The Little Things [Book 1]

Chapter Six: Long Ball

"I'm home!" Rachel called out as soon as she got inside. The first one to respond was Brittany, her youngest sibling, who ran up at her with a coy smile.

"Dean-y didn't come with you?" the little girl whined, disappointment clear in her voice, and Rachel smiled down at her.

"No, Dean-y didn't come with me. He went home to rest," the girl replied and reached down to grab her sister's hand and pull her toward the kitchen.

"But he could have rested here!" Brittany said as she followed her older, by ten years, sister.

"Jason?" Rachel called out to her brother.

"Mom said you should empty the dishwasher," Jason yelled back at her from the living room and she groaned.

"Why couldn't you do it?"

"I'm busy!" he yelled once again and almost simultaneously gunfire from his video game echoed.

"Sure you are, you little shit," Rachel muttered and immediately regretted it.

"Mom said not to use the s word," Brittany said, tugging on her sister's hand.

"Yeah, yeah whatever, go play in your room," Rachel told her sister and started unloading the dishwasher. "Crap," she muttered as she remembered the math exam that was coming up and she took out her phone in order to call Thomas.

"Howdy, Rachel," Thomas said as he picked up the phone.

"I- eh, howdy?" she stuttered, surprised at the greeting.

"Yeah, I cringed as I said it. Just forget it and let's move on. What's up?"

"We have a test on derivatives next week..." Rachel said.

"I am aware, yes," Thomas replied.

"Are you also aware of how much I suck at understanding derivatives?" Rachel asked him as she went on emptying the dishwasher.

"Why yes, I am aware of that too," Thomas replied, in a matter-of-factly tone.

"Knock it off, can you help me? Pretty please?" she whined back at him. He gave off a soft laugh and Rachel could almost see him nod.

"You bet your sweet, little, round butt I can," Thomas said. "Do you want me to come over or can you come to my place?"

"Hold up," Rachel told him and walked all the way to the living room. Jason, as expected was sitting on the couch. Next to him sat Leyla, with her laptop resting on her lap, watching a video from her favorite YouTuber. "Hey, wingus and dingus, when are Mom and Dad coming back with Leon?" she asked her siblings. Jason shrugged, while Leyla put her middle finger up at her sister. "Ugh... hey, Thomas?"

"Yep?" he asked her, while hiding his snickering.

"Is it okay if I come over? My parents will be extremely annoying when they get home with Leon," Rachel said.

"Sure, but what happened with Leon?" Thomas asked.

"Eh, he got into a fight and broke his arm. Mom and Dad will be lecturing him non-stop," Rachel replied and took her bag. "I'm going out again!" she called out to her siblings and left her house.

Her house was about ten minutes away from Thomas's place. His house being more American suburban than hers. With the white picket fence and the comfy porch, it really looked like the American dream. The irony didn't escape Rachel, about the fact that the family owning it was German. Not that she had any issue with that, herself being mostly French.

It was Thomas's mother who opened the door for the girl, greeting her warmly with a smile. Thomas's family was amazing. They were always so kind and happy. When Abigail had gotten pregnant, Thomas had told Rachel that for the first couple of months his parents were unbearable. She kind of got that, being nineteen and pregnant can cause your parents to get angry or upset with you. But always, no matter the troubles they were dealing with, the Heissmanns' were nice to you.