Brotherhood.

12.

"The beach?" Rick squeaked with some excitement the very next morning.
Spike nodded looking to the rest of us.
"I thought it would be good, and with it being summer, I thought why not?" He said.
I glanced to Jeremy who still looked like he was trying to function with the world.
I smiled softly.
"The beach sounds like a fun idea." I agreed as Rick grinned.
Spike looked to the others.
"Any objections?" He asked.
The others all shook their heads.
I turned to Jeremy. "Do you want to come?" I offered.
Jeremy looked to Spike who shrugged with a smile.
"It won't bother me, as long as you don't cause any mischief." He told him.
I grinned as Jeremy smirked.
"You said the wrong thing, we're both full of mischief." He said.
Luke rolled his eyes but managed a smile.
"If we're going, get your asses in gear and go pack." He demanded.
I smiled as we ran up stairs.

The road trip to the beach wasn't very long, I was actually grateful Jeremy was able to come and bring his own ride so we weren't crowded in the van.
It's felt like years since our last vacation to the beach, we were all kids back then and Johnny was our legal guardian, now Spike and Kelton have taken that title as our guardians.
"Are you excited?" I heard Jeremy ask over the radio, I looked to him with a soft smile.
"Mhm, its been way to long since we've been here.." I brought my knees to my chest as we parked in the parking lot at the hotel we would be staying at that was across from the ocean.
Johnny went all out for us seven to have the time of our lives for the next few days here, needless to say.. I think Rick was the most excited to be back here.

"Okay, so we will be sharing rooms as pairs, except two of you will become a trio." Spike explained.
Kelton wrapped his arm around Luke with a grin.
"I call dibs on the brat." He declared as Luke glared connecting his fist to the others gut then made his way over to Rick and Duncan.
"We will be the trio." He spat.
The guys were snickering as Kelton groaned then looked to Spike who sighed.
"Jeremy and Drake, are you two okay sharing a room?" He asked us.
The two of us exchanged looks before smiling with nods.
Spike nodded then looked to Kelton.
"Guess us adults will be sharing a room." He said.
Luke blinked.
"Did he seriously just call them adults?" He asked.
Duncan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Far from it really.." He murmured.
Rick laughed as Spike and Kelton stood there with the looks of betrayal.

It took us nearly thirty minutes to get our rooms booked, then settled in. I was very happy with the size of mine and Jeremy's room, I turned to the other who was already undressing.
I felt heat rush to my cheeks as I turned away, my heart beating hard against my chest.
"You okay?" Jeremy asked me.
I nodded, all I could think about was that kiss.. why am I suddenly shy?
I turned to him, his chest in my face as I looked up into his eyes, I tensed when he grasped my chin then pressed his lips to mine.
"When are we going to tell the guys..?" I asked him, my head lowering now.
Jeremy blinked. "That we kissed?" He asked me.
I frowned. "Is that all it was? I thought, that when you kiss someone.. you end up in a relationship with them.." I murmured.
I flushed hearing him chuckle now.
"Is that what you want? For us to be in a committed relationship?" He asked me.
I slowly nodded.
"You are very adorable when you want to be." Jeremy said with a grin.
I looked at him, fixing to object that I wasn't adorable but he cut me off.
"Drake, will you be my boyfriend?" Jeremy asked me.
The question itself made me weak as I looked at him.
"Y-yes.." I answered then squeaked when he brought me into a hug that caused us to fall onto the bed, followed by a set of laughter.

"Look how beautiful the water looks!" Rick chimed with a smile, his arms above his head as he breathed in the fresh air, his brown eyes sparkling with excitement as he took off to the water.
Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just how old does Rick think he is?" He asked.
Duncan smiled. "As old as he sees himself to be." He told him.
"Which is literally, seven years old." Kelton added.
I smiled softly looking to Jeremy. "Wanna go walk the beach line?" I asked him.
Jeremy arched a brow before smiling softly, he took my hand and we began to walk.
"Wait.." Kelton looked to his brothers and Jeremy's hands before tapping on Spike who swatted the other before looking over to where the other was pointing.
"Are they..?" Kelton questioned.
Spike frowned. "HOLD IT!" He barked.
I tensed at the sound of the others tone, I completely forgot we didn't tell them yet.
The two of us turned, to my older three brothers who all had their arms crossed.
"What's with this?" Spike asked pointing to our hands.
Jeremy blinked.
"Oh, we're dating now." He told him.
All eyes widened, especially mine, this was how we were going to tell them? With bluntness? That will never work, they'll reject the idea of us being together.
Duncan blinked.
"Oh, well.. that's cute.. um, keep it PG for the others around you.." He said.
IT WORKED!?
Jeremy nodded as we walked off.

"I'm surprised that worked.." I confessed, my hand swinging with Jeremy's who grinned.
"You just have to be blunt and tell them how it is, they can't tell you no after finding out your with that person.. it'll only reflect bad on them." He told me.
I tilted my head but nodded in understanding.

The two of us stood in front of the ocean, the waves crashing against our feet as I frowned softly.
"There is a reason why we haven't been here in years." I began.
Jeremy looked to me with a frown. "I figured there would be a story to why not all of you seemed as excited as Rick did." He said.
I crossed my arms with a frown. "Luke nearly died in this exact ocean, I was on a pallet in the sand while Duncan watched me, Luke and Kelton were in the water and the moment Kelton turned his back to check on Rick. The current took Luke under.." I murmured.
Jeremy's eyes grew wide, he glanced over his shoulder to the young adult now that was running to and away from the waves with Rick like children would.
I frowned. "All I heard were sirens and people shouting, Spike had tried to dive under but Johnny beat him to it.. we thought we were going to lose our uncle and brother that same day, until Johnny finally came up with a unconscious Luke in his arms. Luke slept for days after he gained consciousness, he was actually terrified to take showers.. Duncan told me that Kelton would literally turn the shower head on and shower with Luke with their clothes on, it always lead to a mess afterwards.. but it got them clean." I said with a sigh.
Jeremy frowned, he took my hand in his. "The good thing is, that they're alive today." He told me.
I smiled softly as we walked over to the group to get ready to head to a restaurant to eat.

We ended up going to Joe's Crabshack, one of my favorite fish places to be honest, they had these amazing crab fireballs and awesome sweet shrimp. I remembered how Spike and Duncan had to bribe me to try something with candy, surprisingly. I enjoyed the fish food and denied the candy even after I first tried it.
The seven of us had the time of our lives that day, and tomorrow  was going to be even better.



Hey guys! I'm sorry this chapter is a tad late, I think I'm fixing to go down to a chapter a day with me updating so late now.. and with me getting a job soon, the chapters will really start to come in late, but they will be done.
I had a lot of fun working on this chapter, and can't wait to work on the next one.
Until then.
Thanks!
~Celty.