My Brother's Best Friend

9-Ally

Ally's POV

“Just his behavior in general, lately, ticks me off,” I was telling my best friends, Emily and Jenna. “I’m telling you, football has done nothing but hurt Mitch.” We were at our lockers, and I had been telling my best friends about Mitch the whole ride to school.
“He has seemed different, lately,” Jenna agreed, opening her locker. “I mean, he’s different, that I’ve noticed.” I nodded, sighing. “But ‘different’ doesn’t even completely cover it. You should have seen us, last night. I don’t remember ever fighting with him like that.”
I put a couple books into my locker, and Emily sighed sympathetically. “Well, it is his junior year, Ally. He is probably stressed because he has a lot going on.” I just shrugged, not saying anything. I opened my locker and grabbed a few books. I was bothered deeply by Mitch’s behavior…and I just hoped that somehow, his rudeness would disappear.
The first bell rang, suddenly, warning us to get to class. I nodded toward Jenna and Emily, and together, we rushed off to class.

~

The time flew by rather quickly, and finally, Lunch came. As soon as the bell rang, I hopped up from my seat and headed toward the cafeteria; students rushing by me.
The cafeteria was already full of students when I entered it, and I immediately got in line. I looked around for Jenna and Emily, and I spotted them at a table, waiting for me. I then began to do what I usually did after looking for them—look for James.
Now, that action was not particularly difficult to do, because I had memorized where the Jock-table was. And there, I saw him, laughing at something Mitch must have said.
Even above the loud voices of all of the teens of the school, I could hear James’ laugh—bright and contagious. After staring at him awhile, I popped back into reality, and noticed someone behind me, tapping on my back. “Huh?” I asked, looking at him. “Um…the lines moving,” he said.
I apologized quickly and moved up, and tried my best not to look back at James anymore. That was too close. What if James had been the one to catch me staring?
Of course, this morning, he was staring right back at me, through our windows. What was the deal with that? Leaving that question unanswered, I paid for my lunch and walked over to Jenna and Emily.
“Hey girl,” Emily greeted as I sat down across from them. “Hey,” I replied, smiling. “Alright, so Em and I were thinking…” Jenna began. I looked at her, waiting for her to continue. “We haven’t had a real sleep-over in a while, and I was hoping we could have one, tonight, at my place.” I sighed. Usually, I loved her sleep-overs, but for some reason, I didn’t feel up to one.
“I don’t know…” I said. “I don’t think that I would be much fun. I still haven’t resolved things with my brother…” Emily groaned. “Oh, come on, Ally! Maybe this sleep-over might just do the trick! It’s Friday, and we don’t have much homework. We need a break from the stress, and just need to have a party.”
I smiled a little. Maybe Em was right. Maybe all I needed was a break. I felt both of their gazes on me, and I finally said, “Oh, alright. I’ll come.” Both of them smiled. “Great! You guys can come over abut 4:00 then, ok? That’ll give me almost two hours to set up.” Emily and I nodded, and I actually began to feel a bit better. Excitement began to take the place of the worry I was holding inside.
Suddenly, I noticed someone coming, out of the corner of my eye that was the last person I would ever expect. It was my brother, of all people. “Ally…” he said, straight-faced. “I’m just telling you now, that I won’t be home for dinner…James and I are going out tonight with a couple girls.”
I looked up when I heard the word ‘girls’. “Wait…you? James? With girls? Tonight?” Jenna and Emily giggled at me, and my brother rudely replied, “Yes, Einstein, is that too hard to process?”
“Harsh,” muttered Emily, and I sighed. “No…I’m sorry. Well, I won’t be home tonight, at all. I’m sleeping over at Jenna’s.” Mitch’s eyebrows both rose slightly. “Just you girls, right? There won’t be any guys, are there?”
Em and Jenna looked at each other and burst out laughing. I felt like doing the same, but I instead said sarcastically, “Oh, yeah, Mitch. There will be tons of guys. We’ll party with ‘em all night long.”
Mitch’s eyes got insanely wide with shock, then, and this time, I did laugh. “Oh, my gosh, Mitch. You are so vulnerable!” Mitch cleared his throat a little, and said, “Whatever…I’ll see you later.” Then, he left.
I instantly began to replay what had just happened through my head. According to my brother, he and James were going to dinner with a couple girls…and he obviously meant them to be dates. And Mitch couldn’t have both girls…so James must be the date of one of them!
Jenna and Emily seemed to notice my sudden worried expression, and Jenna reached over to touch me. “Hey…what are you thinking about?” I looked up at her, and forced a smile. She and Jenna had no idea about how I felt about James. “Nothing. Everything’s ok, really. Come on, we’d better hurry and eat.”