Perfect Student

Chapter 12

The week passed surprisingly quickly, Fridayarriving all too soon. I stayed silent in AP Lit that day and double-checked withTrinity to make sure my homework was perfect, hoping to give James noammunition to use against me tonight. Bryce was generally strict about schooland my behavior, so I didn't want James sharing anything that I might've didwrong. 

For dinner, I cooked a basic casserole and steamed some vegetables onthe side, remembering that James liked that kind of food when we were younger. Iprepared the table with utensils and our nicer dishes and vacuumed the housebefore he arrived.

When the doorbell rang, Bryce came downstairs in shock.

"Damn, kid! You really want to look good, don't you?" he asked. I looked down at my dress worriedly and blushed when I realized he meant the house. He was gazing at the pristine kitchen table and didn't notice. 

"Well, we don't have guests over very often," I explained with a shrug. He walked to the door and opened it, making a sound of pure happiness when he saw James. Their giant bodies slammed into a huge hug, making me "aww" at how cute it looked. They clasped each other tightly before stretching back and shaking hands.

"Man, it's been so long!" Bryce said, taking in James' height and stature now. They were comparable, both over 6 feet tall and built from time at the gym. Bryce welcomed James in and he examined the house, giving me a chance to examine him. Instead of his new formal work outfits, he was in a casual white T-shirt and blue jeans, a red jacket hanging open lightly over his chest. He saw me in the doorway to the kitchen and walked over, smiling unsurely at me.

"Hey," he said, pausing as he decided whether to hug me or keep his distance.

"Hi," I said awkwardly laughing as Bryce came over and looked at us.

"Are their certain rules now that he's your teacher?" Bryce asked, looking at me. "Do you have to eat in your room, so you don't hear your teacher curse and see him have a beer?"

I tried to keep from getting angry as he tried to make me feel like a child.

"I'll be perfectly fine in here, with the mealthat I made," I reminded him.

"Don't worry, no beer for me," James said, lifting his hands up in defense. "And I promise not to curse as long as you stay." James and Bryce laughed and wandered into thekitchen, leaving me to bask in the heat that his single comment made. The warmth from hugging him would've been much nicer, I decided.  

I followed them into the kitchen and we settled into the seats, one of them on either side of me. I filled our cups up from the water pitcher I placed at the table, grateful that I hadn't infused it with fruit. I definitely needed to appear far more casual. 

Bryce caught James up on his life while I divided the food and doled it out to each person, trying to keep meat and vegetables off my plate and putting extra noodles in front of me instead.

When I sat back down and licked my lips, Bryce continued their conversation while swapping my plate and his. I groaned but grabbed my fork, digging into the parts of the meal that I didn't care for first. James watched us cheerfully, eyes flicking back and forth like he was watching a tennis match. 

"You guys are the same as you always were," he said, after swallowing a bite of his meal.

"How so?" Bryce asked as I simultaneously replied "No, we're not."

He laughed through his second mouthful and answered Bryce's question.

"You both know each other so well, and annoying eachother is second nature," he said thoughtfully. "You were so angry with Bryce,but you were always so sweet to me, Little Addy."

He nudged his body in my direction, smiling as Igrew quiet. I took a big bite of food so I wouldn't have to answer, and Bryceended up answering for me. 

"That's because she had a huge crush on you," he scoffed, making me choke on my bite of casserole. My eyes watered and I grabbed my cup, taking small sips to try and wash it down. Bryce and James perused me with worry, but I waved them off, walking to the kitchen to fill the pitcher again. When I came back, they were still discussing it.

"No, she didn't!" James said, tilting his head to the side. Bryce smirked and looked at me, raising an eyebrow as if waiting for me to tell the truth. I knew he could tell if I was lying but I tried it anyway.

"I just wished he was my brother, too," I lied calmly, making James nod in agreement. He always saw me as a little sister, so that wasn't a hard truth for him to believe. Bryce squinted his eyes and smiled wider, sensing the lie.

"You did not. You loved him. You wrote Adeline Mason in your diary and said you wanted to marry him," he said, barking out a huge laugh.

"You read my diary?" I demanded, slamming my hands down on my lap angrily.

"I tried to, but it was so boring I never finished it," he said with a smile. "That part was pretty funny though."

He shrugged and I groaned as James realized I was lying. I waited for him to tell me that it was silly or lame or that he never liked me at all, not even as a friend.

Instead, he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and leaned in, making me freeze. I could feel his breath on my cheek as he spoke kindly to me. 

"Addy, I think it's sweet that you had a crush on me! But you were my best friend's sister," he said, justifying his lack of interest. I continued looking at Bryce who was enjoying his meal as he watched the show.

"Exactly. I would never have let him date you, anyway. You're my baby sister. I'd have to kill him." Bryce placed his napkin on the table and leaned back, smiling at his friend who grinned back.

I went to clear our now empty plates as they continued their previous conversation and life update, James catching Bryce up on his new job with the school and time at college in another state. I rinsed the dishes absently, hands twirling over dishes in warm, sudsy water as I considered Bryce's threat to James. I wondered if the same rules applied now.