The Ground Below

Chapter Thirteen

“Seriously, Izzy, you cannot wear that,” Karter orders.

We are out shopping like the girls wanted.  Karter insisted on coming in the store with us.  “It’s not that short,” Isabel tells him defensively.  She’s holding a denim skirt that reaches about mid thigh.

“Come on.  I have underwear longer than that.”

“Fine, Grandpa.  I’ll get something else.”  I can’t hold back my laughter.  The overprotective brother bit isn’t new to me.  Chandler always tried to tell me what to wear whenever I seen him.  The scene before me seemed oddly familiar.

“Karter, she’s a teenager.  Let her wear what she wants,” I try to persuade him, but stop when I take in his shaking head.

“No.  I do not want some nasty teenage boys getting a boner for my little sister.”

“Gross,” I hear Isabel say.

“Karter, please just take Kaylie, and Amanda to the food court.  I’ll help her find something appropriate.”

Karter stares at us both thoughtfully before nodding.  “Okay, but I’m going to look at it when you’re done, and if I don’t like it, I’m trashing it.”

Whatever.

“I can’t believe he cares what I wear,” Isabel says after Karter, and the other girls leave.  “Mom, and Dad never care what I wear as long as I’m covered.  He. Is. Crazy.”

I let out a small chuckle.  “Yeah, he’s crazy, but he is just watching out for you.  My brother does the same thing.”

“You have a brother?”

“Yes, and he’s done that same thing except with a tank top, when he took me school shopping senior year of high school.”

“Oh my god.  Really?  I haven’t been shopping with Karter, since I was twelve, and I learned my lesson.  Too bad he is our transportation.”

“Maybe, but at least you get to spend some time with him.”

“Believe me when I say that I spend enough time with him.”

“You don’t like spending time with your brother?” I ask scavenging through the racks.

“I love him to death; don’t get me wrong, but times like these I wish he stayed home.”  I chuckle because I know where she’s coming from.  “Sometimes he is around me too much.  I’m all for spending time with him, but I want time to myself too without him trying to control my every move.  Even when he was staying at the apartment, he’d come over almost every day saying something about my clothes, or something domineering.  Maybe, now that he has his eyes on you, he’ll back off.”

“He does not have his eyes on me,” I scoff.

At that she rolls her eyes, “Puh-lease.  I see how he looks at you.”

“Up until this morning, he despised me.”

“That might be, but now he wants you.”  She holds out a silk purple blouse, “What about this?”

“I like it,” I answer choosing to ignore what she said about Karter.  He in no way wants me.

“Good.  I’ll come back without Karter, and get that skirt.  Let’s go eat.”  She bounces off to the checkout counter, her beautiful brown locks waving behind her.

Just like I had worried, they asked us why we were driving the old road.  To my surprise, Karter told them, “I hate the highway.  It’s too hectic.” Then, he winked at me.