Last Minute Shopping

Matthew's POV

It's our senior year of college, and we have been practicing like crazy all of July and August before school starts. The coach was pissed that I took off and went on vacation with my mom and her boyfriend Phillip in the middle of our practice time. I missed half of the practice this summer. He threatened to bench me in the first games; luckily, Jake spoke up for me, making the coach give me another chance. He really listens to him.

We're in the week before school starts. Honestly, school starts tomorrow; Jake and I realized yesterday we haven't even bought anything for school. So we decided to go today to get our supplies. If it weren't for my mom and Jake's mom, who made us sign up for our classes during summer break, we'd be in trouble now, trying to get spots in style. We did that last year, and it wasn't pretty. We got stuck with a shitty schedule.

I'm usually pretty good at getting up early, but today I got up really late. Practice was kicking our ass this year. The coach was being extra hard on us, being that most players on our team were graduating. He wanted our best to give the new kids something to see before we get thrown into adulthood.

My whole body was still sore, especially my shoulders and my left side hip from the hard tackles. We were getting better and better each time, though. The coach was happy we gave it our all from start to finish. And why not? The thought that we may get signed by a professional NFL team is awesome.

Although my mind is not at ease, don't get me wrong, I love football. But being part of a family where most men are or were in the military makes me want to join too. I feel it's my calling to go and serve my country. Although, yes, it would set me back from my career, but I know I'd be doing the right thing by serving my country. We'll have to wait till the end of the school year for that decision, though. It gives us time to make up our minds.

I'm supposed to meet up with Jake, Jeremy, and Carissa, Jeremy's girlfriend, today. She didn't want me to feel like a third wheel, so she said she was bringing a friend. Jake warned her not to bring someone for him, or he'd leave. Knowing his big ass temper, he would just get up and go too.

Truth be said, I hope it wasn't Vanessa. She is loud as hell. The only reason I stand being around her is that Carissa won't come if she doesn't. This means Jeremy doesn't hang out with us, either.

Don't get me wrong; she is actually pretty cool. She's very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. She gets along with everyone and likes to volunteer at school, just like Carissa.

Talk about school spirit, but she's just too much for me... Carissa is one of the only girls my sister would talk to when she still lived here. She got to know Vanessa but not to the point of seeing her as a close friend.

Carissa is a high-spirited soul, Which is why I can't figure out why she's been dating my bro Jeremy for so long. He's reticent, always takes things seriously, he's good at football and numbers....but he's also a giant nerd, but a rich nerd who has it all thanks to mommy.

Jake is a stubborn, hard-ass; can't anybody mess with him, don't look at me when I'm pissed kind of guy. He's got a big temper and very little patience for people. The only one who I've seen call him out on his bull and not get scolded is my sister Brianna.

She's the opposite of him, quiet, reserved, level-headed, not really much of a drinker or party girl, won't think twice nor hesitate to call you out on your bull. She'll open up to friends when she gets to know them, but not really the high-energy, cheery kind of girl like Carissa; she is amazing in every way, though. She's hella smart, too, going for a double major in business and psychology.

For some reason, my sister tends to get people's attention a lot, even when she's not trying. I love my sis. I wish she were here. She has done a bit of modeling for our step-sister Sarah, who owns her own fashion line. She got Brianna doing small photo shoots for her blog since we were in sophomore year in high school to attract younger shoppers, and damn, it worked like a charm.

Brie used to love dancing ballet. She tried out and got the leading role for a ballet show for Christmas years ago in L.A. when she left for high school during our sophomore year. That same year, she started modeling for Sarah and doing her photoshoots for the blog.

Although I missed her and wished she had stayed back home, I was so damn proud of her. Jake and I had been trying to convince her to go for it again, doing ballet now that she is back in the L.A. area again.

But She said she was done with professional performances, though the same went for the modeling. She gets into arguments with Sarah when she tries to convince her to come back and work for her.

I haven't seen Brie in forever. I missed seeing her this summer because of our vacation. I only get to talk to her when she skypes with Jake or video chats with him or me. Since Jake and I got a dorm together, I'll be able to talk to her more, and I'll probably butt in on Jake's conversation like he tends to do when I speak with her.

I had already taken a shower and gotten ready with my blue denim jeans and a white V-neck t-shirt with white polo tennis shoes.

I headed to my car, a red and black offroad jeep rubicon wrangler. She was my baby, with all black leather interior and a modified sound system.

I drove down the road to the highway leading to my destination for what seemed like forty minutes towards the new mall close to our town. I don't know what the hell school supplies have to do with the mall or why they wanted to come so far, but whatever.  I'd just have to take advantage and buy myself a few things.

