luckyxtrick: I love it, you totally get my story. Every time I read one of your reviews, I think "I've already written about that in a later chapter!" And then I just wait until I finally get it up so you can read it and think of you somewhere going "Ha! I totally called it!" Yet at the same time I still manage to surprise you. This chapter has a couple in it... enjoy!
Jem
"All right-" I declared, making a few more marks on the paper. "It's done!"
The book fell from Mokuba's head just as I turned the paper around and held it up. It was a funny little picture, the boy with the book on his head. I could only take this class so seriously.
"What do you think? Do you like it?" I asked. Seto was still away on his trip and it was Mokuba's third day staying with me.
"Yeah," he replied, looking at it.
I set the paper down. "What do you say I take you out for ice cream as a thank you?" Avery had told me that taking kids for ice cream was a thing people did.
"Sure!" he exclaimed.
"Ok," I said. "Go get your shoes on." As he went off, I went to get my bag and then stopped in the kitchen. Avery was at the table. "I am taking Mokuba out to get ice cream." I know I didn't need to tell Avery these things, but I did not have much else to say to him, and I wanted him to know I appreciated him being here.
"Sounds fun. It sure has been a delight having a kiddo around the house," Avery remarked.
"Yes, well, we will see you later," I offered and went back to the door to find Mokuba ready. "All right, here we go," I announced, pushing the door open. Mokuba walked under my arm before I let go of the door and followed.
We walked down the street to the ice cream place, pointing out interesting things and people we saw on the way. As we walked, I spotted the children's hospital that Avery volunteered at and remembered what he had told me. "Hold on," I said, "I want to stop in here."
Mokuba followed me like a duckling as I walked up to the main desk. "Excuse me," I said to a weary woman behind the counter. She looked up at me and I kept talking, "I was talking to one of your volunteers and he said you needed about a million dollars to build a new ward?"
"Yes," she said not really caring to make chit chat. I started to dig in my bag. "Do you have an appointment or...?" she trailed off, waiting for me to fill in the blank.
I glanced up and followed her line of vision to Mokuba. "Oh no, he's fine. Ok, here-" I said finding my checkbook and a pen. I was not sure of the exact amount what with taxes and all, "I will give you a little extra, how does two million sound? No, I will put three just to be safe. Build two wards for all I care," I said as I started to write out the check. The woman looked at me, confused. I signed the check and held it up. "I will give this to you on one condition: no one is to know where it came from." The woman still had a baffled look on her face as I handed her the check. I was sure none of this made sense to her, but she would figure it out. She looked the check over to see if it was real and her jaw dropped. "You have a nice day," I said and turned to Mokuba, "All right Mokuba, let's go get some ice cream." I think he was also a little confused as we exited the hospital.
"Why did you do that?" Mokuba asked when we got outside.
I looked down at him and frowned. "Because they needed a new ward, I didn't." He was quiet, thinking. We walked down to the park where the ice cream stand was and picked out our flavors. I liked Mokuba and I liked spending time with him. He reminded me of Seto.
"... and you want to love me, underneath it all
And I'm really lucky, underneath it all
And you're really lovely..."
"You've been doing that a lot lately," Mokuba noted, pulling me out of it.
"What?" I asked.
"Singing to yourself," he answered.
"Hm. I haven't noticed. I guess I have just been kind of cheerful recently," I replied. "Weird."
We found a bench, and as we sat down, he asked, "Did you and my brother have sex? Is that why?"
"Mokuba!" I yelled. I was blown away and frantically trying to think of what to say.
But he kept going, "Well, if that's not it," he paused, please don't say anything else about sex, I thought. He looked me in the eye. "Jem, are you in love with my brother?"
This question surprised me as much as the first. I still did not say anything. Seto and I had never talked about whatever feelings we had for one another, or perhaps never even admitted it to ourselves. Personally, I didn't want to acknowledge them because I was afraid as soon as I did, I would discover Seto didn't feel the same way.
I felt this was dangerous territory, but I did not have to say anything. I could tell by the look on his face that he already knew the answer. I looked him in the eye and pleaded, "Please, don't tell your brother."
Next Chapter: Catching Up
And that time, it worked.
