"Are you ready for the celebration?" I asked Alex as I put my hair in a messy ponytail.

Today was a two day event since it was the 150th anniversary of Shepherd's Glen.

"Yeah. I mean, working at the petting zoo doesn't seem to bad." Alex said as I sighed.

" As if a goat would attack a kid, Alex. You should be able to have fun like us." I told him as he chuckled.

"It's fine, Janie. C'mon." Alex said as we went downstairs.

It's not fair!

"Everybody ready?" Mom asked as Josh had his camera with him.

Like always.

"Yeah!" Josh said as we walked down the street, Dad telling Josh and I to have fun while scolding Alex about doing his job right.

"It's a petting zoo, not rocket science." I muttered under my breath as I saw Alex smirking and I grinned up at him.

"Jane, come here." Dad said as I walked up beside him.

"Yes, sir?" I asked as I crossed my arms.

"Now, I want you to stay away from Alex today. He has a job to do and can't be distracted." Dad said as I looked at him.

"Why?" I questioned as I clenched my fists.

I was growing tired of all the excuses. I wanted answers.

Now.

"Jane, honey, just do it. Alex has to watch the animals." Mom said as I wordlessly walked back to Alex.

I wasn't listening anymore.

"Jane, just do what they say, okay? I don't want you getting in trouble because of me." Alex said as I looked up at him.

"I shouldn't get into trouble for hanging out with my own brother!" I said harshly as he sighed, putting his hands on my shoulders and bending down to my level.

"Jane, I know you mean well, I really do. It's been going on even before you and Josh were born. Don't worry about me. Have fun." Alex said as I nodded slowly.

"Okay." I said softly as he led me to the street where all the activities were being held but I didn't want to leave his side.

"Go on." Alex said softly as Dad gave him a look and I saw Alex disappear into the crowd.

I sighed as I rode a couple rides with Josh before looking all of the games.

Dad had given us some money in case we wanted to try our luck.

"Hmm..Which one?" I asked myself as I saw a huge teddy bear and my eyes lit up before walking up to the stand.

"Well, well. If it isn't the littlest Shepherd." the man behind the counter said as I frowned.

I knew this man.

He was Dalton's dad.

"You hit my son with a crayon, remember?" he asked as I crossed my arms.

"After he insulted my brother." I challenged back as he laughed harshly.

"More of a disgrace then a brother." he said as I clenched my fists.

"Anyway, kiddo. You wanna play, five bucks." Dalton's dad said as I looked at him.

"Fine." I said as I handed him the bill and he handed me the baseball.

"Hit all five of the pins in one throw and you win the big prize." he said as I nodded before throwing the ball, hitting the pins.

All but one fell as it was spinning and I watched getting closer and closer to the edge as he suddenly stopped it from falling off.

"Oh, sorry. Maybe you should go ask your freak of a brother. Maybe he could actually be of some use." Dalton's dad laughed as I fought back tears and marched off.

I didn't want the stupid bear anyway.

I sat on a bench as I had my knees up to my chest but I wasn't mad about him causing me to lose.

"He had no right to say that about Alex." I muttered as I saw Elle.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked as I shook my head.

"It's nothing." I said as she sat next to me.

"You can tell me, Jane." Elle pressed as I sighed before telling her everything.

She let out a scoff before grabbing my hand and gently pulling me up.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I was led down the street.

"To find your brother." Elle said as we were heading towards the petting zoo.

I saw Alex feeding the goats as he looked up.

"Elle? Jane? Everything okay?" Alex asked as he walked over to us.

"No, it's not. Jane, tell him." Elle said as I shook my head.

"It was nothing!" I said, not wanting to get Alex involved.

He would get in trouble.

"Jane, what happened?" Alex asked as I looked away from him before Elle explained everything.

"He did what?!" Alex nearly shouted as some people looked at us.

"Alex." I warned as Elle crossed her arms.

"I can cover for you. Long enough to do what you want to do." Elle said as he nodded.

"You're the best, Elle. Let's go, Janie." Alex said as he grabbed my hand, marching out of the tent.

I knew something was going to happen.

"Alex, it's fine!" I assured him as he shook his head.

"No, it's not. I don't care if they don't treat me right but they are not doing the same to you." Alex said sternly as he spotted Dalton's dad in his booth.

"Hey!" Alex yelled as he made his way over to it and I quickly followed, trying to convince Alex to just let it go.

"Oh, so she brought you over, huh? Did you go crying to him, kid?" he asked as Alex took out his wallet, giving him ten bucks.

Why?

"Alex, it's only five." I said quietly to him.

"I know." Alex responded simply as he caught the two baseballs that were thrown to me.

"Here, hold this." Alex said as he handed me one of them as I did what I was asked.

Alex threw the ball up and down for a moment before throwing it, instantly knocking all of the pins down.

"I think that means he won." I said as Dalton's dad stood there, speechless.

Alex took the bear down and handed it to me before taking the other ball away from me.

"Alex?" I asked as I could see the wheels turning in his head.

Alex threw the other ball as it hit Dalton's dad right in the face.

He cried out and held his nose as Alex looked down at me.

"You okay?" he asked as I nodded, holding onto the bear.

"Yeah." I replied as we turned around.

"You freak! You little shit!" Dalton's dad yelled as I grabbed Alex's hand.

"You shouldn't have done that. Dad's gonna be mad." I said as Alex shrugged.

"He was mean to you." Alex said simply as we made it back to the petting zoo and to Elle.

I looked at the bear before giving it a tight hug.

Maybe today wasn't to bad, after all.