The Boys

The cup of coffee I had in my hand was now in the sink. I left mom with her morning coffee submerged in her thoughts. I ran upstairs to my room, opened the door, and jumped on my bed.

The wall next to my shoulder had a big poster of Zeus wearing a T-shirt that says,'' I LOVE MORATLS.'' I looked at the clothes and empty water bottles on the floor. I should really start cleaning up, maybe tomorrow, I thought. I jumped off the bed, stepped on the junk, and closed the blinds.

I lied on my back staring at the plain wall. Should I text her? I thought. No. she's probably sleeping now. I looked at the clock to my side. A green neon light declared it was eight thirty. I stared at the space on the side of the bed. Does it fit both of us? I thought with a smile.

I took off my shirt and sniffed it. It smelled of her. The sweet scent of roses mixed with lavender and fruits. I just couldn't decide. I could imagine us together. Me lying on her tummy, with her playing with my hair and chilling on her phone. We were too perfect together, if we actually were. I closed my eyes keeping the vision stuck in my mind.

The world got darker. Something red was glowing at the far end of the darkness. The ground shook under my feet. Alex remember, I thought, this is just a dream. You are the master of your mind control it. ''Okay,'' I whispered. I took a step forward and the ground shook again. ''Okay let's not do that,'' I said out loud. I knelt down to touch the surface. It was rough like sand paper.

Laughter echoed. I raised my hand in the air to summon my sword. It wasn't working. I tried it several times, but it didn't work. I inhaled. Laughter echoed again now clear and man like. It was a chill cold laugh. I felt sweat accumulate in my back. It's just a dream, I thought, you'll wake up soon.

He red spot moved. It was getting bigger, closer. I tried summoning my sword for the fifth time. It didn't appear. The light was closing in getting bigger. I need light. My mind was racing. I felt my feet boil underneath me as the ground shook. The red light was closing in. I could see it was fire. I took a step backwards. The ground shook harder. The fire was a few meters away. Wake up! I thought. Heat blasted in my body. Sweat rolled on my forehead. I stood in place thinking of something or someone. I tried pinching myself, but I felt nothing. The fire closed in and submerged me whole.

I woke up with a start, breathing quickly. I felt my body, legs, and hair. I exhaled. ''It was just a dream,'' I whispered. I looked at the clock next to my eyes. It was four pm. I sighed. It's time to get up, I thought.

I searched for my phone between the sheets of my bed. I had fourteen missed calls from Rose and four from Noah. Why was Noah calling me? I thought. Then it struck me. I promised to meet the boys for basketball in the playground at three. I quickly put on a clean white shirt, black shorts, and a pair of blue Jordans. They reminded me of her.

I took the phone out of my pocket and punched her number in. I named her ''Sugar Cube'' with a pink heart and a face with his tongue out. I smiled to myself and sprinted downstairs. ''Mom!'' I yelled. She wasn't home. It's still four, she's still at work, I thought. I sent her a message that said: Going out to play basketball with the boys. See you at six. Love you <3.

I ran out the door and bolted to the park. Drivers were punching their stirring wheel. Sirens were filling the atmosphere with tension. People were on their phone walking on the side walk. I passed through them quickly. I merged with the crowd waiting for the green sign to drop red. While waiting, I remembered my dream. The cold man's laughter was irritating me. The marathon started as the light shifted to red. I pushed through bodies and rushed to the park.

The park was full of trees and bushes. Children were in the playground, on slides, flying kites, or playing with new friends. Adults were walking with babies in strollers while some were walking their dogs. Couples were having a picnic under a tree on the far side of the park. I sighed with memories flashing in my mind.

I crossed the fountain and headed towards the basketball area. Five boys were playing aggressively ; talking to each other at the same time to activate distraction. They yelled signals, pushed, and jumped to score. Kids were watching the boys play, pressing their tiny noses to the crossed green fence.

I entered through the field door. ''Hey boys!'' I yelled. ''Whatever God you worship, you'll be seeing them soon.''

''Get your ass ready Kane. I've been practicing,'' Josh yelled.

''Sit down Miles, and let the big boys talk. We all know that you are one tough cookie.'' I yelled back.

Josh Miles, the typical teenager. A white dude with brown curly hair and green eyes. Very sensitive, rational, and has straight A's. He has a girlfriend named Eva; a real sweet girl that suits him.

''We'll do this later. Let's have a break. We have some chit chat to do,'' Noah put his hand on my shoulder and escorted me to the benches. Noah, my support system and childhood best friend. He is recently rocking the buzz cut with his black tiny hairs and black eyes. A muscular playboy, hooker, smoker, and the best flirter I know. Girls would die to fall into his hands. School status: flunking everything.

''Yea sup,'' I sat down on the bench.

''What's up with Rose dude?'' Jack Stone was taking a box of cigarettes from his pocket. ''Want some?'' I declined his offer.

Jack is the ''Athlete Scholarship'' student. He is a fine dude hot and attractive with black skin, brown curly hair, and brown eyes. He has a major problem called Olivia, his ex. He still watches their pictures none stop since a year ago. His mental state is not very stable. School status: D's.

''Rose. Rose. Rose,'' I said with eyes in my shoes. ''Why are you all asking about her?''

''Man, she texted every single one of us including your mom,'' Noah replied.

''Oh hell no. She took this too far,'' I said with blood rushing in my veins. Anger was building up my chest. I've already declined her more than six times. What is she up to? Alex. No, I thought, don't think about her. Block your thoughts. I stared across the field and saw Max still dribbling. ''What's up with him?'' I asked

''He had a fight last night with Amber,'' Kim replied with his eyes big on Max's muscles.

''Oh,'' I replied, pressing my mind to accumulate my thoughts.

Kim Johnson, I thought, the exception living between us. Kim is bisexual. The ''Mom'' of the group fond of every guy he knows. His freckles on his white skin are lined next to his honey like eyes. Girls used to die for him, and still do with his brown hair and big muscles, but he doesn't share any feelings towards the female organisms.

Max was obviously angry. He was missing scores. The ball was smashing the ground then hitting his hand aggressively.

Max foster, the shy dude. He is freakishly athletic, has black hair and eyes on his white skin. The thing is, Amber, his best friend, he likes her, but is too shy to confess. The boys and I tried to help, but the thing won't budge. She just seemed too careless to leave the friend zone. The dribbling stopped and he headed towards us.

Max took the cigarette out of Jack's mouth. He breathed in the toxic material. Jack was cool as if nothing happened. My blood was boiling. I grasped the cigarette out of Max's hand and took a sip. Nicotine rushed through my veins calming me down. My heart lessened its beats as I slurped it whole. An excessive amount of grey smoke came out of my nose and mouth. I threw the cigarette, and then inhaled.

''Chill man,'' Noah said. I gazed at their faces under the shade. They all looked at me, concerned. Man, I thought, the past just keeps coming back.

''Come on ladies,'' I said standing up. ''Let's play some basketball.''