Somnambulism (Jared Cameron)

//two//

     "Officially home two days and I'm already eating like a king," My dad chuckles, setting his fork down to his now empty plate. With his diabetes, I had planned to take over the making of meals in the house. Mainly because Jacob's cooking skills began and ended at meat lovers Tombstone pizzas.

"You flatter me." I snort, taking his dishes to the sink and beginning the washing process, feeling the old taps slowing turn warm. "Jake out with the usual losers doing usual loser-stuff?"

"I heard that," Jake's voice booms through the small kitchen, making me jump two feet in the air, as the entrance off the side of the house slams shut.

"How? You weren't even in the house?" I steady my heart rate and roll my eyes, turning back to the dishes.

"My nose tingles when I'm gossiped about, for your information," He smugly grabs a hefty plate of my casserole, followed by an even bigger portion of salad and potatoes. I swear, this kid was going to eat us out of house and home. At least being home, I could make sure he wasn't eating junk all the time. I also could do something about the pile of dirty laundry these two boys let stack up. They claimed it was from the last week, but the pile's height told me otherwise.

"It's ears, fatass," I snort, drying my hands off on my jeans.

"Same shit," He shoots back, taking a seat at the counter next to my dad.

"Language," My father warns, and eyes the way Jacob already has food coming out of his mouth, like he was some kind of starved lion that hadn't eaten in days. Jacob mumbles a sorry, crumbs flying onto the table I just wiped down.

"When you're done Jake, can you move the last of my boxes to my room, there's only two left." I look to the front door, where the rest of my belongings from my big move home still sat. I had mostly unpacked, I wasn't much of a pack rat. I had gone to throwing out a bunch of old clothes and textbooks; what's the use of collecting dust?

"Nice try, Gracie, didn't you just call me a fatass?" Jacob takes another massive bite, and my father bangs his fist down on the table, "Language!" he shoots Jacob a glare and rolls to the front door, where he opens to door to one of my brother's dorky friends.

Huh. I hadn't even heard someone knock at the door, maybe it was the lack of sleep getting to me.

"Quil," My father greets the puppy-dog looking boy with a nod of his head.

"Hello, sir." Quil nods back, walking over to Jake and I in the dining room. My father throws out a noncommittal noise to us kids as he turns on the local hockey game, the sound filling the room.

"Quil, you remember little old me, right?" I ask sweetly, catching the boy off guard. He freezes at my attention and nods fervently, "Y-yes, hi Gracie."

"Would you be a doll and bring my boxes by the door to my room?" I cock my head to the side, raising my eyebrows. I had a way of getting boys to do exactly what I wanted them to; gift, curse, coincidence; call it what you wanted.

"Of course!" He picks up the heavy boxes without a single groan in a swift swoop, I couldn't even push them to the hall. Maybe I needed to start working out again.

"Thank you," I call to Quil, as he emerges from the hallway seconds later, tkaing a seat in the worn out chair across from me. We sat with the three of us comfortably; Jake, inhaling. Quil, trying not to get caught staring at me. And me, filling out some paperwork for my first day on the job.

"I guess I can call you my hero, Jacob was too lazy to help me." I look up from the t I was crossing, and meet his eyes. His carefree grin widens when he sees me, and he blinks a few times, "I-I can help anytime!"

"Sweet." I nod, looking down. I had successfully avoided Jacob's loser friends for most of my college days, hanging out with 17 year olds was not my jam. Being on the reservation, the boys here tended to get a little too attached if you gave them the time a day. Asking a La Push boy for a piece of gum was like asking to be wifed up.

The three of us are in silence for another few minutes, before Quil speaks up, "Gracie, are you coming to the bon fire tonight? I- I mean, we, would love to have a girl- I mean, you there."

Jacob shoots Quil a look, like 'are you an idiot.' I ignore my brother and shrug, "You and Dad are having another one? There's so many bugs," I whine.

"Which is why you aren't invited," Jacob reminds me.

"Dad would gladly have me there," I insist and turn back to Quil, who's waiting for an answers. "And I will not be joining you, I have my first day on the job."

"Tonight? Isn't it 5 pm?" Quil looks at his phone for the time.

"She only works nights," Jacob explains, knowing I preferred to work the night shift, and sleep during the day. It would be easier for my dad to keep an eye on me when I was sleeping that way, and could help him get some rest.

"Nights?"

"7 pm to 7 am." I nod, "Forks Community Hospital."

"Ew. Forks." Quil's nose twitches in disgust.

"I know." Jake agrees.

"Well, see you boys. Better get ready." I pick up my papers and nod off to Quil, as I feel his eyes follow my back out of the room. Oh, teenage boy hormones.