Awakening (Awakening, #1)

Chapter 2

The final bell at the end of eighth period finally rings and I'm already out of my seat headed for the door along with the entire herd of seniors. I was excited for the first day, but I can't wait to get Teegan and Sam and get the hell out of here and get some fresh air. 

I go down to the Junior hall and see Teegan at her locker. I just take a second to admire the view; she's beautiful. The way her dark curls cascade down her slender back. The way her smile radiates to everyone around her, lights up the whole room-

"Maybe you should take that dumb look off your dumb face," Sam says, clapping me on the back.

I plaster a fake smile on my face to replace the real one, and dig into my pocket to get my keys. "Maybe you should take the keys and go sit in the car like a good little boy." I ruffle his hair and hand him the keys.

He scowls at me and says, "Why do I need the keys? You're putting an awful lot of trust in me by thinking I won't drive off and leave your ass."

My brother. He's a real winner. "Oh, I dunno, maybe it's because it's hotter than your breath outside, Sam. And you were too drunk to make it to your driver's test last week anyways. I'm the one with the license."

I stop talking when Teegan walks up and hugs me. "Hey, babe, how was your day?" And just like that, I completely forget about Sam and what a douche he's being. 

"My day," I say, "was great. Yours?"

"Oh, it was fine." She kisses me.

I smile and we walk to my car, Teegan's hand in mine. I think about how I've grown and changed over the years at Wayview. I met Teegs last year and we've been together ever since. It's been great. When we get to the car, I see a bright neon green flyer. For a party of course, what else could it have been for? A prayer group, I would doubt that. 

It reads:~ Back To School Party!

                   @ 6:30 PM to Whenever the cops show up

                        There will be refreshments and food. Be there!

                        624 Winston Avenue~

I laugh as I crumble up the paper. Teegan gasps like she can't believe I did that, and I'm surprised.

"We should go!" She seems excited, and I'm completely puzzled by it. We've never been to a party, it's not really our thing. But if she wants to go then I see no reason why we shouldn't. It could be fun.

"Ohhh, yeah. Definitely agree with her." Sam says. I look at the expression on his face. He actually thinks I'll bring him along with me. 

"Nah, little bro. Not a chance," I say. "I'm sure I know just what they mean by refreshments. And the only refreshments you'll be drinking anytime soon is mom's famous lemonade."

Teegan tries to hide a laugh, and I just laugh. Sam knows he's walking a thin line with mom. She knows about the drinking he did at the party a few days ago. He was so drunk that he told on himself, and anyone with a nose and any sense of smell would have detected the stench of Vodka on his breath.

I slap him on the back and say, "Maybe some other time, Sammy. Isn't Devin having a birthday party or something."

Sam frowns at me like I'm here on Earth just to make his life miserable. And maybe I am, but I just like to be a good brother, I can't let him do anything I wouldn't do.

"You're such a hypocrite, you know that?" He seethes.

"Hypocrite? How? You can't be serious, Sampson." Teegan gets into the car and turns on the AC. She knows it's serious when I call my brother by his whole first name. And this is a serious thing. If he's going to call me a name like that, I need to know why.

"Because..," he says, frustrated. He runs his fingers through his hair angrily, and I just cross my arms and wait for his response. "Because, damnit! You tell me I can't go to a party, but you go to the party. Even though mom would make sure I went with you, attatched to your hip which is embarassing enough! You're like her prized fucking possession; she couldn't care less about me. So yeah. You're a hypocrite, and a damn sorry excuse for a brother. And if I wanna get drunk at a party or anywhere else, I don't see how it concerns you."

I halt in my tracks, my mouth is sealed shut. I have no words. Sam and I have gotten into plenty of arguments - we're brothers- but it's never been this bad before. Maybe he's just stressed out because of school, but I would be lying if I said what he told me didn't hurt.

He just looks at me with such disgust. "Just don't. Don't...look at me like that. Like I'm some charity case. So don't worry anymore, I'm no longer your problem." He slams the car door that he had opened, and just walks away. Teegan looks at me through the back windshield with a look of sadness on her face. She knows about me and Sam's rocky relationship, but it's never gone this far.

"Where are you going, Sam?" I yell out to him. "Come on! Get in the damn car, Sam, please."

He turns around and spits on the ground and shakes his head. I can't believe he's acting like this. I need an escape. I need to release this steam, I'm seething. I smooth out the party flyer and get in the car. Teegan puts her hand on my shoulder and tries to comfort me, and it works. 

"Let's go to that party, hm?" I ask.

She smiles. "Yep."

And I put the key in the ignition and we're off.