Locks and Keys

Chapter 14

That afternoon passed by without any drama, which was a relief and before we knew it, we had to pick up the siblings from school. Lock and I walked out to the car in silence, until a voice started calling my name.

"Hey, Key! Wait a minute there." I turned to see Brook and Amanda running our way. When they got to us, Brook bent over dramatically and panting hard.

"Oh, come on, Brooklyn, you barely did any exercise!" Amanda accused, whacking her on the back.

"Oh, all right! I was just trying to get sympathy." Brook whined, standing up straight and evening out her breathing.

"Anything in particular needed, Ladies?" Lock asked, looking at his phone for the time, we really did need to get Lucy and Jo-Jo from school and Jamie was already waiting by the car looking as bored as ever.

"Nothing that concerns you, Bro. Key, on Friday, we are going to be having a super fun slumber party at my house, just us girls. I've invited Emily and Ava; both of them are totally for it. What do you think? You in?" Brook asked, with a hopeful look o n her face.

"Why wouldn't I? I have to ask my parents, but apart from that, I will be there." I replied confidently. I wasn't going to miss this for the world – slumber parties were the best!

"Oh, and maybe your sister could come along? Lucy, right? She would be most welcome." Brook suggested with a massive grin.

"That's a great idea! She had a fight with a friend, so unless they've made up or she's seeing other friends, I'm sure she would like to come." I said. Lock sent me a look when I mentioned the fight with Joanna, but I sent one back just to hush him up for now. 

"YES! I'm so looking forward to Friday now!" Amanda squealed, jumping up and down like Lucy would if she had found out something really exciting.

"It's a plan! We can also talk about the you-know-what and see what Emily and Ava think about it." Brook said, trying to be inconspicuous, but failing miserably, seeing as though Lock just raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Yes! Well, we've got to go pick up the kids, see you tomorrow!" I exclaimed with excitement. A grin spread across my face and I skipped off towards the car behind Lock. He turned back to look at me with a frown wrinkling his forehead.

"What was that about Lucy and her friend getting in a fight?" He asked with concern.

"That's what she came to me yesterday about. You know, when you complained that it wasn't you she wanted advice from? Well, she told me that her friend had gotten mad at her because they both liked the same boy and wanted to know how to get her friend back." I told him as we got to the car. Lock pressed the unlock button and Jamie got in without a second glance our way. We followed suit and got into the front seats; Lock started up the engine and then pulled out of the parking lot.

"Boys? At her age? I hope you told her to stay away from them! No boys for her until she's thirty." Lock stated firmly.

"I did tell her about no boys, but not until she's thirty! She's going to grow up and meet boys, just like I have." I said, winking at him, making him scoff. I ignored him and plugged in my phone to the speakers and started playing Maddie & Tae's 'No Place Like You'.  

*****

Those next two days were uneventful. We had gotten home and played a board game per Lucy's request, which Jamie won. Damn that child! I was so close to winning as well! As you can tell, I'm not bitter anymore and I've completely moved on.

School was the same as it had been on the first three days, which helped me get into the routine of what the rest of the school year was going to be like. I was gradually getting used to the occasional text during the day and would always show Lock, Brook, Amanda or Ollie, depending on who was with me at the time. All of them would be concerned about it some more than others, cough, Lock and Ollie, but I knew I had to be patient. Amanda, Brook and I were always vigilant when a new text was received on my phone. We all knew when one had, because I had saved the unknown number as a contact into my phone under the name 'Creeper' and set a certain ring-tone to go off when a text came in.