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Growing up can be a funny thing. Sometimes, it happens gradually over time as we gain experience and learn from our mistakes. Other times, it's thrust upon us, whether we're ready for it or not. In my case, I had to mature quickly when I was unexpectedly forced to live alone during high school. Initially, it was liberating to be able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, without anyone's approval. However, as time went on, I realized that independence comes with its own set of challenges.
Living alone meant taking care of everything myself, from cooking and cleaning to paying bills and managing my time. It was a lot for a teenager to handle, and while being by myself was comforting at first, it soon became suffocating. I found myself overthinking everything, second-guessing my decisions, and feeling trapped in my own mind. But amidst the difficulties, I also discovered moments of clarity and growth. Being alone forced me to confront myself and my deepest fears, which helped me find my strength and independence. I learned to trust my instincts, listen to my own voice, and rely on myself.
Maturity was something that happened to me unexpectedly, but in the end, it taught me a valuable lesson. I learned resilience, perseverance, and the power of self-reliance. Solitude can be both a beautiful prison and a catalyst for growth and self-discovery, depending on how we choose to approach it.
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I woke up to the sound of Mr. Baker's booming voice as soon as he walked into the house. I quickly sat up from the couch just as he noticed me and furrowed his brow in annoyance before turning to Mrs. Baker, who was calmly preparing food for the twins in the kitchen. "What's he doing here?" he grumbled. Mr. Baker and I didn't have the best relationship, and I knew it was because he was overprotective of Evelyn. I couldn't blame him though; if I were in his shoes, I'd probably feel the same way.
I looked over at Mrs. Baker, waiting for her to speak. When she did, her tone was blunt. "Well, he saved your daughter from making a huge mistake. No big deal," she said, pursing her lips. "Our very drunk daughter, by the way. You should be thanking him." Mrs. Baker glanced up at me with a frown, and then back at her husband. "Plus, you know how I feel about teenagers driving late at night. I told him to stay."
Mr. Baker hesitated, then looked at me and said, "Thank you for bringing Eve home, but I think you've overstayed your welcome." I nodded, getting up from the couch and neatly folding the blanket Mrs. Baker had given me. I was about to head towards the front door to grab my shoes when Mrs. Baker spoke up.
"Oh, I didn't realize this was your house, Julian. I thought we were all living under my roof," she said, glancing at her husband with a sly smile. She then walked towards us, checking on the twins before continuing. "Parker, you can stay." I could feel the tension between Mr. and Mrs. Baker as they silently communicated with each other. Then, Mrs. Baker turned to me and gestured towards the kitchen chairs beside the twins. "Actually, I think you should join us for breakfast."
After giving her husband a small glare, she looked at me and smirked, gesturing toward the kitchen chairs beside Jude and Davis with a sweeping motion. "Come on, let's go eat," she said. I hesitated, feeling Mr. Baker's eyes on me. It was like being caught in the middle of two divorced parents; pretty awkward. I was relieved to see Evelyn walking out of her bedroom, looking tired but at least it was someone else to talk to.
Evelyn looked at me, then at her parents, who had only just noticed her. And then, she made a U-turn. Of course, she was going to leave me here, caught in the middle of her parents' tension. I cleared my throat, "Thank you, Mrs. Baker, but I have to get ready for work." It was a lie, I had the day off today, but I needed an excuse to leave.
Mrs. Baker's face fell, and I could see the disappointment etched on her features as I refused her offer to stay for breakfast. I felt guilty for declining her invitation, but I knew it was for the best. Mr. Baker, on the other hand, looked relieved, and his eyes followed me as I made my way to the front door. I put on my shoes, and as Evelyn's parents began to talk in hushed whispers, I could sense that the tension in the air had eased a bit.
