Brett

How the hell did I end up here? What did I do wrong to get stuck with Patrice as a partner? Uh my life was really sucking right now. No girlfriend I hadn't been laid in 24 hours this was so wrong. Now I was here with Patrice, Evan, Cassie and the crip I mean Archie remember your vow dude at the dairy queen.

Patrice: "So we have to make a guideline that will help us with our project"

Cassie: "Uh boring can't we just like google this shit?"

Patrice: "No that would be cheating we have to do this the right way"

Cassie rolled her eyes flopping back as she groaned loudly.

Cassie: "God I have so many more important things to do than this lame ass assignment"

Patrice: "So sorry our education gets in the way of your primping and nail polish time"

Cassie: "Please bitch you don't know the first thing about me I have a very full calender thank you it's already eight at night I've been up since three am what were you doing at three am Patrice?" Wait let me guess sleeping like a normal lazy ass teenager, what was I doing? Oh yeah I have to run for an hour every morning before I go to the gym because an Elite cheerleader never has time for herself, after running every morning I than have to do 100 jumping jacks, 200 crunches, 30 push ups, and two minutes of a planksthan I head to the gym 45 minutes away to practice for two hours before school starts, than I attend school for eight hours than I have cheer at school for an hour and half sometimes two or three oh and than I again go to the elite cheer gym train there for like four hours than I have dance, thespian club, Key club, Class Council, Dance Club plus games/compeitions on Fridays and Saturdays oh yeah did I mention homework that really matters?"

Archie: "We get it Cassie your very busy can we just all agree we have to do this no matter how we feel about it and move on it's late were all tired and you have to get up early"

Brett: "As do I like Cassie I have to run and go to the gym early hey Cass"

The what that she snapped at me told me she was not only cranky now but pissed great this would be awesome.

Brett: "How's Lucy?"

Cassie: "Why do you care you broke up with her you left her to us to pick up the pieces you broke Thank you for that by the way"

Brett: "I care she just drives me so crazy with her jealously sometimes I can't take it I know I messed up how do I make it up to her?"

Cassie: "Talk to her answer her damn texts she's been texting you like crazy if you can't be a man than write to her"

Brett: "That's a great idea Cass will you put in a good word for me?"

Cassie: "No as far as I'm concerned she's better off without you Brett you never make her feel good about herself she's always crying over you because of you, I hate seeing my best friend that upset she's better off without you she's healthier without you"

Cassie grabbed her stuff storming off muttering she'd rather take an F than be stuck here with these losers. Archie, Evan groaned going after her leaving Patrice and I alone which made me slightly uncomfortable. Nothing seemed to Fraze her though she opened her books laying them on the table with her milkshake clearing her throat. Might as well focus I guess it was counting as a chunk of my grade and I needed to keep them up to play ball.

Patrice: "So lets do what Mrs. Morgan said Brett ask yourself am I follower? Am I leader? Why am I either? Do I like where I am what I am doing? Are my friends bringing me down? Are they rising me up? Ask yourself these questions"

"What will Ileave?"

"What will Itake with me?"

"Question one am I a leader?"

I thought about that question I mean the answer was right there in both of our faces why did I have to voice it? Did she want me to make her feel bad?

Brett: "Leader for sure"

Patrice: "Why?"

Brett: "Because I'm a football god I have money I know I kill it with the ladies"

Patrice: "Doesn't that seem shallow to you? You said you were sorry to Archie did you mean it?"

Brett: "Of course I meant it"

Patrice: "Why did you do it anyway what did he ever do to you?"

Brett: "Nothing he did nothing you know why I did it because Bryan made me"

Patrice: "Bryan didn't make you do anything Brett he gave you a choice he gave you two choices football or being a decent human being you made the choice to make Archie feel like a loser instead of being a true friend and giving him your hand"

Her words hit me I mean deep down I knew they were true but it felt dirty wrong when she said them out loud.

Patrice: "What is it about being popular that drives you so insane?"

I thought about what she asked staring at her she was so intense she needed to know she wanted to know what I thought about it which felt different.

I wasn't use to a girl wanting to know what I thought felt.

