Stepbrother

Chapter 34

"I got a little jerk off my sister.." Jeremy shrugged.

"Yeah, okay, but why didn't you stop after he left?" Neil asked.

Jeremy and I stood there. "Be quiet," Jeremy grumbled, going back to the shelf.

"Okaay.." Neil rolled his eyes. "I probably need to go help my Dad. I'll meet up with you guys in a while."

"Aight," Jeremy said, scanning the shelf before grabbing something and throwing it in the cart.

We came across the feminine care isle, and Jeremy turned to me. He jerked his head toward it, "Do, uhh, you need anything?"

My ears turned red, he couldn't tell because my hair was in the way, but I usually do that when I'm in an awkward situation. I shook my head and swallowed hard. Jeremy nodded and kept walking.

-

"Are your parents back in town yet?" Neil asked. We shook our heads as we waited in the checkout line.

"That's why we're here," Jeremy said. "I'd rather be sleeping right now," he sighed. "Neil, you wanna come over?"

"Same.. And sure," Neil sighed, "My dad dragged Niall and I here."

"Niall?" I asked.

"My brother. You've met him," Neil said, looking at me. "He's nine."

"About the coolest nine year old I've ever met," Jeremy said.

"That's a fact," Neil nodded. "Hey, Niall!" he yelled.

A blond kid, about 4'11, came over. He looked similar to Neil. They had the same dazzling green eyes. "What?" he asked quietly, eyeing me out of the corner of his eye.

"This is my friend, Lendzie," Neil said. "I just wanted to know if Dad would get mad if I went over to Jer's for a bit."

"Probably not.." Niall answered, in a regular tone. His voice was deeper than I expected.

"Good. Tell him that I'll be with Jeremy. Not that he'll care, but whatever," Neil shrugged. Jeremy gave a confused expression.

Niall gave a saddened look. "Okay," he whispered.

"What's wrong?" Neil asked. Niall looked at me through the corner of his eye again. "Give us a second?" Neil said, taking Niall by the shoulder and leading him off.

Neil's POV-

"Neil, please don't leave me home alone with Dad!" Niall begged. "He just picked up two bottles of whiskey from the liquor store!"

"Fine, you can come with us." I shrugged. Niall's eyes widened.

"No.. that's not necessary. Could you just drop me off at the mall or something? I could try to figure out my homework in the food court.."

"I'm not leaving you at the mall! I'll just stay home."

"I hate to drag you away from your friends.." he said. I shrugged slightly.

Lendzie's POV-

They came back as Jeremy was paying. "Hey guys, I uh, can't come," Neil said. Niall looked guilty.

"Why?" Jeremy asked.

"Uh, Niall needs help with algebra."

"Neil, you suck at algebra," Jeremy said.

"Uh, yeah I know," Neil shrugged.

"I'm good at algebra," I said, shrugging. Niall looked at me.