Just as I was about to open the door, I heard Evelyn's voice call out to me from behind. "Parker, wait," she said softly. I turned around to see her walking towards me, looking much more sober than the night before, like she'd never even gotten drunk in the first place. When she was finally in front of me, she gave me a tight hug. It felt good to hold her again, and I hugged her back, feeling a weight lift off my chest.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I stepped back from the embrace and met Evelyn's eyes. "Anytime, Evie. Just be safe, okay?" I said, my concern palpable.
She nodded and offered me a small smile as she released me. After saying my goodbyes to her parents, I closed the front door behind me and left the Baker's house. As I drove home, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for letting Evelyn drink too much last night. If I had known she was there, I would have been more responsible and made sure she didn't overdo it. I vowed to myself that I would never let that happen again, and that I would keep a watchful eye on both her and Jesse next time.
My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the previous night as I drove home in silence. When I finally reached my house, I collapsed onto my bed, drained from the events of the evening. I tried to push away the lingering guilt and closed my eyes, hoping to catch a few more hours of sleep. But my peace was interrupted by a buzzing sound, jolting me awake. With a groan, I reached for my phone on the nightstand and answered the call.
"Morning Captain," I sighed, recognizing Jamie's voice on the other end. He sounded sheepish as he continued, "Listen, last night at the party, I may have challenged the Panthers' point guard to a rematch off the court, just to prove that our win wasn't just luck, and, uh..."
I cut him off with an exasperated sigh. I should have known he would get us into trouble like this, just when I didn't have the energy to deal with it. "If you say that it's happening today, and the whole team is playing, I'll literally bench you for the next four games of the season, and I'm not kidding, Jay. Do you understand?" There was a pause before he muttered a response, and I knew he got the message. It wasn't that serious though, I just thought I'd mess with him since he'd been the one to initiate a rematch.
I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the time on my phone. It was 8:46 AM. I really wanted to stay in bed for another fifteen minutes, but I knew this was important. I cleared my throat and spoke up. "Okay, fine. Where and what time?"
I heard him let out a sigh of relief before he chuckled softly and said, "River Court, 10am. I invited Madison and the girls for support, and the boys will be here in about half an hour to practice. Thanks, Cap, I appreciate it." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that formed on my face. Jamie always managed to get us into some kind of mess, but I knew his heart was in the right place. I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my face with my hand as I got up from the bed, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead.
"Okay, I'll be there. And Jamie, don't make me regret this," I warned him firmly before ending the call and tossing my phone onto the bed. I headed to the bathroom, quickly washed my face, and brushed my teeth before putting on my basketball gear and leaving my room, the weight of the previous night's events still heavy on my mind.
As I drove to River Court, my mind raced with all the things that could go wrong. I couldn't afford any mishaps, especially since we were competing in the finals this season. I took a deep breath, trying to clear my mind and focus on the task at hand. When I arrived at the court, Jamie and the team were already there, except for Marcus. Madison and the girls sat on the sidelines, watching the boys play with the basketball. I couldn't help but notice that Jasmine was absent too.
Jamie moved away from the team when he saw me approaching and grinned nervously before asking, "You're not actually going to bench me for the next four games, right? I swear I didn't think they'd agree to it. I didn't even mean to make it sound like an offerโ" I cut off his rambling by rolling my eyes and laughing. He lightened up, then raised his eyebrows at me, "This isn't funny, Parker."
"It's a little funny, I don't have any influence to bench you and you actually believed that I could," I replied before I noticed the basketball bouncing towards us. I picked it up and passed it to Andre, then turned back to Jamie in reference to this whole situation, "This is so typical of you, Jamie. There's literally nothing you can do to surprise me." He seemed to take that as a compliment, as his smile widened, and he chuckled. The two of us turned toward our team and started to play around.
The next thirty minutes flew by as we practiced and warmed up, getting ready for our opponents. Madison and the girls cheered us on, shouting out words of encouragement as we played. In that moment, I was just a basketball player, playing the game that I loved, and I forgot about everything that had happened the night before. The adrenaline was pumping through my veins as the time for the Panthers to arrive drew closer. I knew that we couldn't afford to lose this game, especially after everything that had happened.
