The Pain Thief

Chapter 6

PROCEED WITH CAUTION WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEPOVERS; YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE TO JUMP OUT A FEW WINDOWS. 

Zoe woke to someone shaking her. She groaned and rubbed her face, running her hands through her now lose hair. Her hair pins were discarded on the book that she had been reading in front of the bed. 

She heard someone next to her and saw Jack sit up, rubbing his eyes. 

They both looked to see Sarah standing at the foot of the bed with a smirk on her face. Zoe got up on her elbows. 

"It's time for dinner guys," she said. 

Zoe sat up as Sarah went to the door. Before leaving, Sarah turned around and said, "And just so you guys know, a couple of my friends are sleeping over too."

"Yeah ok," said Jack tiredly. "We'll be down in a minute."

Sarah was smiling again as she left the room, sliding the door shut behind her. 

Zoe sighed and asked, "What time is it?"

Jack stood up and stretched. "About six." He helped her up. "I guess we'll be having dinner with Sarah's friends tonight."

"Cheer up," said Zoe with a slight smile. "Maybe it'll be fun." 

Jack rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. Instead he got up and opened the door for her, leading her down the hallway and the stairs before going into the dining room. 

The two of them found the whole entourage there. Mr. Brown was walking around helping Mrs. Brown set the table while Sarah talked animatedly with her friends. Sarah had Lindsey, Tara, Liz, and Cora with her, which meant that they were going to do the whole sleepover thing. 

Zoe had met them before when they'd come over, since the group of five were best friends. They'd all been introduced and had even run into each other in school sometimes. The girls were all shorter than both Zoe and Jack, but Zoe knew they'd definitely catch up to her soon at least. 

Jack sighed again and Zoe cracked a smile. It was quite funny to watch Jack since he and his father were usually surrounded by girls. Zoe knew he didn't mind as much as he let on, but she could certainly understand how some of the giggling and talking could get on his nerves. 

"Alright kids, find some seats," said Mrs. Brown as she sat next to Mr. Brown who sat at the head of the table. 

Sarah, Lindsey, and Tara sat on the right side while Jana sat next to her mother and Liz and Cora took the seats next to Jana and at the other end of the table. Jack walked over and grabbed two bar-stools, dragging them into place next to the table. 

"Ok Jack, Zoe, we can get up so you guys can sit," said Mrs. Brown, gesturing to Mr. Brown. 

Zoe was about to tell them they were fine, but Jack cut in, "Mom, it's fine. We'll just sit here. Hand us some plates?"

Everyone started getting their food, which was spaghetti, to make it easy. Jack and Zoe got theirs last, returning to their bar-stools. 

Zoe knew there was a trick to eating spaghetti with a spoon, but she just always twisted it around her fork messily. Jack did the same. When they looked at each other, they smiled, laughing amidst all the talking going on at the table. 

"You've got a little something there Jack," said Zoe with a smile as she looked at his face. 

He smiled and wiped his face while Zoe laughed. Zoe was actually having a good time watching everybody with the smiles and laughter, but her good time was interrupted.