The Rules My Brothers Made

Chapter 10

“Meg, can you please bring me to the Grove after school?  I need new gloves for lacrosse.”

Mark and I were on our way to school in the morning, a week after the whole debacle.  He was happy with me again, thank goodness, but I have no idea how long it will last this time.  At Evan’s suggestion, we started practicing lacrosse every day after school, and it seemed to help ease the tension.  Mark was really good, something I didn’t really know about him.  He was growing into his height, with his shoulders broadening a bit, and his muscles becoming more and more defined.  He began running every morning with one of his friends, but he was so secretive about it.  I can understand that he wanted to do his own thing, but I was beginning to feel a little left out.

Even though I tried really hard, I couldn’t back off on the stuff for the house.  I loved my family too much to make them suffer for my own insecurities.  I let Mark have a little more independence, and it seemed to be making all the difference in him, even though it had only been one week.

Sure, Mark.  Do you want me to just drop you off?”  I asked him.  “Or do you want me to come with you?”

“I can go alone if you just want to drop me off.  I can walk home after.”

“No, absolutely not.  You are not walking home from there at night.  Too many weirdos on Fairfax at night.  If you want to go alone, just call me, and I’ll pick you up after.  How’s that?”

“That sounds great.  Thanks.”  He gave me a small smile that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and looked away from me quickly.  Something is up.  I know my brother, and I can tell when he’s hiding something.  However, I decided it was not the right time to push him, so I let it go.  When he was ready to talk to me, he would.  If I had learned anything from being the focus of Mark’s wrath, it’s that I did not want that to happen again.

“You know what I was thinking?”  I told him with a gleam in my eye, hoping to cheer him up a little.

“What?”  The butthead didn’t even bother to look at me.

“Well, you turn 16 next week….”

“Yeah, so?”

“How about we go get your learner’s permit that day, and you can start driving us around?  You’ll be a pro by the time you have to take your driver’s test.”

He grunted a response, so I waited until he repeated himself.  “Yeah, sure.  Whatever.”

I sighed.  I guess he needed more time.  Not another word was spoken for the rest of the ride to school, and he took off as soon as I put the car in park.   I grabbed my bag from the back seat and made my way towards my art class.  It was one of those classes I was taking just to fill the void in my schedule, but it wasn’t so bad.  Kate was in the class, and Jackson too, so we always had a good time.  Jackson was settling in well, or it seemed like it, at least.  He had made a lot of new friends, most girls.  Everyone seemed drawn in by his southern drawl, something we weren’t used to in LA.  Girls drooled over his delicious body, not that I could blame them.  He was pretty much sculpted by gods.  With his adorable dimples, his honey brown eyes, and his rock hard body, it’s no wonder everyone wanted him.  But he also made a great friend.  He was hilarious, and smart, and nice.  All around, I couldn’t be happier that I had crashed into him in English class.  I was still determined to set him up with Brianna, but she had been busy with the school play at La Brea, so I hadn’t seen a lot of her the past couple weeks.  The show was coming up, though, so I was plotting against the two of them, and planning to bring Jackson with me so that I could make them meet.

“Hey, Miller.”  Jackson greeted me as I came through the door.  I flashed him a smile and settled into my stool between him and Kate.  He had started calling me by my last name, in the style of Justin and Bruce, his new partners in crime.  He told me it “desexualized” me, which made me laugh, so I was okay with it.  I had enough on my plate with trying to have a secret relationship with Evan, I couldn’t squeeze in any more drama.  After the first awkward exchanges, he realized that I was totally off limits, and settled for being a friend.  It was working out for everyone.  I can’t wait to set him up with Bri, she’ll just love him.