Tyler
By the time I stepped into the hallway, people were already talking about Michael’s party.
“For your next wine bath, Cindy!” was when I walked in, after Sydney’s shriek echoed down the corridor.
Red rushed to her cheeks as the laughter rolled through the hallway.
Still, she’d stopped Maeve from giving them a piece of her mind.
“God, that’s brutal.” Micheal muttered behind me, trying to shield his laughter.
But all I could feel was anger.
And that familiar sting in my chest that told me this was somehow my fault.
Sydney still had her hair styled the same way she wore it at the cinema, and that soft highlight on her face that’d flashed through my mind—the same one that had kept me awake half the night.
I knew everyone had noticed it too because girls in class had already been gossiping about it.
And even with her upside down smile as she tried to stop Maeve, I could still single her out in the hallway.
Then the bell rang.
Her eyes flew up, catching mine instantly.
There was hurt in her eyes, and a bit of something I couldn’t place.
And for a second, I considered walking up to her, helping her with the few books that had dropped with the napkins.
Maybe even telling her that her face looked pretty, with or without mascara.
But people like Dean was there.
And Micheal was standing just behind me.
So I did what I always did—I turned away and walked with the guys to class.
“Some guys stuffed your sister’s locker with napkins.”
I heard the girls around Brooklyn whispering while we waited in class for the English teacher who still hadn’t shown up.
“I thought she was going to cry.”
Brooklyn’s eyes had flicked towards Sydney, watching her tuck her hair behind her ear before going back to the book she was reading.
Then Brooklyn shrugged.
“It was just a joke.
Sydney can be really sensitive sometimes.”
I nearly rolled my eyes and turned around to tell Brooklyn to side with her sister for once.
But I wasn’t supposed to be listening in the first place.
“Why can’t she be like you?” One girl asked.
“I mean, you’re cool and friendly, and she’s just…big and nerdy.”
”Oh, they aren’t really sisters.”
”Hey!
Sydney is my sister, alright?” Brooklyn snapped at the last speaker, turning a couple heads around. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“Don’t you ever say those words again.”
The girl backed down quickly.
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn.”
That should have satisfied me, but why didn’t Brooklyn say that in the moments that actually mattered?
Before I could pretend I wasn’t listening, Brooklyn appeared by my side, her hand resting lightly on my arm.
“Tyler.” She smiled like she hadn’t just snapped at someone.
“There’ll be practice today, right?”
”Yeah,” I said.
“Is there a problem?”
”Oh no, no,” she replied quickly.
“There’s just some things I need to take care of.”
She made to walk away.
“Is it Micheal?” I blurted, pausing her in her tracks.
But her voice was straight as she replied.
“Oh no, definitely not.”
Something about the way she said it didn’t sit right with me.
But I didn’t let myself think about it too long.
Brooklyn always had everything under control, and things mostly went her way.
Unlike Sydney Walker.
My gaze drifted to her once more.
She was now twirling her hair between her fingers, the way she always did when she was struggling to understand something.
“Hey, ogling Sydney now are we?” Michael teased, settling in the chair beside me.
I let out a scoff.
“Just trying to figure out the next time she’d explode.”
I wanted to stab myself.
But the words were already out.
Micheal laughed.
“The napkin thing was a pretty good show, though.
How does Dean come up with these things?”
”Probably the same way he comes up with his Ds and Es.”
The words came out more serious than I intended, but Micheal laughed so hard I thought he might choke.
And I was thankful he didn’t notice the way my jaw clenched when I said it.
Sydney didn’t deserve any of what she was getting.
I mean, she’d tried to apply make up like Brooklyn or the rest of the girls.
I still didn’t know how to stop making comments about Sydney Walker.
The cafeteria incident wasn’t even supposed to happen.
I didn’t mean for Sydney to notice.
She sat at a table far away with Maeve, her lips drawn into that tight line that meant she was holding something back.
But she was just right there, in my line of vision, making my breath slow each time she touched her hair.
And before she could completely slam her food to the ground, Maeve held her hand.
“I guess Sydney decided to cut her hair.” Aaron said at our table.
I turned before I could stop myself.
“Trimmed.”
Dean laughed.
“If you ask me, I think there are other more important things that need trimming.”
I wanted to tell him to shut his mouth, but the guys laughed.
And if I didn’t laugh, they’d notice.
My eyes flicked back to Sydney before I could stop myself.
Maeve was still holding her hand.
Then she said something that made Sydney smile—it was little, but it did something in my chest.
Later in the locker room after practice, Brooklyn walked in covering something small in her hands as she headed straight for Michael.
I couldn’t read exactly what she said to him over the sound of banging lockers, the guys laughing, and water splashing.
But I could very much place Sydney in what she said.
Michael frowned slightly, then glanced in my direction, almost catching me watching them.
Then they resumed what they were saying.
Eventually, Brooklyn’s smile widened.
She leaned up and kissed him before turning toward the exit.
Then she waved at me as she left.
Shit.
I heard Micheal’s locker bang shut before he walked towards me, settling on the bench in front of me, that goofy smile spreading across his face.
And before I could stop myself, I blurted.
“Whatever that was, it better not be bad.”
He chuckled dryly.
“Aye, aye, captain.”
Because if Sydney’s name had come up in whatever they were talking about…something was about to happen.