I parked my car got out, and headed inside the cool and refreshing a.c. hitting me, it was still pretty hot out since it's still August, so maybe it'll start to cool down soon, I hope.

I got my phone out to see if they had already arrived, called Jake, and he told me to meet them by Wetzel pretzels. I immediately got happy and told him to get me the pizza bites. I was starving. Although he seemed annoyed already that he was there with Jeremy, and both girls and I had overslept, he didn't mind buying me food, though, so long as I didn't leave him hanging.

When I reached to my destination, they were sitting down at a nearby table, so I headed over towards them.

"Yo!" I yelled out in a husky tone.

Jake looked pissed already, stood up, and bro hugged me when I got there. Relief came over him as he finally saw my arrival. I kissed Carissa on the cheek, hugged Jeremy, and said hey to Vanessa.

Just as Jake handed me a bag with pretzel bites and I was ready to sit next to him, I felt my phone vibrate, my face lit up to see the video caller "Brianna " Jake looked at me, curious, and he smiled big when I showed him the screen.

"Hey, hey beautiful, to what do I owe the honor of your call?" I said as I stood up and walked away for more privacy. She giggled at my expression.

"Hi, brother! I miss you! How's everyone doing?"

"I love you, Brie!" Jake yells from his side. Carissa giggled at his action. She knew Jake and Brianna had been best friends since diaper years.

But she did get surprised at how open he was with Brie, being he was a man of little words and very little temper.

"Was that Jake? Where are you guys? Hanging out? Wait, I know... finally getting school supplies aren't yah? I told you not to wait till the last minute, Matt." She was right. We did wait till the last minute.

I laughed out loud. She knew us too well.

"Yeah, I know... you have been telling us since a month ago to get them with time, but we just hadn't come around to it. We've been crazy busy with football practice... where are you at?"

"I aww, I'm in the dorm room, at school... Why, where else would I be, duh!"

"Soooo, why are you acting all nervous? You hiding somethin' from me, sis?"

"No, w-why, why would you say that? Of course not. I just wanted to call my big bro before he starts school tomorrow... so, senior college year, You excited?"

Although we were twins, we looked a bit different. She was a beautiful light caramel skin with raven black hair and green eyes, a mere perfect copy of mom with dad's eyes. I was a slightly lighter skin tone than her, with dark brown hair and green eyes. Grandpa would always say that if Cindy Crawford and Karen Mulder had a baby, she'd be it. I'd, of course, argue with him, saying she looked like the young Latina version of Paulina Porizkova. Mom agrees with me, of course.

Brianna would just roll her eyes when we'd argue about it in front of her. She didn't think of herself to be so pretty. She had, however, long gotten used to the idea of me saying I was the older brother since technically I was. I was born ten minutes before her.

"Hells yeah, excited and frankly, nervous as fuck... we need to kick ass this year in football, sis, it's our last year before adulthood... The coach said if all goes well, there's a chance we may get signed professionally ... can you believe that? There are other plans if it doesn't happen, but I'm hoping it does."

"Of course, it will. You are the best. Don't think otherwise... come on, tell me who you are...?"

"I'm Matthew Reynolds, baby...." I said low and sweetly

"Huh, what? Can't hear yah there, big bro... who are you?" She said mockingly

"I'm Matt Reynolds, baby!" I yelled my lungs out, making heads turn. We both laughed. I loved the way she always cheered me on.

"That's right, baby, and Reynolds, don't back down nor give up! Don't ever forget that, son!"

We laughed at stupid things and chatted for a while. I could tell Jake was contemplating on getting up and taking the phone away from me. He always did that.

Then she got a call on the other line and suddenly had to end our video call. I said goodbye and felt my heart saddened a bit. Senior college year, and she's not here. I wish I could actually see her at one of my games. I could just picture her with full school spirit gear on, yelling at the top of her lungs for Jake and me, just like she did back in high school.

She loves that asshole, but she loves me more, I know that.

We continued our day walking around while the girls did their shopping. I needed new shoes. My black timberland boots were worn out. So I got myself a new pair. Jake did the same getting new ones in light brown.

We then headed to get new backpacks. I decided on the usual, a black and brown Jansport and Jake, of course, the same as always, all black Jansport backpack.

Anyway, When we were all done, we parted ways leaving Jeremy, Carissa, and Vanessa to finish shopping and eating. We headed out to our own destination before having to go for practice today. Now, all we had to do was wait for the first day of school tomorrow.

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