"HOW'S YOUR TERM project been going?" Amber asked.
I opened my carton of chocolate milk and took a long sip. "It's going alright. We chose our topic a few days ago."
"I'm meeting up with Lesley today," she said glumly as she stabbed her salad with a fork.
"That should be...fun."
She gave me a flat look. "Not at all."
We continued eating our lunches in silence. The past few days had been like this between us. We were both aware of the unspoken tension, but neither of us chose to address it. I was sure it'd wear off eventually, especially since our confrontation and make up.
The rest of the lunch hour could have gone on like this, but out of nowhere a hand clamped down on my shoulder. "I need you to come with me."
"Where are your manners, Rollins?" I joked.
When Holden didn't laugh, I turned to give him a confused look.
"What'sâ holy shit, what happened to your face?"
His left eye was beginning to swell, and you could already tell that sucker would not be pretty in the morning.
"Brent," was all he said.
That was enough to make me get up and follow him out. Amber ran after us, asking what the hell was going on. Holden led us to the courtyard behind the school. There was a group of students in a circle yelling, cheering, and recording what was occurring. I pushed past the crowd, earning glares from students whose videos I interrupted but I didn't care. I was used to this by now. Brenton had a knack for picking fights whether it was on the lacrosse field, at school, or a McDonald's parking lot.
Eventually, I made my way to the centre, unsurprised that Brenton's lacrosse buddies were here rooting for their idiotic team captain. Brenton was too busy holding his poor victim in a chokehold to notice me. I had to intervene before he really hurt the other guy. I was always the one saving his ass, but just as I was about to step in I stopped myself when the fight took a turn.
The guy elbowed my twin in the ribs and then landed a hook across the side of his head. Brenton stumbled back but without missing a beat he lunged at the guy with full speed. He knocked him to the ground and the two of them were rolling around, throwing punches at any chance they could get. I figured now was a good time to step in before the fight escalated.
Unlike Holden, I wasn't stupid enough to dive in headfirst and risk getting a black eye. Instead, I waited for an opportunity when the idiots weren't throwing punches wildly. I then stepped in and pulled Brenton up to his feet. He turned around ready to swing, but the rabid raccoon look in his eyes dissipated when he realized it was just me.
"What the hell?"
"Playtime's over. Go clean up," I said.
The crowd of spectators started booing, but I really did not have any damns to spare. I just wanted to get Brenton out of here before a teacher came. If he was busted for getting into another fight he could risk getting benched for the semifinals, and if that happened... Mom would slaughter him without hesitation.
I wrapped my arm tightly around Brenton's to make sure he wouldn't run off to finish the mess he started. Since my brother loved to be a pain in the ass, instead of following me back inside he turned around.
"We'll finish this later," he spat.
"Maybe next time you won't have your little sister come and save you."
"We're twins," I corrected, annoyed that anyone could possibly think for a second that Brenton was older than me.
Wait a minute...
I suddenly froze, my eyes widening as I recognized that voice. I turned to face the guy who fought Brenton, my breath catching in my throat.
His lips curved up, a dimple appearing in his left cheek. "It's a small world don't you think, Daniella?"
Brenton stepped forward and looked back and forth at James and me. "You two know each other?"
James wiped a drop of blood from his nose before extending his hand. "I don't think we've officially met. I'm your new neighbour."
Brenton's mouth flopped open and closed, making him resemble a fish. "You're shitting me."
"Afraid not." James glanced at me. "I can really see the similarities between you two."
"Let's go," I said to Brenton before he could do something impulsively stupid again.
"See you in class, Daniella," James called after me.
~*~
"Mom's going to kill us if she finds out we skipped," Brenton said. He plopped down on the cafeteria bench, placing his head in his hands.
"We?" I scoffed, sitting beside him. "I have study hall. You have law class."
"I can't believe that prick's our neighbour," he said for the seventeenth time within the last thirty minutes.
"What was your fight even about?"
"Kayley dumped me for that jackass."
I raised my eyebrows. "Who's Kayley?" Last I remembered, there was no Kayley at Stone Creek High.
He looked up at me in disbelief. "I've been seeing her for almost a week! How do you not remember?"
"You mean Katy?"
He shrugged. "Who cares?"
"Maybe that's why she left you." I let what he said sink in. "Wait, so they're together?"
Brenton shook his head. "I heard he rejected her. Told the dumb bitch he wasn't interested in a relationship."
I didn't know James well but he did not seem fit to be good friend material, let alone boyfriend material. He was a sociopathic asshole who liked to spread his miserable aura to everyone he came into contact with.
"How do you two know each other?" Brenton asked.
