Page 3 of Hey, Stepbro

As if finding out that Dad is remarrying next week wasn't hard enough. Now, Amanda doesn't want to even be in my life.

* * *

After I shower, I grab my bag and storm out of the locker room, ignoring the confused looks from my teammates.

The crisp autumn air does little to calm me down.

"Fucking bitch," I mutter to myself, my mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and anger.

I need to clear my head. I want nothing more than to head to the campus bar, the student one that's dimly lit and filled with the raucous noise of tipsy undergrads. I already picture myself taking a seat and ordering a gin and tonic to numb the pain.

Shit. I don't have my fake on me.

I opt for a nearby bench instead, then clench my fists. I’ve barely sat down before I hear a voice beside me.

"You okay, man?" It's Justin, his voice laced with concern.

I tick my head up, not answering at first. I'm not sure if I can trust myself to speak. But eventually, I manage a nod.

"No, I'm not okay," I admit, my voice hoarse. "Amanda… She's going out with someone else. Some fucking doctor prick."

Justin's eyes widen in shock. "Fuck, man. I'm so sorry."

I’m a motherfucking fool. How could I have not seen this coming?

"It's like I didn't even know her," I say, my voice breaking. "I thought we had something real, something special."

Justin nods sympathetically. "I know how you feel. But sometimes people change, or they aren't who we thought they were."

I nod, a burst of anger spiking inside me. "I can't believe she would do this to me. After everything we've been through."

Justin puts a hand on my shoulder. "Listen, man. You're our star quarterback. You have your whole life ahead of you. You'll find someone else. Someone who's right for you."

"It’s hard to believe that right now."

"Give it time. And don't do anything stupid, like go pick a fight with some random doctor."

I manage a small smile. "I won't."

As Justin walks away, I sit there for a few more minutes, trying to process everything. I can't help but think about the future I had planned for us. A future where we'd get married, have kids, and grow old together. But now that future is gone, replaced by bleak uncertainty.

Eventually, I stand up and start walking to Dad’s place. I know I need to focus on my studies and my football career, but right now, all I can think about is Amanda and how she could do this to me.

I’ve got to move on, but it's easier said than done.

And I especially don't want to think about Dad remarrying on top of everything else. That's the main reason I'm so upset. I barely confided in Amanda, but at least I could cuddle up with her after Dad's previous husband, my other dad who's as good as dead to me, cheated on him and shook our family.

But now, it's like I have no one. No one to turn to, no one to hold. Loneliness suffocates my heart.

When I get home, I collapse onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling. I try to push thoughts of Amanda out of my mind, but they keep creeping back in. I need a distraction.

I pull out my phone and start scrolling through my contacts, looking for someone to hang out with. But everyone is either busy or already has plans. A pang of envy towards those who have stable relationships and friends to turn to darts across me.

That's when I get a text from my pen pal.

The campus pen pal program is something I signed up for on a whim, hoping to make some new friends. It's supposed to be a way for students to connect with each other anonymously and learn about those with different life experiences. I've been talking to this English student for months now and we've become pretty close. He hasn't told me his name and while we've never met in person, we text each other every day. His screen name isAnimalLover, which is pretty cool. I like animals. I also love them, even though I don’t care for any at the moment.

AnimalLover:Hey. How's it going?

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