True Family: Chapter 9

The days that followed were unbearable. Not only did they announce the captain but also the team and I couldn't even be in it.

I've been in a depressed mood all the time. Martin and Mavis were furious when I told them that I couldn't be in the team and the reason why.

Martin even decided to leave the team but I forced him not to. Just because my dreams were ruined, it doesn't mean my best friend had to give away his.

"Jacky, wanna hang out this weekend?" Mavis asked as we walked to my house from school.

I shrugged. "I'm game if Martin is."

Martin shook his head. "Can't."

Mavis frowned. "Why not?"

Martin hesitated before answering. "Football practice."

"Oh." I replied. An awkward silence fell.

"I'm sorry." Martin apologized.

"Dude you don't need to apologize every time. I don't mind. How is it going?" I asked.

Martin grinned. "It's great. The team is really good and supportive. Coach said that if we continued like this we might win the season. And man, Joey is really good. No wonder he's captain."

I clenched my fist, trying to stay calm. "That's great." I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. I must have been very convincing because Martin nodded and went on.

I wasn't paying attention because frankly I wasn't in the mood. Being forbidden to play for the team was a huge blow and finding out Joey was captain was an even bigger blow.

I know it sounds selfish but it's the truth. I mean I'm happy for him but its a constant reminder of what might have been.

I sighed. Ten minutes later I arrived home. I bid my friends goodbye and walked to the front door. I could hear laughter coming from inside.

I unlocked the door and walked to the living room.

"Hi guys." I said, throwing my bag on the floor. Tracey, Tory and Lisa were sitting there, chatting.

"Hi Jack." Lisa called.

"Where's Linda and Tony and the rest?" I asked. It was rare for Tony and Tory to be apart as well as Lisa and Linda.

"They're at our house." Tracey replied.

"Cool. What are they doing?" I asked.

Everyone looked at each other, not answering my question. I frowned. "What?"

Everyone shifted in their seats looking uncomfortable.

"Uh Joey asked them to play football so he could practice." Tracey replied softly, not looking me in the eye.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously guys. I'm over it. You don't need to hide it from me."

Tory gave me a small smile. "Wanna watch a movie?"

I smiled, nodding. "Sure." I wasn't really in the mood to watch a movie but I've been really depressed and moody lately. I knew I was being irritating and hard to be around with but my family just smiled and continued to try to make me happy no matter how difficult I got. I owed them to at least try and have a good time and not ruin their mood.

*****

"Mom, I'm starving." I said, walking to the kitchen.

My mom was dressed up, looking for something when I entered.

"Hey mom, where are you going?"

My mom looked up. "Oh hi honey. I have to go somewhere."

"Where?" I asked.

Before my mom could answer, Lisa and Linda came. "Hi mom. We're ready to go." Lisa said, walking towards us.

She spotted me then stopped on her track. "Uh - we'll be outside." She quickly said and left with Linda hot on her trail.

Well that was weird. "Where are you all going?"

My mom sighed. "Today is Joeys first football game." My mom mumbled.

That explains Lisa and Linda's peculiar behavior.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry. We'll be back as soon as possible and in the mean time you can do whatever you want. There is food in the fridge."

I shook my head. "Can I come?"

My mom stopped what she was doing and looked at me. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I want to be there for Joey and Martin."

My mom nodded although she had a worried look on her face.

I gave her a small smile. Martin hasn't told me that his first game was today but I wasn't mad at him. I knew he did it because he didn't want to put me in an uncomfortable situation and I'm glad for that.

I walked outside and saw everyone except Joey. Even Uncle Sam was there. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at me.

I gave everyone a small smile. "I call shotgun."

Tracey frowned. "You coming with us?"

I laughed. "Why are you so shocked?"

No one answered me.

I nodded. "Lets get our game on people."

Uncle Dan smiled. "Ok then. Lets split up. Sam will be driving with one car, Marvin with another and I'll be taking the other one. Have your pick!"

******

We finally made it to the stand, looking for a seat that was good.

"I think that's a good seat." Lisa said, pointing at a particular place.

That's when I spotted Joey. I could tell he was looking for us and when he finally spotted us, he stopped dead in his track, his mouth slightly open.

I couldn't blame him. The whole family came, face painted and wearing those crazy fake clown hairs with different colors. Even Grandma Suzy was dressed like that, including a shirt that said 'I can play better than that and I'm a grandma!"

But then I realized he was staring straight at me. I gave him a small smile.

He shook his head and walked over. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Joey, watch your tone!" my mom chided.

Joey ignored her, looking at me. "Answer."

I rolled my eyes. "Chill dude. I came to support you. No matter how much of a jerk you are, you are still my brother."

