Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it.
AN: Oh my freakin gosh! I can't believe it took my almost 5 months to update. I am so sorry! With the show off air I have lost slight interest, and as my crazy schedule got crazier I forgot about this story. Big oops there. Sorry 'bout that guys. I'll try to update (or remember updating) sooner now that things are slowin down. I'm thinking about adding two more chapters or parts (whatever) to this and it'll be finished.
Part 3- It's What Big Sisters Do
The smooth stone skipped a total of five times before a small wave crashed into it, stopping it from going any further. Miles sighed as he scooped up another stone, and with a flick of his wrist, sent it skimming over the water. Seven skips, two more then last time.
He had been out here for at least two hours now, repetitively skipping stones for amusement. It wasn't his choice of entertainment, but hey, would you want to go into a house with seriously pissed off parents and a sister who is in one of those you-have-got-to-be-the-stupidest-brother-ever moods? Not him. He had liked it better when they were glad he was home.
That second he stepped in the front door his hysterical mother had practically flung herself at him, gave him a bear hug (much to his embarrassment), and then had an emotional breakdown right in front of the police. He never knew his mother could be such a dramatic person. Of course the over dramatizing hadn't been as bad as the scolding he got when the two officers finally left.
For only God knows how long she yelled, screamed, and raved at him for irresponsible behavior and how she had been worried sick. How his father had been out till one o'clock in the morning looking for his sorry butt and that he seriously needed to get out of this juvenile stage and grow up, that he needed to be more like Savannah, the responsible one. He probably wouldn't have lost his temper (which seemed to be getting worse every passing day) if it hadn't been for the familiar comparison. A full-blown screaming match ensued; one that probably had woken up half the neighborhood.
The whole time Savannah leaned against the wall, listening to the whole argument with a mixture of different emotions on her face. Concern, exasperation, frustration, and…fear? Miles didn't really look. He had briefly glanced at her before stomping away to his room. However that one glance was all he needed to see how she felt. It was actually funny to him that he noticed. He wasn't much of people-reader. He hadn't thought about it until now.
Now he was curious. Could she actually be concerned about him? Of course she is Miles reasoned. Savannah's really not that bitchy. He could understand if she was frustrated with him, angry too. He had put her through a lot with Nim and getting sick and all. But fear? Maybe he really didn't see fear, just imagined it. But what if I didn't, Miles thought. Could she really be scared? But then that brought in another round of questions. What is she scared of? Is she scared of me? Is she scared for me?
Miles groaned. Why should he care anyway? His sister's feelings were the least of his problems right now. He resisted the urge to hit something. Instead he scooped up another rock and threw it as hard as he could into the ocean. When did my life get so crazy, Miles wondered.
Suddenly his ears picked up the soft padding of feet on the dock. He didn't turn around; he really didn't want to talk to any of his family right now.
He stared out at the ocean, watching the waves roll and crash into each other. The person slowly sat down beside him. Miles continued to ignore the person hoping they would get the message and leave him alone. But they were stubbornly persistent and stayed. "Miles…" Savannah started.
Miles slowly turned his head. He stayed blankly at her as she tried to small talk with him. "It's a bit chilly out here don't you think?" She asked. Miles shrugged. Savannah bit her lower lip; this wasn't going to be easy. "Mom told Dad you want to go back to school tomorrow. You sure you really want to go back so soon?" Again Miles shrugged.
"Are you even gonna answer me?" This time she got no response. Savannah bit back a frustrated scream. "You can't ignore me forever." She stated.
"Try me." She raised her eyebrows at his challenge. This could prove harder then she first thought. I think its time to bust out Plan B, she thought. Her hand curled around the figurine in her sweatshirt pocket. She brought it out saying "I, uh, found another one for your collection," She said referring to his collection of plastic dinosaurs and other reptiles. "I thought this one kind-of looked like Nim." She finished lamely.
She held the peace-offering out to him. He looked at it, then back at her. She gave him a weak smile. He took it from her hand. She watched him anxiously as he turned it over in his hands, inspecting it. Miles smirked. "So now you're trying to bribe me into talking?" Savannah relaxed a little; she was getting somewhere. But no sooner then she did Miles suddenly tensed up. "Mom and Dad trying to get you to do your dirty work or something?" His voice hardened.
"No." She replied. "I just want to talk to you…I need to." He looked at her quizzically.
"Why?"
"Because a lot has happen lately and you seem to be in the center or near it anyway and I just want to be sure your ok. I mean, both Mom and Dad have been pretty tough on you and…so have I." She paused; making sure Miles was listening to her. "It's just that, with Nim and the hospital and everything I'm afraid you're gonna burn out or something. Plus you haven't been acting like yourself lately and…oh screw it! I'm worried Miles, I really am. I think I'm becoming more of a nervous wreck then Mom!" She took a deep breath and ignored the sudden moisture in her eyes.
Miles couldn't help but feel shocked. He always knew Savannah loved him; she just had a weird way of showing it sometimes. Not to mention she was scared for him and not the other way around. He mentally released a sigh himself.
He looked at the figurine in his hands and smiled. This toy sort-of looked like Nim. Granted it was a teal color instead of green. The tail was also longer and didn't have the mermaid-like fin. It was missing the whip-like whiskers and had a much more ferocious look in its eyes. But all-in-all it did look like Nim, sort-of. He jerked his attention back to Savannah who had started to talk again.
"I guess what I want to really say is that…if you ever need someone to talk to I'll be there k? It won't be like talking to some shrink and I can't say I'll always have the best of answers but…I will try." Her eyes met his and Miles could tell she was really trying. For a minute Miles considered telling her everything. But then he stopped what would she think? Miles didn't doubt that she would try understand, accept him. He knew telling someone would probably lift a load off his shoulders but he couldn't. This was something he decided to fix himself.
Besides he had dragged enough people into this, he didn't his sister thrown in the mix. So instead he smiled and said "Thanks Savannah." She smiled back and did something that completely caught him off guard. She hugged him. She gave him a tight hug that left him totally stunned.
After a few seconds she released him, stood up, and offered him her hand. "Just don't expect any special treatment. I might not be mad, but Mom and Dad are." Miles rolled his eyes as he took her hand.
"Do you have to remind me?" He groaned. She flashed him one of her 'innocent' smiles. Miles resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. Slowly they walked back to the house. Both stood in front of the glass door.
"You ready for round two?" She asked, trying to be serious and joking at the same time.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Miles sighed. She moved to open the door when he thought of something. "Hey Savannah…"
"Hummh?" She faced him again.
"How come you're doing this stuff for me?" She wrinkled her nose, as if trying to figure out what he meant.
"I mean why are you trying to be, like, helpful and nice and stuff…?" Savannah shrugged.
"'Cause that's what big sisters do." She said as if that answered it. She didn't say anything else. She opened the door and stepped inside, hurrying off to her room before Miles could ask her what that meant. Miles watched her leave. That's what big sisters do her sentence repeated itself in his head. His hand curled around the Nim-like replica in his hand. Miles smiled and closed the door.
'Cause that's what big sisters do.
TBC…
A.N-Once again sorry it took me so long to update, I feel so guilty about that. I hope Savannah wasn't too OCC, it has been a while since I've watched Surface and she went through a personality change during the series (in my opinion) so it was a little hard to write a conversation that wouldn't make her out of character. Anyways I'll try to update soon, have a great summer.