“UNO!”, the word slips through my mouth as I shout it towards my older brother. His bewildered face was all I needed to see to know that I got him. His head droops as he picks up two more cards from the UNO pile. I hear a laugh coming from my younger brother.

“Dinners ready,” says a pleasantly familiar voice. “Everyone at the table now!” the voice a lot louder repeats. My brothers and I drop our cards and hurry to the table. The table was small and rectangular, no table sheet on it due to the one we had having multiple unidentifiable stains on it. It was made of a shiny brown wood, which all I could guess was oak as I’m not really a tree specialist.

“Where’s D,” my younger brother proclaims as he sits at the end of the table. D also known as Demetrius walks into the dining room with a big smile plastered on his face like he and my younger brother staged the entire entrance.

“Hey Honey,” the familiar voice says again as the body connected to it leaves the kitchen. Skye Milda is her name and she’s my mom or should I say the whole family's mom. Her dark skin radiates against her dark black hair. Her brown eyes shine like pools of honey above her thick black lips. Her whole body accentuating her plentiful of curves. My mom’s an eyecatcher, but the most attractive thing to me about her is her loyalty to D. D has made mistakes in the past, but forgiveness and a long bond shared was enough for both of them to overcome them.

“DLG stop just sitting there and help your mom set up the table!” a stern voice escapes Demetrius’s mouth. DLG is a name that my brothers and I are known for having. The D stands for my older brother Dante, L stands for my name Levi, and G stands for my little brother Genesis.

“Why do you look so happy dad?” I ask while setting out the plates. Out of the corner of my eye I see Genesis raise his head inquisitively. The corner of my father’s mouth go up and form a grin.

“Your father has become assistant principal of Fluorescence Key High School!” He takes my mother around her waist and dips her. I couldn’t help, but feel a bit of euphoria myself. D loves that highschool and will often spend more time than any of their administrative thinking of ways to improve it and actually putting those thoughts into action. All the kids like him even if they haven’t met him due to the good name he made for himself.

“I’m so happy for you baby,” my mom says before D’s lips are on her own. I roll my eyes and finish setting up the table with my brothers. After a long time of passionate kissing my mom goes into the kitchen and returns with a tray of fried rice. My mom has taken up cooking lately and she’s actually been pretty good at it, usually all she cooked was chicken and the occasional spaghetti. I sit on the right side of my father as he takes his seat at the end of the table. We all get our servings and my father takes a spoonful and raises it to his mouth, but before it could get to his lower lip a hand rest on his shoulder.

“You know how this works, getting a promotion does not put you above anyone. Dante could you lead us in prayer.” Dante prays for us and we begin eating dinner. My mom is a devout christian and will often be seen praying and reading her bible. She’s a very spiritual person that has influenced Dante to be pretty spiritual himself. The rest of the family isn’t as spiritual, but because we love Skye we try to learn more about her beliefs and agree to all the religious stuff she makes us do.

“So how did the race yesterday go,” Skye asks Dante. Dante is the star track runner of Fluorescence Key High School, he’s a sprinter who does the 100m, 200m, and 400m. I don’t know if he likes running or not. Sometimes it feels like he’s forced to do it just due to him performing well during events, he never really likes talking about it and will often change the conversation when it is brought up. Yesterday was his last indoor track race and he already told the coach that he wouldn’t be running for outdoor track this year,

“Eh it was ok, I’m honestly just glad it’s over,” Dante replies. A small relieved smile appears on his face. I know how the race went, he got 1st in each event he did, but that wasn’t uncommon for him.

“So now you can finally focus on Florina,” Genesis coughs.

“Who’s Florina you never told me about her.” Skye’ eyes bright up.

“N-No one,” Dante stutters.

“She’s definitely someone, like someone that no matter how fast you run, will always be out of your league,” Genesis says with a smirk.

“Then why am I taking her to the movies tomorrow?”

“Movies are horrible first dates though.” I say, throwing my hat into the ring.

