The only boy I can't have

Eleanor

Sat between my dad and my brother I reached for their hands.

"Dear lord,
We thank you for this food we are about to eat, we are grateful for your guidance and your love.
We ask that you will bless this food and continue to guide our family along your path. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ,
amen."
My dad finished.

"Amen" we all chorused before digging into our feast.

I went straight to the potatoes - Luke's mom always makes the best ones.

Luke, Jacob and my dad all piled up there plates to create a mountain of gravy, biscuits, meat, mashed potatoes, the list goes on.

I just stuck to meat, potatoes and pigs in blankets. Just the thought of gravy and biscuits made me feel quite ill.

After devouring my plate I lent back unable to move. I could see most of us felt the same way as people tapped their bellies with exhaustion across their faces.

"Yo Luke can I talk to you?" Jacob asked Luke who grunted.

How strange, I thought, as I watched them walk outside.

********

After letting our food go down and watching the grinch dad got up "ok let's play charades" everyone groaned still feeling unable to move.

"Stop be so miserable - I'll go first" he picked a folded peice of paper out of a bowl.

He held his fingers up
"3 words" we all drawled
"Movie"
"2nd word"

Dad started grabbing his stomach and stuffed his face with chocolates.

"Starving - no - hungry" Betty Luke's mom guessed.
Dad shook his hand to the left and then to the right quickly.

"Hunger!" Jacob called out.

Dads nodded and started signalling the next word.

He took decs car controller that he has not let go off since he arrived.

"Hey!" Dec whined.

Dad began pointing the controller at the t.v.

"Controller"
"Video game"

"GAME" I shouted standing up abruptly.

He nodded excitedly.

"THE HUNGER GAMES" me and Luke screamed in unison making eye contact.

"Yes well done you guys!" Our moms said

"That's my girl" my dad picked me up flying me around.

Once we had all calmed down Jacob stood up and cleared his throat

"So I have some news" he shuffled awkwardly.

"Jacob  Oscar wills if you got someone pregnant I swear to god and all that's holy" mom held the bridge of her nose.

Jacob spluttered "what! No don't be silly"

"What I was going to say is, you know how much I care about my classes and my work....." we all waited.

"Well I've been offered a 3 month business course that would count as me still doing my degree but also as extra"

Mom jumped up covering him in kisses as I hugged his side.

Everyone congratulated him.

"Yeah well the only catch is" he gulped "it's in New York"

I looked around confused "so what's wrong with that? You don't normally travel back home unless it's a holiday" I shrugged

Everyone turned to look at me and Jacob avoided eye contact.

"It's you they don't want to be alone sweetie" Betty said softy rubbing my shoulder after realising nobody else was going to break the silence.

"What?" I asked clearly irritated.

"But it's okay because Luke said he will move in whilst I'm away" I didn't turn to look at him when everyone praised him.

"Are you fucking kidding me" I shouted everyone looked taken aback by my sudden angriness.

"I am 18 years old I don't need a babysitter let alone my older brothers friend" I was seething.
As my eyes met with Luke I could see the pain I had inflicted.

"I'm so fucking done with you all." I shouted

"merry fucking Christmas to me" I mumbled storming away wiping my angry tears.

There is no way Luke blinking walker would be my babysitter.

**********
                                  4 days later
My bags were packed once again as I stood in the hallway of my home.

I gave a cold hug to both of my parents and turned swiftly on my heels and climbed into the car.

It had been a bad couple of days. We spent the majority of it arguing.

Eventually I was forced into the agreement that Luke would live with us over the weekend and the hockey house the rest.

I was still fuming at everyone. The betrayal. The fact they didn't trust me. I felt my eyes become wet and I pulled my jumper hood over my head.

I also couldn't fathom how Luke could go behind my back like that especially with how close we have been getting. I couldn't even look at him.

The only person I was less cross at was Jacob.

2 days after Xmas

Knock knock

"Go away mom" I sulked. I hated my room but anything was better than seeing them.

"It's me" Jacob said softly.

I opened my door and he was stood there with a Solemn expression.

Jacob sat at my desk and I sat on my bed with my arms crossed.

"I'm sorry okay? I just worry."

"I don't forgive you. But I am sorry that I turned such a good amazing happy thing for you into a bad thing." I told him honestly.

He nodded.

"I don't think we will ever agree on luke staying with you fully. I'll talk to mum and dad about a slightly different arrangement."

I shot him a quick smile before he left.

I'm glad he wasn't here for long as I didn't want to upset him but I equally wasn't just going to tell him it was all okay and that we are all good when it wasn't.

AUTHORS NOTE
What do you think of this chapter?

Do you think Jacob asking Luke to move in was the right thing to do?