Life in the Shadows

34.

"Where's Jack?"

~

"Um," Gilinsky bites his lip, "I dunno,"

"Are you lying to me?" I demand, putting my hands on my hips.

"No," he answered quickly.

"Jack," I murmur. "Where is my brother?"

"Out," he sighs. "With Nate,"

"Why?"

"I can't tell you," he scratches his neck and looks down at his feet.

"Sam? Anything?"

"Well, 'm sworn to secrecy, so I can't really help you out. Sorry,"

"You guys are rude," I roll my eyes, continuing to watch my show.

"Babe, we can't tell you. We're sorry," Gilinksy murmurs, poking my stomach to try and get a reaction from me.

I ignore him.

"Maggie," he whines childishly. "Don't be like this,"

"I'm not being like anything. Now be quiet; I'm watching something."

Silence takes over the room for a solid ten minutes, and Gilinsky begins talking again.

"Are you mad?" he asks, resting his head in my lap.

"Nope," I answer back sharply.

"I'm sorry," he pouts, grabbing my hands, "I don't like seeing you upset."

"I'm not upset," I snap. "Drop it,"

"Yeah, you sound perfectly content,"

"Shut up, Jack. I'm seriously not in the mood right now."

"Why are you so angry with me, Maggie? What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything. I'm just... I'm tired of the secrets and the sneaking around,"

Ironic, my subconscious snickers. You have two identities, then say you're tired of secrets? That makes a lot of sense, Maggie.

"It's not necessarily Jack sneaking around, Mags. He's just getting something done that you can't know about yet."

"Is he in a mafia or something?"

"No," he chuckles.

"Well, that's good. Why can't you tell me?"

"Because Jack said I couldn't."

"I won't tell him?" I try.

"I can't tell you!" He laughs.

"Please," I pout my bottom lip and make my eyes bigger.

"I can't. I'm sorry,"

"You're mean," I push his head out of my lap.

"I know," he pulls me into his side and doesn't let me go. "I know you're not mad,"

"Do you, now?"

"Yep,"

--

"I'm home!" Jack yells upon his arrival.

"Where have you been?" I ask immediately.

"Gilinsky and Sam didn't tell you?"

I shake my head.

"That's a surprise. I can't tell you, though. You'll have to wait until next week,"

"What's going on next week?"

"Your birthday..."

"Oh,"