The Opener

Part 3

Cookie

Dub dub. Dub dub. Dub dub.

My heart. It's beating so fast. What's happening?

Marie. Oh, Marie. She looked so beautiful. Her long red hair, her beautiful eyes.....

Ughhh!!!! Chill, dude.

You've liked her in high school and that's it. That. Is. It. She's nothing but a girl who works for your dad. Ok.

I must've took long calming myself down because Cupcake, my supposedly "more mature" older sister, suddenly clapped.

"Nelius, are you ok??"

"Huh? Yah. Oh, I'm fine."

"She must've hit you that hard huh?" she smirked.

"No! It didn't even hurt at all. My head hurts because I've been thinking about stuff. That's all. And plus. You weren't even there when it happened."

"Then how come your face was like you've seen a ghost or something when you got into the elevator? And I didn't mean your head. I meant your heart."

And once again, she smirked with an eyebrow raised and a knowing look in her eye.

*sigh* I've gotta admit. She knows me more that I'll ever know myself.

"What are you even saying? That I like her? Pssh. That doesn't even make sense! She's probably had an overflowing list of boyfriends, that little sl-"

"Hey!! Lius!! Don't be so mean. And don't say curse words!!" she said as she punched me in the shoulder. It didn't hurt though. Not even close.

"Ok, ok. I won't. But just so we understand I don't like her and I never ever-"

"Cornelius, Cupcake, your father would like to see you now." my father's assistant rudely interrupted.

I glared at her. No one but my family has the right to call me Cornelius. No one.

"Don't you ever call me that. You hear?"

"Yes, sir."

As we made our way to my dad's office, Cupcake looked at me with sad eyes.

"Hey, Cornelius. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Ok? Fine."

*sigh* "It's been six years. You should try to move on. Live on the happier side of life."

"I am moving on. But that doesn't mean I should be open to people. This is how I am ok??"

"Ok, ok. Just so you know. I'm here if you need to talk, k?"

"Yeah, yeah. Stop with the mushy shi- I mean stuff. You're creeping me out."

She rolled her eyes. But still smiled anyways. Which made me smile. Even if it was a really tiny one. So small, you wouldn't even notice it. But it was still a smile.

When we go to my dad's office there he was. Sitting on his big leather chair with his really really expensive suit.

He looked tired. And serious. As always.

"Cornelius, Maine. Please, sit down. We need to talk about something."

"What is it dad?"

"It's nothing you should worry about, Maine. This is about your brother."

I wasn't exactly "the best son" in the world. I actually was sort of the opposite, honestly. Ever since.......

"What now, dad? Another punishment?"

He glared. "No actually. It's something that will take up your free time. Since you've been using it up doing nothing or watnot."

My eyes widened. What does he have in mind?

Please don't let me work here. Please. Anything but being stuck in this hellhole.

"You're gonna be working for me. But you're going to travel to Hawaii. And you're going to research on the Opah fish."

Yes!! Finally. A time to slack of without anyone complaining.

"But....

Oh no.

"You'll be working with someone."

"Who??"

"My most hardworking oceanographer. And she's a really good person so I'm hoping she'll help in "fixing your behavior". Marie Wayne."

No. No. No. No.

Heck no.