The Fifth Hawthorne

Chapter 10

(Nash's POV)

I have always picked my little sister up after her practices. This week she came bounding out with one of the biggest grins I've seen her give all year.  

"How was it?" I asked while handing her a helmet. 

"Brilliant, we got half of the scenes done and nailed them!"

"That's great." I started up the engine and we rode away, Ashley loosely wrapped her arms around my waist. 
We rode along the roads before stopping off at Starbucks to have a quick snack. 

"I can't wait to see the show," I said.

"Same, we've been working on it for ages." She pulled out homework from her school bag and started to work on it. 

"What do you think of Grambs?" I question Ashley.

"She's alright. Just a bit annoying, I think she's starting to rub off on Jamie."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Yeah, he's changing and I don't like it." She uses her straw to mix the solution in her cup. 

"You want to go back?" I  ask, trying to change the subject. She nods.

We climb onto the back of his motorbike and drive back to Hawthorne house. 

We arrive at the gates within record time. I walk back up to the house with her. "You know I will always be there for you right?" She nods. "If Jamie ever leaves you, I will beat his ass."

"I think we both know that I'll get there before you." 

"That's not my point but ok." She just laughs and walks of.

(Ashley's POV)

I walked straight up to the closest library to find Jamie and Avery flipping through books and taking off the covers. Gray came up behind me.

"What are we doing today?" he asked.

"We?" Jamie shot back.

Grayson meticulously cuffed his sleeves. "Can't an older brother and sister spend time with their younger brother and an interloper of dubious intentions without getting third degree?" I rolled my eyes and went to the closest shelf.

"He doesn't trust Avery with you," I translated. "I, however, don't trust you being with a girl without me being there."

"I'm such a delicate flower." His tone was light, but his eyes told a different story. "In need of protection and constant supervision."

Gray was undaunted by sarcasm. "So it would seem. What are we doing today?"

"Heiress and I," Jameson replied pointedly," are following a hunch, doubtlessly wasting sinful amounts of time on what I'm sure you would consider to be whimsical flapdoodle."

Grayson frowned. "I don't talk like that."

I asked the next question. "And what hunch are you following?"

When it became clear that Jamie wasn't going to answer, Avery did. "We think you're grandfather's letter to Jameson included a clue about what he was thinking."

"What he was thinking," Grayson repeated, sharp eyes making a casual study of her features," and why he left everything to you."

"It sounds like him, doesn't it?" Jamie asked Gray. "One last game?"

Jamie wanted Gray to say yes. He wanted his brother's agreement or approval. Maybe he wanted us to all do it together. It definitely speed up the process, whatever they were looking for. Something sparked in Gray's eyes, but it was quickly distinguished.