The New Kid

Chapter 3- Drake

I woke up to the skyline of Phoenix.

"We made it," Mom said.

"How the hell did you manage to drive all night?" I mumbled.

Mom grabbed a can of Monster Energy and placed it back in the cupholder. She also had a glass of Starbucks espresso. I hoped she didn't fuck her body up by doing that.

We then got stuck in the morning commute. I put my fingers in between my eyes, and sighed, "For God's sake."

After about twenty minutes, we were finally moving again. Then this guy pulls in front of us and cut us off. My mom lays waste to the horn.

"Really?" Mom yells.

"You're worse than Valerie," I said.

My mom scoffed.

Mentioning Valerie's name made me long to be back in Indiana. It hadn't been a whole day yet but I missed her so much. Going there for the holidays wouldn't have been enough time to see her.

After what seemed like an eternity, we finally got to the right street. We pulled up to the apartment complex.

"Here we are," Mom said relieved.

I didn't respond. I didn't want to be here.

Although I didn't want to be here, I had to admit that the apartment did look better in real life than in the pictures. There were white walls, a flat screen in the living room, and a gas fireplace close to the flat screen. There was even an upstairs that had a massive bedroom.

"I call upstairs for my room," I said.

"I guess the bedroom downstairs is mine," Mom replied.

As we were getting settled into the apartment, a woman appeared at our door. She was about Valerie's height, maybe a little taller. She had bleached blonde hair with black roots that were beginning to need another touch up. Her teal eyes looked at me with a peculiar interest. I gave her a blank expression and continued to explore the apartment.

"Hi, can I help you?" Mom asked in a thinly veiled impatient tone.

Mom was a bit sociophobic. She was always uncomfortable around other people. I didn't know why she became a correctional facility guard if she hated being around other people.

"Sorry to bother you guys, but I'm Ashley Lehman. I'm your new neighbor," Ashley said.

"I'm Jeanine Perry, and this is my son, Scott," Mom said.

"I have a son, too. I'll bring him over here," Ashley said.

It was strange to hear Mom go by her maiden name instead of 'Wynter'. It made her feel like she was a different person. I, however, was going to keep 'Wynter' as my last name.

Ashley soon came back with her son. He was about my height, 5'6, mixed, had hazel eyes and had a mid-fade hairstyle.

"Hi, what's your name?" Mom asked the kid.

"Drake," he responded.

"It's nice to meet you."

"If you need help moving in, Drake can help you guys," Ashley said.

I shrugged, "If he wants to help."

He smiled, "Yeah, I'll help."

We went downstairs to the parking lot. I didn't know how to start a conversation with someone new. He seemed disinterested in speaking or helping me. I was the same way, but I needed to make a change in my life.

"You don't seem like you're up for much conversation," I said.

"Nah, that's not true. I'm just tired. I slept for like ten hours and I'm still tired," Drake responded.

I nodded, "I know the feeling." I opened the door and grabbed a couple boxes. I handed some of them to Drake. We returned to my apartment with the boxes. Ashley and my mom were having a conversation about their husbands.

"What happened to your dad?" Drake asked.

I didn't feel like telling anyone what had happened, so I made up a lie.

"They fell out of love and they're getting divorced," I replied.

"Oh, damn. I'm sorry...what's your name?"

I nodded to him and held my hand out. It's just like you taught me, Dad, even though you have no idea how respect works.

"I'm Scott Wynter," I said.

Drake examined my hand, looking at it as if he were an old person looking at a computer, "Oh...I...I don't really do handshakes."

That was strange, "How come?"

"The last person who I shook hands with didn't wash his hands and so my right hand got bacon grease all over it. I didn't realize it until it was too late."

I grinned humorously, "I'm sorry, but that's kinda funny."

I fumbled through my pocket, and found the wedding ring Dad tossed to me a week prior. I held it up and showed Drake, "He gave me this before we left."

"His wedding ring?" Drake asked, astonished.

"Yeah. He said he didn't need it anymore."

Drake snorted, "You don't just give your wedding ring out like that after you fell out of love with your spouse."

"You're right about that. I was so confused when he did that."

We went back to my mom's car again to get the rest of the boxes, "So, what happened to your dad?"

"I dunno. He left when I was six. Haven't seen him since."

I shook my head, "Damn man, I'm sorry."

Drake shrugged his shoulders, "Eh, don't apologize for it. I learned that some people are just pieces of shit. My dad turned out to be one of them."

"Yeah, my dad's a piece of shit, too. I still love him, though. He's my dad after all."

Drake and I just talked to each other for what seemed like an eternity. We completely forgot about moving me in. We eventually finished moving all our stuff into my apartment. Ashley and my mom continued talking for about fifteen more minutes. They left soon after.

"Hey man, you're actually pretty cool. Talk to me when you want to hang out sometime," Drake said.

"Thanks," I said.

I walked back to my apartment with a newfound happiness.