Chapter 8| Wanna Head To The Park?

•'It's just a scratch, Mg, I'm fine.' 'A scratch that happened on my watch...what kind of older brother does that make me?' 'Judging by the third band-aid, the over-protective kind!'•

The Hart kids.

I pulled my car into empty parking space with a sense of gladness.

I waited seventeen years to be finally able to do this- park my very own car here.

This spot up front was specifically for the costumers but I'm sure Dad wouldn't mind.

I turned off my ignition, grabbed my backpack and out the car I went.

A rush of cold wind sent chills through my skin and I collected my white sweater from the headrest of the passenger seat then I locked my car, stuffed my car keys into my school bag and I headed into the store.

As usual, the first place my eyes met was the counter where Courtney usually stood, attending to costumers and being all sassy to the annoying ones.

I'm just a tad bit surprised that none of the costumers had requested to see Dad, the manager, because of Courtney's attitude.

Anyway, Courtney wasn't there.

Instead Natasha who worked up at the supermarket section stood in Courtney's spot.

I was confused at first but then a memory of Courtney mentioning she was going to be working at the arcade section on Wednesdays last night came to me and I made a beeline for my dad's office to pick up Sky, drop my bag there and then up to see her.

If Courtney was at the arcade then Mg was probably there too.

I didn't really like the arcade section to be honest so I was really happy about going up there.

It wasn't like the games and the other stuffs Dad had installed weren't cool but their was just so much kids there all the time.

Once you stepped off the elevator to that floor who could immediately hear the squealing and giggling and the 'zap' sounds of the laser-tag guns.

The list was never ending.

Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks as I heard a familiar voice.

"If you love me," Courtney drawed out,"you'll make that other girl in your phone disappear."

"Leni?" Mg asked, confusion knitted into his voice," she's Olivia's friend. Olivia's my cousin's girlfriend. Leni and I only talk because I'm tutoring her and that's all it is."

"I can't do this" Courtney said as she let out a small breath.

The hurt in Mg's voice was evident as he spoke.

"You can't do what?"

"I can't do this anymore," Courtney cried,"I can't deal with you forgetting about me once you leave the state. You never call or text or-"

"Forget you?"Mg asked in disbelief as he cut Courtney off, "you said you needed space. I was only doing what you asked."

"Well I didn't mean that you should forget about my entire existence, "Courtney spat.

"Coco, I thought of you everyday,"Mg admitted,"how you put your hair in a low pony tail once it's time to head home with your lips pursed and your eyes looking anything but tired. Or how you go into my dad's office at one o'clock each day just to remind him to eat the lunch my mom packed him. Or how you put up this sassy girl facade because you don't want people looking down at you or disrespecting you."

Courtney stared at my brother, short of words.

That was certainly a first because Courtney always had something to say.

Not like she was a gossip or anything but she was those kind of people who could keep a conversation going on for hours.

"Make up your mind, Coco"Mg said with his voice slightly strained, "what do you want? Tell me if you want this. I need to know, Courtney."

"I don't know, "Court said with her voice low and I could guess accurately that she looked away from Mg.

"Well too bad,"Mg said and then I couldn't hear their voices anymore.

Searching, I let my eyes wander around for the lovebirds.

Then I found them.

Courtney had her arms wrapped around my brother's neck and Mg's hands rested on her waist with their loss locked and their attentions solely on each other.

Slowly, I retreated, giving them privacy but my phone wasn't in on that plan apparently as it began to ring.

It's ringing tone sounding so loudly through my pockets.

Mg and Courtney jumped apart and I noticed their features were filled with so much evidence of their previous action.

Courtney's cheeks and lips were a blushing pink shade.

"I need to go,"Courtney said as she tried to move away from Mg, embarrassed I had caught them but Mg held on to her firmly.

"No,"Mg said defiantly, "stop running away from me, Coco. I love you-only you but I need to know this. Do you feel the same way? Do you even feel anything for me?"

I could hear my heart beating loudly in my chest.

This was the moment Lizzie and I have been waiting for.

Sadly, as Courtney's lips moved to speak, she was stopped by my phone ringing again.

"Sorry,"I blurted before I hurried out of there fast.

Mg was going to kill me.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and Lizzie's contact displayed: P£RK¥©H££®L£ÄD£R on the screen.

"Si!"Lizzie yelled once I answered,"where are you?"

"I'm at the store,"I told my bestfriend,"is practice over already?"

"Seems like it," Liz said,"Team captain had to leave so the others aren't really as motivated so Sydney and I are going costume shopping for Sunday, you wanna come?"

"Right now?"I asked.

"Yeah, we're in the lockerroom," Liz informed me,"we should leave in a minute or so, you in?"

"I can't,"I told her,"I have to talk with Mg, remember? He's seems a bit distracted though."

"Distracted?"Lizzie echoed with confusion in her voice,"what do to mean?"

"Umm, I think he's trying to ask Courtney out."

I pulled my phone way from my ear as Lizzie's squeal filled my phone's speakers.

"What did she say?" Lizzie asked excitedly after she recovered from her excitement.

