My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter One

This is exactly how I plan on spending my Friday night: watching reruns and stuffing my face with food. I have two friends that are too preoccupied right now to hang out with me, so I'm going to kick it by myself. Unlike my friends, I hate going out. I have plenty of fun while staying in the house and watching television all day. Some people may call my life boring, but I call it peaceful. I don't see the fun in going out to parties because it's just not my scene. Both of my friends, Tamara and Ethan, smoke weed and drink alcohol. They have never pressured me into doing either one  because they know it's not my thing. I'm grateful that they are considerate of my choice. They are true friends.

When my parents and I make it home, I go into the kitchen to find myself a snack or two. I grab a bowl and pour some hot chips into it, before grabbing some popcorn and also pouring it into the bowl. Hot chips and popcorn are the best combination ever; it's the best of both worlds. It's quite unhealthy, though. That's never stopped me from eating it before.

"Why you eating all that? I told you I was gonna cook something to eat in the car." My mama shakes her head, walking into the kitchen.

"I can't wait that long." I shrug my shoulders.

"I swear y'all eat snacks up like it ain't nothing." She snickers.

"Aye, I don't eat more than Devin." I raise my hands in defense. "That boy eat like it ain't no tomorrow."

"Your daddy said Fergie was staying, right?" She asks me.

"Yeah." I nod my head.

"Okay, I gotta make enough for all five of us then."

"Just let me know when the food done, I'll be in my room." I grab the bowl off the counter and walk out of the kitchen to my bedroom.

I plop down on my bed, turning my television on. Reruns are my favorite things to watch because they never get old. I like to record the old Disney and Nickelodeon shows, so I can go back and watch them whenever I want. I scroll through the list of recorded shows and click on That's So Raven. It's such a classic. Disney doesn't make shows like this anymore, although I wish they would. Around the same time the show ends, I hear Fergie and Devin arrive. It's kind of hard not to hear two rowdy teenage boys. I'm surprised my mama hasn't snapped on them yet for being too loud.

I grab my empty bowl and make my way to the kitchen again. Devin and Fergie are no longer in their football attire, but I can tell they haven't showered yet. They're stinking up the kitchen.

"Y'all stink." I scrunch my nose up in disgust.

"We did just finish playing football. I didn't know we was supposed to smell good." Devin rolls his eyes.

"Y'all better take a shower before y'all eat." My mama says.

"What you making?" My brothers asks.

"Chicken Alfredo and fried chicken."

"You make the best fried chicken." Fergie hums.

He loves when my mama makes fried chicken. If he's over here whenever she makes it, he will eat the whole batch. I don't know if it's the lack of seasoning in his household, but he sure loves the food in ours. 

"Thanks, Fergie." She laughs.

I put the bowl into the dirty side of the sink and take a seat at the kitchen table. I try not to stare at Fergie while he's in an engrossed conversation with my brother. There's just something about him that I like a lot. Maybe it's his curly, brown hair or his green eyes. I can't help myself as my eyes trail over his back. Maybe it's his personality. I don't know, maybe it's Maybelline. I laugh outwardly at my own joke and everyone stops to look at me like I'm crazy.