♥Chapter 41: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄᴋꜱ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ʜᴏᴍᴇ♥

❆Jake❆

A deep sigh comes out of my mouth.

Kennedy.

Won't.

Stop.

Fucking.

Talking.

I sit up and glare at her sleeping form, blabbering in her sleep.

She giggles before shifting one more fucking time in her sleep and continues to murmur incoherent words.

Usually, I have no problem and sleep through it, but tonight she's talking way too fucking much.

I knew she shouldn't have drank that coffee.

Finally giving up on sleeping, I slide out of the bed and walk out the door not before making sure Kennedy's inhaler is in reach along with her phone. Not gonna lie, she has the ability to kill herself just by falling off the bed.

I wander aimlessly around Toothy's mansion before deciding to go up to the rooftop terrace to get some late-night air.

My feet are silent against the chilled steps as I climb up the stairs.

Once I'm up I take in a deep breath of the fresh cool air.

My eyes roam around and am almost startled when I see the back of someone, leaning against the railing of the terrace.

It's Corey.

What's he doing here on the terrace at 3 am?

"What the fuck are you doing here at 3 am?" I ask.

Corey whirls around, wide-eyed.

He places his hand on his heart, "God, Jake. You startled me like how Kennedy's greeting Yoda does." 

I shrug, "I don't think there's anything more terrifying than that shit."

"Huh, you're right." Corey nods.

I walk forward with my hands in my pockets and stop beside Corey, looking out at the surroundings.

Corey goes back to his position, with his hands laced together and resting on the railing.

"What are you doing up here?" I ask Corey.

"What are you doing up here?" He asks me back.

I sigh, "Kennedy's talking in her sleep. It'll take her a while to stop."

He chuckles a bit, "Stop talking like that. Sounds like you're married."

Married to Kennedy?

Don't blush.

I clear my throat before speaking, "Your turn to answer me."

He shrugs, "Couldn't sleep."

"Why?"

He shakes his head.

I raise my eyebrows, "Something up?"

"Nah, nothing like that. I just can't sleep, that's all." He says.

The tone of voice he used...

I give him a look that says I'm not buying his shit, "Tell me."

Corey shakes his head, "Seriously, man. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

I don't believe him but I don't press him to answer me.

Corey's a really open person. There were only a few instances where it felt as if he was hesitant about something.

Did I do something to him...?

The last time I checked, we were on good terms, and I did nothing out of usual that'll make him mad at me.

"Hey man." I start with an unsure tone, "Did I do something...?"

He immediately shakes his head, "No."

"Did someone speak shit to you?" I ask.

I'd happily beat them up.

"No."

"Then?"

"I told you already, Jake. It's nothing."

He remains silent, his blue eyes gazing into nothing. His fingers clutch onto his wrist where a wide wristband is instead of his Big Ben clock. Maybe he's used to the weight of his clock and felt weird with his wrist empty; that's why the wide and thick wristband.

Corey purses his lips, lowering his head.

Something's wrong.

I knew it!

A small feeling of protectiveness comes over me and I stand taller, ready to listen to him. "Corey."

"It's just that..." He starts, hesitatingly.

I wait for him to get his words out.

"I don't know, man." He sighs, shaking his head, "I'm just having these horrible realizations and it's not helping me think straight."

"What realizations?" I ask.

A momentary surprise comes over me when I realize how much shorter he actually is than me. I forget sometimes that he's only seventeen years old.

"I don't know, like-like I've always had this fear in me since my parents separated, you know? The fear of being alone or left out." Corey's face twists into a strained expression.

Yeah, I knew that.

"But you're not alone," I state.

"I know." He nods. "And I'm grateful for that. I've got Toothy, you, your whole big ass family with Cole and all."

"Then...?" I raise an eyebrow.

"It's just that I can't stop thinking where I would've been if I hadn't met you people," Corey turns his head slightly to hide his face from me, "And I know you people don't think this, but sometimes I feel like I'm an...outsider in your family...and that I don't belong with you people."

My eyebrows pull into the deepest frown.

"Who the fuck is putting this in your head?" I question.

He shrugs, his lips tugging down into a rare expression I've ever seen on Corey's face; pain.

"I mean, it wouldn't even matter if I was gone. You'd have Toothy, Toothy would have you. You have your whole family." Corey quickly shuts up as if his voice was going to break.

"Corey, be fucking honest," I warn, "Did someone talk shit to you? Did I or anyone else do something?"

He shakes his head.

He doesn't speak again.

