Surviving the Andersen Brothers

Zach Andersen

            “No, no, it’s true! I can tell you when each gave up… if they have.”

            “Oh, yeah? Then tell me!”

            “But you don’t believe me so why should I?”

            “Because I want to know! Please?”

            “Okay, fine. Let us go from oldest to youngest for those who have given up: Walter gave up the very first day he met you, the second he waved goodbye to you over his head—he realized he was too old for you or maybe he didn’t want you to end up like another Rebecca. Michael gave up when you avoided him for the week following the date—which is a good thing, he’s somewhat a player, ya know? Then we come to Lucas—”

            “Oh, that’s it! There was never a time in Lucas’ life that he ever had romantic feelings for me!”

            “Yes, there was. Don’t you remember he was the nicest to you at our introduction? He liked you then! After meeting you, he went to Vincent, maybe they talked, maybe Lucas found out that Vincent liked you too, so he gave up some point between Saturday and Monday—at some point, he decided he liked his relationship with his brother more than the idea of liking you so he hates you now. After Lucas we come to Jacob who stopped liking you somewhere around the Epic Frisbee when he realized you weren’t for him. And we finally come to me; I gave up on you when I walked away. I realized, like Walter, right away that it wasn’t going to happen—no matter how beautiful I think you are.”

            I rolled my eyes. “How do you know all of this?”

            “I know my brothers,” Zach said simply. “They all come to me for advice anyway.”

            “Is there anything you don’t do?” I wondered. “You are a top athlete, an excellent scholar, advice giver, and all around a well rounded guy.”

            “I’m the seventh son,” he said obviously. “I am awesome.”

            Zach was right. He was awesome. As a freshman in high school, he played on all the varsity teams he tried out for: varsity football, varsity basketball, and varsity baseball. Zach had at least a ninety percent in all of his classes. Apparently, he gave advice to the entire household of boys—and me. He had friends in every over exaggerated high school clique. He had a million adoring fans, too. Zach wasn’t bad looking either—too young to be any interest of mine, of course. He was damn near perfect. I had an almost perfect best friend.

            “You are beautiful, you know that, right?” Zach asked suddenly.

            Taken back by this question, I stepped away from him. Did he like me still or was he just trying to pump my ego?

            “Uh….”

            “You are as much like a normal girl as any,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not trying to come on to you. I just don’t think you rate yourself well enough. Most girls don’t—they always think they are way uglier than they actually are.”

            I shrugged. “My looks never really mattered to me,” I told him honestly. “Thank you, though… for thinking I am pretty. You are a really great friend, Zach.”

            “You are welcome, Jazz. You’re not so bad a friend, yourself.”

            I smiled. “So, do you like anyone at school?”

            It was Zach’s turn to be taken back, though he did not step away like I had. He wasn’t expecting me to ask.

            “Kind of.”

            “Kind of? Who?”

            “I don’t think you know her… she works as a maid part time….”

            “Is it that young maid that comes to our house?!”

            Zach’s eyes went wide. He had been found out. “How did you guess?”

            “She’s a year younger than me with tan skin and dark hair—she got into our school on a scholarship or something, right?” He nodded. “I was talking to her not too long ago when she was at the house and found out she went to school with us. Maybe you guys should be playing Cinderella and Prince Charming, it’s much more fitting!”

            Zach blushed. “Oh, knock it off! She is a really nice girl. She is really smart, too!”

            I gave him a sly look. “Mmhm… not so bad on the eyes either. What about Whitney, I thought you were kind of flirty with her?”

            He made a face. “Whitney? No! She’s so… girly!”

            I raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with… girly?” I wondered.

            “Dude, I mentioned playing Frisbee in the mud and rain and she was all ‘Ew. Why would anyone want to play around in the mud? I bet Jasmine was so excited about that.’ Like you were so beneath her or something. To be honest, Whitney drives me insane—not in a good way either.”

            “What is the maid’s name again, I forgot….”

            “Blake Moss,” he said.

            “That’s right! Are you going to ask Blake out on a date?” I elbowed Zach playfully.

            “Well… we have that Benefit for Dad’s hospital coming up a little after the play…. Maybe I’ll ask her to that.”

            “Oo lala!” I teased, skipping away while singing, “Zach’s got a girlfriend, Zach’s got a girlfriend! Tralalale! Zach wants to kiss her, Zach wants to kiss her! Tralalalo!”

            Zach’s face turned beat red as he chased after me. “I don’t have a girlfriend!”

            That is when I really started running.

            I was definitely getting used to my life at the Andersen home and it was all thanks to Zach. He helped me so much when I thought I was alone. He pulled me through and continues to stand by my side. It’s nice to know that I don’t have to worry about the romantic stuff with him—I never really did.

            I did know that I would spend the rest of my days teasing him about Blake, though. Until I could tease him no longer. Maybe if they ever got together I would come up with something new to tease him about.

            There was so much coming up.

            My life was changing…. It was changing for the better.

            Surviving Zachary Andersen was the best part of my new life.