The Sound Of Your Heart

NINETEEN

MILES

The weekend had come and gone in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only the remnants of relaxation and a longing for the carefree days. With a heavy sigh, I prepared myself for another day of books, lectures, and countless exams.

As always, I hurried out of the house, ready to escape the monotony that awaited me within the confines of the school walls. To my surprise, My brother Jackson was already waiting inside his car, his usual cheerful demeanor masking the early morning chill. He had volunteered to give me a lift to school ever since my mother's new promotion devoured her time and left her unable to take me there herself.

As I hopped into Jackson's car, the familiar scent of his vanilla air freshener engulfed me. "Morning!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Morning," Jacob replied cheerfully, his eyes reflecting his eagerness for the day ahead.

"Let's just grab something at Dino's on our way to school; would that be alright?" Jackson asked me as I immediately put on my seatbelt. He immediately started the car and started to drive.

"No, it's fine, Jackson. I can just eat something at school," I said, mustering a smile as I looked at my older brother, who was still groggy-eyed and disheveled.

"Brother, you have no idea how bad the school food is," Jackson said with a mischievous grin. "I've been there, so don't even say anything about how horrible the food at the school tastes."

I burst into laughter. "Okay, have it your way then, but just don't get me late or else!" I threatened, mockingly pointing my finger at him.

His eyes narrowed, and a mischievous smirk played at the corners of his mouth. "Woah! My little brother is threatening me. That's scary!" he said, his tone dripping with fake fear.

Deciding to play along, I raised an eyebrow and cocked my head. "Well, maybe you should be scared," I taunted, my voice matching his tone. "I'm bigger and stronger now."

Jackson laughed, dismissing my words as a joke. "Aww! Since when did you learn to throw a fist like that?" he mocked, his voice laced with disbelief. "I remember when you couldn't even lift a bag of groceries without straining."

I grinned, relishing the opportunity to prove him wrong. Flexing my bicep, I brought my fist down on his shoulder, carefully delivering a playful punch. To my surprise, Jackson recoiled slightly, wincing in pain. "Hey! That hurt!" he exclaimed, his tone mixed with surprise and genuine disbelief.

The tables had turned, and I couldn't help but seize the moment. I grinned triumphantly. "That's what you get for leaving me behind," I declared, relishing in the rare victory. "And for the record, I'm not a little kid anymore."

His face broke into an amused grin. "Oh, so now you're a tough guy, huh?" he scoffed, playfully rubbing his shoulder. "I suppose you think you can take me down now?"

I chuckled, realizing that this was all in good fun. "Maybe I won't take you down, but I won't be your punching bag anymore," I teased.

"And for the record too, I never laid my hands on you, brother." He reminded me.

Later on, as we found ourselves approaching the diner, I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. We were cutting it close, and I knew we had to hurry. "Let's make it quick," I said, a tinge of urgency in my voice.

Jackson nodded, his sandy blond hair ruffled by the wind. With a parking lot full of cars, finding a spot seemed impossible, but Jackson maneuvered effortlessly until he squeezed the car into a tight spot near the entrance. We hopped out, and the smell of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee filled our nostrils, immediately enriching our senses.