The Unlikely Lousy Life of Cameron Martez

Chapter 1: The Only Person I Value

I let out an aggravated huff of air as I climbed out of bed and pulled on a sweater and some jeans. I walked downstairs and began making eggs when the sound of my grumpy younger brother walked down the stairs. "You better be dressed and ready," I said not even bothering to look over at him. "I think it would be better for the both of us if I accompanied you to school today. After all, it is a knight's duty to escort all peasants to their destinations."

 In case you are wondering yes, that is my four-year-old younger brother talking. He picked up a lot of stuff from being around me to the point some people seem to think he has some sort of problem. 

"Cato we both know that you are never going make any friends your age with that attitude," I said rolling my eyes at the boy as I turned to give him his eggs.

"Whatever you say bro but I could say the same to you." He said with that sassy voice of his. "We both know that you haven't had any luck in capturing a friend either."

"Shut up and eat your food. And just so we're clear you don't say 'capturing' when you are referring to making friends." I said a blank expression on my face as I ate my eggs. 

"Yeah, yeah." He said beginning to eat his eggs like a dinosaur. I couldn't help but smile a bit at that. He was one of the few people in my life I cared about. He might act mature but he's still just a kid. 

I stood up quickly and organized some of my papers into separate folders. I sighed looking at some of the bills and I shook my head. It was going to take a bit of effort to help everything meet this month. "Cato go grab your backpack I have your lunch ready," I said packing the rest of my belongings away.

This is the way things always seem to go. Nothing changes, not with age, not with time, nor with hard work. I'll always be...

"Bro, bro, I'm ready to go so will you stop gaping at the sandwich and hand it to me?" Cato said looking up at me with a bored and slightly amused face. 

I rubbed his head causing him to moan in annoyance. "Did you grab the book I got you?" I asked finishing packing the last few papers and bagging the sandwiches. 

"I don't see how Doctor Sues's book 'Horten Hears a Who' is important for my development." He said rolling his eyes and grabbing the book from his bag.

"It's so you can relate better to the kids your age. Listen...Cato..." I knelt down to his level and put a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe you should try acting like the other kids." He was silent and didn't even bother looking at me. "I just want you to make some friends...I don't want you to be like me."

"So you don't want me to be myself." He replied quietly finally meeting my eyes with a harsh glare. "You're the one who wanted me to be smart! You raised me this way!" I could see tears forming in his eyes.

"That's not what I proposed," I said calmly. "I love who you are, your smart and caring but others just need to see more of one those then the other. You might intimidate them. Try reaching out to them with kindness."

"I don't mind being like you, Cameron, I don't want you to be alone either." He lunged at me hugging my neck tightly and I felt hot tears drip down onto my neck.

"Shh, it's okay. You don't have to be like me. I will always look out for you. Just like Dad wanted." I pulled him away from me and wiped away his tears. "Now enough of those waterworks we are going to start fresh today; the both of us! Let's be proud of who we are!" I said standing and pumping my fist in the air with a smile on my face.

"Okay!" He said running and putting on his shoes. 

I followed a second later the smile on my face that was only there for him. I could handle another day of pain if it meant I could still come home to him. I would change our fate.

I'm so good at lying that I trick myself in believing that if I move forward things will eventually work out. It's so easy to deceive people, all you need is fake confidence and a few convincing expressions. 

We both waved goodbye to Dad's picture before we both raced down the street to the daycare. 

What if nothing changes?