Fire and Ice

jane

     "Alec!" I scream excitedly. I don't give him a chance to walk through the door before I practically knock him over.

"Janie!" My brother catches me and spins me around in a full circle. Whatever awful thoughts I had about my brother before, disappeared once I finally got a whiff of the familiar scent I missed so much: apple cider.

"She wouldn't go to sleep until you came home," my mom chuckles.

An amused smile spreads across his lips. "Don't tell me you missed me!"

"Not at all," I lie. "I just need someone to help me beat the zombie video game, I mean we are on level 20, very close to the end."

Alec hugs me tighter. "I knew that's the only reason you wanted me back home."

"Where's our hug?" My mom chimes in, her once tired voice switched to one that is more upbeat.

Alec sets me down and scoops my parents into a bear hug. They exchange words of 'glad to have you back!' and 'so good to be back!' with lots of kisses and tears before Alec turns his attention to all three of us.

"I'm actually going to be staying for a while," he looks at me and winks, "so we have plenty of time to finish the video game."

I smiled so wide my cheeks began to ache. It's about time! I wanted to shout, but instead I just hugged my brother again.

"That's wonderful!" I can hear the excitement in my mom's voice.

"It's about time," I say anyway.

"Alright well let's get you unpacked," my dad already has Alec's duffle bag in his hand.

"Jane off to bed, it's a school night," my mom points her finger at me.

"Awe mom! Can't I just get the day off? I don't miss much! Dad? Help me here."

"Sorry pumpkin, you're going to school tomorrow. No questions about it."

I groan and throw my hands up in the air.

Alec ruffles my hair. "It's okay Janie, the game will still be there when you get back—" He pauses before adding, "and how about I drive you tomorrow?"

"That would be great!" I clap my hands together and with that run upstairs.

— — —

Alec is already waiting for me in the kitchen. He must've just taken a shower because his wet brown hair was dripping all over the place, does he know we have other towels around the house? I don't say anything because I sink in his presence, I've missed him being around.

Too excited from having Alec back, I skip breakfast and we go straight to his car. I usher him to hurry up and he looks at me like I'm crazy.

"Are you going to be late?" He asks.

I shake my head.

He guesses again. "Are you afraid you're going to be late?"

Again I shake my head a no.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Just drive," I say watching the bus stop getting further and further away. Once it was out of view I sat down normally.

Alec gives me an unsettling look. "Did you get into trouble? Knowing you, you probably did."

I wack him playfully. "I didn't get in to trouble. . . at least not at the bus stop."

"Why are yo avoiding the bus stop?"

"I stopped going on the bus ever since school started because Amanda and I are no longer friends, ever since the beginning of summer."

Alec was completely taken aback, his mouth hanging open and everything. "Woah! Amanda and you. . . not friends anymore?! I guess I missed more than I thought since you two are the last people I would think would no longer talk."

"It would just be weird to go back there," I continue thinking back to yesterday. "She doesn't want to talk to me and already has a new best friend. So because I don't want to run into that, mom and dad drive me. I just can't handle it."

The hum of the engine fills the silence for a good five minute until Alec asks, "Do you miss her?" 

When I don't answer he nods as if that was the answer he was looking for. We were pulling into the school parking lot and I wish we could have more time to drive around and talk, because that's what I needed right now. I wipe my face with my palm to make sure I'm not crying.

"She doesn't miss me," I finally state when I know for sure I won't choke up.

"You should talk to her, you can't read minds Jane. No one can, that's what communication is for." He lightly punches my shoulder and I turn to look at his concerned expression.

"I just don't know what to say to her, you know?"

I really didn't know if he knew. Whenever Alec had a fallout with one of his best friends it was for a very good, serious reason and in the end they would no longer be friends: no any other source of communication and trying to work it out— that was that. There was no turning back for Alec and his friends, but it was a different situation for Amanda and I. Our situation was silly, it was over popularity which I believe we can fix.

"What I know is that you can't hide from her forever. You never know Jane, she could miss you too, maybe even more."

I nod in response knowing my brother is right, like most times.

Alec pulls up to the front of the school then leans back in his seat. "Here we are."

I lean over to hug him tightly. "Thanks, you always know what to say."

He squeezes me. "What are big brothers for?"

"Big brother's are for pranks and always messing with the little sister, especially when they're teenagers."

"Well I do both." In one swift motion he he puts me in a headlock and gives me a noogie with my hair being a wild mess as result.

"Hey!" I push him back giggling.

He laughs. "You asked for it."

"Oh ha-ha," I roll my eyes as I get out of the car.

He waves goodbye and I stick my tongue out in return.