Since I was eight, Mother would visit a certain grave. We never understood why, but we filled in the dots ourselves. We had no father figure. Mother played both roles, and I'm proud of her. Her job is demanding, and I always felt responsible for Lucas, even though he was older by five minutes. Lately, he's been off. He looked beat up most of the time, and he became distant. Or maybe I'm overthinking. After having a nice dinner with Molly,the next day, we headed to school. Time passed by fast. The bell rang. Time to head home. I waited at the football pitch for Lucas, hoping he could talk the coach into letting him back on the team. My thoughts were interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
"You're Lucas's brother Liam, right?" A girl with shiny brown eyes and a messy bun asked.
"Yeah. Who are you? Not to be rude."
"Oh, how rude of me. I'm Ava Harlow."
"Nice to meet you, Ava. What brings you here?"
"I was out of cheerleading practice and…"
"Wait, you're a cheerleader? The world never ceases to amaze me."
"I look like a bookworm, don't I?"
"Yes, you do."
"I'm all-rounded."
"Point taken."
"I was going to ask Lucas to join me at a party this weekend. You guys never attend parties. You're one of the hottest guys in school, and it would be a good distraction for Lucas."
"Maybe it's not our style."
"Come on, it's high school. You should come. It wouldn't be a party without the Howard brothers." She winked and left.
Everyone wears a mask, but hers was thicker. She seemed like the type to pull the trigger first. Her eyes spoke of death. Maybe I'm paranoid, but she doesn't sit well with my gut.
"Hello? Liam, back to earth."
"Oh, hey Lucas. Sorry, just distracted."
"I never knew Ava Harlow could distract you."
"Brother, please spare me the agony." Lucas chuckled.Now that's the Lucas I knew.
We left school and headed for the Back to 90's diner. It was my treat, a tradition we each took turns doing. We shared our experiences of how the day played out. Just family time. Mom used to join us, but she attended less as she rose in the ranks.
"Wait, Mr. Smith lectured you for proving him wrong in History class?" Lucas laughed.
"Those were the longest 30 minutes of my life. 'You teenagers think you know everything because of the internet. Improbable,'" I mimicked Mr. Smith, bringing the image of his moth-like moustache to life.
The diner was a nostalgic place with posters from the 90s, chequered floors, and a jukebox that played hits from that era. The smell of burgers and fries filled the air, making our mouths water. It was a perfect place for unwinding after a long day.
We ordered our usual—double cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes. As we ate, I couldn't help but notice Lucas's distant expression.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked, nudging him.
"Yeah, just thinking," he replied, but his eyes told a different story.
"About what?"
"Just stuff. School, practice, life."
I knew he was holding back, but I didn't want to push him. Instead, I tried to lighten the mood.
"So, Ava Harlow, huh? She seems... interesting."
Lucas smirked. "Yeah, she's something else."
"Are you going to the party?"
"Maybe. It could be fun."
"Just be careful, okay? She gives me weird vibes."
Lucas laughed. "You're always so paranoid. It's just a party."
"Yeah, yeah. Just looking out for you."
We finished our meal and headed home. The night was cool, and the stars were out, twinkling above us. It was moments like these that I cherished—the simplicity of life, the bond between us.