Perfect For Me

CHAPTER 1 (Liam Williams)

„Aaaaahhhh!", a rough awakening, nothing new for me. Nightmares are part of my life since.... well, to be honest since forever. This time, as so often I couldn't remember what it's been about. I only felt the panic in my bones, knowing it was horrible but couldn't remember why. With a sigh I lifted my arm to my face in hope I would be able to read the time on my watch. Old fashioned, I know. But hey, it is really useful!

It was 6:15, at least my dreams hadn't stolen too much of my sleep, I would've had to stand up 15 minutes later anyways. After rubbing my eyes and stretching my back until a satisfying crack was heard, I stood up and walked into the bathroom. It was rather small but I didn't care. I couldn't care, 's not like I would be able to affort a bigger one. I quickly took my pills and hopped under the shower. Without checking for my towel.... 

"Shit!", of course I had left mine in the bedroom and now I had to use Ethan's. Which is about the quarter of a normal sized towel.... Today just wasn't my day.

I somehow managed to do the impossible and went somewhat dry back into my room. I stood in front of my dresser 'til I settled on wearing the same blue pants as yesterday and a plain black shirt. Fashion sense definitelly was not one of my many good traids. After a quick look at my watch, I decided to just let my black locks dry and hope it wouldn't look too horrible.

After preparing breakfast (cereal had to be enough) I went to the second bedroom of our little apartment to wake up Ethan, my baby brother. Technically he wasn't a baby anymore, but I still liked to call him that. It was just too funny to see his little face get all flustered because he thought he was, I quote "a big strong boy now". I know, I am a wonderful brother, aren't I?

But just to get things right: Ethan was four. And in the middle of the typical toddler phase of independence. Or what they thought was acting independent. So, I let him get dressed by himself, knowing all too well that five minutes later he would start to cry because he couldn't close the buttons of his trousers.... But well, I try to be a good replacement for my parents, so I want to make everything right. Even if that meant having a horribly dressed but happy brother.

While Ethan happily munched his cereal and told me about his new friend Timmy from kindergarten and what he wanted to do with him today -at least I think that's what he was saying, his toddler accent was hard enough to understand without cereal in his mouth- I prepared him lunch for his break. I made a mental note to go grocery shopping after school, we didn't have much bread left and put the lunch box in Ethan's backpack. "Come on, we have to get going! I am sure Timmy is already waiting at kindergarten." 

Being the good brother I am, I picked Ethan up and ignored his pouting because he wasn't able to finish breakfast. With little difficulties I took my own backpack in my other hand and started walking towards the bus station. Yeah, I know. I was probably the only teenager who didn't own a car. But money has always been kind of an issue and there were more important things to spend it on. New clothes for Ethan for example. I could see that he had grown out of his current ones.

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around my shoulders as soon as I entered school and pulled me out of my thoughts. "Hey! What's up, man?", Nate, or Nathan to be exact, shouted into my ear. He has been my best friend since middle school. And about the only person I really trusted apart from Ethan. "If you continue that I will be deaf before the age of twenty!", I complained. Nate just laughed and started rambling about his weekend at his aunt's house. Meanwhile we were walking to our lockers, the crowded halls were easy to pass for us, students parted their ways as soon as they saw us. We occasionally would get involved in a short conversation, mostly about the soccer team. No surprise here, after all we were two of our best players and I was team captain. And even if I thought that the whole popularity contest was pretty stupid, people still felt like they could raise their status by talking to us. Somehow everyone loved us. Not that I was really complaining.

Until the beginning of first period two of our other teammates and friends joined us. Well, teammates wasn't quite the right word. They played soccer as well but in our other team. Right. Due to some strange thinking of our principal, we have two soccer teams. The red and the blue one. Like with two coaches, two goalkeepers and of course two team captains. Strange, I know but try to explain principal Heathers the unnecessary of this. Believe me, you will fail. It has always been this way and will always be this way.

One of these two people was Benn Anderson and the other was Jamie Oliver. Yeah, like the famous chef. His parents somehow thought it would be funny to name your kid like a celebrity. I can assure you, the many bad jokes he had to hear in his life deffinitely made him think the opposite.

 When we finally arrived at my locker – as always mine was the last one of our group- Kate, the cheer captain and Jamie's girlfriend joined us and together we walked to our first periods. Mine was maths, my favourite subject. Well, one of my favourites at least. Quite frankly I liked all subjects the same and Nate always called me a nerd because of that. But hey, at least this way I didn't see high school as torture!

Four periods later lunch hour had finally arrived. I think I've lied before. Lunch was definitely better than all of my other subjects! Because of the rather rare occurrence of a possible spontaneous soccer training hour all soccer players shared that period. Each team had their own table in the middle of the hall because we did not mix together very well. (Benn and Jamie were an exception) Each year there would only one of our teams be allowed to go to state competitions, therefore we had our decision game each year in February. I would like to say, it was a nice and little friendship game but that would be a straight lie. The rivalry was so important that almost everyone from our town would come to watch and our whole school was split in two fandoms around that time of the year. Again, another thing I found stupid. Sport shouldn't be about winning but about teamworks and having fun. Well, maybe a bit about winning too but -okay, it was about winning. Especially against that stupid second soccer team!

"Hey, asshole! You are holding the line! Just because everyone else thinks you are the "golden Boy" of west-waterfield high does not mean I will hesitate to give you a bloody nose if you stand still any longer!", Oh, didn't I mention it? Not everyone liked me. Ryan Lander. The team captain of the red soccer team and my arch enemy. It's been this way since I started high school four years ago. He hated me, I hated him. He was just rude and thought he was better than everyone else. Well, he wasn't. At least he sure as hell wasn't better than me! 

I just rolled my eyes and took a bowl full of... whatever that was, paid the food lady and went to my table. Oof, another three periods to go!