Protector Series: Bonus Chapters and Content

ALTERNATE CHAPTER 8: Jerome Roy | Part IV

ALTERNATE CHAPTER 8: Jerome Roy | Part IV

~Jerome: age 17~

       As if Grayson had a feeling his children would sneak off to the banned bonfire place, he reminded everyone not to go there otherwise whoever did go would get into a lot of trouble.

       That didn't stop Ryder, Mae, Orchid, and Alan from sneaking off anyway. Since Dad, Poppy, and Grayson had enough of the sun today and would rather stay inside, the others lied and said they were going to spend time by the lake.

       I could tell Grayson where they really were but they all seemed to hate me for no reason, and I would rather not have my best friend's siblings hate me.

       Besides, I was too busy playing Mario Kart with Nolan to care what his siblings were doing it. 

       I kind off regretted playing this game with Nolan, though. He was way too good and even though we were doing a team race and we were on the same team. 

       "Are you cheating at this game?" I asked once Nolan finished the third lap while I was only half way done the third one. And I was in second place.

       "I don't know how I can cheat at this game," Nolan said with furrowed eyebrows.

       "Well, clearly you do know since that's all you're doing," I said. "Now I'm losing."

       "But... We're on the same team," Nolan said. "You can't lose while you're on my team."

       "Wow, someone's arrogant," I said.

       Nolan's only reply was to shrug before leaning back into the couch, waiting for me to finish the race.

       Once I finally did, way after Nolan despite being in second place, we moved on to the next race. At least I was going to win overall since we were doing a team race. Definitely the right choice for me since I was a competitive person and would probably not want to play against Nolan if I kept coming in second.

       While we were in the middle of the race, Grayson went outside to get the others but since they weren't at the lake, it didn't take him long to come back inside. "They weren't there," he said.

       "What?" Poppy asked from the kitchen where she and Dad were preparing dinner. Grayson was too but he stopped to get the others since it was almost finished.

       "They said they were going to be by the lake but they were nowhere to be found," Grayson said, walking over near the TV so he could talk to me and Nolan. "Do any of you know where they are?"

       "Beats me," I lied. I would rather not rat them out and get them mad at me, even though I would probably get in trouble from Dad if I didn't say anything.

       "They went to the off limit bonfire place," Nolan said, his eyes staying glued to the TV.

       "Wait, I'm confused," Grayson said. "You're actually talking to the rest of us now?"

       Nolan stared at his Dad for a bit before shaking his head and looking back at the TV. Nolan wasn't just talking to me only; he was even talking to me when his parents were in earshot.

       So imagine their shock when they heard their son's voice after what had been months but found out he still wasn't really talking to anyone. Just me; someone he had only met a few weeks ago.

       Grayson didn't really seem happy about it.

       Poppy sighed. "Grayson..."

       "I'm going to go get our children," Grayson said before leaving the lake house.