"We're partners for a project."
Brenton jumped to his feet, making the rest of the people in the predominately empty cafeteria stare at him weirdly. "Switch partners right now."
"I can't, it was assigned."
"Fine. I'll talk to your teacher for you."
"Don't do that!"
The last thing I needed was for Brenton to baby me. I was able to take care of myself, and for the record, I wasn't picking fistfights with James.
"Then you better talk to her yourself."
"Okay, I will." Like hell I would.
"Good." He reluctantly sat back down. "Dan?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't talk to that piece of shit ever again. Understood?"
"Brent, you can'tâ"
"Understood?"
"Okay, Mom."
He pinched my cheek. "That's my obedient little girl."
"Go to hell."
~*~
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" Brenton yelled through the bluetooth speaker in my car.
"Uhh..." I looked to James for help with a good excuse, but he was too invested in his book. "Amber has an optometrist appointment and she asked me to drive her."
"Gross, is that the lady doctor?"
"Idiot," James muttered under his breath.
"Bye, Brent." I ended the call and continued driving. "Thanks for the help by the way."
"Don't mention it."
"The least you can do is tell me the name of the book you're reading."
"I'll pass."
"Come on, just give me a hint."
"Rumpelstiltskin gave no hints."
"Oh, so you identify as Rumpelstiltskin now?"
"It makes no sense considering you bear an uncanny resemblance to him."
"One more word and I leave you on the side of the curb."
He had a challenging glint in his eyes. "If you abandon me then how will you pass the biology test?"
"Fair point," I grumbled. I parked my car in the library parking lot and we went to the same table we were working at yesterday. James immediately took out a notebook which was filled with pages of research. "Whoa, when'd you do all that?"
"Did you read the book?" he asked instead of answering my question. When I didn't respond he rolled his eyes. "How did I wind up with the most apathetic partner?"
"I'll read it when I get home. Scout's honour."
"You were a scout?"
I snorted. "Nope."
"Take out the book and start reading, piggy."
"I may have misplaced it..."
"You're joking," he deadpanned.
"I'll find it by tomorrow," I assured him.
"Tomorrow's Friday," he stated.
"Yeah, and?"
"If you don't have the first five chapters read by tomorrow then I won't tutor you this weekend, and you will fail the test on Monday."
"Don't do this to me."
He shrugged. "You have to work for my sessions."
"But I'm paying you!" I cried.
Someone yelled "Shhh!" from across the library. I glared at them before looking back at James.
"Money isn't everything. You have to be committed to this project." He paused. "First five chapters read by tomorrow. Do we have a deal?"
What was with this boy and deals?
"Fine."
~*~
"Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not nervous."
"You're a terrible liar." James pointed at something outside his window. "Is that your brother?"
"Duck!"
He shook his head in disapproval. "Not nervous, huh?"
I peered outside James' window to see what he had pointed at. "That's a garden gnome."
"Still had you fooled."
I stopped my car in front of his driveway, hoping the giant oak tree on his lot would be enough to conceal my car. "I'd just rather avoid another fight."
James took a cigarette out of his pocket and placed it between his lips. "Your brother needs to work on offence." He searched for a lighter in his pocket. "He uses too much force and has minimal control. It'll only wear him out quicker."
I didn't pay much regard to what he said. Instead, I was more fixated on the portable killer on a stick in his mouth. "Excuse me? You better not be smoking in my car."
He shrugged uncaringly as he lit his cigarette. "Addictions die hard."
I snatched the cigarette out of his mouth and threw it out the window. "Harm yourself all you want, but I don't want to breathe in those fumes."
"Now look who's the litterbug."
The scowl on my face didn't falter in the slightest. "Get out of my car, James."
"Don't forget your readings," he said as he walked out.
Once James was out, I drove a few feet further to my house. I was going to park on the driveway as per usual, but there was an unknown car in my spot. One half of the driveway was reserved for Mom's car and the other half was mine. The car couldn't have been Niko's either because not only did he respect the rule, but that wasn't his Civic.
I had no choice but to park on the side of the road, risking getting a ticket. I glumly walked inside, ready to yell at whoever took my spot. Today was not the day to test my patience, and whoever took my spot was going to face my wrath.
"I'm home," I yelled.
When there was no reply, I froze. Mom was at work, Alex was at a friend's house and Brenton didn't like being home alone so he was probably out with friends. If the house was empty why was there a car parked on the driveway?