"No idea,"I told my bestfriend,"you called right when she was about to answer."

"Urgg!"Lizzie groaned,"talk about awful timing."

"Tell me about it,"I said.

"I've gotta go, Si," Liz said,"talk later?"

"Yeah,"I replied,"don't forget to send pictures of your costumes."

"Like I could ever forget to" Lizzie said,"Syd says 'hi'. Text me about how your talk with Mg goes later?"

"Will do,"I chirped.

"Gotta go, Si,"Lizzie said, "talk later."

"Bye,"I said before Liz hung up.

Deciding to give my brother and Courtney some privacy, I took a different route to my dad's office.

"Oh, hey Sisi, "My dad said looking up from the documents he had in front of him as I walked into his office.

"Hey dad, "I greeted as I picked up Sky who was literally begging for attention off the floor.

His paws dug into my jeans and he had his signature puppy dog eyes and his tongue spilling from his mouth.

My pup I mean, if it wasn't obvious already.

"How was school?" Dad asked as I settled in the soft cushion that was at the side of the room.

"Got some dumb assignment in English,"I groaned,"I have no idea what to write for it."

"Language," my dad scolded mildly.

"Sorry,"I said tiredly.

"What's the assignment?" my dad asked.

"Write an essay on our plans for the future,"I told my dad as I ruffled Sky's fur,"with college plans and stuffs."

"I'm sure you'll figure out what you want to do sooner or later," my dad said,"when's it due?"

"It's our end of term project."

"You've got a while," My dad said softly,"you'll figure it out."

"Thanks,"I muttered.

"Do you have any idea what the products I wanted to order were?"

"What products,"I wondered.

"The workers at the supermarket said some shelves are getting empty," my dad said,"and the refill stocks are running out."

"No idea,"I told my dad, "you need an assistant, you know. Mom was right."

For some reason, my dad refuses to get an assistant though he really needs one and my mom has been trying to get him to change his mind.

"I'm beginning to see that now," my dad sighed,"but now I have to do interviews and my schedule is full."

"What about Courtney?"I suggested,"you trust her, she's honest, hardworking and she needs the pay."

"Yeah," my dad nodded,"she's good. I'll see what your mom thinks."

Just then, Mg peeked his head in.

I noticed the curls in his hair were a bit scattered and I could guess why.

They were that way either because Courtney had to her fingers through them while they made out or because Mg had raked his fingers through them in confusion.

"Wanna head to the park?"Mg asked me and I shrugged.

"Umm, sure,"I said,"let me grab Sky's leash real quick."

✿۝✿

Brown and orange autumn leaves made crunching sounds under my white vans as Mg and I walked through the park in silence.

I could tell my brother was a bit distracted.

His eyes were focused ahead of us and he had this look on his face.

Everytime my lips moved to speak, he let out a sigh and raked his hands through his hair making me wonder more and more with each passing second what had actually happened with Courtney.

"Mg,"I said softly, "are you okay?"

My older brother turned to look at me and I saw the answer right in his eyes and immediately I regretted asking.

"She said she needed to think about what she wanted," Mg said with his arms folded tightly in front of him and his back resting against the near by park bench we had settled on."I'm going back tomorrow so a couple months and a few weeks should be enough for her to make up her mind, right?"

I said nothing because I had nothing to say but Mg didn't even notice my lack of reply, instead he went on with the argument he was having with himself in his head.

"I'll wait for her," he concluded,"I'll give her as much time as she needs."

I scooted closer to my brother on the bench, letting my head rest against his shoulder, reminding him I was here for him.

Yes, I knew I had never been in love and I didn't understand anything Mg was feeling but I've read countless of books about this moment and I knew how much it hurts.

The fear that one with feelings of like or love was the feeling it knowledge that your own feelings weren't being reciprocated and the thoughts of being replaced or cheated on kept swirling around in your mind.

"I'm sorry for this morning," Mg said softly and I nodded.

"I'm sorry too,"I said,"I got scared that you would get mad at me."

"Why would I get mad at you?" Mg asked with confusion written all over his features as he stared down at me.

"Remember Jason from the store?"

"The guy with the brown hair?"

"Yeah,"I nodded,"I let him into my room last night. He came in through the window but nothing happened, I swear it. He just gave me a present for my birthday and then he left."

Mg was quiet for a while but then he finally asked,"Do you he feelings for him?"

"You're the second person to ask that today,"I answered,"I don't like him though, except as friends."

"Who was the first?"Mg asked.

"Some girl from school,"I shrugged,"she's friends with Jason and she has feelings for him."

"High school mean girl?" Mg guessed but I shook my head.

"Nope more like 'girl-who-has-feelings-for-a-guy-she's-known-her-whole-life',"I clarified, "kinda like you and Courtney."

"But with Courtney's feelings in question."

"I'm sorry,"I said.

"It's not your fault," My said,"we should probably head back. You don't want Lizzie waiting."

"She's not coming today,"I informed Mg.

"Why?" he asked,"are you guys in a fight?"

"What? Of course not,"I said, a bit surprised My had thought of that.

