowly he comes to me and rests beside me.
"how've you been, brinley?" alex asks.
"i've been good. real good, actually. and you?" i ask. he shrugs, laughing in the slightest.
"i've been okay." things fall silent for a moment before he clears his throats and looks over at me hesitantly.
"your friend, dylan, right?" i nod, "how well do you know this kid?"
"well, considering i only met him a few weeks ago, i know him vaguely, but enough i'd say. how come?" i ask.
"it's just... i don't want to frighten you, but something happened the other day."
"what?" i put my full attention to alex who now shifts uncomfortably. he scratches the back of his head. alex continues to open and shut his mouth, as if he were choosing his words carefully.
"i don't even know how to explain what i saw, it was just full on strange. i mean, everything was wrong."
"what'd you see?" i jump off of the counter and inch closer to alex, facing up at him with my eyebrows knitted together.
"okay, so," alex sets down his drink and uses his hands to talk, "i was getting dressed in the locker room alone, because i was the last one in after our practice and suddenly, this kid enters with a ripped shirt, blood on his body, and he's in a hurry, shoving past me to get into the showers, and when i try to stop him to ask if he's alright, he shoves away my hand, and he looked so... lost. out of it, i don't know how to explain." alex gives me a look of disbelief. alex stares at the floor with great wonder in his eyes and what appears to be fear written on his face.
