How we get by

Matty was so exhausted. All he wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep, even at four in the afternoon. His six-hour shift at the grocery store felt like sixteen. Heavy on his feet he wanted to drop and rambunctious Byron was in his damp swimming trunks. He'd spent the afternoon with Dakota.

"What are you doing?" Sleepy-eyed Matty reached for the milk but Byron got to if first so Matty had to settle for an orange. He yawned.

"You're finally home!" Byron was getting out the ice cream. "Let me make you a milkshake."

Matty doubted he needed one, but Byron went ahead and made enough for both of them. "Gotta pump you up for FORTNITE."

"What?" Matty didn't feel like playing. He'd been with grownups all day. Of course, he hadn't seen a trace of the one girl from summer art class he'd had his eye on. At this rate, he might not ever be in a relationship. He wished it didn't bother him so much, but he really needed to get out there and talk to girls, shouldn't he?

"I've been waiting for you all day," Byron was almost in a pout. "I miss you, man." He didn't like playing Fortnite alone.

"Oh, God." Matty found himself saying as he yawned more while Bryon squirted more chocolate syrup into the milky mess in the blender.

"I'm going to cook for you, too." Byron grinned as if he had the whole night planned out. "We'll have scrambled eggs and bacon."

"Hey, you know, you aren't supposed to fry anything," Matty told him wide-eyed.

"Shh..." Byron put his finger to his lips. "I've been frying bacon since I was six."

Matty sighed and shook his head. He didn't want to get into his foster brother's cooking habits, but the shake was really good. He guessed if they were to suffice, they'd best get to gaming. He went to wash out the blender. It was the least he could do.