Tuesday, September 21

   “Come on, Alex,” a girl whined from my bedroom door. “Please?”

   I sighed, spinning around in my desk chair. “Leave me alone! I’m not in the mood to go out!”

   “Alex-”

   “Get out of my room, Skyler!” I shouted, taking a notebook and throwing it in her direction. She dodged, but glared at me one last time.

   “What the hell is your problem!?” she yelled at me, slamming my door shut. I sighed again, looking at my math workbook. I tried solving the problems over and over again, but I didn’t seem to get the right answer no matter how many times I tried. I pushed it away, and glanced at the clock. 4:30 PM.

   Skyler, my two year younger sister, was suppose to go to her friend’s birthday party tonight, but because I had to study, and Mom had to work at the hospital, she didn’t have a ride.

   It was bad enough I came home early. Skyler was shocked when I told her to get a ride home with someone else. I never missed practice unless I was really sick with the flu or something. That’s probably why Mom and Skyler were so worried about me when I came home early.

   Just then my phone buzzed. It was a text from Declan.

Hey
Do u think ur sister is
coming tonight

                                                                                                            I can't drive her
                                                                                              And mom has the nught
                                                                                              sift

Please come
No one els can

                                                                                                                                 Fine
                                                                                                                But u owe me

   I slipped my phone and wallet in my pocket, and grabbed my keys off the corner of my desk. Heading out into the hall, I saw Mom talking with Skyler at her doorway down the hall. Walking over, Skyler turned her head, still upset.

   “Hey,” I said, holding my keys. “I’ll take you.”

   “Really?” she asked, looking back at me. “Are you serious?”

   “Yeah. Declan wants some company while you girls are over, so I’ll just stay with you until the party is over.”

   “Alex?” Mom interrupted, coming over to feel my forehead. “Do you have a fever? Are you feeling sick? You never leave practice early.”

   “I’m fine, Mom,” I said. I hesitated, wanting to tell them about my grades. “It’s fine. Really.”

   “Alright,” Mom said. “I know you’re really excited about this season, but don’t forget to take care of yourself.”

   I nodded, and looked at Skyler. “Ready?” Skyler disappeared in her organized room, and then came out with a small purse and her phone.

   “Be sure to get back around 10, alright?” Mom asked.

   “Mom,” I rolled my eyes. “I know that! I would never let anything happen to my baby sister.”

   Mom looked at me once more before heading down the hall and downstairs. We heard her car start and she drove away. I looked back at Skyler who had her arms folded.

   “‘Baby sister?’” she repeated, rolling her eyes. “Please.” We walked downstairs and locked the door as we left. Since Dad was on a business trip in England, I got to use his car for anything and everything. Usually I switched between Mom and Dad’s cars to drive me and Skyler to school.

   As soon as I pulled into the Buckley’s driveway, Skyler jumped out and ran towards the white fence to the right of the house. I quickly followed her, closing the gate so their dog, Bailey, wouldn’t get out. Right on cue, a beautiful boarder collie mix ran up to me, wagging her tail.

   “You made it!” a girl called, water splashing as she stood to come greet us. Her elbow length black hair was tied back into a pony tail so her black eyes were more visible.

   “Happy birthday, Phoebe!” Skyler exclaimed, hugging her friend. “I got you a card.”

   “Aww,” Phoebe smiled, taking the card. “Thank you! Come on.” The two walked back towards the pool, closing the gate behind them. I went to the left where a deck was. Bailey was sitting on the top step, and I pet her head before going inside. I saw the kitchen to the left, and Mrs. Buckley was currently washing her hands at the sink.

   “No!!” Declan exclaimed from my right. I saw him staring at the tv playing a game. The screen’s edge was red, and I saw he was dying.

   “You have to go left, and then continue down the hallway,” I said, leaning over his shoulder. “See that hallway? Wait for the flash to go off before going through it.”

   “Great to see you finally arrived,” Declan smirked as I sat down next to him. I added myself to the game, and I helped Declan through the level. We were having a fun time until it was time fore dinner.

   “Boys!” Mrs. Buckley called from outside. “Time to eat! Declan! Go in the shed and get some more chairs!”

   “One minute Mom!” Declan called as we finished the level. After it automatically saved, we turned the tv off and headed outside.

   Clare Steverman and Jolie Browne were sitting beside Phoebe and Skyler. Clare looked exactly like her older sister. The same wavy brown hair and grey eyes. Jolie had twin older brothers on the soccer team. She, unlike her brothers, had dirty blond hair and chestnut eyes. I believe her brothers said she looked more like their mom. The four girls had been friends since the 6th grade, and Skyler told me Clare had a huge crush on Declan.

   “But we all know he’s going to end up stabbing poor Sachi in the back soon,” Phoebe was saying. “Then he’ll realize what he did and want her back.”

   “Aww c’mon, Phoebe!” Clare groaned. “Don’t ruin the fun!”

   “Oh no!” Declan exclaimed as we realized what kind of conversation we walked into. “They’re talking about anime! Abort! Abort!” The two of us turned around, but Mrs. Buckley stepped in front of the door.

   “Declan,” she started, “be a dear and get another chair from the shed. And no, you will not be allowed to eat inside. You’ll eat with the girls.”

   Declan grumbled something like, “totally unfair” or something as he walked out to the corner of the yard where the shed was. After a moment, he came back with an adirondack chair. The girls got up to get dinner first, and I leaned close to Declan.

   “You should talk to Clare,” I whispered, nudging his shoulder, knowing he kinda liked Clare. “I think she’d like that.”

   “I don’t know,” Declan said, glancing over at the laughing girls. “If she doesn’t like me, then it’ll be really awkward. And the others would have my head.”

   “Just try,” I muttered as we got up to get dinner. There was grilled chicken and chips and salad. Mrs. Buckley said she would be eating inside watching the tv. When I turned back at the table, I saw Phoebe whispering to Clare who would be sitting next to Declan in a few seconds.

   “What’re you whispering about?” Declan asked, sitting down and leaning towards Clare. She jumped, knocking her glass of lemonade over. It splashed all over the table, and everyone but me jumped up. The lemonade got all over my shirt as I quickly stood so it wouldn’t get on my pants.

   “I’m so sorry, Alex!” Clare exclaimed as everyone started handing me napkins.

   “It’s fine,” I said, trying to get the lemonade out before it stained. Skyler just sighed, pulling me into the house. She ran a paper towel under the faucet and then started wiping my shirt.

   “You seemed to be a little out of it,” she said, wiping my shirt. “Is something wrong?”

   I hesitated. “You know my grades are bad right now, right?” She nodded her head. “Well, Ms. Thompson wants me to get a tutor. The tutor is a kid in my grade named Paul Simon.”

   “Paul Simon?” Skyler repeated. “You mean from elementary school?”

   “What? Do you know him?” Skyler stopped scrubbing my shirt and looked up at me with a disbelief face.

   “Are you an idiot?”

   “What do you mean?” I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

   “You’re an idiot.” Skyler walked back outside, leaving me alone.

   What’s her deal? Did she know Paul or something? It seemed like she thought I knew him. And from elementary school? I have the memory of a goldfish for Heaven's sake! I’d never remember something from so long ago!

   Those were things I told myself, but of course, both Skyler and Paul remembered something I didn’t.