HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

Chapter 28

In the locker room, Aiden keeps glaring at Zach. I can tell that Zach is becoming uncomfortable. To my surprise, Aiden stands up and walks over to Zach. He swings back his arm and punches him right in the eye. He does it again. Zach hardly moves, only a slight flinch. I respect him for that.

"Why is going on?! Aiden, you are done! Do you hear me? Done! I don't want to see you in uniform again! You can turn your jersey in to the office. Go, now!" Coach surprises me with his sudden temper.

"Are you okay, Zach?"

He nods. Coach gives a "you tried hard, that's all that matters" lecture. They all leave, one by one, until only coach, Alex, and I are left.

"Sorry I fouled out." Alex say.

"You don't listen worth crap." Coach says laughing.

"See you next week." We say together.

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I am sitting cross legged on my bed, looking at the pictures from when my friends came to visit. They only left last Sunday, but I miss them more than ever. Sometimes, when you don't know what you're missing, it isn't as hard. I was reminded by their visit. At least I have Kelsey and Meghan. I have always wanted a sister. Two's even better.

Someone knocks on the door beneath me.

"Come in." I say.

Kelsey. She's bringing boxes that contain the remains of my stuff. "Sorry I didn't bring them earlier." She says softly.

"It's fine, really." I say, taking my earbuds out. "Do you like your newly decorated room?" Mom took Kelsey and Meghan to the store to pick out new stuff for their room. It looks nothing like my old room. Now, mom's starting on my new room in the attic. Dad finally got the air working too. My room feels like it's always been my room.

"Yeah." She whispers. "I gotta go do my homework. See you tomorrow."

"Good night."

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We are in my mom's van again. We are not headed to another basketball game. Kelsey and Meghan sit in the middle row of seats and Alex and I are in the back row of seats. We are playing would you rather.

"Would you rather die or be so sick and uncomfortable?" Kelsey asks.

I choose be sick. Alex chooses die. Meghan chooses sick, only because I did.

"Would you rather eat moldy cheese or eat moldy bread?"

Meghan and I choose bread. Kelsey chooses cheese.

"Would you rather freeze to death or burn to death?" Meghan asks.

We all hesitate. "Freeze." Kelsey days. "You'd pretty much go crazy and not be aware of what's happening." She explains.

"Burn." I reply. "It would go quicker."

"Me too." Meghan agrees.

"Burn." Alex says. "Just cuz."

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They won their last game 57-42. Now they are winning their game 51-12. Trey scores a three at the buzzer to make the score 54-12 at half time. We are probably going to get 100 points. That'll be a school record! We walk into the locker room and get our typical, "keep it up" pep talk. They once again dominate the game, but in the last quarter, Alex's opponent steps on his foot, which twists his ankle. He needs to be helped off the court. An ambulance is called. His ankle bone is sticking out against his tan skin.

"You okay?" I ask.

"Never been better." He replies sarcastically, wincing as he speaks, as if each word hurts him.

"For real."

"It really hurts."

"No dip!" I say laughing.

They take him away in an ambulance.