POV: Daniel 

The muffled voices of newscasters suffused the house as I walked in with my backpack slung over one shoulder. I walked past the family room with quiet steps, eyeing Dad’s outline in the recliner and the small collection of beer bottles sitting on the table beside him. He didn’t drink that often, but when he did, he turned into a bit of a jack ass. I headed into my room and set down my stuff before heading into the kitchen to do the dishes that I forgot that morning. Luckily, Dad got negligent with booze in his system.

I fired up the stove and gathered some of the few ingredients that filled the refrigerator shelves. I needed to go grocery shopping soon. I really didn’t want to resort to ready-made meals. I took out the Tupperware full of Costco rotisserie chicken and threw it into a pan and chopped up some old vegetables. I threw the veggies in and started a bag of instant rice in the microwave. Before long, I had two plates of food before me. I quietly went around the front of the couch to find Dad quietly snoring. I shook him and set the plate of food beside him and started gathering the IPA bottles.

He startled awake and gave a grunt in thanks as he leaned over to scarf down the quickly made meal. I took my food to my room after throwing away the trash and slowly ate as I opened up my laptop and logged in to my class portal. Just as I opened the first of many homework tabs, a text flashed on my computer screen.

It was Amber. I couldn’t ignore it. I opened the text to find an all caps message about how she got a cute boy’s phone number. I blinked at it for a minute before replying.

Me: So?

Amber: Soooo, what do you think?

Me: Think about what?

Amber: The guy!

Me: Is it someone I know?

Amber: Yeah, the guy from the cafe. The one with the cartilage piercing and long hair.

I sat back in my chair and thought for a minute.

Me: Oh. Oliver.

Amber: Wow. What’s this? You actually remember someone’s name? It’s a fucking miracle.

I roll my eyes.

Me: Yes. I can remember names once in a while

Amber: After a month of knowing them maybe.

Me: As if. Anyways, are you trying to go out with him or something?

Amber: I don’t know. I’m still feeling him out

I could picture her leaning in that old beanbag that had been there since sixth grade thinking about whether or not she wanted to go out with this guy. She got out plenty but was far too picky and spent so long deciding that she missed every chance she got. Oliver seemed nice enough. Maybe she would finally have a relationship that she could be happy with. Maybe just maybe.

Amber: Anyways, that’s all I wanted to say. I’m going to study now. ttyl.

Me: See ya.

Just like that, she was gone offline no doubt to procrastinate until midnight on youtube and who knows what else. She was like a whirlwind, went just as fast as she crashed in. I settled into the familiar rhythm of studying more biology than any normal human should have to.

I wondered what Oliver would do if or when she texted him.

POV: Oliver 

My laptop was hot atop my legs as I leaned my back against the wall. I scrolled through more math tutorial videos with my homework discarded to the side. My guitar sat against the far wall, beckoning forward but I fought the urge to play it as I struggled to focus on the Khan Academy video before me. The symbols and words quickly turned into a blur.

Shit, this was more confusing than when I started.

My phone buzzed from beneath my pillow and I took it out.

It was that Amber girl.

I really didn’t think that she would text me at all, but it was a pleasant surprise. It was just a simple “What’s up” message with a smiling emoji. Normal enough.

I texted her for awhile while doing my various assignments. Her texts were strangely cute and gave me a few butterflies. We chatted far into the night and agreed to hang sometime later this week. I mean, maybe this could work? It had been a while since I had gone on a date though.

It was nearly midnight and I had about six hours until work. I should go to bed, I thought. I turned off my lights and got under my covers when I received another text from that girl saying that she was free Friday afternoon and couldn’t wait.

My head hit the pillow and I was out like a light.

__________________

Voices suffused the air before my alarm had a chance to wake me up. It was Mom and Dad. They were fighting. They weren’t shouting, but their tones were just as biting.

“Why can’t you just let her try,” Mom hissed, “she’s talented.”

“Melissa,” Dad sighs, “It’s not a guarantee. I just want her to be okay. I don’t want her to be some bum on the side of the road.”

“I know, so do I, but this is what she’s passionate about.”

“And you think we should pay for her passion? I want her to succeed, if she wants to have fun then she can do it with her own money.”

“Honey!”

I plugged in my earphones and watched youtube videos on my phone until my phone’s alarm flashed across the top of my screen. I got up and headed into the kitchen where Mom was going out the front door with lines between her eyebrows. Dad quietly sipped his morning coffee, clearly not in the mood for small talk. I was glad that Manny was a deep sleeper.

I quietly got ready, tiptoeing around the house to keep Dad’s temper at a simmer rather than bring it to a boil.

He left by the time that I reached for my car keys and I sighed with relief. Mom and Dad’s fights were always so low-key, but the tension could be thick as putty. Like filling the house with suffocating gel.