Return to Junior High....

As most of you know, I have a little brother named Maxx. And while there is nothing extraordinary about that, we have an unusual age difference between us - 14 years (yes same parents - that's usually the next question). Needless to say, we don't have a typical brother/sister relationship. I mean lets face it - its hard when there are that many years between us. As a 21 year old, I didn't really have much in common with a 7 year old - while his B may have been for Barney, my B was for BEER! :)

However, the last year or so has been the most fun so far - since he was a baby anyways. We finally can have discussions where we can both relate whether it be about bullshit from our parents or him asking me for girl advice (I know - TOO CUTE!). Perhaps this recent ability to relate is also due to the fact that he is finally at an age I can remember being! But its scary how easily you can get wrapped up in the drama that was junior high buy just listening to all the apparent drama my brother tells me.

Maxx is currently finishing up seventh grade - the same year I moved to the town I eventually spent the rest of my adolescence in. Do you remember what Junior High was like? I sure do... It sucked! I had just moved to a new town where most of the kids had known each other since kindergarten, and I was definitely the odd one out. All I wanted was to be popular and hang with the "cool" kids. But no tears! I turned out just fine thanks! Except for the one scaring incident where... nevermind. :)

But needless to say from what I have been told, the age difference between Maxx and I is seen as somewhat of a cool thing amongst his friends. I do spoil my brother more than I should I suppose (i.e. iPod Nano for holiday gifts, Abercrombie clothes, etc), but I guess when it comes down to it I am just not mean to him like his friends' siblings must be since they are in fact closer in age. I obviously don't see the need to torture and torment him like most other people did their siblings when they were younger and I guess that makes me cool in the eyes of his friends. That and the fact that I can drive them around while they blast the radio...

My brother is definitely one of those "cool" kids I sooo wanted to be. He's athletic, popular and outgoing. Hotness is simply implied since we are in fact from the same gene pool - I mean really... But the cutest thing ever is that Maxx has a girlfriend (squee!) who apparently happens to be one of the "hottest" girls in school.

I have only officially met Maxx's girlfriend once at one of his games but I have seen her a bunch of times at other games that my brother was playing in (she and all her friends all come and root the boys on - SQUEE x 2!). I usually don't say anything to her because I don't know her, but just last night I found out that apparently she thinks I hate her! Helloooo junior high! Here's what happened - Last night I was at my parents house and my brother was on the phone with her (oy the 2 hour conversations) and she flat out asked him to ask me if I hate her. I was so dumbfounded that I didn't know how to respond. I haven't been asked a question like that since... well since JUNIOR HIGH! Meanwhile Maxx is mouthing to me "Say NO! SAY NO!", I was like, "Maxx - I don't even know her, how can I hate somebody I don't know", and that apparently wasn't the right answer because then Maxx proceeded to say back to his girlfriend "well she doesn't know if she hates you cause...". You forget that we are talking about 13 year olds here! I quickly recovered and yelled, "MAXX!! No I don't hate her"! I swear I felt like I was back in 8th grade passing notes - Circle YES or NO - do you like me?

So does this mean that the coolest girl in school wants me to like her? Finally, I am deemed cool by the 13 yr olds! Now where's my New Kid's tape... :)