Chapter 10
Jake had survived the week of sex education, but he swore he'd never look at girls the same way again. He would never look at his parents the same way again either. He shuddered whenever he thought of his parents copulating. He realized he wouldn't be there if they hadn't, but it was just too weird to think about.
Adam had asked Jake if he had any questions which he did. Adam had vowed not to tell the others so Jake asked about men and women being together. Adam had patiently explained to Jake how it worked.
"Not sure if the teacher covered this, but you can get a girl pregnant the first time," Adam warned him. "Use protection every time. No matter what."
Jake had nodded.
"Pregnancy is the least of your problems, little man," Adam went on. Adam told Jake about the various diseases that could ruin Jake's life, even kill him.
Jake rubbed the back of his neck.
"Jakey, trust me," Adam had clapped his hand on his youngest brother's shoulder. "It's great. Just be careful, okay?"
Jake nodded.
"Any dreams?" Adam asked.
Jake rubbed the back of his neck again, but nodded.
"Jake, everything you're feeling is normal," Adam assured him. "We all go through it. It's part of becoming a man."
Jake met his eyes then and it was Adam's turn to nod, giving his brother an encouraging look. Then he told Jake where his stash of girly magazines were.
"You're welcome to them if you can pry them out of Quinn's and Bryan's hands," Adam laughed. Jake smirked.
"The pictures look a lot better than those I'm sure your teacher used," Adam continued. Jake colored and looked away again, jumping in surprise when he felt Adam's slap on the back. "I bet I know who you think of when you dream, huh?"
Jake's head snapped up then and Adam knew he had gone too far. Jake had quickly left the room, not saying anything to Adam for awhile afterwards.
Adam had come to Jake later and apologized, telling his little brother that he hadn't meant it as a joke. Not really.
"It's okay to think about the girls you know like that," Adam told him.
Jake had violently shaken his head.
"It's normal, Jakey," Adam said.
"She's my friend," Jake said adamantly.
"She's going to grow up into a beautiful woman," Adam responded. "It's natural for you to think of her that way."
"She's nine," Jake's eyes met Adam's.
"She is now," Adam shrugged. "She won't be forever. Remember that."
Jake had stared after Adam, thinking of what his older brother had told him.