Fried Burrito

e i G h t

Waking up in the treehouse was something I hadn't done in a long time but the feeling of doing it again brought a sense of security and a sweet feeling to my bitter emotions. That was until I noticed the six idiots hovering over me like the creeps they were. 

"What the heck are you doing?" I screeched out of fear into the morning air.

"Waiting for you to get up, we have some matters we need to discuss with you." 

"Okay," I replied wearily as I sat up. "What's on your mind?"

"Oh, nothing," Cameron sighed contently.

"Just wondering about the strange boy trapped in CJ's hold," Casey interjected with an undeniably sarcastic voice.

"Excuse me?" I questioned while I silently hoped these idiots didn't stumble upon Jace after our little dispute. 

Cameron, Casey, Cal, Carson, and Charlie moved out of my sight to reveal a tied up Jace under the strong grip of CJ. 

Oh no.

The fear in Jace's eyes was as evident as the morning sun, I couldn't help but feel extremely bad for the boy. All he wanted was a conversation and all he got was an unnecessary tantrum from me and a traumatic kidnapping from my idiot brothers.

"Care to explain why a male other than Cal, Carson, Cameron, Charlie, or Casey was found exiting this treehouse in the middle of the night?" CJ had asked first in the tense silence. "I thought we talked about this Caden."

"What did we talk about again?" I asked, trying to play dumb.

"Don't start with that," Carson ordered. "What did we talk about?"
"No-" Charlie started.

"Boys," Casey finished.

"Oh really? The piles of boys you idiots invited into our place in the dead of night to date me had made me forget that conversation.  I couldn't possibly understand why," I said sarcastically while standing up.

"Cut out the sarcasm and answer the question," Cal cut in. 

"He has a mouth, can't he tell you why he was here?" I countered back. 

"Caden, Caden, Caden," Casey sighed at me as he shook his head disapprovingly. "If I were you, I'd just answer the question before things get physical." 

"Things have already gotten physical, he's tied up like an animal for crying out loud!"

"Caden!" Casey cried and I couldn't help but suck up my pride and answer the idiots' questions.

"Who is he?" started one.

"What is he doing here?" continued another and so on. 

"Did he hurt you?"

"Did he force you to do anything you didn't want to?"

"Are you still a virgin?"

The whole room got silent as Jace's eyes burst out his sockets while the rest of my brothers just waited in clear anticipation. 

I couldn't believe this was happening.

"He's a friend that was just hanging out with me here in the treehouse. No, he didn't force me to do anything I didn't want to and what do you imbeciles think?"

They all sighed with clear relief as the embarrassment washed over me like a powerful wave from the Atlantic ocean did before a storm.

"Now can you let him go? Please?" I asked with my eyes shut. I couldn't bear to look or speak to Jace at all.

The six idiots took what felt like years to let Jace out of the complicated knot they probably learned from our dad. I probably could've turned 30, had kids and gotten married at the rate they were going to let Jace free.

Once they got his hands untied, Jace went ahead and undid his feet in a couple of seconds. A look of wonder was clear on his figure as he stared at me and my brothers which was weird because he should've been running for the hills by now.

"I guess I can walk him out," I mumbled as I headed for the door where Jace was but Cal and Cameron were too quick for me.

Cameron tossed me over his shoulder while Cal shook his head at me.

"Casey's got it," he whispered playfully before shoving the two out the door.

And as I hung upside down over the shoulder of one of my oldest brother's, I watched an awkward Jace and a stiff Casey walk towards the house and out of my sight.

Man, my brothers are idiots.