Best Friend's Brother | Cameron Boyce |

Chapter 1

"Amber! I have something to tell you!" My mom shouts. "Come downstairs real quick!"

"Alright!" I yell back.

I walk down the stairs and see my mom sitting down, tapping the table with her fingers, something she does when she's nervous. 

"You alright, Mom?" I ask as I take a seat next to her. "Is something wrong?"

"No, darling." She gives me a smile. "Well..you're eighteen now, and you have already graduated.."

"Yes, Mom. That was two months ago." I smile. 

"Well..." She takes a deep breath, exhaling softly. "I've decided to take the job offer."

"The one where you go to Australia?" 

"Yes."

"That's great! I can stay here-"

"Actually...That's what I wanted to talk about." She says and I give her a look. "Honey-"

"Mom, I'm turning nineteen in June! I can stay home and look after it, I'm not five anymore!" I practically shout, standing up.

Mom just sits there, listening, waiting for me to finish. She's like that. 

"I'm sorry." I sit down. "Please continue."

"As I was saying, I contacted Ellie's parents last night, while you went clubbing," She gives me a dirty look and I shrug, smiling. "And I asked them if you could stay there for a while and they agreed. Ellie is very excited."

"Mom!" I hug her. "Why didn't you just say that?"

"You interrupted me," She says and I laugh. 

"Mom, I love you!" I hug her again. 

"Ok, start packing." She says, standing up. "I'll cook dinner."

"I'll help you when I'm done, Mom."

+

"Don't go!" My best friend, Si, says. "If you go, I'm coming!"

"Si, you know you're not going to go all the way to America." I say and he scoffs. 

"Amber has a point," My other best friend, Josh, says, sitting down on my couch. "Remember that time in eighth grade we all decided to go camping in Lucinda's car, and half way there, Si vomited?"

"I ate expired food!" Si shouts and Josh and I laugh. 

"Yea, yea." I roll my eyes. "Sure you did. And Lucinda's brother, Henry, didn't talk to you, for, like, a month?"

"Shut up." Si says, folding his arms. "Henry and I are on good terms."

"I thought you were going to say 'on each other' but never mind." Josh smirks and I laugh harder.  

"Yes, I had a crush on Henry, but I'm gay," Si says, rolling his eyes. "I like any guy I find attractive."

"Same." I raise my hand. 

"So..on a scale of one to ten, how attractive am I, Si?" Josh asks. 

"Five."

+

"It's nice to have you two for dinner," Mom says, smiling at Si and Josh. 

"Ms. K, it's always nice to be here for dinner." Si says, giving her a affectionate hug and I roll my eyes. 

"So, you're going Australia, Ms. Knight?" Josh says as he sits beside Si. 

"Yes, that's right, dear." Mom smiles at him. "For five months."

The Coke in my mouth comes squirting at Si. I open my eyes, and see a not so happy Si. 

"I'll just be back." He says flatly and stands up. 

Josh stifles a laugh and smiles at Mom.

"Five months? Must be a big job." He says.

"It's quite. I'd get paid good money if I go and that's one of the reasons I wanted to." 

"Mom, five months?" I look at her. 

"Yes, darling. Surely you can survive that long without me."

Josh laughs and I lean my head on Mom's arm. 

"I don't quite think she can, Mrs. K." Si says, walking back. 

"Oh, shh you!" I kick him but miss, and Si gives me his 'I Still Got My Karate Reflexes Bitch' smile. 

+

After saying goodbye to Josh and Si, I help Mom with the dishes. 

"So, Mom." I say, putting the plates away. 

"Yes, Amber?"

"When am I leaving?" I ask and she smiles.

"We're leaving next week Saturday." She says, notices my expression then adds, "Yes, I'm coming. I want to see my high school bestie, Amber."

I give her a big hug, quickly finish off my dishes then run upstairs. 

Since it's just Mom and I, I just leave the door open, and that's what I do. I change into comfy clothes, play 'Winner' by Chris Brown, and slowly, I fall asleep.