Coexistence
"Hey Zach come on wake up already, we're going to be late for school!" My little brother David shouted at me through my closed bedroom door.
I slothfully opened my eyes and saw that my alarm clock had reset itself, "figures," I mumble into my pillow as I softly tap the screen of my I pod touch and see that it was in fact 7:30 giving me 25 minutes to get David and me to school on time.
"David put some pop tarts in the toaster for me, I'm gonna hit the shower quick before I come down." I called back through my door as grabbed some clean or more likely cleanish clothes to wear to the first day of my senior year in high school.
After I had finished getting dressed I realized I'd forgotten two very important items i.e. my I pod and Nintendo 3DS. After grabbing them from the confines of my room I dashed down the stairs to the kitchen counter where my brother had left both my breakfast and house and car keys. I grabbed them both and sailed out the door like shot.
On the way to the school parking lot David seemed, jittery not that I blame him, he was finally out of middle school after all. Though I had to admit I was more than a little nervous for him, this was making me want to lecture him on things I had to learn the hard way; however in the end I was able to swallow this cocktail mixed feelings; "Well here we are." I muttered as I stepped out of the now stopped car. "Come on, it's not a good thing to be late on the first day." I said to my now quiet brother who was practically clinging to my side.
"Finally, it's lunchtime." I moaned as I filed out of my third period Math class with Mr. Arnold. I then descended the steps to the second floor and filed into the senior commons, a quick scan of the area showed me that most of my friends were sitting outside today. When I arrived at the table I noticed that David was already there, chatting up some of our mutual friends.
"Room for one more?" I asked facetiously, not bothering to wait for an answer; as my friends had saved me a spot. After most of us had finished eating we caught each other up on how our respective summers went. Long story short, not a lot had changed; then we decided to swap schedules, since none of us were in the same classes anymore.
"Damn bro you got a tough first quarter!" One of my best friends, Tom exclaimed.
Don't remind me, I mean from what I can tell you all have it easy compared to me." I said ragging on the group for bringing this up.
"Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding." The loud speakers chimed.
"Well that's our cue everyone." I said to the rapidly emptying table, throwing my bag over shoulder.
'Let's see fourth period English, creative writing that's not too far away from where I am now.' I decided to sneak through one of the schools many 'secret passages' for the sake of timeliness.
"Ah Zach, glad to see you in my class this year." The teacher Mrs. Williams said to me as I walked into the classroom.
"Nice to be here." I said trying to sound as genuine as I could, and apparently succeeding because she smiled at me and directed me to a seat.
…
As the final bell of the day sounded I thought to myself 'what should I play when I get home' the answer of course was obvious Fire Emblem Awakening followed by a bit of Warframe. I saw David waiting for me at the Grand Caravan and jogged over to my spot by the curb to start the drive that always somehow took longer getting back, rather than going to. I knew today would have been no exception, but Mrs. Williams had mercifully let us a full three minutes early; David had somehow gotten out five minutes early which is just his luck.
The drive home was thankfully quiet, but it wouldn't kill my little brother to talk to me would it. Then I noticed I was becoming increasingly tired by the second, letting a yawn escape my throat as I pulled into our drive way. Stumbling out of the car and into the house I went up to my room to do my homework, hoping David didn't notice how strange I had become on the drive home; it was what I always did after school, well minus the part about David and my strange behavior; and it was what I had intended to do. Fate however had other things in mind.