Brett: "I guess it's because ever since I was a kid I've heard my grandparents, their friends my uncles, my aunts all talk about how popular my dad and mom were, Mom told me when I was five about how her and Mrs. Patterson got into that huge fight it seemed to exciting so real, I mean when I would watch TV and see all these celebrities and listen to these country songs it felt like an illusion I could never get to, but here in town I mean my dad he's a legend the way he took Dan Quayle to three state championships their first ever in over 100 years how he punched that kid Tyler out when he was picking on mom. I mean the elder folks still talk about how unjust it was that my dad was locked up for defending her how it almost ended his college scholarships, he's tough he's athletic yet he's smart. I mean my dad is like the perfect dude. I could never measure up to him but I always tried as a kid, like when we would go hunting I always listened to what he said, by doing so I got my first buck when I was four years old, I made the papers as the youngest kids ever to shot a deer I didn't just get some doe either man I smoked this beautiful 6-point buck it was amazing! People were always talking about me they were so proud I mean I don't know I just liked seeing my parents proud they've had such a hard life, raising Jason when they were kids they struggled for money they were broke for so long, when they had me they were just getting comfortable in their life. Jason was already in his late youth and he was a whiz man smart good looking and his skills with the ball man, I was blown away the three of us use to just spend hours hours I mean hours in our backyard playing ball, I loved our time together, I looked up to them"

Patrice: "I get it so because your dad, brother were football gods you wanted to be one to just like them you love them you idolize them huh?"

I nodded feeling my throat close up taking a few deep breaths I felt her squeeze my hand as I looked up she was smiling.

"It doesn't make you a bad guy man it makes you human but there's more to being popular than just sports medals and statics, your dad is a stand up dude he knew he wasn't going to play pro so he settled down he went to a good college got a job so he could support your mom and brother, he started out as a part time employee at the sports complex in Indianapolis now he owns his own sports clinic here in town"

Brett: "I don't make the rules Patrice I can't help it if being good at sports makes me popular, maybe it's swallow but I love the thrill of people chanting my name. I love having my picture taking for the Appleton Gazillion when we kick butts I hate losing but I love being the leader who can comfort my team when we do face hardships, and when we win man it's the best damn feeling ever. I can inspire people I can make a difference even if it's just in a game, so what if people have a great time watching us supporting us cheering us on than I did something amazing I created my own memories my own legends people will talk about years from now and that's pretty damn cool"

Patrice: "Brett it's a small town people will always talk and these things your saying are great but it's the dark side of popularity of fame people don't talk about they exist and they hurt innocent people. Would your parents be proud of the way you played Kendra and Lucy against each other? Would they be proud to hear you objective Lucy by her body only? Isn't there more to her than her looks that you like? I mean she's more than just a pretty face even I know that and we hate each other… now"

No they wouldn't be proud of me not at all she muttered the now so softly I almost didn't hear her. The words I did hear clearly started to sink in but what could I say?

I didn't create this world or the rules I was just living the status quo. Lucy was hot what was wrong with having a hot girlfriend? I was hot..oh wait yeah maybe that's what she meant there was more to me than my looks or my football skills, Lucy was smart she was funny she was caring she had so much talent singing, dance, gymnastics, acting. Truth was there was more to me than just football I loved to bake I mean I loved to cook, it's what my mom and I shared and my grandma she owns a bakery here in town.

Patrice: "Would Jason be proud of how you tore Lucy out at the carnival or how you had sex with her in public I mean gross"

Brett: "That was your idea!"

Patrice: "Yea I didn't think you'd be swallow enough to do it but you are a pig Brett Sampson, I bet Jason would be proud of his little brother now I mean I bet he's looking down..

Brett: "SHUT_UP!"

I slammed my hand down on the table jumping up startling her into complete silence she didn't know what to say I mean she knew the story how could she be so cruel as to bring his name up. Yet she was right maybe that's what was so hard to swallow. My breathing was labored as I sat back down feeling dizzy. Her hand slowly covered mine.

