Chapter Three-Sisters

"Guys stop it! You both are honestly so annoying!" It's 9.30, a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, you'd honestly think I'd be in bed relaxing and taking a break especially after the hectic week of school we've just had. But no, Jay and Peppy think it's a great idea to go on a hike. A hike! On a Saturday! In the morning! I'm already starting to dislike this day and it's not even 12 yet.

I am currently being dragged out of my house. Jay has me thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and Peppy is trying to find my shoes and water bottle. I knew giving Peppy a spare key to my house was a bad idea. "Good morning kids. Where are you guys off to this fine Saturday?", my father questions us with his morning cup of coffee in his hand. Maybe he can help me out of this, "Dad! Help me! They're making me get out of bed against my will. They're practically kidnapping me!" I scream in hope of him hearing my desperation. "Good morning Mr Pancholi. Penelope and I thought today would be a good day to get Jasmine out of the house and go hiking.", Jeremiah says to my dad. "See dad they're torturing me. Please help." I scream again. "I don't know Jas. Hiking with your friends isn't that bad of an idea actually. You are still young. You need to go out there and make memories you can look back on that would make you appreciate your youth.", my dad says. Great he has gone all mushy and sentimental with me.

"Good morning dad.", Penelope says as she comes out from my room holding my converse and Frozen 2 themed water bottle, leave me alone it was a pretty good movie. "Morning Peppy. Take care of Jas for me will you. Make sure she doesn't break any bones today, specifically her own." my dad says winking in our direction. "But daddy you can't let them take me hiking. I'll die before I even get up that mountain. Please daddy!", I say ignoring his sly remark about my clumsiness.

My screams fall on deaf ears because soon enough I am being buckled into the backseat of Jay's car and we are backing out of the drive way while my dad waves at us from the front door. I stick out my tounge at him out of anger, causing him to laugh at my antics. "I regret saying yes to being friends with you guys.", I say at last. I've been friends with Jeremiah for 6 months now, and almost every weekend he has us do something crazy. Don't get me wrong I absolutely love the goofball but he knows how much I hate moving. I was a certified couch potato before he came into my life, and now he has me doing weird stuff like hiking on Saturday mornings.

Not long after we arrive at our destination and one look at the mountain has my legs already hurting. "Please don't make me do this. You know how much heights scare me.", I say in a last attempt to make them change their minds. "Come on, it's not that bad.", Jay says smirking as he begins to put on his hiking shoes. When he sees that the hesitant look doesn't leave my face he continues, "Okay how about this, we won't walk fast. We'll keep it paced. And at the end I'll buy us sushi for lunch." Oh he's good, he knows sushi is my weak spot, but I'm going to need something stronger than sushi once I come down that mountain. "Double cheeseburgers and milkshakes each or nothing.", I decide to give in. "Deal." he says smirking, I'd love to wipe the smirk off his face once in a while.

It's 30 minutes in and I'm already starting to regret making a deal with him. He and Peppy are way ahead of me and I am barely holding on to life, I still need to walk all the way back down. "Come on Jas, you're slowing us down." Peppy screams from ahead. "I can't breathe. Give me a break will you." I scream back, holding my shaking knees. What kind of psychopath hikes for fun? There's seriously a few screws missing in their heads. By the time we come back from the hike it's already 2pm. I'm laying in the backseat face down trying to get my breathing back to normal. They are both sitting in the front looking as fresh as ever. They look like models, even their sweat looks cool. I, on the other hand, look as if I've barely escaped a one-on-one with a banshee. "Jas you still alive?", Jay asks in a mock tone. "I will not hesitate to beat you with my shoe." I reply. "Well I think it's best we all go back home and shower real quick. I'm sweating like a dog. We can meet up for lunch in half an hour at the diner across the street from the gas station.", Peppy says. None of us argue, mostly because we all stink.

