*Zacky*

“ZACCCCCKKKKYYYYYY! ZZZAAACCCCCKKKKYYY! ZZZAAACCCKK!”

Jimmy. I groaned and slowly opened my eyes. I was lying face down in my living room with an empty bottle of whiskey in my hand.

“ZACKY I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE SOMEWHERE NOW ANSWER THE GOD DAMN PHONE!” Jimmy shouted at me from the answering machine.

I sluggishly pulled myself up and made my way to the phone and picked it up.

“Yes?” I said.

“See! I told you he was home!” He shouted to someone else.

“Yes I’m home, now why the fuck are you screaming at me this early in the morning?” I asked him.

Jimmy laughed.

“Dude, it’s 3 PM.” He said.

3 PM! Holy shit, I’ve been passed out that long? I looked over at the clock on the stove and confirmed it was 3 PM.

“Shit.” I said.

Jimmy laughed again and I heard muffled sounds on the phone.

“Hey come over, we’re drinking at my place.” Brian said. I sighed and rubbed my face.

“Sure man, I’ll be over in a few.” I said.

We hung up and I went to take a shower. Before I knew it, I was in my car on my way to Brian’s. I was in a total fog. When I pulled into the driveway, I could hear laughing coming from the backyard. I sighed and walked through the house to the back.

Jimmy was running around chasing Johnny with a broom and was trying to swat him on the head. I chuckled and went behind the bar and grabbed a beer.

“Hey Zacky, you’re alive!” Matt called to me.

I shrugged and sat down in a chair.

“I guess so.” I said.

Matt looked at me strangely, but didn’t say anything. Brian come over and sat beside me.

“So what happened to you last night? We looked for you around the club but we couldn’t find you.” He asked me.

I shrugged and took a sip of my beer.

“After my hour I left.” I said.

Brian nodded slowly.

“You could’ve texted one of us or something. We thought that chick like drugged and kidnapped you.” He said with a laugh.

I chuckled and shook my head.

“No, but she tried.” I said.

We all laughed and then we heard a crash from inside the house. Brian jumped up and ran inside.

“It’s alright! I got him!” Jimmy shouted.

Matt and I followed Brian inside and started laughing.

Jimmy was standing over Johnny, who was clutching his head and lying on his back beside the coffee table, which he knocked over. Brian started laughing too and went to pick up the table.

I went over and extended my hand to Johnny. He took it and I pulled him up. Jimmy smiled big and snuck up behind Johnny and smacked him on the head again.

“Jesus Jimmy!” Johnny shouted.

Jimmy laughed loudly and took off outside. Johnny shook his head and ran after him.

*KYLE*

The sun streaking through my window woke me up. I rolled over and looked at the clock and saw that I had about an hour before I had to pick up Troy. I smiled a little as I got dressed. I was off for the next three days. I pulled on some sweatpants and a hoodie and went into Troy’s room. I grabbed him a change of clothes and then slowly crept down stairs. Mom was passed out on the couch. I sighed in relief and snatched my keys from the kitchen table and ran out the door. On my way to Shawna’s, I stopped at Mcdonald’s and picked up some breakfast.

“Hey girl.” Shawna said when she opened the door.

She was in her nightgown and her hair was pulled back. I smiled and she let me in.

“I brought some breakfast.” I said as I set the bags on the table.

“You are amazing.” Shawna said.

I shrugged and took the food from the bags and set it on the table.

“Troy, come eat.” I called to him from the kitchen. He was watching TV.

“Morning Ky.” He said. I smiled and ruffled his hair.

“Did you have a good night?” I asked him.

He nodded and woofed down his food. Shawna and I laughed and ate. When he was finished, I handed him the clothes and he went to change.

“So how are things with Charlie?” I asked her.

Shawna’s face fell and she dropped her gaze to the coffee cup to her left.

“Shawna, what is it?” I asked her softly.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

“He, he wants me to choose.” She said.

I tilted my head and furrowed my eyebrows together.

“Choose what?” I asked.

Shawn slowly lifted her head up to look at me. I could see tears forming in her eyes and I understood.

“He wants me to choose you and Troy, or him.” She said just above a whisper.

I closed my eyes and smiled slightly. I reached my hand out and grabbed hers.

“Shawna, it’s alright.” I said. She shook her head and gripped my hand.

“Kyle, it’s not that I want to it’s just, Charlie, he’s a really great guy and I really love him and I think we have a good future a head us-“ I smiled and cut her off.

“Shawna, I would never ask you to choose me over Charlie, you know that. I think he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you and I wouldn’t want to ruin it.” I said.

She started crying harder and we both stood up from the table and hugged each other close. After a while, I pulled away and wiped my tear streaked face and smiled at her.

“You’ll make a great wife and mother some day.” I said to her.

She just nodded and wiped her eyes.

“I love you Kyle, you’ll be in my prayers.” She said through her sobs.

I tried to smile at her, and then I walked into the living room.

“Troy, are you ready?” I called for him.

He ran down the stairs and looked at me. He could see something was wrong.

“Kyle, what’s-“ I cut him off.

“Troy, say goodbye to Shawna.” I told him. I managed to keep my voice level, but inside I wanted to crumble.

Troy looked at me questioningly but went to hug her. Shawna wrapped her arms around him and held him tight.

“Be good honey.” She whispered in his ear.

Troy nodded and pulled away.

“Watch out for Kyle okay?” She told him.

“I will.” Troy said with a nod.

I smiled and he ran over to me.

“Goodbye, Shawna.” I said to her.

My heart ached. The look in her eyes told me hers felt the same.

“Goodbye, Kyle.” She choked out.

I blew her a kiss, then walked out of the house for the last time. Troy slowly got into the car and buckled his seatbelt.

“Kyle, what’s going on?” He asked me.

Troy was very smart for a 9 year old. Sometimes I forgot how young he actually was. I sighed and started up the car.

“Troy, I’m going to be honest with you, Shawna and I can’t be friends anymore.” I told him.

I heard him gasp.

“What? Why, what happened?” He asked.

“Charlie doesn’t think I’m a good person and he doesn’t want Shawna around me, I completely understand where he’s coming from.” I said. Troy was livid.

His face turned red and his fists were clenched.

“That bastard.” He said. I gasped and looked at him.

“Troy David Bower! Don’t ever let me hear you swear again!” I shouted at him.

“But that’s not fair! You were friends longer than he’s been her boyfriend!” He shouted back.

I sighed and pulled him as close to me as I could in the car.

“Honey, it’s for the best. Charlie is good for Shawna and I’m not. It’s okay.” I told him.

Troy let out a huff and crossed his arms over his chest. I looked at him and shook my head.

“What’s gonna happen now?” He asked.

What was going to happen now? Where was he going to go while I’m working? He can’t stay home because our loving mother is hardly ever there and when she is, she’s so loaded she doesn’t even know where she is.

I sighed and pulled into the school parking lot.

“I don’t know. But we’ll figure it out. I promise.” I told him.

Troy rolled his eyes and got out of the car and slammed the door behind him. I flinched and watched him storm off. Waiting for him at the door was a little girl. I saw her expression change from excitement to worry in half a second.

“It’ll be alright.” I said to myself as I drove away.