Liz and I can have an argument here and there but that's all it ever is.

We've gotten so used to each other's companies that it feels weird whenever we're not able to reach the other.

"She's just shopping for Halloween costumes with Sydney,"I told Mg,"anyway, I think I'll just head home with Sky. I've had a pretty long day."

"I can relate," Mg chuckled,"I'll see you at home in a while, I need to go grab some stuffs for Jacob and I at school."

✿☯✿

I was surprised to the lights turned on when I got home.

I was usually the one who switched them on when I came home from the store before heading up to my home after eating a beef sandwich, chips and drinking a cup of blueberry fool.

Not the healthiest lunch but sadly, that's some of the few things I could make.

Not that a beef sandwich is a suitable addition to that list.

I'm not as wonderful in the kitchen as my mom or Mg are.

Yes, you heard that right.

My brother, Mg is a great cook.

He's the one who makes the turkey every Thanksgiving.

I get the groceries and set the table, mom makes the other stuff, dad cleans the yard and Mg comes home a day earlier so he's home on Thanksgiving morning.

I went into the closet to hang my coat and possibly hide while I called the cops and I breathed a sigh of relief when I noticed my mom's coat in there too.

"Mommy,"I called out as I used to back when I was younger,"I'm home."

"In the kitchen sweetie," she called out and just then I got a whiff of Thanksgiving turkey.

Mentally scolding myself for longing a taste of Thanksgiving so much that I was imagining it, Sky and I made our way over there.

In the kitchen, mom was shutting the oven for door and I noticed a turkey inside the oven.

So I didn't imagine it then.

When did we jump to November?

We only had turkey on Thanksgiving or when some of the extended family was visiting.

"Do we have people visiting?"I asked after I washed my hands and searched the cupboards for Sky's food and water bowls.

"Yeah, the Davidsons," my mom answered,"Didn't I tell you they were coming over for dinner?"

My face fell.

"They are?"I managed to squeak as thoughts of Matthew being at my house filled my mind.

"Yeah," my mom said as she pulled off her protective gloves and washed some vegetables that were in the sink. "I bought some carrots for you, they are in the fridge."

"But why?"I asked.

"Because you like them?"my mom answered as she stared at me confused,"don't you like carrots anymore?"

"No, no, I do,"I said as I poured Sky's food from the tin can into his bowl,"I meant why the Davidsons are coming over."

"To celebrate Matthew's return home," my mom beamed,"Renée must have missed him so much that he had to return home early."

"Why?" I agreed sarcastically as I bit into a fresh carrot I had taken from the fridge,"it's not like he went off to war or something."

My mom turned to look at me, examining my features as she would do to one of her patients.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?"

I gave a small shrug as I flipped my ponytail to my back.

Not in a total glamorous way as the models would do in commercials and stuff but in a 'I'm-just-an-ordinary-teen-girl-trying-to-get-her-long-kinky-curly-hair-off-her-shoulder' kinda way.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you and Matt having a misunderstanding?"my mom asked as she began to chop off the vegetables she had washed earlier.

Probably making a salad.

Renée, Matt's mom loved those.

I wished my parents didn't think. Matt and I were friends.

You'd think with all the subtle hints I gave here and there they'd probably get it by now but sadly they haven't.

When have we ever understood each other?

Matt, the word 'understanding' and I could never be used in the same sentence.

Not now, not ever. As far as he was still the same annoying prankster I had grown up with.

I barely even knew the guy and we've been living close to each other for seventeen years except the fact that he gave me the creeps.

"We're not, mom,"I said,"we've been friends."

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh?" my mom said.

See?

Even when I said it, they didn't believe it.

"Yeah, sorry,"I murmured,"I should go text Lizzie."

"To tell her you're home?"

"Yeah,"I nodded,"and to help her pick a costume for a Halloween party a senior at school is throwing."

"Try to get ready for dinner while you're at it,"my mom said,"and when you're done with your homework come help me set the table."

I pulled my phone out of my pocket as I ascended the stairs.

BLμ€GLîTT3R~

Bestfriend, we have

an emergency 2:49pm

U read my mind!

2:49pm

Sydney Norman wants

2 go 2 Brandon's party

as Nemo! 2:50pm

Will u please tell her

that it's absurd and this

isn't the sixth grade?

¯\_ಠ_ಠ_/¯ 2:50pm

BLμ€GLiTT3R~

I would, but I'm sure

you've told her that a

2:51pm

Apparently that is not

enough! 2:51pm

BLμ€GLiTT3R~

she's just messing with

u Liz. If she wanted 2 go

as a fish, it'd probably be a

cute mermaid 2:52pm

Ur right, she's laughing

her butt off right now so

what's d real emergency?

2:53pm

BLμ€GLiTT3R~

A certain neighbor of mine

is coming 2 dinner 2:53pm

Pls tell me you have another

neighbor who I do not have

the urge to file a restraining

order forಠಿ_ಠಿ 2:54pm

BLμ€GLiTT3R~

I wish I could Liz

I wish I could(ᗒᗩᗕ)

2:54pm

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