“What do you know about first dates Levi,” Genesis says with a laugh.

“Just because I don’t date three people a week and can’t go two days without having a girls tongue in my mouth does not mean I don’t know first dates,” I shot back. This evokes a laugh from Dante and the conversation bounces around until we’re all done with our dinner. This is a Sunday and Skye was the one who made these conversations possible and I’m actually grateful for them. Our family has been way closer ever since she suggested or should I say pressured us into having these Sunday dinners. After wolfing down our food we all returned to what we were doing before, which for me means schooling my brothers in uno again..

*

The bell rings in my ears as I lay back in my desk. The commotion in the hallways still takes a few minutes to die down though as rushing feet can still be heard. One of those pairs of feet belonged to my best friend who raced into the room and took the desk beside me.

“Just on time,” the femnine voice says.

“Not really, but Mr.Snead loves you so no damage really done, your gonna be so screwed in the future though,” I reply.

“Your not wrong, but sometimes you need to live in the moment, something that your only taught when your around muah.” She flutters her eyes and points to herself,

The girl I’m talking to is named Ally, short for Allison. Your stereotypical blonde with forest green eyes and a body that makes boys look back when they pass her by. She’s a little different though as she wasn’t just born with looks, but also a brain. We met in fifth grade and grew to become very close friends as we almost have all the same classes due to us being in mostly advanced ones. She can be reckless, but she always seems to know what she’s doing and how to carry herself.

Our first period class is AP Calculus which is something juniors don’t normally take, but we were able to skip a math level. Calculus is pretty boring though and I would totally be sleeping if Ally wasn’t here gossiping and talking about everything under the sun.

“Did you know that guy Ty that was in our class got sent to jail for killing someone. I knew he was a deadbeat since 8th grade.”

“That young new teacher Ms.Carver has a nice butt.”

“You know that girl that your older brother likes, rumors has it she might be gay.”

“Oh my god, my body’s so sore from basketball yesterday.”

My responses to most of these questions range from ok to that's cool, but it’s still pretty entertaining to hear her ramble on about everything. Class draws to an end though and I tell her I’ll go over to her house afterschool. I fast walk to my second period class to decrease the time I spend in the halls. I know on TV people make highschool look like a zoo, but they couldn’t be closer to the truth. I never wander the halls between periods after a freshman spit on my backpack last year, since then I just get to my destination as fast as I possibly can through these crowded hallways. I make it to my second period and sit down until I feel something wrap around my neck.

“Hey Levi.” The voice is enticed with a hint of a foreign accent. It comes from a short, chubby girl with raven like short hair. She has glasses and a darker skin tone due to her being from some spanish speaking country, though I couldn’t know which country as I can’t even make a conversation last more than a few minutes without me dying of nervousness.

“Hey Nina.” I shoot out this response way to quickly and turn and give her a smile. I let my body sink into my chair as she bounces to the chair beside me. This period is anatomy for me and the room is set up in 3-seat little black tables. Our third seatmate arrived and we greeted each other with a handshake, which involved hooking our fingers inside one another and a lot of other unnecessary things.

“We still seeing that movie thursday,” he says under his messy dirty blonde hair.

This mophead of hair is called Jay and he’s a pretty cool guy. One of my only guy friends I have, in my school mostly girls take tough classes so most of my friends I’ve made have been girls. Having Jay as a friend though held back the rumors of me being gay a bit, only a bit though as I can hear mutters around me still suggesting that the rumor still floats about.

“Definitely,” I reply.

The class settles down and Nina and Jay instantly start having a conversation about the bands there into. A pang of envy shoots into me like a bullet as I hear their conversation. How does he talk to her so cooly. Jay is always so chill and so was I in most cases, but when it came to Nina my usual cool demeanor just evaporates. Their conversation dissolves as Ms.Carter arrives to the classroom panting like a malnutritioned dog spotting food for the first time.

