Different (Jack Gilinsky)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It was a new day and I was sitting on the couch watching Spongebob while eating a bowl of cereal with my sister. I forgot to mention I had one. She's 4 years old and a handful. But I love her to death. Her name is Rose.

"Can you take me to the park so we can play castle?" she asked looking up at me with pleading eyes. I sighed. She always knew how to get to me with those stupid little puppy dog eyes. I couldn't possibly say no so I nodded, "Yeah, sure. Let me just finish my cereal and we'll go. You can get dressed in the meantime."

She squealed and went running to go get dressed. I finished drinking the last bit of milk that was left in the bowl and I got up to go wash it.

My mom came in the kitchen and I took that as an opportunity to ask, "Is it okay if Rose and I go to the park? She wants to play castle." I slightly smiled. I'm probably the only one who would be willing to play a game like the one I play with my sister.

"Yeah sure, have fun. Be back by lunch though. We're going out," she replied, grabbing an orange juice carton out of the fridge and I nodded. We don't usually go out to eat. That's different. I wonder why.

My sister came out dressed in her full on princess dress and I stifled a laugh. She looked adorable.

"Let's go Faith!" she pleaded. I complied and walked out to the car. She got in the backseat. I got in the drivers seat and we were off.

We arrived at the park and it was completely empty. Just the way I liked it. There has always been a basketball court across from the park but usually the people that are there pay no mind to the people in the park. The basketball court was filled with a few teenagers which was expected. That place was never empty.

"Hurry hurry! Lets transport to the castle!" my sister urged, dragging us to the swing set.

Let me explain our game. We're never actually at a castle until we get on the swing set. The swing set is our mode of transportation. Once we're at the castle, she's always the princess and I'm the bad guy trying to make her come live with me in my 'castle', which is also known to be a sand pit for most kids. Not for us.

We swung five times and jumped off. Let the games begin.

I gave her a head start as she ran away giggling and I walked behind her slowly so that she could at least get up the slide which is the door to the inside of the castle.

I could hear her squealing and I laughed. She really enjoyed this game and I'm glad she has someone to play with because when I was smaller I didn't have an older figure that would play with me. My mom had to work and well, my father was never there.

Roses' father is not the same as mine. My mom went on a vacation for her job and when she came back she was pregnant. She said it was all so sudden and that it just happened. I scolded her for being so irresponsible. I knew I'd have to take care of the baby while she worked. And I did. But I never imagined that it would be as fun as it is sometimes. We bond better than I feel a lot of siblings do.

I got on the monkey bars (also know as the halls of the castle), in attempt to get to where Rose was and she ran away before I could even get to her.

I was laughing at this point as I chased behind her.

I finally reached up to her and grabbed her. She was screaming and laughing at the same time as I led her to the sand pit.

In between all the fits of laughter, I heard a voice call out, "Faith?" That voice sounded all too familiar. I knew for a fact it was Jack. Jack Gilinsky. Why did I even remember his name?

I put my sister down and looked over at him, "Yeah?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked. I rolled my eyes. Why does he care?

"I'm playing with my sister..." I said, dumbfounded. I don't understand why he asked that question. I'm pretty sure it's obvious why I was here.

He crouched down to her level and she hid behind my legs. She's already so much like me. Hiding from humans.

"Hey," he greeted, trying to get her attention, "What's your name?"

"Rose," she replied flatly. She makes me so proud. Just kidding, that's terrible. I don't want her to be like me. Afraid of being loved and just afraid of human interaction basically.

"You're just like your sister," he chuckled, looking up at me. I rolled my eyes once more. What's the point of all this?

"You think so?!" she asked enthusiastically.

"I know so," he replied with a smile and she squealed. Why was she so happy to be compared to me? I'm nothing special. Then again, I could possibly be her role model since I'm the one that's always there for her.

I looked at him and whispered, "What do you want? We're kind of busy here."

"My buds and I wanted to know if you girls wanted to come play basketball with us," he stated, scratching the back of his head. Why us?

I felt my sister tug at my jeans I looked at her and she said, "I want to go play basketball with them."

I sighed exasperated. I knew if I don't comply to her request she'd start throwing a fit so I looked at Jack, completely annoyed. I then looked back at Rose and nodded, "Sure thing, sweetheart."

Jack grinned and Rose squealed while I just rolled my eyes.

We crossed the street and went inside the basketball court where three other guys were standing.

"Alright so this is Cameron," Jack began to introduce his friends, "That's Nash and this guys name is Jack like me." I nodded and waved politely.

"Oh and guys, this is Faith and her sister Rose," he introduced.

"Can we play basketball?" my sister whined, "My sister can kick your butts."

My eyes widened and I immediately told her to shush. The guys found it amusing and Cameron said, "Oh can she?"

Rose nodded as if she was completely sure I could take all of these guys down. Which I probably could.

"Well I'll believe it when I see it," he replied throwing a ball at me which I caught. I have pretty good reflexes.

"Rose, someone else, and I will be in one team," I instructed. The guys seemed taken aback at the fact that I was taking charge but they didn't seem to mind and just nodded.

"I'll be on the team with Faith and Rose," the blonde Jack said. I nodded. It was settled.

Game on.

-

"How the hell did you manage to watch for your sister and still beat us by 15 points?" Cameron asked and I shrugged, "You find your way around."

They all seemed really impressed and I just stood there awkwardly while they talked about the game. Things like that came naturally to me. My mother tells me that whatever I put my mind to, I can do. I live up to that statement.

"I demand a rematch," Nash, I think it was, spoke. I laughed, "What time is it?"

"It's 11:50," the blonde Jack replied. I sighed, "Sorry guys. It'll have to be another time. We're going out for lunch so I gotta go."

They all boo'ed and I just shook my head. Jack Gilinsky walked up to me and said, "Is it cool if I got your number so we can text about when we could meet up next for our game?" I thought about it thoroughly before I nodded and typed in my number on his phone. I saved it under "Faith" and handed the phone back to him.

What a weird turn of events.