Patrice: "I'm sorry Brett that was wrong of me to bring him into this Jason loved you I know he would be proud of everything you have accomplished but he was a good guy he was popular Brett because he cared about his class mates he didn't tear people down or turn against his friends he stuck by them he encouraged people"

I couldn't talk my head was pounding I couldn't swallow memories of Jason filled my head his smile, his laugh, his swag he was cool he knew it but he had his own style. The way we use to dance around the house as kids pretending to be Areosmith,.

Patrice: "In a small town Brett everyone dies famous but Jason's death was a real tragedy it really made all of us stand back and think about how fragile life is, I remember how you cried at his funeral don't lose that little boy Brett he was a good kid, a kid that stood by Archie while he stared at the casket with your brothers body, while all of us were thinking how sad but how far removed it was from our future's Archie was seeing himself there you were the one who went up to him put your hand on his shoulder and told him he had hope he had friends, it was so sweet I cried for days after grateful he had a friend who understood his fears"

"Than you went just two years later and did the unthinkable to him I never understood why I mean my mom left I was so hurt all I could see was one connection popularity she wanted a more exciting life you wanted to fit in to me it just seems that it does more harm than good, at least in this generation"

"Here's the thing Brett as we established your a football god so you are in command with everyone people trust you but why? Because your popular or because you are a good leader, relationships are built on trust respect friendships.

A good friend can brighten up your life by just calling texting, they provide for you without using you they protect you they know your weakness but don't use it. I failed just now, I knew Jason was your weakness. I used it that makes me a bad friend for a moment but I also knew how much he meant to you cause I listened and I comforted you with a memory that makes me a good friend"

"How do your friends help you? Does Eddie, Malcolm, Simon, Richie support you in all your likes, do they listen does Lucy? Kendra?"

Did they? Looking back on my life I played a ton of memories over when Jason died unexpectedly I was only nine but I felt his death in every part of me. Malcolm was the first to come over he rode his bike from a town over where he was visiting his aunts house so he could be with me. We didn't say anything we just sat by a fire looking through pictures of Jason and his older brother Robert who grew up together. His silence brought me comfort, Eddie was out of town but as soon as he heard the news he used his allowance that he had been saving for four years to buy a new video gaming system to buy a bus ticket home so he could be with me. Blood brothers is what he told me forever, Simon sent me funny comics everyday that he drew of Jason as a superhero, he often drew me a sidekick, he would make up stories of us and our adventures sometimes he acted them out making me laugh helping me forget for just a little while about the pain. Richie he's goofy by nature but he's a poet he would make up these awesome verses and rap them out for me sometimes sick ones about what he wanted to do with girls, sometimes deep ones about life youth, either way his lyrics took me to a different world. Lucy she never even took the time to listen it was always about her latest modeling gig her latest medal in whatever competition she was in. She used my weakness my insecurities of her cheating on me the moment she can just to make me jealous, it's not unfounded either I mean we were thirteen when we got together, only three months into it she saw me look at Kendra and got into a hissy fit took off to La. She was a backup dancer in a video for some young hot teen artist and so she kissed him, she called it work but I knew it was a shot at me.

Patrice: "A good friend shares in your joy and doesn't over shadow it with their own news or make it about themselves"

Thinking back to last spring when I applied for colleges and I got early acceptance into one I really wanted. I was so happy my boys took me out to celebrate to my choice of a restaurant they paid for me. Kendra, Richie wrote me a silly and beautiful rap of congratulations, Simon went out and had sweatshirts made for all of us with the school's logo. Lucy threw a fit telling me I was selfish because it was too far from La where her and Charlotte are planning to go. She demanded I say no, jumping up I grabbed Patrice's hand she just made my choice so damn clear why couldn't I see it before?

Brett: "Thank you Patrice you made me see there's more to life than being popular to being a god friend"

Patrice's reaction was too damn cute her eyes so expressive she didn't say anything to be mean she was simply stating the truth. I had some amazing friends but Lucy wasn't one of them. Patrice seemed to really care not just about her grades but about me why I had no idea I have been an awful friend to her over the last three years. She had a pure heartthere was no jealousy no plot for revenge against Lucy she just wanted me to see my value. I don't know what came over me but suddenly I was pulling Patrice closer to me she squeaked as she grabbed my shoulders so she wouldn't fall, our eyes connected she started to speak but her speech was cut short by my lips pressing themselves against hers.