For 17-year-old high school senior Evan Brooks, life could be better. He's a social outcast at school, stuck in a rural small town he never wanted to move to, and he's got a secret he's desperately trying to keep: he's gay. When his family decides t...
I open my eyes and reach over to my nightstand to turn off the highly obnoxious alarm going off on my phone. It's way too early to be up, but at least I only have to do this for a couple more months.
I'm barely awake as I roll out of bed, almost falling to the floor in the process. I turn off the alarm and change into the signature look of Evan Brooks – jeans and a hoodie. It's nothing too exciting, but it's cozy and doesn't call attention.
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I head into the bathroom and get ready, though my version of "get ready" is basically just applying some deodorant and cologne and brushing my teeth. I should probably start showering in the morning, but you can't tell me showers before bed aren't the best feeling ever. I look in the mirror to see that my bed head is a hot mess as usual so I head back to my room and plop my favorite hat on to try and contain my hair a bit. I pocket my phone, wallet, keys and earbuds and toss my iPad in my backpack before grabbing it and heading out to the living room.
Mom and Dave look like they're getting ready to head out, and there's no sign of Isaac. He's still snoozing away, I'm sure. Baxter, the cutest lab in the whole wide world, walks over to me with his tongue hanging out as usual, hoping for some pets.
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"Good morning buddy!"
I kneel down and give him some love.
DAVE:You'll say good morning to that mangy mutt but won't say hi to us?
As if he cares to talk to me. He's standing in the kitchen eating a cinnamon roll, not like his beer belly needs it.
"Hi. There, happy?"
DAVE:Not about that snarky tone, no.
MOM:Dave, give him a break.
Mom is pouring some coffee into a travel mug, and she looks extra fashionable today.
DAVE:Whatever. If he were my blood, he wouldn't dare talk to me that way.
Here we go. Someone please change the subject.
MOM:Did you sleep well, honey?
"Yeah, I guess. Probably would've slept better if I didn't have to get up at 6 am."
