AS THE STORY GOES

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Justin hadn't thought about a girl so hard in years. He texted her "good morning" when he awoke and she texted back the same. He was afraid of doing too much and ended it with, "I hope you have a good day", and she sent back, "thank you, Justin :)", which was enough to have him smiling for the rest of his day.

"Yo!" Jon ran straight to the driver's side of Justin's car once school was out, waving a paper excitedly.

"Bro! Get out the street," Justin laughed, but felt concerned as a loud truck whizzed by.

"I've just been invited to apply for the National Junior Honor Society. Most eighth graders never get to even apply!" Jon spoke quickly after running around the front of the car and climbing into the front seat. "You know what this is gonna' look like on my transcript? I'm 'bout to be the sexiest applicant in their inbox." Jon licked his lips and wriggled his body.

Justin reached out and covered Jon's entire face with his hand. "Stop." He snatched his hand back at the feel of his brother's wet tongue on his palm. Justin rolled his eyes hard and wiped his hand on Jon's sleeve. "Grow up."

"You're not happy for me, big bro?!" Jon gasped dramatically.

Justin reached out and put a thick arm around Jon's neck and kissed his forehead. "You know I'm always happy for us. We out here killin' this shit."

Jon beamed at his brother's approval as he dug into Justin's lunch bag knowing there was a good chance there was still a snack left. Jon excitedly pulled out the pre-cut apples in the reusable baggies Justin insisted on to save money.

"So, are you hoping to see Lourdes tonight?" Jon grinned, staring at his brother as he drove.

"I'm hoping I pass this terminology exam, that's what I'm hoping."

"Why you act like you don't want a girlfriend, Jus?" Jon pressed.

"I don't act like that at all. I just don't want any girlfriend and I definitely don't want one that doesn't want to have a real, adult relationship."

"'Cause we not the ho'ing type." Jon shook his head seriously. "We're quality young men, right?"

Justin sighed, never sure how to react to Jon's big personality. "You want me to date so we can have that family you always wanted." Jon had lived with the same family from the day he had been taken from their biological mother, until the day he moved in with Justin. Jon liked the idea of a traditional family with a mother and a father, but he was also 100% teamed up with his brother. Jon had always understood what Justin was doing for them and why Justin made the choices he did. Because of Justin's sacrifices, there was nothing Justin could ask of Jon that he wouldn't do.

"Well, considering that's never going to happen because your girlfriend won't be my mom—that's awkward—I actually don't have any said investment in you getting a lady. Though, I heard having lots of sex helps you sleep better. A plus for you," Jon giggled as Justin struggled to ignore his brother's deliberate attempts to rile him up. Justin instead turned the stereo up to drown out anything else Jon might have had to say.

Justin smiled when they arrived at the youth center and Lourdes was at the front counter wearing a short, but flowy, black dress and chunky black boots. Her hair was a dark, reddish brown—different from the day before. Her lips looked a little pinker than before, her eyes bigger. Justin looked down so not be caught grinning so hard.

"Hi, Jon!" Lourdes spoke directly to Jonathan. "Go ahead, straight down this hallway to room six where you will find Joaquin handing out materials. I will square all of this business up with your brother. I don't want you to be late waiting for all of this." Lourdes made sure there would be no awkward interactions witnessed by younger siblings.