The Rulebreaker

I tossed and turned all night and finally gave up on sleep an hour ago. I went for a run, worked out, and now, I’m freshly showered and dressed. I look at the time and pick up my phone to call my mom before she heads into church.

She answers on the first ring. “Mav? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I frown. “Why?”

“It’s before noon on a Sunday. You normally don’t call this early.”

“I know.” I take a gulp of water and sigh heavily as I set it down. “Rocky’s staying with her friend this weekend.”

“Okay?” My mother’s voice is understandably confused.

“This entire weekend. She just packed up and left.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Yeah. I mean, she’s never done it before.” I pick up the water again.

“You miss her so much that you decided to wake up early on a Sunday and call me to tell me about it when you know I’m on my way to church?”

I set the cup down. “No. I mean, I guess.”

“Are you telling me you have feelings for her?”

“No.” My voice is louder now. “I’m just telling you what’s going on in the house.”

“And you don’t have feelings for her?”

“I . . . ” I feel myself frown. “I was on a date last night.”

“And how did that go?” My mother sounds like she’s one second away from telling me to fuck off, but I know she won’t, so I continue on.

“It was fine. It was with Rebecca. The girl from—”

“Yes, yes, I know who it is. You’ve been talking about her all year.”

“Well, yeah. So, it was good.”

“Good enough that you obviously didn’t take her home with you and woke up thinking about your best friend instead?”

“Mom.”

“Maverick, I’m your mother, not an idiot.” She sighs. “Look, I’m about to be late for church, so I’ll make this quick. You have feelings for Rocky. If you don’t see that, you need to take a good look at yourself and re-evaluate what you think you feel. If you like her, tell her.”

“If I like her and I tell her I’ll drive her away.”

“You’d be surprised.”

That gives me pause. “Mike would kill me.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? Her father?” Mom laughs. “You’re too much.”

“I just . . . he’s not even completely sold on the idea of her living with me.”

“I wonder why.”

I open my mouth and shut it a few times.

“Goodbye, Maverick. I love you. I’ll pray for you.”

I laugh. “Love you, Mami.”

She hangs up and I stand there, staring at the cup of water in front of me. I love Rocky, but she’s my best friend. If I lose her friendship, what will I really be left with? I decide this is probably a better subject to talk to my brothers about. I love my mom, but what does she know about relationships? She’s been married to the same person for like thirty years. I look at the time again. Nine-thirty. Jagger’s definitely awake, but he has a game today, and I’m not going to be the reason my professional football-playing brother is distracted, so I’m definitely not calling him. Mitchell is definitely not awake yet. Not on a Sunday. It’s really the only day we sleep in. Except for me, apparently, today. I need to keep busy and not call Rocky just yet. She’s always my go-to when it comes to things. Unfortunately, I can’t really talk to her about this without disclosing my feelings and I don’t think I can do that just yet.

Chapter Sixteen

RockY

I shoot the crumpled napkin into the wastebasket and wait to make sure I made it in before turning and walking toward the theatre. I already spoke to my parents, who are also getting ready to watch Mortal Kombat. This was definitely not my first choice, but Dad was really excited about it when he saw the trailer, and Mom and I went along with it because we’re usually the ones picking the movies and Dad never complains about it. My phone buzzes just as I sit down in the top middle row. The good thing about catching a movie right when they open on a Sunday is that the only people who are there are parents with small children and me and a lot of the time it’s just me. I pull out my phone and see a text from Maverick.

Mav: What movie are you watching?

I frown, then type, Mortal Kombat. What are you doing up?

Mav: What theatre? Number 2 or 4?

Me: 2. Are you here?

I wait for a response, but it doesn’t come. Instead, I see a really tall guy wearing a backward baseball cap walk in and head up the stairs until he reaches my row.

“What are you doing here?”

“Watching Mortal Kombat.”

“You hate the movies.”

“I like popcorn.” He shrugs a shoulder and sits beside me. He has a huge bucket of popcorn in one hand and a matching soda cup.