2 of 41

Write now Article Tools

Page 26 of 26

walk anywhere without making an incredible amount of noise. "I put the leaf to the dining room table back in the garage."

"Where did you put it out there?" I asked suspiciously. Those guys never realized that I had a system out there, and I knew where everything was. They just thought it was all thrown in there.

"Where I found it. Leaning up against that big bookshelf by the door to the laundry room," Jude said. He at least understood some of my anal-retentive-ness. "I've got to jet, my shift at the hospital starts at seven."

"I thought you said you'd gotten off for today," I said.

"Nope, just for the day part of the day. It'll be back at seven tomorrow morning. Has anyone seen my work shoes?" Jude asked, looking around like he was going to find them on top of the fridge.

"They're in the hall closet," Sam said from the living room couch. He had finished with all of his Space Ghost Coast to Coast DVD's and had moved on the first season of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer,* which I had given Adena for Christmas the year before.

"Thanks. I'll see you later," he said, and touched my hand as he walked out.

Everyone looked at me, and only after we heard Jude's car start out front did Sam yell, "Did he just touch her hand?"

"Yes!" Adena screamed. "It's love."

"You guys are pathetic," I said.

"What?" Sam called from the living room.

"You're pathetic!" I yelled back.

"He knows," Patrick said.

After Adena and I finished cleaning the kitchen, Adena went to practice her flute and I retreated to my bedroom with my battered and bruised copy of *A Wrinkle in Time* by Madeleine L'Engle. It was one of my favorite "comfort" books. Also, I had just gotten *The Reminder* by Feist and had been dying to listen to it ever since I bought it.

Natalie knocked on the door frame and came in to sit on the bed. "I thought you were at Carl's house," I said.

"I was. We had a good visit, but I told him I wanted to get home before it got too late." I smiled at Natalie's calling 201 Exeter Street "home," because it really was her home. At least, it was much more than our parents' house was. "What happened between you and our mother today?" She asked.

I sighed, and then told her briefly what had happened that morning. "Wow. That's intense," she said.

"Yeah. Honestly, I don't want to even be around her right now. She hasn't been able to say anything nice to me since I moved into this house and today was just the tip of the iceberg. It really sucks to know that she can't support any of my decisions."

"I'm sorry," Nat said, and scooted over close to me at the head of the bed. "If it's any consolation, I think it's the best decision of your life to move into this house. You've made a home for yourself and all of us. You've made us all into a family. That's something you can be proud of."

I hugged my little sister hard. "Thanks. Hearing that pretty much redeems this whole frustrating day for me."

Learn more about this author, Brianne McGill.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• ...
• 24
• 25
• 26

Add your voice

Know something about Novel excerpts: Conflict?
We want to hear your view. Write now!