I tiptoed into the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife. I inspected the main floor, but I couldn't find anyone. Slowly, I crept up the stairs, wincing when the wooden stairs groaned. As I neared the top of the staircase, I heard muffled voices. I inspected Alex's room and then Brenton's. Mom's bedroom door had a lock so that was a lost cause but I doubted anyone could be in there considering the lock was still intact. I peeked my head into my room, but it was also empty. The only bedroom left was Niko's.
As I sneakily moved toward his room, the voices got louder. There had to be two, maybe three people in there. I looked down at my weapon and began to doubt myself. Would a knife be enough to fend off three crooks? I couldn't help but wonder why Niko's room would be the go-to spot since it was almost barren of anything. All that was left were some clothes, his bed, a lamp, and a nightstand.
I took in a deep breath before barging inside. I held the knife above my head and screamed like a maniac. This resulted in the culprits screaming too. When I registered the current situation I screamed again. The supposed culprits were none other than Niko and his crazy ex-girlfriend.
Worst of all, they were in the midst of a steamy session in his bed.
"Shit! Don't you knock?"
Niko pulled his blanket to cover his modesty. Unfortunately, it was too late and my eyes were now forever tainted.
"I'm going to be sick," I muttered.
"I told you my car was a better option," the snobby pitchy voice of none other than Monica spoke up.
"Classy." I paused, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Her car is in my spot?"
Niko held his hands up in defence. "I told her not to park it there! She doesn't listen."
Monica grazed her hand down his chest. "I thought you liked it when I take control."
"Excuse me while I go vomit."
"Wait, Danâ"
I slammed the door shut and went to my room. I felt bile rise up my throat as I recalled the atrocious sight before me. "I hate this house."
"Always complaining, huh?"
I followed the smell of prospective chronic bronchitis and there stood James leaning against his window, smoking without care.
"Don't you have something better to do?"
"Did you find the book?" he retorted.
"I haven't even started looking yet," I admitted.
James leaned into his open window, his eyes squinted. "What's that sticking out from under your bed?"
I followed his gaze and bent down to grab whatever he was talking about. "Huh, good eye."
"You should respect books more."
"And you should respect your lungs more."
"Five chapters," he reminded me before shutting his window.
Seeing that I didn't have much of a choice, I sat down at my desk and started reading. I just had to skim five chapters, and then I was guaranteed James' help for studying for this test.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but I was still reading. There were only a few pages left and then I was done the required readings. I wanted to take a break, but I was so close. I was so invested in the book that I didn't even notice dinner was ready until I caught a delicious whiff of something. I closed my book and went downstairs to the kitchen to see what was the cause of the incredible aroma.
"Hey," Niko greeted as I entered the kitchen. He was wearing an apron and sautéing something on the stove. "Sorry about...well, you know." He held up the pan on the stove. "I'm making your favourite - garlic butter shrimp and scallop linguine."
I let out a squeal and threw my arms around him. "Best brother ever!"
"So all is forgiven?"
I snorted. "Wait until Mom sees what you brought home."
He opened the oven and pointed at a dish inside. "I even baked pecan pie to soften the blow."
"Got vanilla ice cream with that?" Pecan pie with vanilla ice cream was the key to our mother's cold, cold heart.
Niko nodded, a grin on his face. "Picked up some low-fat vanilla frozen yoghurt on my way home."
"Impressive."
"Let's hope Mom isn't too pissed." Niko tossed me some napkins. "Help me set the table."
~*~
Our family dinners usually had the tendency to be awkward, but tonight was just brutal. The food was incredible and Brenton, Alex and I had no problem showing it. We complimented Niko between mouthfuls of each dish. The seafood linguine was stellar, the spiced carrot soup was amazing, and the bean salad was delectable.
Mom, however, barely touched her plate. She was too busy glaring daggers at Monica. I almost felt bad for her, but then I remembered how much of a bitch Monica was. She was a bigger bitch than me, and that was saying something.
"Dan, can you help me get the dessert?" Niko asked.
"Dessert?" Brenton exclaimed. "Best dinner ever!"
I got up and went to the kitchen with Niko.
"This is not going well," he panted.
"Niko, relax. Mom just needs some time to warm up to the idea of you two reconciling."
"It's not that. There's something else I need toâ"
"Hurry up with the dessert! We're starving!" Alex said from the dining room.
I placed my hand on his forearm and looked up at him with concern. "Niko, what's wrong?"
He handed me the tub of frozen yoghurt. "Never mind."
I wanted to urge him to finish what he was saying, but I decided to leave him be. Niko had more than enough on his plate right now. I had to chomp on my lip to suppress a smile from the pun I just unintentionally created in my head. I sobered up once we entered the dining room, sensing a growing feeling that tonight was about to get much worse.