“Sorry I’m late everyone please open your textbooks to Chapter 14, remember this new chapter we’re learning about the skeletal system.” Ms.Carter drops her array of bags around her teacher workstation, if you could even call it that, looks more like a teenage girl’s messy bedroom. You might think this is a first time thing, but no Ms.Carter and tardiness are like mac and cheese at a black persons cookout. Due to me being black not even feel a twinge of guilt or any emotion washes over me for making the comparison.

“Ms.Carter still looking good as always,” Jay mutters.

Nina kicks his legs under the table and replies with something that I could only make out as pervert. Even though I wouldn’t openly say it, Jay was right. Ms.Carter was young only being the age of twenty two and had a nearly perfect hourglass figure. Though she had an Ally thing going as she was incredibly intelligent as a teacher and gave some of the best life advice, it’s her first year and other teachers are already asking her for teaching tips and examples. She’s one of the teachers I actually talk to about personal things and we have a pretty close bond.

The class goes on and on until the period ends with the bell’s same monotonous ring. Everyone gets up and I start to develop a cold sweat. Through this whole class all I could think of was a way to ask Nina to hangout. I tend to do this a lot and just chicken out, but I don’t want to today. If I want something I need to go for it. I gulp and stand up and tap Nina’s shoulder. The quick standup makes me a little dizzy though so I stand there for a moment like a complete idiot.

“You wanna go to the movies with me and Jay tomorrow,” I say faster than my last reply to her and way quieter, I’ll be surprised if she can even hear me.

“Sorry I can’t that day, but we should definitely hang out soon, wait let me give you my number so we can plan something in the future.” She reaches out her hand and joy is the only thing I could feel. Having a somewhat successful talk I return my calm demeanor and take the phone out of my pocket. She types in her number, gives me a heart hammering smile that her cute abundance of freckles makes 10 times more beautiful and walks away.

*

School ends and but before I leave I plan to stop by the office to ask D about his first day at his new position. I open the office door and I’m greeted with a smile from the secretary as everyone in this school knows who the three sons of D are. She points me to the administrative rooms and I knock on the door that has the name Demetrius carved in gold plating.

“Please come in,” a gruff voice that could only belong to my father says to me.

I open the door and look at his new office. It looks exactly the same as his last one except it’s a little more spacious. His office is very well kept, all his papers organized and desk clear of debris. Him and Ms.Carter are complete opposites, but D organization came from my moms constant nagging, maybe when Ms.Carter finds someone instead of her dogs she’ll grow into the trait like him. .

“How was your first day on the job big man.” I plop down on the cushioned seat in front of his desk.

“Honestly just a few more papers still feels the same, but I do have more of a say in the meetings. My ideas have actually been thought about and not just ignored,” he says with a smirk and a small sarcastic laugh.

“I’m glad, I’ll be at Ally’s afterschool. I’ll probably be home around 11.” I get up and sling my backpack back over my arm.

“You sure you and Ally aren’t dating. She’s very pretty and smart and she seems to be the only person that pulls you out of the house.” He laughs, but I can tell by his eyes that he’s hungry for confirmation of his suspicion. I roll my eyes.

“How many times do I have to say, she’s like a sister to me. No romantic feelings whatsoever.” I shake my head and out of the corner of my eyes I can see him let out a sigh.

“Chase your opportunities Levi, this doesn’t just go for this girl, but for everything, sometimes you have to risk things to get your goal. Don’t be afraid to do something different and don't avoid obstacles. I want the best for you,” he says this with a genuine smile full of teeth.

This promotion may have gone to his head way more than I realized, but it was still a good thing to think about. Maybe I can’t apply it with Ally, but I have another girl in mind.

“Thanks Dad, but don’t worry so much about me,” I say this while rolling my eyes and heading out the door, but I turn just before to give him reassurance that I was actually listening.

“I love you Dad, thanks.” I close the door, but through the crack I see that genuine smile once again.