Exactly at 10 am, the Panthers arrived at the court, looking confident and eager to challenge us. As Wilks, their point guard, walked up to us, I noticed a smirk on his face. He eyed Jamie and said with a glint of amusement in his eyes, "Ready to lose, Heirhead?" I stepped in front of Jamie, feeling confident because of my height advantage over Wilks. But that didn't mean he was intimidated by me. "Do you think your scrawny ass is going to scare me?" he said, as expected.
"Save that energy for the game, Wilks," I replied, before turning to my players. I nodded at Andre to pass me the ball, caught it when he did, and said, "Pre-game smack talk is for kindergarteners, not sophomores." With that, he shut up and signaled his team to get into position. Jamie looked at me questioningly, wondering what I was going to do. I nodded at him and said, "I'm not joining, but I'll be your sub if you need to rest. You've got this." He nodded and moved to get into position. The Panthers started warming up, and our Raven boys did the same.
I turned to look at the girls and smiled at Finley, who was sitting on the top step of the mini-bleachers wearing her light blue Converse sneakers. When she saw me looking at her, she smiled. She knew why I was looking back because she got up from her seat and stepped down, "Let me guess, you need someone to keep score?"
"Do you know anything about basketball? How the scores add up and everything?" I asked, curious to know if she was qualified for the job. She looked at me, a little offended, and then chuckled.
"God forbid that I, a girl and a cheerleader, would know anything about the games I cheer for." She said sarcastically, her tone even and deadpan. I smiled, apologizing for my assumption, and she then asked if I had a whistle.
I shook my head and then asked, "Would you mind using the timer on your phone? We're playing one game but I'd rather it not go past an hour." She nodded and took out her phone, opening the timer app. Once she settled herself on the bottom step of the bleachers, I walked towards the center of the court, ball in hand, ready to start the game. Both teams immediately took notice and positioned themselves accordingly.
As I raised the ball above my head, the atmosphere became tenser by the second. I held the ball in place for a moment, double-checking that everyone was ready, before throwing the ball up in the air to signal the start of the game. I then walked back to Finley. The ball flew up and both teams leaped to gain possession of the tip-off. Jamie secured the ball and passed it to Andre, who dribbled it towards the Panthers' side of the court. As they played, I tried to keep my focus, but the growing crowd surrounding us made it difficult.
Glancing over at the cheerleaders, I noticed Madison giving me a sheepish grin. "I figured we'd have a better chance of winning if we had a crowd cheering us on," she explained. But as I looked around, I realized that it wasn't just our high school students attending; some from Forest Park High were there too. I took a deep breath, blocking out all distractions, knowing that the sudden influx of people could easily divert the players' attention. I just hoped that it wouldn't negatively affect my team's performance.
As the game went on, the tension was palpable, and the score remained neck-and-neck. Every move was thought out, every shot was taken with precision, and both teams put up a fierce fight. Finley was keeping score exceptionally well.
I caught her gaze every now and then, giving her a thumbs-up to encourage her. As the clock on her phone ticked down, the score was tied, and the final seconds of the game were approaching. I scanned the crowd and glanced at Jamie, wondering if he needed a sub, but he seemed energized and was playing well.
Jamie had the ball and was dribbling towards the Panthers' side of the court. With just seconds remaining, he faked a pass and took a shot from the three-point line. The ball flew through the air and hit the rim but bounced back out. Everyone held their breath as it hung in the air for what felt like an eternity before Andre jumped up and tipped it in. The ball went through the hoop, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
Finley leapt from her seat, screaming with excitement, and the girls hugged each other. Jamie was beaming, and the rest of the team was jumping up and down. I couldn't help but smile as I caught the ball when it was thrown in anger by one of the Panthers. The final score was 57-55, and the Ravens had won the game...again.
