A Fresh Start

Chapter 9-Halloween 2012

Ryan

"Katie. HURRY UP!!! If we're late, you'll miss the candy," I shout down the hall as my 12-year-old sister slowly moves towards me.

"You're so dumb for volunteering to take her," says Josh as he pulls a hoodie on.

"You can take her if you want to be the good brother," I say and push him.

"Nah. I took her last year. What're you going as anyways?" He asks.

"Nothing. We did the group thing for the party. Plus, TKs costume broke at the party," I say as I gesture to my Pinebluff football hoodie.

"Oh right. He hooked up with that aaron guy right. The Gladiator," he says.

"They just kissed. How'd you know about the Gladiator anyways? I thought I didn't like the gays," I say in a mean tone. I'm still not over him making fun of TK.

"Duh, I was at the same party and I hooked up with his sister last year. How drunk were you? Plus, I told you I don't like him. He's too full of himself," he says and pushes me.

"Then make sure you apologize next week when you play them. I'd rather he think you're an asshole than a homophobe, anyways," I say as Katie comes down finally. "Besides, TK's anything but full of himself," I add, and he rolls his eyes at me.

"You left this by your door," says Katie and hands me a red bag.

"What's that?" Asks Josh as we head to the front door.

"It's TK's birthday today. So I got him something," I say. He confided that he always loved reading "Pride and Prejudice," but he hadn't read the other books, so I got him "Sense and Sensibility." I was told by the old bookstore lady that if my girlfriend liked "Pride and Prejudice" so much, she would love this one. I just hope he sees it as more than a friend gift.

Josh just nods, and we head out to the car.

Josh gets to take the car to Notre Dame next year if he gets in, so I'm excited to maybe get a new one myself.

The drive to TK's house is quiet except for Josh playing his rock music. He got that love from our mom, Katie and I like country thanks to our dad.

When we pull up, I start to get out of the car, and I notice Josh is unbuckling his seatbelt and shoot him a look.

"What better present to give little TK than an apology, baby brother," he says with a sappy grin.

"Be nice to him. He's had a rough life," I snap, and he holds his hands up in surrender.

Katie rings the doorbell a couple of times, probably annoying Everyone in the house.

TK opens the door with a smile, and she rushes in to see our cousins. He flashes a smile at me and the bag and then drops it when he sees Josh.

"He wanted .... he wanted to talk to you," I stammer out and turn to wait with him as Josh looks at us both.

"Can I talk to him alone," asks Josh. I look at TK, who shrugs and nods for me to go inside, and I do.

I'm annoyed that he closed the door behind me, but it's his house.

Jamie comes over and raises an eyebrow questioning the sight, " Josh's apologizing to TK...I hope."

"Ugh, that's finally happening. Ok good. I was annoyed to be related to him," she says and pulls me up the stairs.

Sarah's already here. Her sister and my cousin Brendan are on the floor talking to Conner, Katie, and Eric about the candy plan. I walk into the crowded kitchen but back out when I hear TK open the door.