A look of guilt passed over his eyes and he looked away.

"Uh- thanks. Means a lot." he replied, avoiding eye contact. Why is he acting so weird?

He quickly turned towards my dad and grinned. "Enjoy the game old man."

My dad chuckled. "Get out of here."

Joey smirked. "Happily."

And with that he turned away and jogged towards his team as everyone wished him good luck.

I could make out Martin in the middle, talking to his team mates.

I waved at him but he just turned away, completely ignoring me. I frowned, confused but let it slide. Maybe he didn't notice me.

We rushed to our seats, getting comfortable. This was going to be a long day.

******
"Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" We all chanted.

All the kids excluding James decided to ride with Uncle Sam in the minivan. It was a tight fit but we managed.

Joey had called shotgun and was relaxing after his game. We had won big time and it was safe to say that the team wouldn't have won without Joey.

"Ok ok. Pizza it is." Uncle Sam announced, chuckling.

Lisa grinned. "That was so fun!"

Linda nodded enthusiastically. "I don't understand football but even I could tell that you were the best, Joey."

Joey smirked. "Of course I'm the best." He said arrogantly.

I rolled my eyes. "So modest." I muttered.

"I don't need to be modest. It's just the truth." Joey replied, hearing my little comment.

Uncle Sam took a right then parked the car. We slowly piled out and raced to order our pizza.

After placing our orders, we took a table. We had four tables just for our selves.

"Joey, you were amazing out there!" dad complimented Joey.

I smiled, genuinely happy for Joey. I might not have been in the team but he was still my brother.

Joey continued smiling looking at all of us then he looked my way and saw me smile. That's when his smile flattered.

I frowned and gave him a confused look. He shook his head and got up, motioning for me to follow him.

Confused yet curious, I followed him outside.

"What's up?" I asked.

Joey sighed. "I don't know how to tell you this."

I frowned. "Just spill dude."

Joey shook his head. "I have a question. Are you happy for me?"

The questions caught me off guard but I shrugged it off. "As much as it irritates me and I admit I was angry at first, I'm still happy for you. You're still my brother, no matter how much I wish you weren't." I said, winking.

Joey, however, didn't even crack a smile. "I'm a horrible brother."

"Ok seriously, what's going on?" I asked, frustrated at this point.

"Jackson, I-" he started but never got to finish his sentence because at that time I spotted Martin and Mavis.

As much as I wanted to hear what Joey had to say, I wanted to talk to Martin even more. He's been avoiding me.

I jogged to catch up to them.

"Hi guys. Good game today, Martin." I complimented.

Martin looked at me and I almost cried out. The look he was giving me was......pure evil. He was smirking.

"Look what the cat dragged in?"

I stood their shocked. "Excuse me?"

Mavis laughed. "You've been excused. Now can you please leave us alone."

"Is-is this a joke?" I stammered.

"You're a joke, Jackson." Mavis replied.

"A joke and you're gullible." Martin continued.

I stood there, not only shocked but angry. I felt pure rage coursing through my body.

"What the heck? What's wrong with you guys?" I yelled.

"Nothing is wrong with us. Don't you get it, we don't like you. We don't want you here." Mavis said.

"We couldn't care less what happened to you!" Martin said.

"Guys, I'm really confused. I thought we were friends?" I said.

"I thought we were friends." Martin mocked. Then he laughed. "You sound like a girl."

Mavis rolled her eyes. "Jackson, stay away from us."

I watched them, speechless, as they walked away. Before disappearing from my sight, Martin looked at me and smirked.

"By the way, did we tell you the good news?" Martin asked.

I didn't reply because I knew from the smirk on his face that it wasn't anything good.

Martin put his arms around Mavis's waist. "We're together." And with that they walked away, leaving my heart broken and confused.

********

"Jackson, please open the door. We just want to talk." Tracey called out for the tenth time that day.

I continued to ignore her and everyone else. After Martin and Mavis walked away, I couldn't go back to my family so I walked home.

They were frantic but Joey had seen me walk away and had told them. At first my parents yelled at me but soon gave up when they noticed I was in no mood to deal with anything.

"Jackson seriously, we're worried. Just answer the door!" Tony yelled, pounding his fists on the door.

I sighed and got up. I unlocked the door and went back to sit on my bed. Tony, Tory, Tracey and Joey walked in.

"Dude, what's going on? What's up with you?" Tony asked.

I shrugged. "Fought with Martin and Mavis."

Joey groaned. "Seriously! I can't believe I wasted my time here."

Tracey looked at me. "This isn't your usual fight, is it?"

I shook my head.

"Tell us what happened." Tory said and that's what I did.

