The Devil You Know

Chapter 24: I Love Her

I opened the door to the house it was really late, I had spent the whole week with Tess only coming home today, I took off my shoes and stretched my arms out. I heard the television softly in the living room and I wandered towards it. There sat Jade and Naomi, both covered in one blanket watching horror movies, something was off about them but I couldn't tell what.

"Oh my god is that a ghost?" Jade whispered to Naomi as they stared at me, I guess she couldn't see my face in the dark. Naomi fell back, taking Jade with her in a laughing fit, I smiled a little, they were funny but I didn't know why they were acting like that.

"No it's Brendan!" Naomi stood up and walked to me, looking into my eyes. "HE WAS LOVIN TESS UP" she laughed again and walked to the backyard door. "HEY BRENDANS HOME" she yelled and I watched Tommy and Joel come inside. Jade stood up and turned on the light, tripping over her own foot and then laughing at herself. Tommy glared at me a little but nodded towards me.

Joel came at me with a hug. "HELLOOOOOO" I could smell the weed on him and I laughed a little. There were small footsteps on the stairs, and everyone went silent. ma walked downstairs, her short blonde hair curled beautifully, she had just woken up. She smiled at us and asked if we were doing ok. We all nodded and she smiled again, disappearing into the kitchen to make coffee. Naomi grabbed Jades hand and they went into the backyard, leaving the three of us alone.

"So.." I cleared my throat, looking at my brother, "what have you been up to?" He stared at me, his eyes hard.

"Nothin'" he shrugged, returning to the backyard. I sighed, he had been pushing me away lately Joel wrapped his arm around me and we headed into the backyard too.

"Tommy's just mad because Lena left him" Joel teased. Tommy glared up and him and Jade was laughing.

"JADE SHUT UP" he yelled. Throwing a boxing glove at her. She laughed harder, doubling over. Naomi sat on the wooden picnic table and looked up at the sky, the sun was setting. Tommy didn't look too distraught about it, but then again, he hid stuff well. Naomi pulled out a cigarette and lit it, Tommy looked at her and motioned with his hand for her to pass it, they shared it.

"You guys needa stop smoking" I chuckled and they all started ranting an raving, waving their hands dismissively at me. Jade threw the boxing glove at me now, laughing again and sitting next to Naomi. "So, where are you going when you're done school?" I asked looking at Jade, she thought for a moment and then shrugged.

"Haven't thought that far yet." She looked at Naomi and slung her arm around her.

"What about you?" I asked Naomi. She leaned her head on Jade, and thought for a moment.

"Might join the army, dunno yet" Jade looked at her, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"What..? You didn't tell me that..." She spoke quietly and Naomi just shrugged.

"Been thinking about it a lot lately..." She looked off at the sky.

"Me too.." Joel spoke up and looked at his sister. "It's because of dad" there was silence, their father was a marine, it only made sense that they wanted to honour him in that way, but I wondered if they'd actually go through with it. Tommy cleared his throat.

"Are you here to chill or are you gonna ask questions like a school teacher, Brendan?" He asked, glaring up at me. I laughed and sat next to him, putting my arm around him.

"You're such an asshole" Tommy growled and stared at his hands that had black, cut finger gloves on them. We stayed outside for hours into the night, starting a fire in the little fire pit we had in the backyard. They shared funny stories and laughed with each other, but I was exhausted and left them to themselves, saying goodnight and walking back into the house. pop was sitting on his recliner and looked up at me.

"You doin ok, Brendan?" He asked, he was sober, and it was odd. I nodded and walked past him and up the stairs. Ma was fast asleep in her room, I opened the door slightly to check on her and smiled to myself when I saw her. I walked into mine and Tommy's room and laid on my bed, sprawling my limbs out and closing my eyes, falling asleep almost immediately.