My Brother's Best Friend

8-James

James' POV

“Well, we’d better hang up, now,” I said to Mitch over the phone, the next morning. “If we want to get to school on time, we’d better go.” I heard Mitch sigh over the phone. “Yeah, you’re right. Hey, do you want a ride? Ally’s going with a couple friends, and I’d be going alone.”
I smiled a little. “Sure, Mitch. My car needs some gas, anyway, and I don’t think I’ll have enough left over if I go to school, then back.” He quickly replied, “Awesome! OK, I’ll meet you outside, then, alright?”
“Yeah, see you in a minute,” I hung up and put my cell in my pocket, and automatically went over to my window to open my blinds. My eyes quickly looked into the window of the house beside mine, and I remembered that it was Ally’s room.
I had known that it was hers, before, but a long time ago, Mitch and I had wished that that room had belonged to him, since he and I were best friends, and all.
But right now, I was actually pretty glad that Ally still occupied that room. At least, I was, now that I had begun to like her.
My eyes caught Ally’s tall, thin frame, and as soon as I saw her, I couldn’t move. Her backpack was on her bed, and she was putting things into it, one by one.
Just watching her do this simple action made me breathless. The way she moved was so…careful, and graceful. She finally had seemed to finish, and zipped up her backpack with one swift motion.
But it was then that it happened. She happened to look out her window, through mine, and in my eyes. I was stuck. I couldn’t breathe or move and neither could she. Neither of us looked away.
But then, she looked at her door, with her lips moving, and I assumed that she was talking to Mitch. This was my chance to move. I grabbed my backpack off of my fold-up chair and left my room.
My mom was in the living room, watching TV and folding laundry. When she heard my footsteps, she turned to me and smiled. “Are you leaving, now?” I nodded slowly. “Yeah…Mitch is taking me with him to school.” Mom nodded at me. “Alright. Be safe, and don’t do anything careless…” I chuckled and replied, “Yeah, Mom. See you later.” I slung my backpack over my shoulder and left.
The second I stepped out the door, the cold October air nipped at my neck. The temperature seemed to be dropping gradually, daily. I shivered a little and looked over at Mitch and Ally’s house. Ally was just leaving, but she didn’t see me. A car was parked in the driveway, waiting for her, and before I knew it, she was inside it, and gone.
Mitch galloped down the front steps of his house and he smiled at me friendly. I smiled back a little, and headed in his direction, taking long strides so that I would get there sooner.
“Hey, man,” Mitch greeted, and he pounded my fist with his. “Hey,” I replied, returning the greeting. He hopped into the car, first, and immediately after, I hopped in, too.
“Man, I am so psyched about tonight,” Mitch commented as we pulled away from our houses. “Why?” I asked, genuinely curious. I seriously didn’t know what he could possibly be “psyched” about.
Mitch stared at me for a second as if I were crazy. “Our date with the pizza-girls…?” As soon as he had reminded me, I groaned. I had completely forgotten, and had wished that he hadn’t brought it up.
“What?” Mitch asked when he heard my groan. “I thought you were excited.” Now it was my turn to stare at him. “Mitch…the whole thing was your idea! You didn’t really give me a chance to say anything.” He sighed deeply. “Please don’t tell me that you’re backing down.”
I didn’t answer, but instead, breathed slowly and deeply. Mitch shook his head, frustrated. “I thought you liked them, too,” he said, simply. “And besides, I can’t recall the last time you were out on a real date.”
I clenched my teeth, trying as hard as I could to hold back my anger. “Why does that even matter, Mitch? Maybe I’m not like you, and I want to save myself for a girl that I actually like, and not one that I don’t even know.”
Mitch raised his hands off of the wheel, quickly, and said, “Wow, James. No need to get so defensive. I’m sorry.” I took a couple deep breaths, calming myself down.
“Look, I respect your opinion, man, but that doesn’t mean that I have to do what you do,” he continued. I looked at him. “And I’m not saying that you should! All I’m saying is that I think I should be able to be the one that chooses who I should date or not, and not anyone else.” I thought that saying that might tick him off, but I didn’t care. I needed to let my mind be heard, for once.
“Fine, James. I’m sorry. It was way out of line for me to have set up dates for us with two beautiful girls.” I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not, but I hoped that he wasn’t.
It was silent for a few seconds, until Mitch made a right turn, pulling into the school parking lot. “Look, James…I know you don’t want to do this, but can you please do this one date? For me? You don’t have to date her anytime after this…I just don’t want to have to tell them that it’s off.”
I was about to argue, but the look on his face was so desperate. I really didn’t want to see him crash and burn with this girl, especially since he seemed to really like her.
“Fine,” I said, sighing dramatically. “But just this one date. That’s it.” Mitch’s face lit up, immediately. “Thank you, James. And who knows, maybe you have fun, after all.”
He parked the car, and opened his door, and I sighed again. Right now, I wished that the girl that I was going out with, tonight, could have been Ally. Then, there would definitely be no problem.
I opened my door and closed it, then. Mitch locked the car. “C’mon, buddy,” Mitch said, happily. “Let’s get inside.”