“And why not? What has he done?”
“He’s… weird. He’s always touching Benjamin super intimately for being just friends. Giving him a whole new name? Always up his ass? It’s creepy stalker shit. It has nothing to do with any kind of feelings for Benjamin.” Felix gives me one of his looks that tells me I’m full of shit.
“Aaron.Ido all of those things. Like, every day. For years.” I say nothing. Fe sighs again. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on. I know I found some interesting…markson Bear after the last encounter with his dad that you oddly enough didn’t seem shocked or concerned about,”Oh, fuck me. “But to be honest, it’s not my business. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a bit hurt that whatever it is has been kept from me, but I’m not really one to talk, I guess. Just… Aaron please fix it. I love Bear. He needs us. And I loveyou. Stop torturing yourself up here alone.”
I stare at him, taking in his monologue. My baby brother has grown up at some point while I wasn’t looking. He’s so mature now, so patient. More thoughtful and emotionally mature than I am. I’m lucky to have him.
“I… it’s because I know he needs us. That’s why everything's like this. That’s why he hates me.” Felix’s face screws up in confusion.
“What does that even mean?” I take a deep breath.
“Never mind. I understand what you mean, and I won’t let my issues affect our time together anymore. I’m sorry, Fe.” He smiles at me, soft and understanding. Pulling me into a hug, he holds me for a few moments.
“We have our initial meeting tomorrow evening—we’ll get to see our starting times and where we’ll rank at first. It’s at the school and students come to watch, so you can just drive back after eating dinner.” I nod, giving him a determined smile.
“I’ll be there.”
He gives me one more hug and slips back out of the room, returning to Benjamin and Drew. Fuck. Everyone can see. They can see how he hates me. That I need to fix it. Does that mean Drew has seen it? Has he asked Benjamin? Did he tell him?
No, no more questions. Driving myself crazy isn’t helping.
So instead, I try to get some sleep.
???
The next morning, I wake up to Amber jumping up and down on my bed.
“Dude, it’s a Monday.” I grab her ankle, pulling her legs out from under her. She squeals, plopping onto her butt by my feet.
“But babe, there’s something youhaveto see. Right now.” I groan.
“No Amber, I do not. It’s only six thirty! Why the hell are you even awake, you psycho!” I stare at the alarm clock next to my bed in shock.
“You're so going to feel bad for this later.” She tsks, crossing her arms.
“I really doubt it.”
“Let’s go, diva.” Amber throws a muscle tank at me and with my sweatpants and bedhead I follow her downstairs, half awake. I complain the whole way.
“I need to sleep to stay hot, Amber. You want to take me to college ugly? You’re so mean.” We walk out of the front door. “You could have gotten me coffee or a bagel—” My voice cuts out when I see my mom and dad standing at the end of the driveway. Felix and Benjamin are sitting on the hood of my truck where it’s parked on the curb right behind them. And right in front of my parents is a 2018 Suzuki GSX250R. It’s black with steel parts and has a big blue bow in between the handles.
I’ve had Suzuki posters on my wall since I was fifteen, and this particular sports bike has been all over my social media. I may or may not have talked Amber’s ear off about it.
Amber peeks her head around my shoulder and peers up at me.
“See? I told you you’d feel bad. Now, what kind of coffee did you want?” A startled laugh bursts out of me as I stare at her, then my parents, then the bike. Finally, I say,
“What the fuck?”
“Well, that’s nice, Aaron.” Dad grins.
“Happy early graduation, Little Bird. We figured you want to get a handle on it before driving it on UA campus. Knock on wood!” She giggles. Amber crosses her fingers and giggles alongside her like little girls.
I look past my parents at Felix who’s holding a black, full-face helmet. It’s clean looking, and someone added a small sticker on the side of a blue bird midflight.Little Bird.
Tears slip free as I stare at it and Amber coos, wrapping her arms around my waist.
“I don't, uh, I don’t deserve this.” I say, trying not to let my voice tremble. My eyes roam back to the bike, refusing to look at Benjamin. “Really, it’s too much for a high school graduation.”