After the game ended and the Panthers had moved to the other side of the court to meet their high school friends, my team was congratulating each other and high-fiving. Finley was gathering her things, and as I approached her, she grinned widely and handed me a paper. "Here, I thought you'd like to keep this. It's just a little something to remember when things change." I wondered what she meant but before I could ask, she said her goodbyes. I looked down at the paper, and my heart swelled as I saw the scores written down. I folded it up and put it in my pocket.
As I packed my things, Jamie came up to me and said, "Hey, thanks for letting me play today. I know I messed up, and I'm sorry."
I smiled, "No worries. You played great."
He grinned, "Yeah, but I could never be as good as you." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile.
"Do you need a ride home?" I asked, wondering if he needed a lift.
"Nah, I think I'll take a walk and get some fresh air," he said with a small smile before his eyes drifted to Madison, who was waiting for him. I realized he was hoping to spend time with her. He patted my back in goodbye and made his way over to her. That was when Lily approached me, her hands in her jacket pockets. She had been one of the cheerleaders who had joined in on cheering, and also Jamie's aunt or cousin, so he says. I didn't get to greet her like I did with Finley.
As she approached, I couldn't help but notice her dyed blonde hair and navy-blue eyes catching the sunlight. She had that in common with Jamie, but despite that, they couldn't be more different. While Jamie was loud and playful, Lily was more introverted and reserved. I had seen her cheer for our basketball team before, but we had never really talked until now.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" She said, catching me off guard. "Have you noticed that most of your friends these days are girls? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it seems like you're becoming quite the ladies' man. Marcus is probably feeling pretty outnumbered, huh?" I chuckled, not expecting that.
"Is there any reason why you're so curious?" I asked back.
She shrugged. "No reason, I just..." She smiled nervously, looking away from me and around us. When she finally looked back at me, she said, "It's just that it looks like you have a lot of close friends, especially with the guys on your team, but now โ I see that you keep them all at arm's length. Except Marcus and, well, Jas, Fin, maybe Eve."
"So, three girls being my friend makes me a ladies man?"
She laughed. "I mean, if you add Jen โ the new girl โ that's four." I nodded slowly, thinking about Jen. I hadn't seen her since the party yesterday. Her sister was one of the cheerleaders who hadn't been there today either. I looked down and gulped. "If Jamie's teasing was anything to go by, she's probably potentially more than a friend." Lily looked at me expectantly, as if she knew something and wanted me to confirm it.
"I only just met her," I said, and she nodded understandably.
After a few seconds of silence, I thought about what I could do today and glanced up at her, only to hear her ask, "Do you want to go to my mom's cafรฉ? I could use a hot drink after that game, and after last night." I nodded, a small smile rising on my lips.
"Only if you're paying."
Lily grinned and playfully rolled her eyes, "Alright, my treat. Just don't order the most expensive thing on the menu." We strolled away from the court and headed towards her mom's cafรฉ, which was only a few blocks away. Despite the chill in the air, the sun shone brightly, making it the perfect day for a leisurely walk. As we walked, Lily regaled me with stories of her family's travels around the world. I listened with rapt attention, enjoying her company and the sound of her voice.
When we arrived at the cafรฉ, I held the door open for her and let her go in first. As we approached the counter, I spotted Jamie and Madison sitting at a table by the window. The lady behind the counter squinted slightly and greeted Lily first, "Did you go to this off-court game too?"
"Yep, I was there, probably looking like a lost puppy on the sidelines," She immediately responded, nonchalantly, "But hey, at least I got some exercise from all the jumping and cheering." She smirked sarcastically.
Her aunt smiled and scoffed before finally laying her eyes on me. She was Jamie's mom. I had seen her last at our game yesterday when she congratulated Jamie and her husband. She looked a little different today, with her hair flowing beautifully behind her when before she had it up in a ponytail. She looked at me with familiarity in her eyes, probably having heard of me through Jamie and seen me play.
