Soulmates and Exceptions #Wattys2016

"THE Talk" Part 1

     The next morning, Brea awoke to the smell of a breakfast cooking that was usually reserved for long weekends, or special occasions. In the kitchen, she found Jackson and Spencer sitting at the counter, while her mom placed a plate of pancakes in front of them. "Good morning honey. Eat up. When you're done, you three are going to meet us in the living room." Rose kissed her daughter's cheek and left the room.

     Brea paused, looking at her friends. "What's going on, Mom? We're going to be late for school."

     "You're staying home from school today. All of you." The boys raised their eyebrows in surprise.

     "If you say so." She wasn't going to argue with that. A day off from getting harassed worked for her. She took a seat across from both of her friends. "That was weird." Brea noted.

     "You're telling me, but at least we don't have to be around those jerks at school." Spencer took a bite.

     "Do you know what's going on Jacks?" She asked.

     "No idea. Stupid gloves." He mumbled as he struggled to cut his food, his gloves making the task unusually more difficult.

     "He's still embarrassed that dad gave them to him a week before his birthday." Spencer snickered.

     "Shut up Spencer!" He really didn't feel like dealing with Spencer today. They had stayed up late arguing, so the last thing he wanted was to be forced to spend the day with him...and Brea.

     "He hasn't heard the end of it. He won't either, well, at least until the next person gets theirs early." Brea concluded. It was just the way things were. If someone got their gloves early, it usually meant that their parents didn't trust them to keep their feelings in check enough to finish school and possibly find a trade. It was enough fuel for endless harassment about wanting to grab every person you met, to see if they were the one for you.

     "Jacks, if you're having that much trouble eating, why don't you take your gloves off?" Spencer pointed out.

     "Yeah Jacks! It won't hurt to take them off to eat." Brea took his hand and started to pull his glove off.

     Jackson jerked his hand back quickly. "I can't!"

     "Why?" Spencer smirked as Brea asked.

     "I just can't!" Jackson snapped back. Brea took his plate and cut his food for him. "Thanks." He said gentler.

     "Looks like she's spoiling you Jacks." Spencer muttered to his brother.

     While Brea wasn't looking at either of them, Jackson mouthed, "Jealous?" to his younger sibling.

     "Of what?" Spencer countered.

     Brea sat and stared at her food, ignoring the tension between the Thomas brothers. She focused on finishing her breakfast alongside Spencer and Jackson in silence. They filed into the living room once they were done.

     "Jackson, you sit here in the middle. Spencer, you on that side. Gabriella, you sit over on this end." John motioned for the kids to take their seats on the worn out couch. He, Rose, and Michael were seated in chairs directly across from the couch.

     "Do I need to be here for this? Wasn't one talk enough?" Jackson crossed his arms across his chest.

     "Yes, this concerns you too, and no, one talk wasn't enough." Michael told him pointedly. His son groaned and leaned back in his seat.

     "I bet you're wondering why we kept you home today." Rose started, slightly nervous.

     "Let's just get to it." John handed Gabriella a flat, rectangular box as Michael gave a similar box to Spencer.