Incarnate

Behavior Changes

Sunday night arrived much faster than Renée wanted. She packed her things up that night after dinner with Jackie and her mother and headed back home. Jake was back home by the time she walked in the door, and her mother in an exceptional mood.

"Hi, Renée. Did you have a good time?" her mother asked as soon as she walked in the door. Her mom sat on the couch reading a book and looked much more rested than she did Friday. "Jake's upstairs, he said to tell you that he needs to talk to you."

"Okay, thank you, Mom. Yes, I did have a wonderful time, thank you." Renée walked up the stairs and dropped her things in her room before proceeding to her brother's room. Jake must have heard her because when she turned around, he stood in her doorway. "Jake. Warn me the next time you are standing right behind me, will you?"

Jake laughed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Did you have fun on your date? Was he good to you?" He seemed to be examining her to make sure she looked all right. Has everyone lost their minds? Renée thought.

"Yes, I had a very wonderful time. We went out to dinner and to a nice park the first day, and the second we double dated with Jackie and Cas. How was your weekend? You did not have any problem telling Dad, did you?"

"No, I had no problem with Dad. What's he gonna tell me? He wouldn't dare tell me no, you know that. I had a pretty good time. Although, I did some research on your date and his brother, and I don't feel so great about them. Are you aware they have no history? It's like they sprung into existence as soon as they started school, and even those records are shabby. What's up with these guys? How well do you actually know them?"

"Whoa. Jake, what is this, the third degree? I know that they do not really have anything under their names. But they are not even eighteen yet. That is a good thing. They should not have a record. And I know that their school records are missing information. Did you forget that I work in the office in school and that Jackie is a hacker too?"

"You don't understand me, Renée, when I say that they do not have a record. I do not mean that they don't have a criminal record . . . I mean they don't even have a social or a birth certificate. They literally have never existed up until recently. I'm quite frankly wondering how they're even in school."

"Jake, I do not know why you are doing this. Was it not you that said you were surprised that I did not have a boyfriend? Now that I have found someone that I actually like, and might even fall in love with, you want to find something wrong with them? I have never been disappointed in having you for a brother before. If this is how you are going to act when I do find someone, then maybe everyone is right about you." She instantly regretted what she said. Jake looked as if he had the breath sucked right out of him. What is wrong with me?

"I-I-I just don't want to see you get hurt or get in some kind of trouble. I'm sorry—I didn't mean—I'm sorry." He turned to walk away clearly hurt that she would say such a thing.

"Jake, wait. I am sorry, I did not mean it. Jake? Jake? Please, I am so sorry." She wanted to run after him but her feet felt glued in place. She collapsed when his door closed and tears ran down her face. She was mad at herself. She had never been so mean to her brother before. They'd always gotten along, almost like they were best friends more than they were siblings. They never fought like normal brother and sister. Now when he tried to warn her of something that might be bad, she lashed out at him instead. She desperately wanted to take it back or turn it around, but she felt lost. She didn't know what to say, what to do. Her first boyfriend and she alienated the only family member that always had her back.

Numbly she shuffled to her bed and pulled her art supplies out of her duffel bag. Renée didn't even pay attention to what she drew. She felt comforted by the feeling of the pencil tracing over paper. The way it glided across curves and lines like a dance. It relaxed her to clear her mind as pictures came to life in front of her. She must have spent an hour drawing. Still disgusted with herself, she closed the book without examining the picture and took out her writing book.