Drowning

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟚: 𝕃𝕖𝕥'𝕤 𝔾𝕠 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕆𝕦𝕥

The ride to the mall was an awkward one. I sat next to Harper as Mason and Jackson were in the front. Jackson was driving while Mason was messing with the radio. The others took their car which makes no sense since we have enough room to only take two cars. Apparently, James and Levi had to stop somewhere. Jake got a last-minute call from his work so he isn't coming with us.

Thank God

"I told you to stop messing with the radio." Jackson gave Mason a dirty glare and swatted his hand away.

"I don't want to listen to old people music!"

"I'm only a year older than you!"

"Exactly! You're older!"

"Driver gets to choose the music"

Mason sat back with a grunt. "Whatever. But if I fall asleep, it's your fault."

I wasn't engaging with this conversation. I was just staring out of the window, watching trees pass. Harper was doing the same thing. I was thinking about the conversation Jake and I had. It was obvious that him and I weren't going to get along from the start. But, I didn't think he would say anything about it.

Stupid me.

The boys began to argue again. I looked next to me to see Harper staring at her lap.

"You okay?" I ask quietly, looking over.

"Yeah" She whispers. She lifts her hands to reveal an iphone. She was texting someone.

"How did you get your phone?" I scoot closer.

"Shh. It is an extra. I am always grounded, so I always have extras."

Rich people things

"Sneaky little thing."

I grin and go back to my seat.

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We finally make it to the mall. The mall is 3 times bigger than the one in my home town. The mall is two stories.

I jump out of the car and stretch my body.

"How long are we going to have to wait for the boys?", Harper asks.

"Are you already complaining?" Mason asks with his eyebrows raised.

"No, technically, it was a question. Unless you want me to start complaining. There is a lot of things to complain about."

"I dare you."

Jackson cuts them off from their argument. "Both of you stop. They are almost here."

Harper and I talk for a bit until Jame's car pulls in with Levi's car behind him.

Before we go in, we make a plan.

"So since Mason, James, and Jackson also needs their stuff, we are going to split up. Harper, Bailey, and James are to be together and Mason and Jackson can be together. I have other things to do." Levi says.

"But, I don't want to be with the girls!", James complains. Jackson elbows him.

"Shut up."

Levi crosses his arms. "Too bad."

"Yeah, I'm siding with James. We don't need a baby sitter. I have my phone." Harper says. Her eyes widen when she realized her mistake. All the boys raised their eyebrows and crossed their arms.

"I mean Bailey has her phone."

"I don't care is Bailey has her phone or if you don't think you need a babysitter, James is tagging along with you. Think of it as brother and sisters bonding."

Harper and James stay quiet and we began to walk in the mall.

"Brother and sisters bonding my ass." I whisper

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"We have only been here for 5 minutes and I already want to run away." James said. He was walking behind us. We stopped by Starbucks to get some coffee because I sure as hell needed it.

"How about a deal?" James said.

Harper and I halted and turned.

"What sort of deal?"

"I won't tell our brothers that I saw you two behind the couch eavesdropping, as long as you two don't rat me out when I leave you guys by yourselves."

"You do realize that if you tell our brothers that you saw us behind the couch that not only us would be in trouble, but also you?" I say

"Fine. Just- I am sure you two don't want to be seen with one of your brothers babysitting you. Just keep this between us." He begged.

"Whatever. Just leave and don't bother us." Harper grabbed my arms and stomped away.

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"How about this?" Harper walks out of the dressing room wearing a brown dress.

"Oh god no!" I put my hands in front of my eyes.

"Next!"

She walks out again wearing a pink flower summer dress.

"Yes!" I give her a thumbs up. We laugh.

"Okay, you're turn!"

I go into the dressing room and grab a skirt from the top of a pile.

I try it on and walk out.

"Nope"

I turn right back around and try on another skirt.

"Yes, next!"

We try on the rest of the clothes in our pile. We eventually decided to finish once our hands were sore with the amount of bags.

"Shit, how are we suppose to find James?"

"Use your phone, Bailey."

"Oh yeah."

I call him.

No answer.

The story of my life.

I call again.

No answer.

"He isn't answering."

"Then, let's go get something to eat and call him again."

We began walking to the food court when I spot most of our brothers with people our age and older surrounding them. James wasn't there.

"Harper."

"Huh?"

She glances in the same direction and spots them.

"It's the same people."

"What?"

"It's the same people who were in our house that night."

"Who do you think they are?"

"I have no clue."

"Let's go find out."

989 Words

7/26/2020