Omission Read Online Free Page A

quiet this morning. It wasn’t really any different—Jackson usually wasn’t up yet anyway—but I guess knowing he wasn’t here made it seem like it was. I felt completely alone.
    I took a long shower, trying to rid myself of the stress and guilt I was feeling for leaving my little brother in a strange place. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and grabbed a button up shirt to put on over it, and palmed an apple as I walked out the door. The cool air felt refreshing, and I stopped briefly on the steps and inhaled deeply, allowing the cold air to bathe my lungs before I set out on the short walk to campus.
    ***
    My classes went by smoothly this morning, and my professors were very understanding about why I missed my classes yesterday. I had one more class after lunch, and then I was done for the day. I met up with a couple of my friends in the courtyard, and we decided on a quick game of football.
    “You did the right thing , Garrett,” Ethan said as he tossed the ball to me. I hadn’t given the details of why it had come to the point of making Jackson go yesterday, but they knew enough to know that it had been a long time coming.
    “I know , man, it doesn’t make it any easier, though.” I tossed it to Ryan.
    Ethan, Lucas , and Ryan were my closest friends. We had met as freshmen on the lacrosse team. They were a rowdy bunch, but we had each other’s back. We had all lived in a rented house our first two years here, but after the accident, I moved out and got my own townhouse so Jackson and I could stay together. I missed the parties, the fun, and the girls—boy, did I miss the girls. I hadn’t been out on a date or even just hooked up with anyone in months. I had certainly been approached and even tempted, but I needed to stay focused on Jackson, so I essentially became somewhat of a hermit. Lacrosse had been too difficult to maintain with my new responsibilities, so that went by the wayside after last year, too. It sucked.
    “Hey, you have no excuse to throw at us for at least forty five days. You’re coming out tonight.”  Ryan threw the ball hard at my chest, but I was too quick and caught it.
    “All right, but I have class tomorrow , and I’m not a spring chicken anymore, so don’t keep me out too late.” I smirked as I drilled the ball back at him, bouncing it off his chest and laughing as he doubled over.
    “ Christ, dude!” he coughed, holding his chest as Lucas and Ethan piled on him adding insult to injury.
    We all copped a squat on the gra ss, tired of tossing the ball. “Don’t worry, Cinderella, we’ll have you home before midnight.” Lucas winked.
    “Fine, I’ll meet you all at the house around seven.” I stood up and grabbed my bag. I smacked Lucas on the back of the head as I walked by. “Cinderella, my ass!” They all busted out in laughter as I strode away. Hopefully a night out with the guys will help clear my head. I was feeling like complete shit, and I figured a bit of alcohol and fun just might help me clear my conscience. If nothing else, maybe I could just forget for a bit.
    ***
    I showed up to the house just before seven, letting myself in like I still lived there. The house smelled like a mismatch of cologne and beer. Did this house smell this bad when I lived here? I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a beer from the fridge, and sat down on the old couch, which had seen better days.
    The room was a nice size, allowing plenty of room for the parties when we pulled the furniture against the walls. The floors were old hardwood and looked like they had been through a lifetime of hell. The focal piece was the large flat screen television that hung on the wall. It was where we gathered anytime there was a big sporting event. Part of me missed the atmosphere and living with these guys, but the other part of me actually enjoyed the ability to get away from it all.
    Lucas was the first one down. He was just a bit smaller than me, probably about six foot one. I had him by