• Tuesday.

    The second day of my freshmen year started out pretty normal. I woke up with the house in a panic to get ready for school. Tammy was vigorously straightening her hair, while Tina and Jade brushed their teeth and and hair.
    "Guys you need to hurry!" I heard mom calling from downstairs. I groaned and rolled over not wanting to wake up to this chaos everyday.
    "Gabe! You need to get up now!" I threw a pillow at Laura and hit her in the face.
    "Screw this wake me when every one is gone!" I shouted. Laura is the oldest of all five of us. Me being next, Tammy, only by a few minutes though, then Tina and Jade being the youngest. I pulled my covers over my head and tried to block out the noise.
    "You will miss breakfast." I looked at the alarm clock that sat on my window sill. 7:30 a.m. I turned over again and sat up. Everything at first was out of focus then became a bit clearer.
    "Get out I am changing." I finally said after a few moments of waking up. She laughed and closed the door behind her as she pranced out of the room.

    "I know where my classes are now." Thomas ruffled my hair with his hand. I felt a sudden rush of warmth flood my cheeks when he touched me.
    "So, doesn't mean I can't hang out with you!" He said in his laughing voice. I rolled my eyes and continued walking.
    "How does hanging out after school sound?" I looked at the signs of the doors.
    "Um, okay." I pushed open the door to my art class room. He smiled and ruffled my hair again.
    "Cool! Hows the coffee shop around the corner sound?" I looked at him then turned toward my seat.
    "Fine." I sat down and began sketching today's picture. He laughed and took off around the corner to his next class.

    His motives? I can't really get a read on them. My mind flashed back to yesterday when he met my sister. Something seemed kind of off about the way he looked at her.
    "Gabriel. What is it your drawing?" Ms. Burns looked at my sketch pad. I followed her gaze and was astonished to see a hallway filled with kids. I looked closer at the figure with the most detail. Immediately I recognized his face.
    "I don't really know." I stared at it for a couple of more minutes then closed the notebook. Ms. Burns looked at me and smiled.
    "You have talent. I can't wait to see how you'll do in my class." She turned and continued down the rows looking at all the drawings. I opened it again and studied the picture harder. It was definitely this school's hallway, and the person definitely was my dad, but why did I draw him?

    The rest of the day went by smoothly. I happened not to embarrass myself in front of everyone today, and Thomas was waiting for me after class to go to the coffee shop.
    "Hey Thomas." I greeted him as I exited the class room. He smiled at me and ruffled my hair.
    "Tommy!" Someone else called from down the hallway. Both of our eyes traveled to the voice.
    "Brody!" He shouted almost shocked. I could see a large figure making his way down the hall. I thought about turning and running as he bulldozed his way through the crowd, but Thomas insisted I met him.
    "Hey Tommy." His voice was even deeper then Thomas'. I shifted uncomfortably behind him.
    "Gabriel, This is Brody. Brody this is Gabriel." Brody gave a slight nod, but looked at me with curiosity.
    "Nice to meet you--" He cut me off and started talking to Thomas. I looked at him then the crowd and began to daydream about an ocean and all these people in my school were a group of fish that traveled together all of them the same. I sighed and stuffed my hand in my pocket and slung my bag over my shoulder waiting.
    "Well we will have to catch up later Brody. Right now me and Mr. Awkward have to go hangout at the coffee shop." I looked at him and then Brody.
    "Okay." He turned and worked his way back towards the gym.
    "He's actually a big teddy bear once you get to know him." Thomas said after a few moments of silence. I nodded trying to figure out how someone as ginormous as him could be teddy bear like.

    It didn't take long to reach the coffee shop. I was surprised to see it was pretty packed. There was a group of people sitting around a table, and a couple hanging out at the booth. Other people were standing around talking and drinking their coffee.
    "Wow, I didn't know this many people drank coffee at 5:00." I looked at all the younger men and women, all about in their late 20's to early 30's. Thomas just kept shoving his way to a corner with a sofa and two chairs.
    "No one really comes here to drink coffee." He said looking around at all the adults. I sat in one of the chairs and set my bag next to me.
    "Then why do they come here?" I looked then realized why. A bunch of waitresses were wearing short shorts and tight tops. I looked at Thomas and saw he was watching one girl very closely.

    "Which is your favorite?" He asked after examining all of the women. I looked at him and shrugged.
    "I am not really comfortable with this." He looked at me and laughed. I felt an awkwardness build up as he watched me fumble with my thumbs.
    "Why not?" I stopped but didn't look at him. I could feel my face turning a bright red. He stared and then realization hit him.
    "Aww man don't tell me you're..." I looked at him and then the floor. My face turned even brighter red.
    "OH MY GOSH! YOUR GAY!" I lunged at him and put my hand over his mouth. Everyone was staring at me and him.
    "SHHH! I am not really gay, its just I never really liked women." I could feel his mouth form into a laughing grin. He grabbed my wrist and pulled my hand away.
    "You're so gay." I could feel my face flush as he stared at me.
    "Dude its cool. I won't tell anyone." I looked at him. I could feel a smile spread across my face.
    "Promise!" He laughed again. But something in his eyes said he had some plans for me.
    "Of course!" He stopped laughing, his face all serious.
    "As long as you get me a date with your sister. Your secret is safe with me." I looked at him and then that's when it hit me.