After I have showered and washed my hair, I feel satisfied with being sqweeky clean and decide to wear my black button up dress and a plain grey t-shirt. I pair my look with my favorite pair of sneakers and decide to leave my hair down to dry, I love my hair too much to put a hair dryer to it unless it is absolutely necessary. I grab my phone and decide to take a walk to the diner instead. I don't have my license yet and I'm too afraid to get behind the wheel. Preparing myself for the painful walk there as my legs are still sore, I put on my air pods, choosing to listen to Fever Part Two by ATEEZ, and begin to stroll in the direction of the diner. Not long after Jay's car pulls up beside me, "Get in looser we're going shopping!", he says. Did this boy just quote mean girls? I get into the passengers seat lauging hysterically, "I can never understand you or the way that brain of yours works." I say to him inbetween laughs. "Hey! I am a pretty simple man. What about me is so confusing?" he says in mock defense. "Well for starters I still can't wrap my head around why you chose to commit social suicide by hanging out with the two most hated people in the whole of Mumbai High.", I use this time to ask him the question that has been bothering me for the last 6 months. He goes quite for a while and I begin mentally smacking myself in the face, why did I have to go ruin the moment and ask him that." I'm sorry. I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." I say to try and ease to awkwardness of the situation. "No it's fine. Obviously I have my reasons, I'm just trying to find out how to put it in words.", he says at last. "No, say it as it is. Don't try to sugar coat anything.", I say in hopes of getting him to open up.

Jeremiah is a very closed off and silent person. I've noticed that he rarely talks to anyone let alone acknowledges other humans. He gives Peppy and I all his attention and he's only open with us, well sort of anyways. He doesn't even acknowledge all the hot cheerleaders that ask him out. "Well somethings have happened in the past, really traumatic things. It all happened a week before I was enrolled at Mumbai high in fact. And you and Peppy were the only ones not fascinated with my sob story or why I was transferred there in junior year. You were the only people who gave me my space and let me feel like I could truly just be myself for once. I didn't have to pretend that I was happy all the time. You guys helped me understand my emotions better and in turn helped me be more patient and understanding with myself.", he finishes and his eyes is raw with emotion, tears glaze his olive green eyes and for the first time I notice just how much he was hurting. Seeing his raw pain like this made me realize just how much he needed our friendship." Is this traumatic incident the reason why Yasmin has scars all over he arms and legs?", I ask out of curiosity. When he nods his head and looks to the ground to hide his tears from me, my heart shatters. Without even thinking I lean over from my seat and hug him, thankful that he pulled over to the side of the road for us to talk. I stroke his back and try to comfort him, a hug may not make all of his problems go away but it does offer him the much needed comfort to help ease his mind even if it is for a little while.

"I am really sorry that you guys had to go through all that, especially as kids. No one deserves this. But know that we are always there for you guys. No matter what time of the day it is or what it is you need help with I will always be here.", I say smiling as we pull out of the hug after a while."Thank you so much. I love you guys so so much. You remind me of the twins. It's like you guys are my younger sisters.", he says wiping his tears.

Thank God he was wiping his face and did not see how fast my face dropped. He sees us as younger sisters. Both Peppy and myself as younger sisters. Uh-oh, Peppy is not going to be too happy getting family zoned. After a while I realize that I haven't responded to him so in hopes of him not noticing my change in mood I say the first thing that comes to mind, "We love you too big bro." I playfully punch him in the arm but I violently smack myself mentally. 'Big bro'? That's the best I could come up with? I could have told him about how Peppy felt towards him, but then again it's not my place to do so. But still, I could have come up with something better.

When we reach the diner we see that Peppy is already waiting for us and has saved us a pretty decent booth. Jeremiah goes up to the front to order our food and I walk over to Peppy unsure of how to tell her of the news. "Why do you look constipated?", is the first thing she says after waving me over. If I was not so worried about what Jay has told me I would have said something even nastier as a reply but instead I settle with, "We need to talk." "Yes we do.", she responds. I look at her in confusion. "What? I'm not going to be left feeling anxious alone.",she says as I look at her in disbelief. "Anyways it's about Jay-..." I being. "What about me?", the devil himself interrupts me as he slides into the booth next to Peppy. She blushes a little and I realize she's fallen head over heels for him. It's going to be a lot more harder breaking the news to her. Why me God?

A/N

And that's a wrap on Chapter Three! I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I've missed writing so much! It honestly makes my heart so happy. The minute I pick up my phone or laptop and start writing or drafting for The Freak's Secret I get this giddy feelings and ideas just flow through my body and is realesed by my fingertips onto the screen for you guys to read:)

I won't keep you long, you still have many more chapters to get through so I'll let you get to it.

Let me know what you think of it so far in the comments. Feedback is much appreciated, constructive criticism helps a lot. Even genuine appreciation is welcome too.

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