Just another Hawthorne🦢💸🧩 (she/her pronouns) (reader x The Inheritance Games)

Chapter 7

"This is what I get for being the one who doesn't skip school," he said mournfully.

"I went to school for the record, just came late," I said.

"No uniform," he noted. "Playing hooky, Jamie? Two ass kickings it is."

Xan heard the phrase ass-kicking, grinned, bounced on the balls of his feet, and pounced with no warning, tackling Nash to the ground. Just some friendly impromptu wrestling between brothers.

I walked down the spiral stair case to stand beside Avery.

"Pinned you!" Xander declared triumphantly.

Nash hooked his ankle around Xan's leg and flipped him, pinning him to the ground. "Not today little brother." Nash grinned, then flashed a much darker look at Jamie and Gray.

"We do have such uncanny blood." I said making Avery jump a bit, she stayed silent after my comment.

"I should go." Avery said. At least she understood that she should have never been here in the first place.

"You shouldn't be here at all," Grayson replied, almost as if he read my thoughts.

"Stuff a sock in it, Gray," Nash said. "What's done is done, and you know as well as I do that if the old man did it, there's no undoing it." Nash swivelled head toward Jamie. "And for you: self destructive tendencies aren't nearly as adorable as you think they are."

"That's what Alis said," I commented.

"Avery solved the keys," Jamie said casually. "Faster than any of us." All of my brothers fell into silence, complete silence.

"You gave her the keys?" Gray broke the silence.
She still had the key ring in her hand.

"We were legally obligated to hand over—"

"A key." Grayson interrupted Jameson and started stalking slowly toward him, snapping the book in his hands closed. "We were legally obliged to give her a key, Jameson, not the keys."

"I was curious how she'd do."Jamie arched an eye brow. "Do you want to hear her time?"

"No," Nash boomed. I wasn't sure if he was answering Jamies questions or telling Gary to stop advancing on Jamie.

"You might wanna hear it actually, it's quite impressive." I said leaning on my foot closest to my brothers.

"How do you know her time?" Gray questioned me.

"We'll the simple answer was that I walked in on Jamie in the act," I continued. "And then joined him for a little bit of fun," I said with a sight smile, elongating the e on little. "Can I?" I said glaring at Nash for approval.

"You are so childish, N/n," Gray said he face showing no emotion.

"We'll that's cause I am one." I replied, with a grin.

Nash sighed. "Go ahead."

"3 minutes and 43.2 seconds."

"Faster then Jameson," Gray said underneath his breath looking to the floor.

"Can I get up now?" Xander interjected, still pinned beneath Nash and seemingly in a better humour than my other three brothers combined, as always.

"Nope," Nash replied.

"I told you she was special," Jameson murmured as Grayson continued closing in on him.

"And I told you to stay away from her." Gray stopped , just out of Jamie's reach.

"So I see you two are talking again!" Xan commented jollily. "Excellent."

"Welcome to the Hawthorne House, Mystery Girl." Jamie's welcome seemed to be a bit more for Grays benefit then for Avery's.

"Stop calling me Mystery Girl," Avery spoke up. "My name is Avery."

"I'd also be willing to call you Heiress,"Jameson offered. He stepped forward, toe to toe with Gray now. "What do you think, Gray? Got a nickname preference for our new landlord?"

"I'm trying to protect you," Grayson said lowly.

"I think we both know," Jameson replied, "that the only person you've ever protected is yourself."

I stared dead at Jameson 'to far' I mouthed.

"Y/n." Nash stood, pulling Xan to his feet. "Xander."

"Why don't you show Avery to her wing?"

That was either Nash's attempt to prevent a line from being crossed or an indication that one already had been, which it had.

"Come on." Xan bumped his shoulder lightly against Avery's.

"We'll stop for cookies on the way." I said with a smile.

"No cookies." Graysons voice was strangled, like his throat was closing down around the words like Jameson last shot had cut off his air completely.

"Fine," I replied cheerily. "You drive a hard bargain , Grayson Hawthorne. No cookies."

Xan winked at Avery "We'll stop for scones then."

Authors Note-

Chapter 7!!
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(751 words)