This time, he never comes out of his room.
At the table, Alex stirs his soup, zoned out, so I try to get his attention. “You alright?”
“Yeah. Just tired.”
“You sure? You feeling sick or something? I can call Dr. Murphy and get you an appointment—”
“I’m fine,” He cuts me off, still staring down at his food.
And man, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do here. They don’t give you a handbook on what to do when your brother suddenly changes his entire personality.
“You going to the game Friday?” I ask, changing the subject.
Alex used to love going to games with me. He always thought it was awesome that I was the coach, he’d go around telling everybody we’d see-
Anyway.
He’s not much into sports anymore, but he’s never missed a game.
Seems like that was the wrong thing to ask, though. The kid damn near flinches at the mention of the game.
His spoon clinks against the bowl. “I dunno. Probably not.”
That throws me. “Since when do you skip games?”
He shrugs. “Not feeling it.”
“You’re not ‘feeling’ it’?”
“Not this time.”
I nod slowly, trying my best not to press him further. “Okay, well, if you change your mind…”
We sit in silence for the rest of dinner, until his phone buzzes in his pocket. “I gotta take this,” He mumbles, getting out of his chair and going to his bedroom.
The last thing I hear is a faint, “Sorry, Nate.”
I stare down the hallway after him until he closes his door, and I just know that something’s going on.
I know my brother.
And whatever this is,he ain’t just tired.
I manage to avoid seeing Iris for the next two days, which is lucky, ‘cause Rosehill High isn’t that big.
But by day three, my luck runs out.
On the way back to the gym after lunch, I find her standing outside of her classroom, talking to Layla, looking just as good as she always does.
Can’t even look bad to spare my feelings.
I turn away, suddenly fascinated by the bulletin board across the hall. Something about theater club sign-ups.
But I can’t help but glance back when I hear her laugh. She’s got her head tipped back, and damn, she’s beautiful when she laughs.
Layla notices me first, nudging Iris with her elbow before waving me over, and I guess I gotta go now.
“Hey, ladies,” I say, all fake confidence.
