From The Wreckage, book 1

Chapter Ten

Ten

"You know those scenes in movies where two people meet, instantly fall in love and have these visions of their whole lives together? I swear I had one of those moments as West Rutledge walked away."

Jules shifts in the chair, her body warming at the memory.

"Mom didn't say a word to me about what she saw, but I could see it in her eyes. She was worried. You know how my parents always loved Stuart. Being at that vigil wore me out. I ended up spending Monday and Tuesday sleeping and chilling with Jase. Katie and I talked a few times, but honestly, I don't think either one of us wanted to leave our houses. Everything in those first few days after the twister is a blur. Everything was so hard."

The brush of a cold hand wakes Jules.

"Jase?"

"Sorry, Jules. Can I sleep with you again tonight?" her little brother mumbles sleepily; already climbing into her bed and tugging the warm blankets away from her body.

"Sure, bud. Try not to hog the covers this time, though."

Jason has climbed into her bed for the past four nights. Saturday night he woke her not long after Stuart left, and she'd barely fallen asleep. His skateboard pajamas soaked with sweat and his face covered in tears.

"Nightmare?" she asked, totally understanding the look of fear.

He nodded slightly, his blond hair sticking to his forehead, and she helped him wipe down and change into fresh pajamas. Knowing how he felt, she pulled back her covers and offered to let him sleep with her for the night.

The simple act repeated itself Sunday and Monday night as well, and while Jules is a little tired of getting kicked and punched by her restless little brother, she's happy to have him nearby.

Jason is the baby her parents didn't know they could have. Born when she was seven, they tried for several years, all but giving up until her mom came to the shocking conclusion that her 'food poisoning' was in reality a pregnancy. He was such a pretty baby, and Jules pushed him around in his stroller for months pretending he was her personal baby doll. They'd always been close. She's so grateful her parents decided to forgo their usual post-game Friday night dinner plans, going home instead. Her heart stops every time she thinks about what might have happened if they'd been out when the twister hit.

Jase loves football so much he forces her parents to bring him to all of the prep games each week. For a while she thought they were coming to watch her cheer, but he made it clear she was merely a sideshow.

"Ewww! Why would we want to watch girls bounce around when there's a game on?" he questioned one night during freshman year, when she told them they should skip the game due to the cold rain falling.

"Bouncing around? Is that what you think I do?"

"You shout a lot, too."

"Nice. You know bud, one of these days, you're going to be happy to have girls bouncing and shouting on the sidelines for you," she teased, ruffling his silky hair.

Her little brother made a disgusted face before running off to play with whatever toys were his obsession at the moment. He was barely five at the time, but they taught him right. Football is King.

She recalls being upset when she was younger because 'girls couldn't play ball'. Some boys on the playground were talking about Pee Wee league and how they were going to get to wear real pads and hit people. Jules remembers her pulse racing at the thought of playing football for real, and not just with her dad on the weekends. She was so excited, she strolled over to the group and professed her love of the game, telling them she was going to sign up too.