This book is coming to an end soon! All love! -Mo
Nadia
. . .
Nathan gave me nothing but glares and menacing chuckles for the next few days. I'm still desperate to get the answer I deserve, but Nathan seems to make it more difficult each time it ask.
"Nate.." I'd cooed with a fake smile once. He smiled back, holding on around his ear. "Yesss?" He responded, just a cheery. "So, like, that answer. You still owe me-"
He'd shut the door in my face and laughed on the other side of the door before I could finish. Rude.
Another time, I'd tried to imply it slyly to where he'd unknowingly answer, but he caught on to my antics before he realized he was almost going to answer. "Nathan, who are you going to prom with?" I asked him.
He shrugged.
"You?"
I shook my head and smiled, saying, "I wished I'd known about Jacob before I got to be his date.." I'd said sarcastically. He widened his eyes and nodded. "Oh yeah, see he has this secr-" he stopped in mid sentence and smirked.
"Oh, wait! I see what you're doing." He grinned, catching himself. I mentally kicked myself for having him find out.
Today is my last attempt at getting an answer and after thinking it thoroughly, the ins and outs and all the problems that my come along, I'm ready to perform it.
"Nathan won't tell me what Jacob has, Mom! Since you let me hang around him, Nathan knows he could possibly have a disease and I'll never know!" I whined to Mom.
Yep, that's my plan. The one and only: snitching.
Mom half smiled as she tapped her chin. "Hmm..." She turned to Dad who was silently reading the paper and isn't paying attention. He coughs maliciously before retrieving himself back to normal.
"Nathan!" Mom calls, and I grow nervous.
Just like when we were five, and I was happy and jolly but very snitchy, I'd stand next to Mom, arms crossed and wait on Nathan to get his scolding. Over the years, I went from laughing at Mom's side, to shaking behind her back as I peeked at an angry Nathan. He went from being ready to being punished to annoyed and tired of my telling.
And just like that, I'd officially stopped snitching and let Nathan do whatever. You could say I was scared of my brother, but he'd always get revenge less than weeks later. He'd tell on me, most of the time lying, but I'd get in trouble. Them we'd both be angry at each other for like an hour, then love each other again.
Our adolescent years were a constant rotation of just that: snitch, hate, snitch back, hate more, love again and all over.
But now, it's different. This is the first time I've tattled on Nathan sixth the seventh grade, and I was everything but happy. I know I'll finally get my answer, but I'm to expect something in return from Nathan.
Revenge.
I hear the sound of him pedaling down the stairs and the swishy sound of his feet against the polished wooden floors of our living room before he finally walked in slowly, smirking. His sweat pants made him look boyish and I want to smile at that, but I don't.
He gaze shifts from me to Mom, who wears a serious expression. When his eyes lock with mine again, they narrow and he smirks. "Yes, Mom?" He taunts.
His glare never leaves mine as Mom inches her index finger toward him. He eases over, almost stepping on my feet he's so close! "Nadia-"
"Wants to know about Jacob?" He interrupts. "Yep, I figured. Listen Nadia, all you need to know," he smirks, "is right there. Everything about him is all there. Look for it. Bye" his daring voice fades and soon his body does, too.
"Mom what does that mean?" I stare at her and she shrugs. "Whoever this boy is, be careful." Mom gave me the "Mom look" from above her glasses before turning about and lying in bed, her indication to tell me to get out.
And I do, but not satisfied. Why didn't she force Nathan to tell me? Does she know? What revenge will Nathan throw at me? These questions taunt me as I struggle to know more.
. . .
No dinner tonight.
It's not odd since Friday is a chill day for everyone in the house. My fingers graze over book bindings in the miniature library shelves for a good weekend read.
The phone rings suddenly and in Nathan rooms across the yall releases the sound of crashing and destruction.
"That was weird," I mumble aloud to myself and continue searching for a book. I close my eyes, turn in a small circle and lunge my finger toward the air, hoping to land on a book. And I do!
I grab The Heaven's Keeper with a bent index finger as more thumping comes from Nathan's room. Usually, I'll go and investigate and check on my brother to make sure he's okay, but until he tells me Jacob's secret, I'm going on strike from talking to him.
Hopefully that'll get to his head and he'll tell me! I smile a little at the thought as I slip off my house shoes, if ore the phone, and open the book, slumping back in my bed. My worn pillow cushions my head as it grazes back.
"Nadia, get the phone! It's for you!"
It's for you!
Wait.
Those words reminisce over and over in my mind as I think off all two people in in my little group, not including Nathan: Jacob and Emma. Emma doesn't have my mover and Jacob..
Well..
.. Maybe he called?
I sigh and shut the book, laying it on my bed as I slip through my adjacently opened door. I rush down the steps to met Nathan playful eyes.
I snatch the phone from Nathan and roll my eyes. As soon as I put my ear to the phone to say hello, a distinct voice orders "Open your door." Then, Jacob hangs up. I cam tell his voice away from others by the slight accent. I smile internally.
Oops.
For a little revenge, I toss the tall phone to Nathan, half expecting him to catch it. Fortunate for my humor, he doesn't and the phone makes a loud Bang! sound aha isn't the sleek, white-wood tile.
And to add on to my luck, Mom calls Nathan to her room. Bonus!
I suspiciously make my way to the door and as if on cue, a knock comes form the other side.
"I'm coming?" I yell weakly, doubting Jacob heard me.
As soon as I open the door, something jumps into my arms! It picks my face, and with each direction I turn to avoid the lick, it's tongue goes the same.
"Oh my..!" I jump and step back as I giggle at the thing's soft tickle of for on my nose.
I finally set the, what I realize is a dog, down and it's nails tatter against the wood as it discovers the interior of my living room.
"Surprise." Jacob cheers lowly. I stare at him, unable to speak or move. He smiles and wipes an imaginary drop from the corner of his lips as he smiles.
"Can I come in?"
Still silent, I move to the side as a faint "It's a dog!" comes from the stairs. Nathan discovered the little surprise, but I'm overly sure he knew about it. Jacob hugs me awkwardly.
"Are you sure.. can you..?" My voice keeps trailing as Jacob nods. "It's safe. Your parents and my parents are still groggy over the new agreement but they're fine. They'll live."
Agreement? What agreement? How long has it been since I last talked to Jacob?
A year? Yeah, maybe a year.
"Due to your silence, you're either utterly shocked and happy or unterlly shocked and confused."
"When'd you start using higher vocabulary?" Nathan comes in the room, and by now I clear my throat. "Catch me up." I mumble to Jacob.
"So, we made this amazing contract for your parents to sign. All good there. Our parents now like each other. It's also your birthday tomorrow, so I got you a dog. It's the least I can do." Jacob smiles.
"Stop talking like you rich, we all know you're poor now, buying dogs and shit."
"Nathan!" Mom comes into the room, rubbing her eyes from her afternoon slumber. Her silky pink robe drapes over her legs, and like a typical Mom, the curlers are set, the droopy eyes, and the fuzzy house shoes are all set.
"Stop that language." She scolds and them turns to Jacob, smiling. "Hey!" She beams. Jacob nods with a smile, rotating his hand in a little wave.
"Thank you for the gift." Mom and I say in unison. I gushed it out and she genuinely grinned as she said it.
"Happy birthday, Nadia."