"Parker," her smile faded a little when she said my name and I suddenly felt weird. I couldn't help but wonder why she was looking at me like that, but nevertheless, I smiled at her. She snapped out of her trance and cleared her throat, and I could see Lily looking at me in confusion. I only shrugged at her. Mrs. Scott then said, "Well, why don't you guys sit down, and I'll make you hot chocolate, on the house?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Scott," I said with a smile before scanning for an empty seat. Lily pointed out a small booth in the corner and we made our way there, sitting across from each other. It was quiet for a moment, so I took the opportunity to say something, "I don't think your aunt likes me."
"Yeah," Lily glanced at her aunt in confusion before looking back at me. "I wouldn't take it personally. She can be intimidating sometimes, but deep down she's a big softie." I nodded in agreement, hoping that was the reason. Lily then asked, "So? What's your deal?" I chuckled and leaned back into the seat. I had barely spoken more than a quick 'hey, you okay?' every time I passed her, thinking she was incredibly introverted, and here she was asking me directly.
Her sudden frankness surprised me. Lily had always been the reserved type, and it felt like she had opened up to me. I hesitated before responding, but I could see the genuine worry in her eyes. "I don't know. What's your deal?" I asked, hoping to shift the attention away from myself.
She gave a sarcastic grin and replied, "My deal? Oh, just the typical teenage angst and existential crisis. But let's talk about you. Do you have a deal? A steal? A squeal?" She inquired playfully, leaning forward on the table, raising her eyebrows.
I took a deep breath before answering. I had been keeping to myself for so long that it felt strange to open up to someone. "I don't know what you mean," I said, avoiding eye contact.
"I remember what you were like last year, you barely even talked to the boys on the team, and they didn't know anything about you. Actually, from what I remember, you never even went to practice with them at the River Court when they used to play there for fun or to hangout. It's like the whole team became a family, except for you," Lily spoke softly, "And then this year... come September, and suddenly you're trying, but you're still holding everyone at bay, you're still careful and cautious."
I looked up and met her gaze. She was correct. I had been pushing everyone away, but I didn't know how to stop. That's why I'd been trying this year. "You're very observant," I acknowledged, "But I'm afraid to disappoint you, I don't have an explanation for it."
"You do," Lily replied in a barely audible voice, "I overheard your brother asking if you could drop him off at home. I'm not an English professor or anything, but if I had to guess by the way he said it, you don't live with him or your parents. I also cheer for the football team, so I notice when your parents show up for Jesse. But they're never there for your games. I've never seen them once."
I felt a lump rise in my throat. I'd been trying my best to keep my personal life hidden from everyone, but Lily had figured it out. "So, you know that I live alone," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What else do you want to know?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
Her eyes lit up, "What else do I want to know?" She asked rhetorically, squinting slightly, and looking up as though lost in thought, before returning her gaze to me, "Well, for starters, the meaning of life, the universe, and everything else?" I chuckled and shook my head as she added, "No pressure." Her infectious smile made me laugh.
"But in all seriousness, are you okay?" Lily asked, locking her eyes on mine, "You may not know me well, but I can tell when something's off and I wonder if you have someone to talk to about this kind of stuff? Maybe Jas or Marcus? But - I've noticed you pull away from them sometimes too."
I looked away, feeling vulnerable. I'd been struggling with my family situation for a while now, but I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems. "I'm fine, Lily," I lied, "Thanks for asking though." I smiled at her, watching her worry fade away with my words. In that moment, I understood why everyone liked her.
"Okay, I'm not sure if you're smiling at me or the imaginary unicorn behind me, but either way, I appreciate the good vibes." Lily smirked, waiting for me to explain why I was smiling.
"I'm starting to see why half the guys on the team have a crush on you," I said.
She straightened up, feigning surprise. "Wait, half the team has a crush on me? Is that why they keep high-fiving me? I thought it was just a friendly gesture."
