One•Shots

zenith + zion (M)

z e n i t h

The thing about having an older brother a year ahead of you at school is, outside of your class, your name no longer matters; you're instantly known as their little sibling, for instance, I'm known around the school as "Atlas's little brother". 

Yes, if you've noticed, our parents have a thing for spaced themed names; all of our siblings— we have four sisters— also have spaced themed names: Astra (star) who's the oldest at 21.
The twins Eris (second largest and furthest dwarf planet in the solar system)  and Lyra (harp; also the name of a constellation) who are 16.
And the youngest in the family, Maia (a blue star in the Taurus constellation) who is 8.

Atlas is 18, a senior in high school, and his name stems from the fact that it is a star in the Taurus constellation. I'm 17, a junior, and my name means "the very top"— which is funny because I'm not one— but is also an astronomy term to describe the imaginary point directly "above" a particular location. Yes, Atlas and I are just barely a year apart; we're Irish twins— oops.

Atlas, and his best friend, Zion, are currently in his room working on a project for school; I'm trying to help Maia with her math homework. They're currently working on multiplying and dividing fractions. (I always loved this, even though I hate math🤷🏼‍♀️)
"Okay, so dividing fractions is just like multiplying, except you flip the second one. 'Flip' only means that you turn it upside down." I explain, pointing to first problem on her worksheet. I hear thudding footsteps coming down the stairs and know my brother and his best friend are coming downstairs.

I look up as they walk into the kitchen and nod at them, going back to Maia's paper.
"I think I kind of understand..." Maia says, looking up at me.
"That's good!! I'm going to grab a drink, but if you need help let me know, okay?" I say. She nods, going back to her paper and I walk into the kitchen, which is open to the rest of the house.

Before I get the chance to open the fridge, Zion looks from Atlas to me.
"Can we talk?" Zion asks, looking directly at me.
"I-uh sure?" I stammer, causing it to sound like a question.
"We can go for a walk. It's something kinda private."
I glance from him to Atlas, who smiles. "I already know. I'm his best friend, I know everything before anyone else." Atlas says, hitting his shoulder against Zion's and sticking his tongue out at me.