Kevin sat in the dim room, on his bed, a journal spread out in front of him. He'd never really kept a journal before, but now it was becoming a habit. He wrote, words blossoming out of his mind and appearing on the page in the fluid cursive of a blue pen.
I sometimes feel as if they all ignore me. Without me, they'd be nothing, but they never have realized my full potential. What if they don't want to? Perhaps I haven't been trying hard enough. Maybe I need to go the extra distance and prove that I'm not just backup.
I'm sure that they do appreciate me, but people don't like me like they like them. I'm different, because I'm in the background. I'm an instrument. Maybe if I spoke out more, and took charge, people would adore me the way they adore the others.
It's like I'm the one who pulls them along, but they're the ones who get the credit for showing up. I think I'll try standing up for myself some more, and doing the things that I want to do. Maybe it'll show. Maybe things will change.
There's a big change waiting in the wings for me, I can feel it. Tomorrow looks bright.
Kevin smiled, closing the journal. He slid it into the drawer in his bedside table, flicking on another light. He settled into a comfy position and began to read.
At about eight, Kevin got a call. "Hello?" he answered.
"Hi! You need to come right now," Scott's voice crackled through the telephone wires.
"Why?" Kevin asked. "I was getting ready to go to sleep, you know."
Scott snorted indignantly. "It's literally, like, eight thirty. Come on! Even Avi's here."
"But why?" Kevin was a bit annoyed. "You never answered that."
"We're all watching Chicago! I found out how to make Netflix go onto the TV screen thingie!" Scott sounded so excited. "You have to come. Esther and Jonathan are here."
"You called me, interrupted me, for Chicago?" Kevin rolled his eyes. Typical of the trio. At least once a week they watched some sort of musical, then talked about it for ever and ever, even thought they'd already seen it a hundred times.
"Everyone likes Chicago," Scott said, sounding slightly put down.
"Okay, fine," Kevin sighed, getting up and putting the book down dog eared on the bedside table while searching for a bookmark before the binding cracked. "I'll be there in a bit."
"Great!" Scott's tone suggested that he knew that Kevin would let up eventually. "See ya."
The phone clicked, and Kevin set it down. There I go again, he thought. Why do I always let them boss me around? I've gotta start standing up for myself. Kevin grabbed a coat and headed out the door.
When Kevin got to the house, lights were shining and illuminating patches on the asphalt ground of LA. He rang the doorbell.
When Jonathan let Kevin in, everyone was squished onto the couch except for Kirstie, who was standing behind it and braiding Esther's long dark hair.
"Hi guys," Kevin said, waving at them.
"I knew it," said Kirstie, smiling. "I knew he'd show up."
"He always does," Esther said. "Kevin, come on! There's probably room in the couch."
Scott smushed Mitch and pulled Esther into the empty space that was left, opening another one after her. "Curvy!" he said. "Sit here!"
Kevin sat between Esther and Avi and felt very squished and uncomfortable. "Are you sure there's not a better way to do this?" he asked.
"Do you have any suggestions?" replied Esther. "I think it's cozy."
"What if some guys sit on the floor?" Kevin proposed. That should work, he thought.
"But no one wants to do that!" exclaimed Scott. "I mean, I bet Avi would, but…"
"No, I can if you guys need some more room," Avi said, getting up. "Go ahead." He settled himself down on a pillow on the floor.
"Yay! I can fit!" Kirstie jumped onto the couch.
Kevin rolled his eyes. Just when I'd had enough room. "Come on, seriously?"
Esther laughed, and slid down by her brother. "There you go, Kevin."
"Well, I've gotta go," Jonathan said.
"But we never watched-" Scott began, a pleading looking in his blue-gray eyes.
"I've seen that movie a million times," Jonathan said, smiling. "Hope Mitch's okay." He waved, closing the door carefully behind him.
"What did he mean, he hoped that Mitch is okay?" asked Kevin, looking over at Scott.
"Huh?" Scott turned and realized that Kevin was talking to him. "Oh, yeah. He's just having a tough time. So be nice!"
Kevin thought. Well, he hasn't talked the whole time, which is unusual, but why aren't they telling me what happened? "Why?"
"Uh, he and-" Scott began.
"I think I'll go to sleep early. Bye," Mitch said quickly, interrupting. He got up and left, walking out his bedroom.
"Kirstie!" Esther said. "I thought you were gonna text Kevin."
"Yeah, about that…" Kirstie said, looking very uncomfortable. "I maybe forgot?"
"Seriously?" asked Avi. He reached up and swatted at Kirstie's braid.
"Guys! Can you just tell me what's going on?" Kevin demanded. I might have said that a bit loudly, he thought.
"Okay, okay!" Esther held her hands up. "So, his boyfriend broke up with him and he's really, really upset."
"Why?" asked Kevin.
"I don't really-" began Avi.
"No, why didn't anyone tell me?" Kevin sighed. "Forget about me?"
"What?" Kirstie was shocked. "No, I just- Kevin!"
"She just was caught up with other stuff," Avi said. "You know now, just let it go."
"You know, I don't feel like watching a musical tonight," Kevin said, getting up. I can't believe them. "I'll go. Bye." He practically stormed out.
"What do you think happened to him?" asked Kirstie, sounding worried.
"Big deal." Scott hugged his knees. "Sorry, but I think that right now, Mitch is who we have to worry about."
The cold air whipped at Kevin's face as he stepped out of the car and walking into his house. He flopped onto his bed and sighed. I was right.