Second Chance

Chapter 8- My Family Needs a Little Help or Medical Attention {Part 1/2}

"Mac?" Jem questions, knocking on the door softly and entering the room. "Are you chill, or do I need to leave because I don't feel like getting hurt today"

"Yes," I respond a little too tense. "I don't know. I mean...that was very startling and shocking to see I suppose. This may be very hard to get used to."

"Um, just wanted to tell you that Zoe went home because she wasn't feeling well. She really is sorry about this whole 'I'm your best friend and I'm hiding the fact that I'm dating your hot older brother and I've been dating him in secret for like two years without telling you until you caught me making out with him' thing."

"Wait... you think my brother is hot??"

"Seriously? That's the only thing you got out of that? I'm just saying that Zoe is really sorry about not telling you, and me. Trust me, I know, when she's crying into your shoulder, she tells you thing that she normally wouldn't," he inquires, flopping back down into the bean bag.

"I don't understand, it's not even a big deal," I say, sitting down onto the hardwood floor next to Jem, curling my legs into my body.

"The only thing that bothers me is that she never told me. I'm fine with her dating my brother, to be honest, she is the only girl that can actually keep him in line. I just don't want her to get hurt, that's all. Jake can be a ass sometimes. But... Whatever, let's actually do something productive and just finish our math homework."

We grab our homework and pencils from my desk and resume our homework and get the party started.

Nah, Jem and I just sat in silence the whole time.

***

Jem and I walk to my front door as my mother walks in. "Where's Zoe?" my mother questions, starting to flare up. "Is she alright? I TOLD YOU TO CALL ME!"

"Geez, mom," I say. "She went home like 10 minutes ago because she wasn't feeling well. Don't get too mad or you'll have steam coming from your ears."

"Hey, little dude," Jem says to Dylan as he walks into the house, pulling Dylan into a headlock, and starting to  mess with his hair, which he hates. "What's up?"

Dylan squirms out from his prison of tangled arms, "Nothing," Dylan inquires, fist bumping Jem who is chuckling.

"Good one, dude. Goodbye Mrs. Rodriguez, I'll probably see you guys tomorrow. Thank you," Jem says, and walks out the door.

"Anytime, sweetie," my mother chimes, locking the door behind him and she turns to me. "So, what did you guys do?"   

"Oh, you know..." I hesitate. "We just hung out and did our homework, nothing out of ordinary..."

"Alright, honey. Whatever you say."

I walk up to Jake's room and I close the door behind me. I lean against the door, crossing my arms. He's on his phone, lying on his bed shirtless with just a pair of grey sweatpants on, showing off nothing or what he likes to call for short, "abs".

"Sooooooooo..." I say, startling Jake. "Why the hell do you have no shirt on? Not everyone wants to see you six pack of jello."

"Because I'm hot? In both ways." He lifts his phone upwards as he proceeds to take a selfie, biting his bottom lip. I cringe.

I storm over to him and swap his phone from his hands, his Snapchat is open. "Ummmmm," I say, looking at the picture he just took with hi "abs" showing. "OK, you just better not be sending that Zoe!" I throw his phone back to him, hitting him in the face. "Spill it, what's been going on with you and Zoe?"