"Wow. I'm sorry." Tracey said, after I finished telling them the story.

"I don't want you to be sorry. I want to know why they said those things and did what they did? I mean everything was great!" I yelled, frustrated.

"I don't know bro." Tony replied.

Tory shook her head. "Those good for nothing jerks."

Suddenly Joey got up and yanked the door open. Before he could leave I asked. "Where you going?"

Joey looked at me. "To teach them a lesson."

I shook my head. "Leave them alone."

Joey glared at me. "Why? I'll teach them a lesson. I won't hurt them."

I shrugged. "It's not worth it."

"But you still have to find out why they did that. I knew they were fakes." Joey said.

"I bet they were the ones who framed you and got you kicked out. That's probably what Justin meant when he said people aren't who they seem they are." Tory commented.

My eyes grew wide. I looked at everyone but when my gaze fell on Joey, he turned away.

Ok?

"Dude what's going on with you?" I asked Joey.

Joey looked up in shock. "What?"

"Why are you acting like that?" I asked, frustrated with the way he was acting nowadays. As if he did something wrong and can't stand to look at me.

"Acting like what?"

"Like, like you feel.....guilty." I replied. Joey avoided my eye, not answering my question.

"Wait, are you the one who framed me?" I demanded.

I heard Tracey gasp but I ignored her.

Joey snapped his eyes towards me. "I would NEVER do that!"

"Then why do you look guilty?"

Joey sighed and sat next to me. "Because....I felt happy."

There was complete silence. "Sorry?"

"I was happy that you were framed, ok!" Joey yelled. I jumped a little from fright. Joey noticed and his expression softened although he still looked guilty.

" I was happy because I knew you would be captain if you weren't framed. I knew you would get the dream I've always wanted but I was sad that you wouldn't be in the team. I felt even more guilty when you said you were happy for me." Joey explained.

I didn't reply. Joey sighed. "I'm sorry. I know I'm the worst brother ever but I just want you to know, you would have deserved it."

I looked at Joey and the look of sadness in his eyes. I gave him a hug, shocking him.

After a while, he patted my back awkwardly, causing everyone to laugh at us.

"Well, that was cute." Tracey teased.

Joey rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

I punched his arms. "Dork."

Joey laughed. "You're the dork."

Tory snorted. "Both of you are dorks."

We all smiled, looking at each other. It's times like this I realize how lucky I am to have such a family. They are my true family, not Martin and Mavis. I just wished they'd tell me why......

"I'm texting them." I stated.

~what was all that about?~

I thought they would just ignore me but after a few minutes, I got a reply.

~dude, we were never your friends~

I felt tears ready to spill when I read the text from Martin. My best friend Martin and the girl of my dreams, whom I'd never admit that I cared about too, were just lying to me. Pretending to be my friends.

But more than hurt I felt anger. Pure and unnatural anger.

I got up and raced downstairs. I blindly yanked the door open and ran out. I could hear people yelling my name and telling me to come back but I didn't stop.

Without realizing it, I reached a house and I knew it was Martins.

I walked up to his front door and knocked.

After a few minutes Martin and Mavis answered the door. I was surprised to see Mavis but not as surprised as they were to see me.

"What are you doing here?" Mavis asked.

I frowned, not knowing what to say. " Well, I came to beat up Martin."

Martin laughed. "Wow. Real nice."

Mavis rolled her eyes. "Jackson, you don't get it do you?"

I shook my head.

"I'll be honest, we liked you at the beginning." Mavis started. "But then your whole life became about football and being the youngest captain. And after what happened to Martin, you didn't even decide to stop it. You continued to try while your best friends dream was crushed."

"I'm sorry but that sure as hell wasn't my fault! I told him not to go to that party. Yet you guys went and smoked! That's not my problem." I demanded.

"We thought we were the three musketeers but we were wrong. You were using us." Martin said.

I shook my head. "I was never using you."

"Well, we were using you." Mavis said.

I frowned. "What?"

Martin chuckled. "Just ask Justin."

I clenched my fists, ready to strike. Martin saw my fists and smiled. "Go ahead. Hit me."

I continued to stare at them, angry.

Martin and Mavis laughed.

"You'll always be a wimp." Mavis stated.

I shook my head. "No, I'll always be the bigger person." And with that I walked away, my head held high.

*****
Sometimes the unexpected happens. But what matters is who is by your side till the end and how you deal with the unexpected. That's what defines who you are.

🔸🔸****🔸🔸
(A/N). I am a horrid person. I'm truly sorry.

I hope you're enjoying this book. Anyway it's almost done. Like one or two chapter left, maybe?

Until next time, take care❤