My eyes refuse to move from Corey and with the disbelief of his words still running in my head.

Why the fuck is he feeling like this?

Does he not fucking know how much he's already one of us? Or that how deep his name has been shoved into our family tree that it's literally impossible to pluck it out?

My mind flips through events of the past, trying to remember a scenario where we've ever left Corey out.

It's me who's always left out and that's also because I want to be.

He pretty much fits into every single thing.

I give up on going through my mind. I can't remember shit.

A sigh comes out of my mouth and I put my hands on the railing, gripping it lightly.

Corey and I fall into silence as we stare out the night sky and the quiet place.

"You know Toothy's always looked up at you as her older brother, right?" I keep looking ahead.

My lack of conversation with human beings makes me a tad bit nervous talking to Corey when he's feeling like this.

Corey nods, "Yeah I know."

"She doesn't see you as a step-brother. You know she's more comfortable around you than me?"

Corey shakes his head. "Don't lie."

"I'm not," I say. "She's always close to you. She feels safe when you put your arm around her. She looks for you when she's panicked or anxious."

"She'd be heartbroken if you're not there." I continue.

Corey looks down, hiding his face from me again.

"I..." I choose my words carefully in my head, "I've always seen you as a little brother, Corey. You know, never once it came to me that you're not actually related to me, you know? I trust you and it actually gives me relief that no matter how many times I snap at you, hit you, or say rude shit, you always come back at me with your annoying shit."

He gives a nod. "Thanks."

His eyes are glassy and there's a tightness in his voice.

I never knew how much really Corey was afraid of loneliness.

"It would really suck if you're gone," I say at the end.

He nods again, a gulp going down his throat.

"Want me to stay or do I need to you give you a moment?" I ask.

He shakes his head, blinking, "Go back to Ken. I'm fine. Really. I'll sleep in a while too."

I hesitate, looking at Corey's wet eyes, before nodding my head and trudging back to the staircase.

I turn my head around and look at Corey one last time before I start going down the stairs.

He has his head down, hands clutching the railing, his shoulders shaking silently while he cries.

What are you hiding Corey?

I silently walk down the stairs deciding to let him have his moment.

✯✯✯

✿Kennedy✿

Smack!

He turns to the other side.

Smack!

He again moves to the other side.

Smack!

He again moves to the other side.

"Jake, the pillow can't take any more hits." I say on behalf of the poor pillow who's been whipping Jake's rock-like body, "You gotta wake up."

Jake only grunts, keeping his eyes stubbornly close.

"Everybody's downstairs and is waiting for you."

"Who cares?" Jake grumbles.

"Your crazy eight aunts," I answer.

His eyes open as if the mere thought of them already made him want to jump into his shoes and hop downstairs.

He groans, "No."

"Oh yes," I say.

"Tell them I'm sick."

"Do you seriously think that'll stop them from still dragging you down?"

He narrows his eyes, "No."

"Them up and at em'!" I smack his face with the pillow.

His hand shoots out and grabs my wrist, pulling me down onto the bed. He flips us over so that he's straddling me and snatches the pillow from my hands before whacking me ten times with it.

Each whack makes me see white light until white light is all I see.

Heaven,

Here I am!

Jake stops his attack and looks down at me while I'm still shaking hands with Jesus and asking him out for a milkshake.

"Are you done?" Jake narrows his eyes.

"Shh, we're having Boba now."

Jake furrows his eyebrows, "No, we're not..."

"Not you, dummy,"

Jake rolls his eyes, "I'm not even gonna ask what fucking imagination are you in right now."

Right when Jesus and I part on good terms with a 'see you soon', I'm back to earth with a fresh soul and body.

My eyes meet Jake's and I smile heavenly, "Namaste."

"Done?" Jake asks.

I nod like the little angel I am.

Jake brings his mouth on mine and my eyes go wide. His hands come on my shorts-clad thighs, hitching them around his waist.

Angel who?

He kisses me fiercely and I find myself trying to catch my breath, not because of asthma, but because of what he does to my body.

The door opens and someone shrieks.

"THREESOME!" Cole dives into the bed between Jake and me.

"What the fuck?" Jake yells, scrambling to get up while trying to pull me up too.

Cole locks his arms around Jake's and my head and rain kisses on our faces.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" Jake yells, horrified.

"Nah-uh this is an opportunity I'll never let go of." Cole presses another kiss to Jake's cheek.

Jake punches Cole in the gut which makes Cole double over with a grunt.

Jake slips out of Cole's arm and jumps off the bed, glaring so hard. His glare could melt butter.

