Flash Fiction - First day of school

 "Oh my God, you didn't shave!" Colby's sister said the first thing when he crawled out of bed on the first day of school.

"But I'm a senior," he said, using that sappy Drama King look of his as his curls of blonde hair were tossed from being in bed all night. He yawned and went to brush his teeth. No way was he going to shave now.

"Yeah, you got that young Custer's look about you, how could they say no to that?" she responded with her arms crossed.

If their ma were here, she'd have something to say, but she was in cancer treatment and Chrissy was just hounding him about everything under the sun lately. Why hadn't he mowed the lawn like he said he would, and didn't he say he could fix the leak in the laundry room? Didn't she know there were just not enough hours in the day?

He had other things on his mind, like his music, and he knew no one cared about that. He gave himself the look over and fingered a few curls with those manly hands of his and yawned while in the bathroom. Somebody had to be here for him, and it was Colby who was going to school in what he slept in. He sprayed himself down with the cheap POWER STICK from Dollar Tree that was right around the corner from the house in his little hometown. Yeah, he worked there, which totally blew away most of the girls who were interested in him. 

Colby didn't care. He was beginning to know their true colors. They were more interested in TikTok anyway, which he vowed to never use in any way. He was old school, a lot like his goat-tee.

"They'll make you shave!" Chrissy told him as he was drinking milk out of the carton from the fridge. He found the last Little Debbie oatmeal pie and ripped the plastic with his teeth.

Colby fumed back and then stretched as he ate the pie. Had she no idea he was up all night writing on a song? God, why did it have to be the first day of school? It was a Friday, no less. 

A car honked from the driveway, it was the girls from Art class who came to pick him up. Although, he could have walked. He only lived a block or so away from the school. But Shelly liked him and would chauffeur him anywhere he pleased. Sometimes, she would help him with his speakers when he went down to the Sokal on Open Mic night.

Colby didn't give his sister another thought. He was on his way. Damn if the car wasn't packed. He didn't see a spot for him. But if they did get there, it would look like his harem was awaiting.

"Maybe I should just walk," he shrugged with his backpack slack. He needed to practice his swagger anyway.

"No, don't say that," Shelly said from behind the wheel. Colby shook his head, no. He could not digress.

"We were on our way to Scooters, don't you want an iced coffee?"

"I don't drink coffee." 

Colby yawned back. Besides, the fresh air of August would wake him up, even if it was a bit humid. It frizzed his curls even more. 

Shelly left in a huff. The car wheels squealed as she backed out.

Colby shook his head. Why was it that he could make people so mad? Around the corner she went. Next thing he heard was a crash. He sprinted to see what had happened. She'd collided with a pickup, which started a car pile-up.

Colby squinted in anguish. He wasn't worried about shaving. Although he'd never thought about being a hero until that day. 

Words: 630