To Seth, it was a perfect day for Basketball. The combination of unobscured sun and chilly weather gave the illusion of a warm blanket on a cold night. The two boys, both Seniors from Coal Ridge High School, seemed to move in a natural rhythm as they played basketball in Seth’s driveway.  

“That’s Twenty-one to Zero,” Chase said, the ball sinking through the hoop. “That’s why they call me the GOAT!” 

Seth let out an unconscious snort as he retrieved the ball. “That’s only because we’re playing Make It, Take It. I never get the chance to shoot.”   

“Could’ve taken it from me, but OK,” Chase said, amused. Unlike Seth, he had the build of a Basketball player: tall and lean. He was also a shoo-in for most D1 teams, which was the real reason he was beating Seth. “Want to play Horse?”

Seth agreed, and they began to take turns shooting. Although he wasn’t anything special when it came to athletics, Seth had the look of someone older than their years. His navy blue eyes were hidden by a lion’s mane of blonde, disheveled hair. Even so, his face radiated youthful positivity. 

“Dude, AP Physics is killing me,” Chase said, making yet another three-pointer. “What are we even learning right now?” 

“Kinematics,” Seth said. He attempted to make Chase’s shot, but as he expected, missed. “If you want, I can help you study tonight.” 

“Thanks, man, I’ll take you up on that.” Chase chose another spot on the court to shoot, but before he could, his phone rang. As usual, it was Chase’s mom telling him to come home for dinner. The boys promised to call that night, and before he knew it, Seth was alone in his driveway.  

Not long after Chase left, clouds rolled in, disturbing the perfect balance of warmth. A gentle wind began to tousle Seth’s hair. His stomach ached, and he wondered if it was from hunger.

Minutes later, Seth started to make dinner in his kitchen. No paintings hung on the walls, and there was no sign of life in most of the kitchen. The only light in the house came from a dimly lit pendant light; the only light Seth bothered to turn on. While Seth completed each step of the instructions sequentially, he moved like a robot; emotionless and deliberate. Forty minutes later, two servings of Enchiladas had been prepared, and Seth sat down at the kitchen table to eat.   

Seth listened to the joyous chimes of the upstairs dishwasher as he ate. He was tempted to speak, perhaps to talk to himself. He could ask himself how his day went. How he was feeling. What was on his mind? But he knew, so why ask? Not long after Seth had begun to eat, his Father, Connor Sullivan, entered the house.

Connor shared many of Seth’s characteristics, especially his eyes. But his always seemed more distant. He was also a lot bigger than Seth, with tattooed arms the size of clubs and broad shoulders. He hunched slightly as he walked towards the table. 

“Thanks for making dinner,” he said, setting his black backpack on the ground as he sat down.

“No problem,” Seth said. He looked down at his plate as Connor began to eat. “How was your day?”

“Good,” Connor said, swallowing a bite. Another bite. Another swallow. “Same old same old I guess.”

Seth waited a moment, but his father didn’t seem to want to elaborate. He took a breath, considering his next words carefully. He shut his eyes as he spoke. “When did you decide to go into real estate?”

Connor looked up from his enchilada, his eyebrows furrowed. This wasn’t how the conversation usually went. “A few years into college. I was majoring in Business and a friend recommended it to me.” 

He looked at Seth, and for a moment, his eyes seemed less distant, showing a flicker of warmth long extinguished. 

“But you don’t have to worry about that just yet. Even if you aren’t sure about your career path once you’re in college, there’ll be people who can help you decide.”

Connor returned to his enchilada, and somehow, it was as if the warmth from his father’s eyes had settled throughout Seth’s body. Even the dimly lit room seemed brighter.   

“Thanks,” Seth said, unsure of what to say. “Do you…What do you like most about your job?”

“Well…” Connor pondered the question for a few seconds. “This is kind of embarrassing but…Probably the expressions on the faces of new families after getting their first home. It’s…” His voice broke.

Seth nodded, a real smile on his face. For a moment, they sat like that; lost in thought about the same things, or rather, the same person. Finally, Seth’s father stood up.

“How about I make some brownies?” He said.

“Really?” Seth couldn’t believe his ears. “You want to make brownies?”

“Who says I can’t?” Connor laughed, a booming sound that seemed to reverberate throughout the house. 

That night, Seth sat in his room at his desk, a plate of brownies next to him. The room was clearly illuminated; each light turned on. His phone had been laid next to the brownies, and Chase’s voice came from it.

“Awesome, I think I’ve got most of it now,” Chase said. “I really appreciate this dude. If there’s ever anything you need…”

“Yeah, yeah,” Seth said, grinning. “What’s Newton’s third law of motion then?”

“Um…An object at rest remains at rest unless—”

“Nope,” Seth interrupted, impersonating one of his teachers, “that's his first law. His third law states that for every action—”

He was interrupted by Chase’s loud, exasperated sigh. Seth couldn’t help laughing.

“You’ll be fine,” Seth insisted. “You have me.”