TJ's POV
"If you ever wanna play some one-on-one, let me know," Buffy says.
"For sure," I respond. "I'm always up for a game."
Buffy sits on the edge of my bed. She helps me out by folding my clothes before passing them to me to put in my bag. My mom will be here any minute to pick me up and take me back home, but this place was just starting to feel like a second home. I stuff the neatly folded shirt into the bag, crumpling Buffy's hard work, but I'm too wound in my own thoughts to notice. She holds out another shirt but I don't take it.
"You okay?" she asks.
"Do you think our dad will ever come back?" I wonder.
She tosses the last shirt into my bag and purses her lips.
"He's dead to me, so I don't care," she mutters.
"You don't mean that," I say. "He's family."
"He's a man who left me. He didn't want to see me grow up or be a part of my life at all. That's not family," she states. "You're family."
I give her a smile, but I can feel her anger floating around her. I don't want her to hold onto this the way she is, but she's not ready to let it go. I only get some comfort in knowing that I will be able to be there to help her when she is ready.
Suddenly, the sound of an engine rolls up from outside, and Buffy stands up to peer out the window.
"Your mom's here," she says.
I finish stuffing all my clothes into my bag and zip it shut. It rubs against my jeans and I carry it down to the front door where Buffy says another goodbye. She unlocks the door and I step onto the porch, recalling standing here days ago back when I was preparing myself to feel miserable. Now it's calm and familiar. I turn to Buffy and give her one last wave before she closes the door, and I step down toward the car. When I reach it, my mother has the trunk open, and I toss my bag in then find my seat in the passenger's side. My mom starts the ignition and takes her foot off the breaks, letting the car start its roll away from Buffy's house.
"How was it?" she asks as we pick up speed going through the neighbourhood.
"It . . . She's not as bad as I expected," I admit.
"I'm glad to hear that," my mother replies.
While my mom focuses on the road, I take my phone out of my pocket, open up my messages, and start typing.
TJ: If you aren't afraid to lose, basketball at the park at 7:00?
A few seconds later, I get a response.
Buffy: You're on.
A/N: I finally finished it! Thank you all for reading this story, and I hoped you liked it. Let me know what your favorite part was in the comments. I'll be working on The Kippens now. Followed by a new ambi story (once I finish making the plot outline). Bye!
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Last Names | Tyrus/Muffy
Fanfiction(Completed) TJ Kippen and Buffy Driscoll, two teens who aren't exactly friends, both grew up without knowing their fathers. When their mothers cross paths, they realize that they may share more than just their love for basketball. With both their wo...
