It was December 16. Naje, Leah, Fred, and Nara were all home. School was out for the winter break. Their last day of school in 2012 was December 14. They won't be going back to school until January 7. A week had gone by since the championship game Pensacola High had won. During that week, the school was celebrating it's state championship victory. Including a parade for the football team themselves. Naje in particular, had been getting a lot of love from people at school. The students, the teachers, and the principles. It was as if he was a celebrity. Leah wasn't jealous of him. She was nothing but proud and happy for him. She just hoped that the "fame" didn't get to Naje's head and also hoped that he wouldn't eventually change for the worst.
It was morning and they were having pancakes for breakfast. Nara served everyone's pancakes to them, but for Naje, she evenly cut his into 8 small triangle shaped sizes, poured syrup on his, and gave him his selection of drink; which was milk. Naje was smiling because he felt special, but he wasn't too big about it.
"Thanks, mom." He said to Nara.
"Anything for our hero." She said. Naje had his head down, grinning big. Leah just sighed.
"So, Naje, how's the past week been for you?" Fred asked.
"It was great! Everyone is treating me like I'm some sort of celebrity star. Even people who I've never seen or spoken to before." Naje said.
"Well, you are a local star now. A local hero." Nara stated.
"Yeah. I love the recognition and praise I'm getting, but I hope it doesn't keep going where it's too much for me to handle." Naje said.
"You deserve it." Fred said.
"I do, don't I?" Naje thought with a smirk on his face.
Then Leah had enough. "Mom, what's our the time of our flight to Japan?" She randomly asked.
Back in October, it was announced that Leah and Nara would be taking a trip together to Japan for Christmas. Mainly so Leah could see Yoshi. They were leaving on December 22, which happens to be the day after Leah's birthday. So they'll be leaving in 6 days. They would return on Christmas Day.
"9 in the morning, Leah. Why?" Nara responded.
"Just asking since I forgot." Leah said while sighing. That didn't sit too well with Naje; how Leah asked about what time a trip is while his parents were talking good about him.
"Well I'm done." Leah said, referring to eating her pancakes.
"Good grief. Someone was starving this morning I see." Naje said.
"Yep. Well thanks for the pancakes, mom. Even though you didn't serve me or dad's pancakes like you did for Naje, but that's totally fine. Talk to you guys later." Leah said as she put her dish in the sink, went to her room, and closed her door. Everyone else were looking at each other with concern for Leah.
After Naje was done finishing up his pancakes, he went to Leah's room to see what was up with her.
"Hey Leah?" Naje said as he entered her room. When he came in, she was putting her shoes on as if she was gonna go somewhere, which she was.
"Hey. What is it?" She responded.
"You okay?" Naje asked her.
"I'm good. Now if you'll excuse me, Naje, I'm headed to Taylor's house. Nicole is there with her and I just need some girl time right now." Leah said. Naje was looking concerned again.
"Just spend time with mom. She's a girl. And besides, I was just about to ask if you wanted to play video games together like we always do after we eat breakfast on the weekends and stuff." Naje told her.
"Sorry, Naje-hero-san. Not today. I just want to leave the house for a few hours or so. Maybe I'll play video games with you later or tomorrow or whatever. Bye." Leah went on as she walked past Naje. She let Fred and Nara know she was heading out. Then she walked out of the could do nothing but put his hands on his hips and wonder what was the matter with his little sister.
She was at Taylor's house now along with Nicole. It had been two hours now since she had been over there. They were doing stuff that girls do. Painting their fingernails and toenails, on their phones, listening to music, and just talking.
"I always have a good time with you girls. But today, I really needed to hang out with you more than ever before." Leah said.
"How come?" Taylor asked.
"Because of Naje." Leah said.
"Naje? What did he do?" Asked Nicole.
"Saved our varsity football team's butt by intercepting that pass and winning them the game." Leah said.
"But that's a good thing." Nicole told her.
"It is and I'm still happy for him. But everyone is treating him like he's the greatest invention since toilet paper." Said Leah. Nicole and Taylor looked at each other.
"Leah, he did something great." Nicole said.
"Yeah. You're not jealous, are you?" Taylor asked.
"No, I'm not jealous! I'm just a little fed up with all of this attention he's getting. He's getting a bit too much of it if you ask me." Leah went on.
"Think if it was you, Leah." Nicole said to her.
"If it were me, I wouldn't walk around like I'm the greatest human being to ever walk on the planet Earth." Leah said. "And to make things worse, our parents have to bring it up almost everyday. You don't know how stressful it is over there."
"The only person who has a problem with all of this is you Leah!" Nicole said.
"Yeah, girl. You really have to calm down and look at the bright side." Taylor added.
"What bright side?!" Leah asked. "Good grief, you guys aren't helping either. You're making it seem like Naje is a walking piece of heaven." Leah sighed. "I have to go, girls. I'll see you guys later." Leah left the house.
