- hey guys, enjoy this, i wanted to update ASAP, cuz i'm gunna be gone for a while week up north, boring. so i won't update for a while.
but don't worry, i'll be back

Chapter 3

Mary, wake up! First day of school. Mary thought, forcing herself to wake up.

She got up and went to the bathroom. She walked over to the sink and slapped cold water on her face, then looked up at herself in the mirror.

She couldn't help but think about how much she had grown up since her dad died. She became very independent, and for only being nine at the time, that was something big for her.

After breaking her train of thought she hopped in the shower and cleaned herself up. Getting out, she walked to her mom's room and seen her passed out, lying on the floor.

"Oh mum, not again." she mumbled, helping her mom up onto the bed.

She could smell her breath 4 feet away, and that could mean only one thing – she's drunk.

If she knew her mom she bet that she probably got home at three in the morning, came in here, and passed out; which was about three hours ago.

"I guess I'll be getting myself ready for school today." Mary stated, as she left the room and closed the door.

She hated that her mom did that to herself, and to her daughter, as a matter of fact.

She then got dressed and went downstairs and made some rum pancakes. Mary seemed to have a bit of a habit of eating rum pancakes; she got hooked on them ever since her mom made her breakfast a few weeks after her dad died and accidentally spilled rum in the batter. But no matter; a little rum won't hurt.

When Mary finished them she put them in a container and slipped them into her backpack.

She then walked out of her house and headed down the street.

+000000000-

"Jack, wake up! First day of school! . . .Jaaaaaaackiee. . ."

"Huh? Jo – MaryJo? What are you doing here? What time is it?" Jack, who was now sitting up in bed and rubbing his eyes, inquired.

"It's almost 6:30, sleepy head. Now get up! You don't want to be late for your first day of high school." Mary smiled at him and walked out of the room.

"Hmm." Jack mumbled, then added very quietly, "Maybe I do."

He then got up, slipped on some black boxer pants, and followed Mary out of his room.

When he turned down the dark hallway he heard the water running in the bathroom.

"Your shower is waiting, my king!" Mary said laughing, walking out into the hall to face Jack. She looked at him and then saw the look on his face. "What's the matter?"

Jack stared right back at her, leaving a minute of silence before stuttering, "What the H –. What are you doing here?"

Mary stood there for a few seconds and thought about how he would always swear, but not directly to her, which made her feel. . . "Well, getting you ready for highschool m'dear. I knew you would forget all about setting your alarm and everything, so I took the liberty to come here and surprise you! Surprise!" Mary then left Jack in the hall and went to the kitchen.

"I didn't mean to– " Jack yelled after her, then mumbled, "Thanks." , and took his shower.

When he got out he headed to his room, going right past his mom's room and not even looking in, even though the door was wide open. He knew what was in there, but he didn't care anymore.

He walked into his room and looked around the floor, found his white Wife beater and threw it on, then found a pair of his jeans and slipped those on over his boxers. Jack went out to the kitchen.

"Well good morning Mr. Grouchy Pants. I made you my famous pancakes."

Jack sat down at the table and stared at Mary as she got out a plate and silverware.

He couldn't help but smile as her light brown hair, pulled back into a loose ponytail, swung around as she bustled around the kitchen. As she did this she hummed a song that he had no idea what it could be, yet it seemed so comforting and familiar.

"Here you go. Now eat up, you need your energy." Jack smiled at her then dug in.

Mary sat down across the table, having ate her pancakes while Jack was in the shower, and watched him as he enjoyed her pancakes.

She admired everything about him. How strong he was, how independent he was; but despite admiring him, she was growing up to be her own self. What she saw in front of her, the messy, dark brown hair, the dark eyes, and the fit body, was nothing to who she thought Jack was.

She really saw him as that nine year-old boy who had just found out that his daddy was gone. Who had later seen his mom go down the drain, her becoming an alcoholic; then having to raise himself and take care of himself.

That's who he truly was; that's who he truly is.

+000000000-

When Jack finished his pancakes Mary cleaned up the kitchen, washing their plates and silverware in the sink. Whiles she did this Jack went to his room for something, then came back to the kitchen,

"You know, Jo – you really didn't have to do this." Jack said, coming up behind Mary and resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Oh no, but I did," Mary said, while continuing washing. Then she turned around and said, "because how could I have missed my big brother's first day of highschool!" Mary pinched Jack's cheeks.

He batted her hands away, then said, "Oh, come here." Jack pulled her into a hug. Jo is right, he thought, we are practically siblings now. I mean, we do have so much in common. But it goes way deeper than that. . .and I'm sure she looks up to me.

"Well," Mary said, pulling away from the hug, "off you go. School starts in 20 minutes, so you should get walking. Oh – and your bag is right next to the door."

Jack walked to the front door, followed by Mary. He grabbed his bag and opened the door, then said smiling, "Thanks for everything . . .little sis."

And with that he was gone.