June Schlieb is the adopted sister of Kevin Schlieb. It's a known fact, but that doesn't mean the wounds of her complicated adoption history aren't still fresh. Who would've thought she would've found bandages from her Battle of the Bands rival.
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buzz ｡･:*:･ﾟ★ Chapter 14
"Aaaand... a hair to left, please."
With trembling arms, I shifted the heavy box of God-knows-what a few centimeters over on the industrial shelves. I grabbed the next one-- thankfully, a smaller one.
Joe, my supervisor, scratches at the crown of his head in thought. "Okay... put that one next to the big one, vertically, of course."
My brows bunched together at the mention of vertically, why the hell did that even matter? I did it anyways, throwing a glare over my shoulder once I was done. "So... why does the store want this in a specific order anyway?"
"Oh! They don't. I just like them this way. Nice and organized." The man scribbled various things on his clipboard bound notepad, not bothering to look up. "And, you said you needed a few extra bucks, so here you go."
"Duly noted. Thanks, Joe." Gotcha. Don't question it next time, I'm certainly not being paid to ask questions, even when his odd preferences have taken hell of a toll on my arms. The tremor of my muscles had worsened with each box. But if it gets me out of having to help move the school band's instruments, then I'm all for it.
He hummed in response, still scribbling. I guess that was one clear clue to leave as any, other than the clock's hour hand hitting the seven. With one swift movement, I pulled my blue work polo over my head. Despite the darkened sky-- I could still make out the silhouette of Hunter's car through the store windows. From one hell to another.
"See ya, Joe!" I called out before completely exiting the empty store.
"Later, June." He waved, and turned to shut off the lights in the back.
A humid breeze engulfs the small town, a tell tale sign of spring. I contemplated just staying out here for the rest of the night. But alas, running wherever the wind would take me wouldn't get rid of the guilt, and fee. Supposedly. I have yet to try it-- however, tonight was not the night for open-ended theories. Plus, this might not be so bad.
Hunter pressed on the horn twice before I flipped him off as I made my way to the passenger side. I opened the door, and there sat my brother.
"What are you doing here?" My gaze darted between the two boys in the car, but finally settled on Kevin because he was ultimately the subject of my question. I was never made aware of his presence. It didn't necessarily bother me, but it would've been nice to know he was tagging along. Part of me was relieved-- I wouldn't admit it, but spending part of the evening with Hunter, alone, was a worrying thought. Maybe an intriguing one at that. The other part of me just was just too swept with pride to let my brother be anywhere near when I clean like some kind of housewife.
Kev glanced to Hunter, and back to me, "Uh-- Well, I don't know. What are you doing here, exactly?
"I..." I began, my eyes narrowed on Hunter, also known as the root of this current issue. Is it so hard to communicate? "You do have a gift for forewarning people, don't you?"
"Yes, best of the best." He throws his hands up in some kind of defeated gesture, eyes darting between the both of us. "Alright, how about some beer and good old house chores?"
The ride was silent. Except for Hunter's obnoxious metal music, which has miraculously been turned down to a respectable volume. It's a wonder he's not deaf yet.
I shifted in my seat-- the back seat to be specific. Much to my attempts at calling shotgun in order to have a few words with Hunter, I was ultimately kicked to the back. It was probably for the best. It would've looked... suspicious? At least to Kevin. He doesn't really know about the terms we've been on. I wouldn't jump to call them good terms, but they're not necessarily murderous ones like they used to be. Maybe they would be good terms if Hunter hadn't practically blasted me that night. I'm slowly letting it go, unfortunately. There wasn't much else to do when organizing all those fucking boxes but think. I'm not forgiving and forgetting until that fucker at least apologizes. Till' then, I'm holding him at arms length, no matter how many times he looks at with me those damned eyes.
A flash of a dark gaze catches mine in the rearview mirror. Speak of the Devil. I scoot over from where I sat in the middle to behind the driver's seat. His seat. I slither and fold my arms around the head rest, rearing my head around it on the left side so my lips weren't but mere centimeters from the shell of his ear. Something twitches in that jaw of his, like he can feel my presence.
"You didn't want to be alone with me, did you?" I whisper, so that Kevin doesn't hear. Thankfully his eyes are occupied on the dark silhouettes of passing houses that the headlights illuminate.
Hunter's ring-riddled fingers grip the steering wheel. "What makes you say that?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Simultaneously, I roll my eyes and chuckle. Again, it's not like it's a big deal of Kev's attendance, I'm just growing quite curious of the question why. "Is there a specific reason my brother is here? A reason why you went through all the trouble to pick him up from my house?"
"You're reading too much into this, June." He purses his lips, and warily glances to the still-occupied Kevin. "I didn't know this was some kind of private thing."
That wasn't what I-- Oh, Jesus, forget it. My brows sag with impending irritation. "It isn't... I was just curious." The tips of my fingers found their way to the skin of his neck. He immediately tensed, attempting to shrug me off.
"Cut that out before we fucking crash." His grip on the wheel tightened even further, and he swiftly glanced at me, a warning filling those irises. "Are you drunk or something?" He questions, knowing me well enough to know that I don't necessarily touch people-- not without the right amount of alcohol in my tummy.
"No." I lie, through my teeth. Technically it's not a lie. When Joe gave me a ten minute break, I wandered a little before chugging two cans of Budweiser from the staff cooler. I figured if I was gonna do another hour of shifting ridiculously heavy boxes, I might as well have a little buzz. But I wasn't drunk drunk.
Mindlessly, I continue drawing little circles on his neck, shamelessly inhaling the lingering notes of that damned cologne. I could easily tell how much it was bothering him-- which only added to the satisfaction I was receiving from this.
Hunter reached over to the radio's volume knob to turn up the song that was currently playing. I assume to figuratively drown out the sensation of my finger tips. From the corner of my eye, Kevin's gaze had shifted. No longer was he staring blankly off into the abyss outside the car window, he was now eyeing us. Nonchalantly, I unlaced my limbs from Hunter's head rest and sat back in my seat.
As coolly as my attempt at distancing myself was, Kevin most definitely noticed. An approaching car's headlight flashed across the glass of his lenses.
A/N: summer's almost here, trust these chapters will be getting published. sorry for the hiatus bro i always do this shit but oh well. anyhoo, hope yall enjoyed this chapter!