A few days had gone by. It was the day before Leah's birthday and the day before she and Nara had left for their flight to Japan in the morning. And yet, she was still being distant from Naje. Hardly talking to him, playing games with him, just hardly interacting with him at all.
It was dinnertime. Leah was the first one to finish her dinner. During dinner, she didn't say anything. She just went straight to her room once she was done and closed her door. Now, it was Naje who had enough. He went to Leah's room to confront her.
"Leah?" Naje called for her, as he entered her room. She was sitting on her bed on her phone.
"Yeah?" She answered, not even looking at Naje.
"It's time to talk now." Naje said.
"Talk about what?" Leah asked.
"You." Naje said. Then Leah put her phone down and gave Naje her full attention.
"Me? What do we need to talk about me for?" Leah wondered.
"For the past few days now, you've been distant from everyone. But in particular, you've been distant from me. What's the problem?" Naje said.
"You know what's the problem, Naje? You are." Leah said. Naje pointed to himself.
"Me? What did I do?" Naje thought.
"Become a hero. Ever since you helped our school win the state championship, everyone has treated you as in you were the president of the United States." Leah said.
"Aren't you happy for me?" Naje asked her.
"Of course I'm happy for you. You're my brother. But remember when you said that you hope all of the attention you're getting doesn't end up getting too much for you to handle? Well it's gotten too much for me to handle." Leah said.
"Leah, it's not my fault. I did something good and got praised for it. I didn't ask for it. It just happened." Naje stated.
"I know. I just wish I could go a week without hearing about it every hour. Just I guess 3 days is good enough." Leah said.
"What do you want me to do? Build a time machine and go back in time and not help my team win a very important game?" Naje said.
"What I want you to do right now is leave my room. I have something to do that'll keep me busy for the rest of the night. So good night." Leah said as she got into her head. Naje stood there with an angry expression that turned into side.
"Good night, Leah." Naje calmly said as he closed her door and went into his own room.
An hour later, Leah didn't hae anything important to do. She just didn't wanna talk to anyone. She was thinking about how she had been acting for the past few days and she was feeling really bad of how she was being toward everyone. Especially Naje. Leah sighed and got out of bed. She knocked on Naje's bedroom door.
"Come in." He said. Leah opened the door and peeked her head in. Naje just looked at her then looked away.
"Hey Naje." Leah said.
"Hi." Naje replied, not even looking at Leah. Similar to what she did to him.
"Can we talk?" Leah asked. Naje sat up on his bed.
"A better question is "Do YOU even wanna talk?" Naje corrected her.
"Yes, I do. That's why I came to you." Leah said.
"Surprise surprise. You've only said about 20 words to me a day." Naje responded.
"Yes I know..." Leah said. "I just wanna say that I'm really sorry."
"About?" Naje asked.
"How I've been acting.." Leah answered.
"Why have you been acting the way you have been recently anyway?" Naje asked her.
"Ever since you won our high school football team the state championship, you've just been getting so much glory. I was happy for you, and I still am, but it just got to me. And honestly, I was never annoyed." Leah said.
"I didn't ask for any of this, Leah. Like I told you earlier, it just happened." Naje said.
"I know and I should've been more understandable. I was never annoyed or jealous. I was... just scared." Leah admitted.
"Scared? Scared of what?" Naje asked.
"Scared that you were gonna change. And not for the good. For the past week, your name is all I hear and all I see. Remember how you just said that I've only said about 20 words to you a day? Well that's the same amount of times that I've heard and saw your name each. You've been invited to parties, had people treating you like a king, even having mom serve you pancakes the way she did. I just didn't like it. I feared that the "fame" would get to your head, and you'd eventually forget about me. We've been closer than two peas and a pod since day one. I assure you that I wasn't jealous. Fear turned into anger and I was oh-so angry. I guess the thought of losing my one and only brother made me so angry that I didn't wanna talk to anyone. Not even you." Leah explained.
Naje just sat there for a moment. Then he finally spoke.
"Leah, I'll never forget about you. Ever. How could I and why would I even try to? This "fame" won't change me. I admit, I do love the praise and recognition I'm getting, but it's not getting to my head. I won't let it. C'mon, Leah. You know me." Naje said.
"You're right. And I'm up here saying that you might change when you really haven't. Instead, I'm the one that's changed..." Leah thought.
"Ya think?" Naje joked. Leah giggled and gave him a nudge on his shoulder. "But don't worry, Leah. I'll always, and I mean ALWAYS, be your brother." Naje assured her. "Your big brother."
Leah smiled. "I know you will." She said as she hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. All is forgiven." Naje said.
"Thank you Naje-san." Leah said softly.
"No problem. Now, we have a few more hours to go until your birthday!" Naje said.
"Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!" Leah cheered. That made Fred and Nara enter the room.
"We heard cheering. What's going on?" Fred asked.
"You guys are finally talking to each other againm huh?" Nara said. Leah and Naje put their arm around each other's shoulder.
"Yes we are." Leah said, then kissed Naje on his cheek.
Everyone stayed up until it hit 12 o'clock at midnight. Then it was Leah's birthday!