Kiss Off

Chapter 2

I spot the soccer team practicing their passes in the field as I walk to my car. Clouds overhead are threatening to burst open and send a tsunami crashing over our dry town, but so far there hasn't been a single flicker of lightning or scent of moisture in the air. The breeze is definitely a nice change though as it blows across my hot skin.

Summer should be winding down soon, but the ninety-degree weather has yet to relinquish its hold. I drag my hair over to one shoulder so it's off my neck as I unlock my car and slip inside. The parking lot is nearly empty, aside from those who have after school activities, so I have a clear view of Bryson sprinting down the field and skillfully sliding the ball into the goal. I smile at the celebratory jig he gives his team as he swings his hips and rotates in a circle like some Hawaiian hula dancer. I swear, if he gets any cuter, I'll be in love.

As of now, I'm just crushing in pretty much the most obsessive way possible. It's probably good that Bryson is oblivious to my feelings or he'd be completely creeped out by me.

Dropping my head back against the headrest, I blindly fiddle around with the keys until I find the ignition and crank it on. Rolling down the windows, I inhale the gust that barrels through the car, whipping my hair around my face in its aggression. I don't bother to move the strands away, just content on the solitude.

In approximately ten minutes I'll be walking through my front door and into a chaotic mess of children screaming, my mom yelling, and my dad passed out on the couch. I'm not complaining. I've got a great home life: great relationship with my parents, an abundance of love, and everything I could ever need. But it's just a lot sometimes. These few minutes are the only peace I get in my day and I'm choosing to cherish them.

Until my phone rings from somewhere deep in my bag.

I groan and I rummage through the pockets and pull it from hiding. I don't even bother looking at the caller ID as I answer it, close my eyes, and mumble a, "What's up?" into the receiver.

"Hey, Everly," my mom's voice answers from the other end. Whatever she says next is drowned out by one of my younger brothers screaming nearby. I pull the phone away quickly and rub my ear in annoyance.

"What?"

"Andrew!" she scolds. "Please lower your voice and go set the table. James, could you help Addy peel her banana and stop burping in your brother's face. So rude. Okay," It sounds like she might be talking to me again now but then her voice goes muffled again. "No, Luke. I said no juice for dinner. Put it away. Oh shoot!" There's some shuffling on the other end as I rub at my throbbing head, but I don't say anything until my mom returns to the phone. She must be in a separate room now because it's much quieter.

"Sorry," she breathes. "Would you mind picking up some bread, butter, and eggs from the grocery store? I'd planned to make a loaf today but ran out of time."

"Sure," I yawn, putting the car in drive and cutting diagonally across the parking lot toward the exit.

"Dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes, so you should hurry," she explains just as a blood curdling scream pierces my ear again. I hear my mom swear softly — probably not intending for me to hear — and then the line goes dead.

I toss my phone into the passenger seat and I fight the urge to grumble the entire way to the store.

It's no wonder I'm such a lazy blob of a human being. In between school, extracurriculars, and running errands for my family, I don't have time for me. Maybe I'd actually enjoy it. All the hours upon hours of solitude. Waking up at the crack of dawn so I could primp my way to perfection every morning. The stares from all the gorgeous guys in the hallway. The rise in fame and popularity. Hah! Yeah, that'd never happen and I'd hate myself if I ever let it. I'm happy being me... I'm just not thrilled about never having time for me.