(CANCELLED) Secrets Of The Father

4

Jessie is really fidgety. For the past week, I've been paying more and more attention to him in zoology. When we take notes, I find myself staring at his shaky, vein-riddled fingers. He's constantly clicks his pen and taps his feet. These mannerisms are familiar to me.

Like usual, Jessie accompanies me at lunch. The two of us never eat at lunch. Lunch always consist of novel reading and light conversation. I wonder if he feel differently about me like I do him. Like magnets, I feel like we're being drawn closer and closer together as time goes on. Not only mentally but physically. I've noticed that he always finds little ways to touch me and he always sits really close. So close that I could count every single one of his eyelashes.

"A picture would last longer." Jessie looks from his book to me and arches his dark brow.

Shoot. I'm staring again. I just can't get used to having an attractive guy constantly wanting to be around me. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself.

"Sorry," I say, opening my book once again and pretending to read.

"You've been staring at me a lot lately. See something you like?" He winks.
I playfully shove his arm. Of course I see something I like.

"Could I ask you a question?" I turn towards him but he continues to read.

"What is it?" He doesn't bother looking at me.

"Are you a smoker? I'm sorry- I just...my brother is. You're constantly tapping and fidgeting and it reminds me of how he was when he tried stopping."

Thankfully, he doesn't react as if he is offended. Instead he smirks as his eyes continue follow the words in his book.

"It's a nasty habit I picked up from some old friends when I was younger. I was pretty good hiding it from my parents. I'm trying to quit," he admits defeatedly.

"I figured."

"I realized I needed to stop when I couldn't play football anymore. I'd be out of breath after a ten yard run." Jessie marks a page in his book and gives me his full attention.

"It's horrible for your health. I keep telling James that."

Jessie stiffens in his seat and looks at me as if he's seen a ghost.

"James Sinclair?"

I nod in confusion. He looks at me bewildered.

"That's your brother?" He asks, squinting his eyes as if he's looking for similarities between James and I.

"My last name is Sinclair after all," I laugh.

He quickly recovers from his shock by laughing along with me. I'm not really surprised about his reaction. A lot of people don't believe me when I tell them James and I are related. We're complete opposites.

"That's interesting. James and I work together at Ricky's Mechanics up in town. He's a cool guy." So, Jessie's a mechanic? My mind runs wild as I imagine him in uniform with his biceps covered in grease. What a picture.

"Yeah, sometimes he can be."

I turn my attention back to my book but I don't actually read it. As I stare down at the pages, I think about how well my babysitting job is going. And since I'm not able to share my excitement with my brother or mother, Jessie is the only person I can really talk to.