My Volatile Stepbrother

Helping a Friend

Cassie stood up. Her mom's face was beaming until she realized that Cassie wanted to get out and not stand next to her to cheer.

"Will you be able to find your way back?" Audrey shouted.

"I'm not going far."

Cassie pushed past the excited students and walked to the far back where Joey was. When she arrived, he was just wiping his mouth.

"You okay?" Cassie asked him. He glanced at her and smiled, giving her thumbs up. "What are you doing here?"

"I could asssk you the sshame thing," he slurred.

"Fair enough," she said. "My family made me come."

"Ahh well, I wanted to come!" he shouted with two fists raised. As though the audience heard that last sentence, they all broke out into cheers. Cassie could hear Chetum's name being celebrated over the mic.

"And therrrrrrrrrrre's number twenty-six with the touchdown, Chetum Ssssstaples!"

People were hopping up and down. She turned her attention back to Joey. She had to vent to someone.

"That's going to be my stepbrother."

"Huh?" Joey asked. She could see that his eyes had involuntary nystagmus where they were rapidly skipping left and right. He was the perfect person to complain to. He'd never remember what she said.

"Chetum. That *sshole is going to be my stepbrother. What is this world coming to?" Cassie glanced up at the sky. The sky answered with an unexpected downpour. She gasped.

Joey smiled at her and shouted, "Cassie!" as if he had just realized she was there. She couldn't help but smile at his goofy expression. He was genuinely happy to see her, which also kept her grinning.

Joey stumbled over and hugged her. She hugged him back and giggled. Then he looked at her and tried to kiss her.

"Ahh! What—" she began, pushing him away. It wasn't as though he wasn't attractive, but she didn't want it to happen this way. It had been a while since she had last kissed anyone. Plus, he was pretty unappealing right now in his drunk and sick state.

"You're sssho pretty, Cassie. You're sssho sssho pretty." Cassie held Joey at arm's length and thanked him graciously, though she knew it was just the beer talking. His half-shut aqua-colored eyes were bloodshot as he reached for her to keep him standing. She couldn't believe it, but she wanted to get back to her seat beside her mom.

She gently lowered his arms from her shoulders and gracefully stepped away. He tried to follow but once he saw where she was going, he knew it would be too much of a feat to get there through the zealous spectators. She gave him a wave and then rushed back to her seat.

Audrey was cheering, "Go Chetum! Woo! Wildcat pride!!" Cassie liked seeing her mom happy like this, even if it was because of a dumb football game. It was hard on her after Cassie's dad died.

Audrey brought Cassie back to the present when she shouted, "Look Cassie! There's Brad assistant coaching!" Cassie looked toward the field and, sure enough, there was Brad racing up and down the sidelines. Cassie's suspicion had been right about his personality as an overbearing parent, but perhaps he truly was on the roster as a coach. Cassie would have plenty of time to ask since he'd be living with them.

Cassie sighed and remained standing next to her mother instead of sitting down.

"Mom, why aren't we moving in with them? Don't they have a mansion or something?"

"Oh, Brad's ex-wife is gouging him out of money. It's better this way to get rid of that asset and go into a place without his name on it. Besides, our home isn't anything to turn your nose up at.”

Cassie nodded in agreement. She would have to ask more about the ex-wife later.

Cassie glanced around the stadium and realized she was beginning to appreciate the team spirit. When she glanced over at the two boys, they were having a blast watching the field. If Joey Winters and Michael Zune—Suma c*m Laude and Magna c*m Laude respectively—could be interested in this game, then maybe it would be okay if she was too.

Suddenly heavier rain came down, prompting Cassie to ask her mother, "Any idea if we can get an umbrella?" Audrey glanced at her daughter, smiled and pulled out two tightly rolled plastic items from her purse that weren't bigger than eye-glass cases. She popped the snaps off and out came two transparent ponchos. She handed one to Cassie.

"I heard it was going to rain. Am I prepared or what?"

"Mom, you're the best!" Cassie said. The two pulled their ponchos on and hugged.

***

It was a few hours later when the game ended, and the Wildcats had come up victorious. The seats and cement steps were wet from the rain, and the stands were filled with popcorn and peanut boxes, solo cups, and confetti. Cassie pitied the person who had to clean this up.

As they were making their way down to the car, Cassie felt good about coming, though she wouldn't ever tell Chetum that. While she got acquainted with this new side of herself, the two waited outside by the SUV. They thought Brad and Chetum would show up soon, but after ten minutes, they hadn't returned.

"What's going on, Mom? I'm getting cold from being wet." Cassie shivered as she rubbed her arms.

"I'm not sure. Let me get in touch with Brad."

Audrey pulled her cell phone out of her bag and pressed a button to speed dial Brad.

"Brad? We're waiting by the car. Are you on your way?" Cassie checked if there was any reaction from her mother's face indicative of which way the conversation was going. Audrey nodded. "Okay, we'll be here."

"What's going on?"

"He says they'll be right down." Audrey shrugged.

"So, with the rain and everything and the move—"

"No, they won't be moving in tonight. It will be tomorrow morning," Audrey said, cutting her off.

Cassie glanced at her mom. Their eyes met and they both said, "Delivery from Angelo's?" The two began giggling and nodding.

Brad interrupted their fun when he came marching down with Chetum in front of him. Neither looked happy. That was strange. They just won, so shouldn't they be excited?