I don't know

15

'Hey! Whatcha doing!'

The minute Emily Dimes heard this voice she instantly huffed and turned to the person who owned that ever so irritating voice. All she wanted to do was get in a few pages of reading before her English.

'What do you want James?' Emily asked as she continued reading her book.

'Nothing! Just want to know what you're reading.' Archie said, grinning stupidly.

Emily sighed and flipped up the cover of her book to show Archie.

'The Secrets of Crickley Hall.' Archie read out loud as he tilted his head towards a side and read it out loud. 'Whats it about?'

'A mansion that's been haunted since WWII.'

'Ooh. Can I maybe read it after you?' Archie asked, genuinely sounding curious.

'Sure.' Emily said as Archie grinned and turned around in his chair to talk to his friends. Emily smiled to herself as she turned back to her book. She only had like a page left.

Her smile faded the moment she saw Maya out of the corner of her eye.

'Honestly, what's she playing at? That's Archie Bloody James, why is she playing hard to get?' Maya said to her 'best friend', June. Emily felt tears glimmer in her eyes but she kept them in. No way was she letting them see her cry.

The rest of the lesson flew by quickly and Emily had even handed Archie her book but sternly told him not to dog-ear the pages or bend the spine. It was last period anyway so Archie ran up to the gates to meet up with Austin.

'You wanna go now?' Austin asked as he stood bored near the gates. Archie usually took longer to walk outside the gates as Archie would muck about with his friends after class ended.

'What's the hurry little brother? Anyway I need a favour.'

Austin sighed loudly but said, 'What?'

'Hear me out. I want you to ask Anthony-'

'Nope.' Austin said, cutting Archie off and began walking. Archie stood there mouth wide open shocked his brother had cut him off like that. No one walks away from Archie James. No one!

'You didn't even hear the whole thing!' Archie said, in disbelief as he followed his brother, jogging a bit to catch up with him.

'I don't care, Archie. I'm tired of being in the middle of you two whenever he comes over. Grow up!' Archie said, not stopping his very fast paced walk. Archie was actually surprised his baby brother could even walk that fast.

'Fine. You want to make a stop somewhere before we go home?' Archie asked, finally catching up to Austin. His brother turned around to Archie and grinned. He knew exactly what he was ranking about.

~~~

The best thing about working from home was the fact, you could take a break whenever you wanted. So Anthony James was currently taking a 3 hour break to watch the T2O World Cup. He wasn't really focusing on the match anyway, it was just meant to be a distraction from yesterday's events. Ally had taken the triplets and given Anthony some alone time. He then picked Sierra and Cam up from school and tried to be his normal self with them but even they knew he wasn't in his right mind.

Then someone knocked on the door. It couldn't be Damon because he was spending the day buying baby clothes. Ally was at work and Lucia was meeting up with some old friends. Sierra and Cam were both in their respective rooms, doing who knows what.

'Come on in, whoever it is.' Anthony said, unlocking the door and walking away from it and into the kitchen.

'Hey!' Austin said as he walked into the apartment. Anthony smiled at his younger brother and gestured for him to come sit down. Archie walked out from behind Austin and mumbled his brother a greeting.

'Hello there. Is that Archie James?! In my apartment! I must be blessed.' Anthony said sarcastically as Archie rolled his eyes, suppressing a grin. 'I'm kidding. You're welcome whenever. And besides I need a break from Austin.'

Archie looked over at Austin his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Austin quickly shrugged, looking away from his brother avoiding his gaze. Something was up.

'So, what can I do for you two?' Anthony asked, setting a glass of orange juice in front of both of them.

'Archie wanted to ask you something.' Austin said, downing his glass like it was whiskey. Who was this and what had he done to Austin James? This was not the quiet and timid Austin everyone knew.

'So? What's up?' Anthony asked as Archie gulped and looked at Austin.

'If you think I'm telling you, you can go make pancakes.' He said as Austin huffed and rolled his eyes. 

'Fine. I'm due for a meet with my therapist anyway. Where's Cam?' Austin asked and Anthony pointed to the hallway.

'Last door on your right.' Anthiny said, chuckling. And the minute Austin was out of sight, Anthony turned to Archie. 

Archie didn't say anything for the next few moments neither did Anthony. Both of them stood in an awkward silence when Archie finally spoke up.

'First things first, I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I did when Dad died. I was upset and took it out on you.' Archie said, finally looking up from his shoes and looking Anthony in the eye.

Anthony just stood there, blinking back at Archie. Archie feared for a second Anthony wouldn't forgive him and tell him to leave his house but he didn't do that. He nodded slowly.

'I appreciate the apology.' Anthony said softly and Archie smiled. Now that was out of the way.

'Well there's more. You know your editor? Shaine Dimes?' Archie asked slowly as Anthony's expression changed from forgiving to plain confused.

'Yes. I do know my editor. In fact I've known her since I was 17. What do you want with her?' Anthony said, obviously feeling very sassy.

Archie sighed loudly, 'I have a crush on her daughter.'

Anthony instantly spit out the juice he was drinking and looked up at Archie, shock written all over his face. He then burst out laughing while Archie stared at this mad man who was apparently his brother.

'You've got a crush on Emily?' Anthony asked, once he had finally calmed down and began to clean up the juice he spilt.

'Yeah... I think I'm making progress. She gave me this book.' Archie said brightly, holding out the Secret of Crickley Hall.

Anthony took one look at the book and burst out into laughter all over again.

'Anthony! Quit laughing and tell me what's so funny?' Archie said, before he began to sulk, pouting like a toddler.

'I'm sorry. It's just- I never thought you'd like Emily Dimes!'

'Well, me neither but here we are!' Archie said, throwing his hands in the air before crossing his hands over his chest.

Anthony finally composed himself fully and put on his best serious face, 'Well, let me give you a piece of advice. If that girl is anything like her mother, do NOT ruin her book. Shaine literally murdered me when I accidently held her "baby" to hard."

"OK. Noted.'

'Next, do NOT ask her about her father. Or her brother. Don't ask questions just don't.' Anthony continued, counting off of his fingers as Archie continued nodding.

'Mhm.'

'Finally, do whatever she says. If she tells you to leave her alone, leave her alone. If she tells you to jump off a cliff, jump off a cliff.'

'Yes sir.' Archie said nodding as Anthony continued about the dos and Don't. If he didn't know any better, he would conclude him and his brother were now on good terms.