Chapter 5: The Short Adventure of Assman
"Smile." I say, demonstrating with my own mouth. I give the biggest grin that I can and rattle the camera in front of me. Mini widens her eyes and blinks at the offending device. She stares at it for awhile but then turns her head in dismissal. Dammit.
People actually take pictures of their children at young ages. Did you know that? Like, they documented their lives in...baby books. Truth be told, I never even had a camera before recently, and I sure as fuck didn't know how to use one. Bonnie showed me a couple examples, taking pictures of Mini when she was playing with her toys or biting Nik, but they weren't happy or smiling. Just annoyed or crying, which wasn't exactly what I wanted her to see when she was older. I wanted her to see pictures of herself smiling, giggling, or laughing. Mini smiled and laughed like crazy, but getting her to smile and laugh in front of a camera was basically mission impossible.
I sigh and push the camera down on the coffee table before filling my arms with a bundle of Mini. Picking up the remote, I lay with her in our usual stance; me on my back and her on my chest. We sit in silence for awhile, only the sound of her soft gurgles and the light buzz of CSI. I nearly fall asleep when I hear my phone starting to ring. I groan and Mini purses her little lips after letting a giggle seep through. I glare at her and reach for my phone on the coffee table.
Not bothering to look at the I.D, I flip it open and sigh. "Hello?"
There's a hesitant pause before whoever is on the other line talks. "Jacob." Immediately knowing his tone of voice, I almost hang up. Almost. I glance at Mini, who's completely oblivious to my internal turmoil and clear my throat.
"Damon." I sit up. Casually, I make the next step. "What's up?" I can hear the confusion even though he doesn't speak. Even though we weren't technically brothers, there was a brothership that existed between the two of us and I hated it. Even as kids, Damon and I knew each other like the back of our hands. We were so similar, but so different. He could see me through and I could see right through him.
He waits another beat and I carefully lay Mini down on the couch. "I'm good, Jacob. I'm really good. How are you?"
"Good." I bite out, stealing his response. I make my way into the kitchen and yank open the refrigerator.
"How's Chelsea?"
"Mom's good." I didn't miss how he corrected me, but disregarded him. "Dad is too. We haven't spoken to you in a while."
"Well, typically those things can happen when people fight." I grab a beer from the fridge and slam it shut before yanking the opener out of a cabinet.
He ignores me. "Are you coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas?"
"I'll be doing the same thing I was doing last year." I say. Well, this time I'd be with Mini. Maybe even Elena. I take a gulp of beer at that thought and shake my head.
His temper flares, "Fucking hell, Jacob. Put your pride down and come see your family." My temper flares too.
"If you called to spurt out the same bullshit you have been for years, you can fucking forget it and lose this number. I don't have time for this, I have a..." I pause and peer over at Mini on the couch. "I have a fucking life, Damon."
"I'm spurting out this same bullshit because you don't fucking get it. You haven't seen your parents in years, Jacob. I know that it might not be technical, but they are your parents like I am your brother and we are your family. I get that you may be insecure-"
I growl, "I'm not insecure. Don't fucking put this shit on me. You're an exact replica of your father. Go to hell." I press the 'end' button and nearly fall to the floor in anger. Bastard.