"Okay fine!" Cole grumbles before turning his attention to me with a bright smile, "At least you're here for me."

Before Cole could kiss my cheek again, Jake rips him off me and pulls him down the bed.

Cole finds it hard to find his footing as Jake drags him. Jake reaches and window and opens it.

"MOM JAKE'S THROWING ME OUT THE WINDOW!" Cole yells, trying to get Jake's grip on his shirt to loosen.

"MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GET HURT!" Aunt Rebecca yells back in her sweet voice.

"MOM! WINDOW! A WINDOW! I'M GOING TO BE FLYING OUT A WINDOW!"

"CLEAN UP IF YOU MAKE ANY MESS!"

"MOM!" Cole yells with an incredulous look, "THAT MEANT COME HELP ME."

"YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW! HELP YOURSELF!"

"This is the reason you shouldn't be the eldest child." Cole scowls up at Jake.

Jake tries to pick up Cole, who's trying to be a dead weight.

Can I throw both these boys out the window?

I mean I've got enough strength. I've been training myself to take over the world for so long after all.

I'll just go and try...

I slide off the bed and straighten my shorts that rode up before walking over to Jake.

Jake gives me a look of confusion as I approach him.

His look of confusion morphs into that one of horror when I start shoving him.

"What...are you doing?" Jake's face goes flat as he stares at me.

He's barely moving!

I try to shove him with all my might.

"Yasss! Go bestie!" Cole yells at me, still trying to escape Jake's hold.

"Why. Don't. You. Freaking. Move?" I struggle to move Jake even an inch.

Jake gives a look of boredom.

I finally stop when my arms ache.

I give Jake a look of disappointment.

"Can you please jump out the window?" I ask him.

"Why should I jump out the fucking window?" Jake furrows his eyebrows.

"Because my pride is very abused right now with your elephant body," I answer.

Jake blinks at me.

"Save your girlfriend's pride, bro!" Cole slaps Jake's leg.

"You shut up," Jake warns Cole.

"Mommy! Jakey's being mean to me!" Cole fakes a baby's voice while referring to me as mommy.

"Jake." I turn toward Jake with a stern look.

Jake gives me a 'what the hell' look.

"Let him go," I tell him.

"But-"

"He's just a child, let him go."

"Just because he called you mom doesn't mean you have to suddenly act like one," Jake grumbles.

"Don't make me ground you," I warn.

Jake glares at me before finally releasing Cole.

Cole quickly stands up and scurries out of the room, "Thanks, momma!"

I grin up at Jake. "I'm a mom."

Jake glares at me before walking away into the bathroom.

✯✯✯

We're all packing up and getting ready to leave for our respective houses.

The house is in a rush as everyone walks around, shouting conversation across rooms instead of just walking over to them and talking politely.

Eh who cares?

I'm making most of my time with Jake's cute little cousins in the living room.

"Moooom! Brandon's being a butt rash again!"

"Moooom! Callie put her fingers in the melted chocolate when you told her not to!"

"Brandon stole Alexa's car!"

"Callie snuck a cat into the house!"

"NO, I DIDN'T!"

"YES, YOU DID!"

"NO!"

"YES!

"NO!"

"YES!"

"BRANDON KNOWS WHERE BABIES COME FROM!"

All the kids around him gasp.

Brandon's eyes widen as he hesitatingly turns towards his mom as if already expecting Aunt Emma to shoot him down with a red firey spear.

Brandon holds up his hands, cautiously looking at Aunt Emma, "I can explain."

Aunt Emma narrows her eyes.

Brandon lifts his finger and points over at Cole.

Cole spits out the coke he was drinking when he realizes Brandon's pointing at him, "I thought we were bros!"

"It's every man for himself," Brandon says.

"Who taught you that?" Cole narrows his eyes.

"Corey."

"Traitor," Cole mutters under his breath.

"We're gonna talk about this later." Aunt Emma warns.

Both the boys' gulp. 

In a total of five hours and a number of screaming matches, every one of us are packed and ready to leave Toothy's house.

I hug everyone goodbye since I won't be seeing them in a very long time. My cheeks get kissed twice by each one of the ladies and uncles.

I hug Cole and the mafia brothers goodbye too.

We all pour out of Toothy's house and into our cars.

Jake, Alex and I in one car.

Corey, Toothy and her dad wave at us from the door as we all drive away.

✄ ✄ ✄ ✄

What do you people think Corey's hiding?

Words: 2,530

Date of Publishing: 2nd June 2022