His Number One : The Sequel to Chemistry

Chapter 3

Tyler walked upon his porch, gasping for air with his basketball out in front of him in his hands. He had chased it a block past his house, and didn't catch it until it landed in a puddle of mud on the side of the street. He silently cursed Kaylin for making him run after it.

He placed the muddy basketball in the grass beside the porch and stepped into the house.

"Hey, Tyler," Stephanie, his stepmother, called from the kitchen after she heard the door close. "If you're hungry, your snack's on the table."

Stephanie was an elementary school teacher, so she was always home before Tyler. It was the same thing every day. A greeting from the step mother, then an invitation to a snack.

"Alright." Tyler called back. He looked down at his muddy hands with slight grimace before saying, "I'm gonna run to the bathroom first."

On his way down the hall to the bathroom, he was stopped by a very excited little black haired girl. She instantly wrapped her arms around the back of his knees. "Tyler!" she exclaimed in her small voice.

He smiled down at her, and she did the same with her not so toothy smile. Her two front teeth had fallen out days earlier. She looked up at her half brother with admiration. He was a giant to her, and she giggled because of it.

"Hey, Katy!" Tyler greeted in his most enthusiastic voice.

"Wanna see what I learned today?" the little girl asked.

"Later, okay? I have to wash my hands right quick."

"It only takes one seconds," Katy persisted lifting her index finger straight out in front of her.

"Alright," Tyler agreed. He kept his attention on her, thinking she was gonna say the alphabet or something. But instead, she parted her little legs and held her head down. Seconds later, she hopped up from her position and clasped her hands together. It was then that Tyler realized she was doing something she had learned in cheer camp.

"Ready? Okay," she started. "Cookies, cookies, cookies and cream. What's the matter with the other team? Nothing, nothing, nothing at all. They just," she clapped twice, "can't play ball!" She ended with her arms in the air whilst Tyler shouted and cheered.

She bowed to her audience and the audience responded with a few light claps of encouragement, despite it being one of the most generic cheers ever. She giggled before running off into the kitchen.

He smiled, thinking of his little sister growing up to be a cheerleader. But that smile immediately faded as his mind transferred over to his cheerleader girlfriend. Lauren. He sighed heavily and made his way into the hallway bathroom. The sink sat at the back of bathroom, and above it, a medicine cabinet with a mirror. He stared dismally into it. By the time he had turned the faucet on and began washing his hands, he had made up his mind that this was the last time he'd ever give Lauren the chance to betray him the way she's done one too many times.

After cleaning the mud off of his hands, he rubbed them against the sides of his jeans to dry them. He felt a vibration underneath the palm of his hand as he did so. Not really wanting to be bothered with anyone, he sluggishly dug into his pocket to retrieve his cell phone. One glance at the caller ID caused him to exhale heavily, and he contemplated whether he should even answer the phone or not. It vibrated twice more before he finally made his decision.

"What, Lauren?" Tyler heaved.

"Woah, you don't sound too happy." Lauren replied. And knowing Lauren, Tyler knew from the sound of her voice that she was frowning. "Anyway," she continued in a happier voice. "Are we still on for tonight?"