“Hey, hey! Wake up, Peach!” Damien says slapping my back. I snap back to attention and I take in my surroundings; I’m on the bench next to Damien while the rest of the soccer team is fighting over the ball on the field

“You’re subbing in next, Murph.” The coach calls from the sideline. I nod in acknowledgment and go back to my thoughts. What did Finn mean? He has family issues? I frown. His Dad is nice, I’ve met him. I think back to last year when Finn and I had a project together. His Dad kept offering me drinks.

“Murph!” I pick up my head and head to the sideline. “You’re going in for Cole at center mid.” He says as he calls Cole out.

I frown, “But I play defense.” I say, knowing how slow I am.

Mr. Marley laughs, “Since when?” He continues laughing as he pushes me onto the field, “Come on the games still in play.” I pause at the edge as I take in the field. I find my team on our half defending the goal.

I start to jog over. I find my long legs easily carrying my body. I smile to myself. Oh f*ck, yeah. Once I’m down, I stay to the edge of the box, careful not to be too close to the goal. A defender finds me and passes to me. The field is open and I run with it. F*ck yeees. My legs are light as they fly down the field. I easily maneuver around two midfielders and find our striker up ahead. I pass to him and he scores. I pat him on the back as we jog back to the center.

“Alright, good way to end it.” Coach Marley calls. We jog over and sit down to stretch.

Coach Marley talks a bit about upcoming games as we finish stretching. I pack up my things and start my way back to the school.

“Hey, wait up!” I turn around to see Damien racing to catch up with me. I sigh. I forgot we’re friends.

“Sorry.” I say with a chuckle. He matches my stride and looks at me. I feel my neck flush.

“Hey you ok man?” Damien asks. I look at him and try to read his face. No luck.

“Yeah.” I say as I turn my head to look at the ground. Damien stops walking. I furrow my brow and look at him.

“Dude I've known you since preschool.” He bridges the gap between us in a few steps. “The only person I've known longer is Finn, and he introduced us.” He says as he laughs. I resist furrowing my brow again. We’re childhood friends. I pause for a moment to think of an answer. I can’t, I suck at lying. Then I strike gold, maybe I can use our friendship to my advantage.

“What family problems does Finn have?” I ask looking up to Damien. He gives me a bewildered look.

“Dude, what?” He says. Uh oh, I should’ve phrased that better. “You mean besides the fact that his Dad is a money whore and doesn’t care about anything else and everyone else in his family isn’t around?” He says starting to walk again. I raise my eyebrows in shock. Damien misses my lapse of judgement, already a few feet away.

I jog to catch up. “Uh yeah.” I say playing it cool, “Is there anything else you’ve heard from him?”

He looks at me and smirks, “Yeah, right cause he’d tell me something and not tell you.” He shakes his head and holds the door for me as we enter the school. “You two are closer than him and I could ever be.” He says with a chuckle. We make our way to the locker room and we put our stuff away. Me and Finn are really close. His Dad is money obsessed. He grew up in a dysfunctional home. I go over what I know as I get ready to leave for home. Once we're done, Damien and I head outside.

“See ya, Damien.” I say as he heads to his car.

“Later Murph.” He calls from the parking lot. I sit down on a bench to wait for my mom. Damien’s car pulls out, “Oh and good luck at your date tonight!” He says out the window as he drives by.

Date?

Hey, can’t wait for tonight!!

Barbie texts. What do I say back? Tonight, I have a date with Barbie Miller. I never really thought I liked Barbie like that but I guess the male version of me does. Though, when I think about it, I really do enjoy being around her and wouldn’t mind being something more. Being special to her. I smile to myself slightly. That would be nice.

7 still good?

She texts again. I need to answer.

Yeah no prob. I’m excited too

I reply. Should I have put an emoji? Or maybe an exclamation point too?

:)

I smile at her emoji as I start to get ready. I’ll just go casual. Barbie and I are going to see a movie. Thank god I’m well organized as a guy and wrote it on my calendar. I pull on the same jeans I wore earlier and a satin t-shirt button up unbuttoned with an undershirt. I turn to the mirror to adjust the collar. Why do I look so much better as a guy? I laugh and shake my head as I grab a pair of socks. As i’m walking down the hallway my phone starts to vibrate. Finn’s calling me. I pick up.

“Hey man.” Finn says as his face pops up on the screen. He’s sitting on his bed in his room.

“Hey whats up.” I say going back into my room to talk.

“Nothing here, just hanging with G.” He says as he tilts his phone to show Giana. She looks up from her phone to smile and wave.

“Good luck on your date!” She calls as Finn tilts his phone back to the way it was.

“Thanks.” I say with a chuckle.

Finn smiles and says, “Yeahhh.” He smirks and wiggles his eyebrows. “I was calling you to check on how you look and sh*t.”

“You wanna see the fit?” I say with a smile.

“Yeah bruh. Show me, show me.” He says smiling. I laugh to myself at his slang.

I walk to the mirror and flip the camera. Finn and Gia ooh and aah in response to my outfit. I do a few poses and they laugh.

“Are you nervous?” Finn asks. Now I am. I check the clock in response. 6:45.

"Oh!" I say, "I got to go!" | jump off my bed and start down the hall again. Finn laughs

"Kay, I'll call you later." He says as he hangs up. I put my phone in my back pocket.

"Bye guys, I'll see you later." I say to my family eating dinner at the dinner table.

"Back by 10 please." My mom calls as I pull on my socks then vans.

"Yeah, yeah." I say with a laugh as I grab my wallet and keys, and head outside toward our silver Santa Fe.