A Little Bit Of Joy | ✔

Chapter Twenty Eight : The Siblings On A Drive

Four more days to go. Four more days and everything should supposedly be alright. I gazed out of the window solemnly, the light drizzle splattering on the windowpane. Occasionally the harsh sound of the thunder pricked my ears and a shudder ran through my body. It wasn't raining heavily, but the dark clouds and the grey sky were foreboding a storm.

"JJ, let's go," Shaun called out and I turned around, clasping my tote bag in one hand consisting of food for Logan.

Due to the rain, Shaun was dropping me off at the lighthouse in his car because the roads were slippery and my bicycle wouldn't be appropriate. Besides, he was going to hang out with his friends at a nearby pub and the lighthouse was on the way. Shaun was expected to pick me up in two hours since we couldn't risk getting stuck in a summer storm.

I was going to smuggle the bag of food outside the house since I didn't want mum to get suspicious. Just as Shaun and I slipped into our boots and prepared ourselves to move out, my mum intervened, "Where are you two going in this bad weather?"

"Uh-Shaun is taking me to the pub-the-the café I mean. It's been long since I have met my friends from school," I lied and my mum crossed her arms against her chest.

"Yeah, we'll be back in two hours before the weather gets bad," Shaun added with ostentatious casualness.

"Okay then, come back quick. Take your jacket with you Joy, and Shaun take care of your sister. She won't admit it's cold until she gets more sick," my mum instructed and I rolled my eyes. My mum gently smacked my head and I smiled sheepishly. "Also Joy, tell Logan that I cooked him extra rolls with less pepper, just the way he likes it."

"L-Logan?" Shaun and I stuttered in unison. How did she know? Trying my best to not let my voice waver, I continued, "What's Logan got to do with this? We don't even know where he is! Who's Logan though? I mean he-he's just a friend, but of course we wouldn't hide him! And even if we knew, we're not going to meet him. Pfft . . . Why would we? We-We . . . "

"JJ," Shaun said wearily and my mum laughed. "Maa figured it out."

"Of course I figured it out with the food missing. You both are bad at lying," she joked and pulled our faces together against her chest to kiss us. Shaun and I whined as she showered us with love. "Not that I complain being blessed with you two wonderful children."

"You don't mind us helping Logan with the cops and all---?" My voice was muffled due to the tightness of the hug.

"I don't mind you two helping him when grandpa's got your back. I don't think I can stop you even if I want to. Your grandpa would lecture me if I stop you from helping and besides, Logan's a decent boy, isn't he?" mum said with a hint of humour and squeezed us to the point that we were unable to breathe.

Shaun and I wrenched free from her grasp in embarrassment and mumbled in chorus, "You're the best maa."

"Oh go on you two and come back soon--- " she broke off as Gemma appeared from her room. My mum took a glimpse of her dressed in neat clothes and suggested, "You two can take your sister out too."

Gemma's eyes widened as she shook her head frantically. She knew that Shaun was going to the pub and even if he sneaked her in, she loathed the blasting music and meeting new people. However, mum being her usual self would order the exact opposite thing that Gemma didn't want to do.

Mum thrusted a coat against Gemma's face and pushed us all out of the door. We grumbled and stomped towards the car. It was no logic for Gemma to tag along, she would burst into a fit at the pub. It was advised to not let Gemma near the trigger points that could elicit an extreme response from her, but mum's logic was reverse. She felt that the more Gemma would be exposed, the more she would get better. It was true in certain cases, but not in all. Especially when it would add to Gemma's anguish. In other words, it was stupid really.