The Devil You Know

Chapter 2: This Friday

I finished jades paper for her didn't want her stressing over it and it wasn't a big deal. I passed it to her and she smiled.

"You didn't have to" she read it over. "but thank you" I laughed, tuning on the game console we had and passing her a controller. Grandma made us some tea, walking slowly to us and passing us the hot cups. Jade smiled up at grandma who smiled sweetly back at her, she treated Jade like she was her own.

The door swung open and in walked my 17 year old brother,, drenched in rain as he threw his backpack on the floor. "IM HOME" he yelled into the house, walking into the living room and kissing grandma on the cheek before he sat down next to me, slinging his wet jacket arm around me. He nodded towards Jade as a greeting and she nodded back.

"How was school?" He asked kissing my forehead. After our parents died and we moved in with grandma, Joel became very protective of me.

"Shit" Jade chuckled cause in both of us to laugh.

"Pretty much" I agreed rubbing my temples. Grandma wandered upstairs into her room leaving the three of us alone in the living room.

"so, you're spending the weekend at my house right?" Jade asked, looking at me with hopeful eyes, she didn't really like to be hone, but if I was there she didn't mind too much. I nodded smiling at her.

"Uh, who said you could go?" Joel laughed, scruffing my hair up. I growled at him as he got up, stretching his arms out and takig off his leather jacket. I could see the beads of rain sticking to the short hair of his mohawk.

"Grandma said I could, so fuck you" Joel laughed, walking to the door once he heard the doorbell. Jade and I peaked out behind the couch to see who it was.

There stood Tommy Conlon, black hoodie over his head he was soaked in rain. He smiled at Joel and he let him in. "How you doin', brother?" He asked, embracing him in a one armed hug. Jade hid behind the couch, hoping stint wouldn't see her for a while.

"Ain't too bad, just got home, I was with Kate" he smirked receiving a chuckle from Tommy and a playful punch in the arm.

"She let you in yet?" He teased making his way into the living room. I gave him a small smile but Tommy just stared at me. "Uh, hi.." He greeted me awkwardly, scratching his head. Jade peaked out at him, her eyes big and pleading. "Don't gimmie that look, Jade you know I'd let you stay if I could" he plopped down in the couch and Jade passed him her controller, I passed mine to JOEL and he plopped down next to Tommy as they played together. "Ah, I guess we could stay fora bit" Tommy chuckled, delving into the game with Joel.

Jade and I went upstairs into my room, covered with posters of games and bands I liked. Jade flung herself out on my bed letting out a frustrated groan. I picked up the whiskey bottle he brought, taking a large swig and passing it back to her and sat down next to her.

"Man I don't wanna go to school tomorrow" I laughed as she leaned her head on my shoulder.

"I don't either" I sighed "Mr. Mitchell is like... A Nazi" Jade and I laughed hard holding out faces to hide.

"HE IS!" She exclaimed, pulling out a cigarette from my pack and lighting it, then passing me one an lighting it for me. I smiled, exhaling the smoke of my cigarette as we laid back on my bed together.

"How's pop?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"Same old same old" she sighed. Closing her eyes and clearing her throat.

"Brendan and Ma?"

"Brendan's got a girlfriend" he laughed "her names Tess, she's pretty" she paused for a minutes staring at the ceiling "ma's doing ok, she's not as sad anymore" I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by my door opening, Tommy walked in without permission, staring at me for a moment and shifting His feet awkwardly.

"Come on Jade" he mumbled, not even caring about the cigarettes. I guess he knew we smoked. "Can I uh" he cleared his throat "can I get one of those?" He looked at me and I nodded, opening my back and giving him two, he nodded as thanks and Jade stood up grabbing her stuff, leaving the rest of the whiskey here for me.

Joel and I walked then to the door and I hugged Jade telling her to call me when she got home so I knew she was safe and if she wanted to talk. She smiled at me, nodding and heading out the door.

"I'll see you, brother" he nodded at Joel then he looked at me, pausing for a moment "later, Naomi" he mumbled, turning on his heel and following Jade.

Joel closed the door and sighed as he locked it, walking with me into the kitchen. "You hungry, Nae?" I nodded and he began cooking.

"You walking with us tomorrow?" I asked, referring to going to school in the morning, I usually walked with Jade and her brothers. He thought for a moment, looking over at me.

"Tomorrow's Friday?" He asked, I nodded pulling up my long black hair into a ponytail. "Nah, not going to school tomorrow, got some stuff to deal with" I nodded, looking down at my hands, he never told me what he was doing outside of school and it kind of worried me, but I knew Joel could take care of himself. "Need me pick you up after?" I shook my head.

"Going to Jades for the weekend remember?" He thought for a moment.

"Oh yeah" he chuckled, stirring whatever he was making. I sighed, breathing in deeply, I couldn't wait for the weekend, school was stressful as I just wanted to spend time with my best friend. Joel placed the plate of pasta infront of me, siting next to me with his own and we ate together, talking and laughing quietly for hours into the night.