If I had to choose one place to be, it would be anywhere that wasn't baseball practice. The coach was livid and decided the best way to deal with his anger was to shout at the other boys and me for the past half hour. I already got enough of this from my father, I didn't need it from him as well.

Race leaned over and nudged me. "I wonder if the Queens Eagles will still be playing this year? Since they are taking our field."

I shrugged in response. "Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be out of the running this year?"

"I hope so, Jennifer doesn't tell me much of their secrets, but I do know from the practice she had to do for cheerleading, that their baseball team has been working all summer."

I groaned. Just like those kids. Using the money those parents poured into the school to cheat and get ahead. "They'll most definitely be playing if they've been practicing all summer. I can't believe they've been cheating."

Race leaned forwards, putting his elbows on his knees. Albert leaned back over. "How could your sister be on the cheerleading team if she is so ugly?"

I rolled my eyes. Albert had been non stop bugging Race about his sister's appearance since he found out that she would be joining us tomorrow. We had never met Jennifer, but we heard about her every now and then. She seemed as though she were quite the character.

My older sister was in a college in London; she had wanted to get as far away as she could from home, and my younger brother was in elementary school.

"Racetrack! Spot! Albert! Do you three have anything you'd like to share? Or are you ready to start training?"

I looked over at the coach, a thirty-something-year-old man with nothing to do in his spare time but to drink beer, screw his wife, and yell at teenagers for their lack of ability in baseball.

"No sir," We stood up, filling out the locker room door. As we exited Jojo let out a piercing whistle. Clara Hamilton, head cheerleader, who was shouting at the other girls, looked over. She raised her middle finger in response to Jojo's whistle.

I let out a laugh. "Forget it, Jojo. You know she hates you, and that she is dating Tommy."

"A boy can dream can't he?"

Race pushed Jojo's head down as we broke into a run, beginning the obligatory ten laps. "Dream about anyone except her."

"Gabe! Get in here!"

I sighed. My mother's harsh shriek grating on my ears yet again set of a tone of annoyance off in my head. I dropped my pencil, pushing my math homework away from me and standing, making my way across my bedroom.

I jogged down the stairs, stepping over James' toys and walking into the living room. My father was finally asleep, half-empty beer can clenched tightly in his hairy fist. His snores were echoing off the roof.

"Get away from your constant school work and come help me clean up his mess." She threw a distasteful look towards my father, dark brown hair falling in her face.

"This constant school work is because someone told me to take ap classes," I hissed under my breath.

"Are you talking back to me boy? Because if you are I will send you to bed with James at seven pm."

I had to refrain from rolling my eyes as I stooped to pick up a discarded beer can next to the rocking chair. My mother and father had always argued. My father was a blue collar worker, and my mother worked as a secretary for a big level lawyer downtown named Mr. Hearst. I intended to do what Edith had when I was old enough; go to collage and never speak to my parents again.

My father let out a snort and I looked up as he sat up, his beady eyes looked to me and my mother. "Why aren't you in bed yet? You have practice tomorrow and a game on Friday. Not to mention you have to get to school early tomorrow for causing a problem. Go to bed."

I let out a small huff, turning on my heel on the tacky wooden floor and jogged back up the stairs, only to pause at a light streaming out from under the door to James room.

I knocked on the door and watched as the light quickly snapped out. I opened the door. James was in bed, facing the wall.

"James, it's just me."

Slowly, he turned over, flipping back on his light. His eyes blinked in relief. "I thought you might be Mom or Dad."

I sat on the edge of the bed. "Nope," I popped the p. "What are you doing up so late?"

Silently, he picked up a book off of his nightstand. Peter Pan. "I was reading."

"Well, you should get to bed. It's getting late, and you need your sleep so you can grow up big and strong."

"Like you?"

I blinked in surprise, slightly taken back. I smiled at him, and poked him in the stomach. "No, more like Elvis."

He beamed, quickly pulling his covers up. "I've always wanted to be like Elvis."

I laughed to myself, leaning over and turning off the light. "Good night."

"Wait, Gabriel? Do you think Edith will ever come back?"

I sighed, standing up. "I don't know James. Maybe. We can worry about that tomorrow, I think we both need a big nights sleep."

James let out a yawn, as I walked over to the door. "Night Gabe."

"Night James."

I broke into a jog, my converse slapping the ground as I ran. I could feel my hair messing up and a ran a quick hand through it, smoothing it down, the other hand clinging to my backpack strap, keeping it on my shoulder.

Both of my parents had already left for work by the time I had awoken, and James was a pain to get up in the morning. I couldn't get detention, not now.

I skidded around the corner, running across the green field towards the school. Already, various kids from Queens High were starting to arrive.

I made it to the doors, and pulled it open, nearly colliding with a boy in a blue suit who was harassing a red-headed girl. I let out a quick sorry, before jogging up to Race, Albert, and Jojo.

"Sorry I'm late, I had a bit of trouble with James."

"All good man," Race responded, clapping me on the back. "We were just about to start."

He stepped behind the table, grabbing a stack of papers with names on them. I followed suit, standing in behind the table.

One boy stepped forwards. "Name?"

"Jack Kelly."

I flipped through the sheets, pulling out his name and handing it to him. "You'll be over there." I pointed in the direction of the hallway.

He left and the next person came forwards. It was the same each time, I recognized most of the last names; all of these kids had parents that were giants in this town.

"Name?"

"Jennifer Higgins."

My gaze snapped up, along with Albert and Jojo.

Jennifer Higgins was hot.