As I looked up, Mrs. Baker appeared before our booth with two steaming mugs, "Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite liar," she said with a smirk and a pointed look in my direction. Lily seemed amused by the situation as she pulled the mug closest to her for herself. Mrs. Baker then asked, "Let me guess, lunch break?" as I smiled sheepishly at her.
I tried to speak, to apologize or make up another excuse, but I couldn't find the words. Mrs. Baker sighed and left the table, chuckling as she walked away.
Once she was gone, Lily burst out laughing, "Oh my god, what did you do?" she asked, still chuckling.
"Didn't stay for breakfast?" I muttered, uncertain of whether my excuse for leaving that morning added to whatever else must've gone down after I left at the Baker house. Lily smiled and nodded, glancing over at Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Scott, who were both working behind the counter, but neither of whom seemed to be looking at me. I realized I wasn't the main issue.
Lily looked at me knowingly, "I think it has to do with Evelyn lying to her about where she's been staying the past few nights. There's no way she'd be that angry over you not staying for breakfast. Why were you even at my Aunt Brooke's house this morning?"
I hesitated for a moment and then I explained that Mrs. Baker insisted I stay the night after I took Evelyn home for Hazel's party last night. Lily nodded in understanding, "I bet she's grounded," she predicted. I chuckled, knowing that was probably true. Even if Evelyn were grounded, she'd never follow the rules. Lily then asked, "What was the lunch-break comment about?"
"I got stuck between Mrs. Baker and her husband, so I lied and said I had work. It was just another excuse I could have used, I guess."
"Congratulations on unlocking the 'dishonesty' achievement in life," I laughed and shook my head. Then I took the mug of hot chocolate, noticing that it had lost some of its heat. For the rest of the hangout with Lily, we talked about comic books. I didn't know much about them, but I listened anyway.
Sitting here with her made me realize how little I knew about the people I interacted with every day. I didn't know their likes, dislikes, personality traits, characteristics, or home situations. They were just people passing through my life at this particular moment. Lily had been one of those people. But now, I think I see her as a friend.
The possibility made my heart soar, and I was reminded of the summer when I opened up to Marcus and Jasmine and let them in. I never thought I could actually have friends who wanted to get to know me, who liked me despite knowing me, and I'd never been so happy to have them around me.
Now, as the new school year continues, I've allowed myself to see people around me and accept their offers to get drinks or go to parties. Finley, Jamie, Lily, Jen. I can't help but wonder if regaining clarity in my life after getting better mentally has opened my eyes to friendships that I missed before.
As I was leaving the cafรฉ, I approached Mrs. Baker at the counter and admitted, "I'm sorry I lied to you earlier. I didn't want to cause any problems with you and Mr. Baker or be a burden to anyone by staying."
Mrs. Baker's expression softened, and she pulled me into a genuine embrace. "No, you're not a burden, Parker. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way."
"It's fine," I said, hugging her back. "I just didn't want to overstep my boundaries."
"Don't worry about it, kiddo. I understand how hard it is to resist a Baker breakfast," she teased, winking at me. "And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm always here for my favorite surrogate son."
"Thanks, Mrs. Baker," I replied with a smile. "And I promise not to lie to you again."
"Good, no more lies. Unless it's about my age or natural hair color. Then feel free to exaggerate as much as you want," she joked, and we exchanged a few more pleasantries before I left the cafรฉ.
It was a relief to have someone like Mrs. Baker in my corner, especially with the way things were going at home. She had always treated me like one of her own, making sure I was well-fed, clean, and comfortable whenever I stayed over. It was a miracle that fate had brought me to the same town as her. I didn't know where I would be without her. It was just unfortunate that I didn't feel the same way about my own mother.
Not that she cared about my opinion anyway.
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hey readers,
quick question.
do you think i should
leave the intros of the chapters?
like the part before it
actually starts? or get rid of it?