CHAPTER SEVEN
"So what's this all about Smurf wanting to have her kids over for dinner?" Deran asked climbing back onto his surf board.
He and Craig had gone surfing to clear their mind of the mess that's been going on lately. Smurf hadn't bothered with any of them really since the night of Deran's big opening so she had to know something. She had asked them to dress nicely which was something that she never did.
"I don't know…Maybe she found out about the church, I'm sure she watched the news" Craig answered back sitting on his own board.
"Make sure you wear a tie" He said more as a joke than anything else. "Do you think she knows about other things?"
"What do you mean other things?" The waves had picked up which made them drift a little part. Craig had to move back over. He didn't know what he was talking about and honestly didn't have a clue to what he was alluding. "Do you mean about you and Adrian or something?"
"No I already told her about everything but I didn't tell her about him" He paused looking out into the ocean. "Just everything, we're all falling apart man; I don't know what she expects from us"
Seeing a wave approach, both brothers hopped onto their boards in order to catch it. Deran being the more successful surfer did a much better job than Craig. As another one came about, they caught it before meeting back up in the middle of the ocean.
"So what do you think about Jessica being back in the fold? When did she get to boss us around?" It was now Craig's chance to ask a question.
"Well I for one can say I missed her but things do seem a little different…You see those looks that she keeps giving Baz?"
The brunette male had a slight laugh then shook his head in surprise. "What? No I haven't been paying that much attention" He tried thinking back to any moment but there was nothing that crossed his mind. "Maybe they're, you know. Maybe the two of them are fucking behind Smurf's back"
Deran nearly did a double take at him. Rolling his eyes he did think about it once before but never said it aloud. If something was going on between them it would change the whole dynamic of the family, not only with Smurf but with the boys also.
"You really think that?"
"How the hell should I know? I'm only saying it because you are having some weird thought in your head. You remember when we were younger and she always followed him around? I wouldn't be that surprised if it happened"
Trying his best to remember, Deran thought it over but couldn't gather that much. "Do you think she would?"
Craig had completely turned his board around to face his younger brother. "What's the big deal? Julia and Baz had a thing so…" He waited for him to answer because he still seemed a little off on the situation. He never picked up on anything. "Oh I see what this is about, you're afraid he'll sweep her off her feet and you won't have a sister anymore"
Narrowing his blue eyes towards him, he scoffed at the remark. "No that's not what I'm concerned about but I'm glad you care about my well-being"
As afternoon hit, the Cody's had to prepare themselves for whatever they wanted to call it. They were all going to hang out in the backyard before dinner because Smurf said she would be out for most of the day until she had to come back.
Jessica of course was the first one to show up and had the entire house to herself. She didn't exactly know what to do but she never wanted to miss a good tan. Even though she was supposed to dress accordingly, she knew that no one would so she didn't even bother.
She dressed in once again jean shorts but at least wore a nice shirt that didn't look too bad. It was a white and blue stripped collared shirt that she tucked into the shorts and at least made her look presentable. Jessica tossed off the clothes before laying down on one of the chairs. She enjoyed the sun hitting her tan body and frankly she had nothing better to do.
It wasn't until an interruption had happened which changed her plans for the day. "I'm glad someone else came this early, I thought I'd be here by myself" Deran had come from inside and took a seat in the chair next.
She kept her eyes closed because she knew who it was by his voice. "Baby bro, how's the bar coming along? I've been meaning to stop in again but I've been busy"
He had just opened a beer and took a drink. "It's been going good, I think I'll need some more recipes that you gave me" Deran debated on asking about what was going on but wondered if he should. "So how are you?" He went with a safer question.
Sitting up straighter, she wiggled back on the chair to have her face more in the shade. Jessica turned her head and raised her hand to cover her eyes. "I'm as bright as the sun. Recovery isn't easy but I did come home this time, right?" She offered a faint smile. "What about you? When am I going to meet one of these girlfriends of yours?"
He hadn't told her that he was gay as Craig was still the only one who knew. Deran had been looking back at her and instead put his legs up lying in the same position she was. "If I tell you something, you promise to keep it a secret?" She nodded slowly with a confused expression. "I um…I'm gay"
With her mouth popping open to say something, she looked away and towards the pool. He now felt judged and thought maybe he shouldn't have said anything but it wasn't like he could take it back. Jessica took a second then looked back at him. "So when can I meet one of your boyfriends?"
Jessica smiled which felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "I'm not exactly out in the open about it so…You're cool with that right?" Deran asked taking another drink.
"Why wouldn't I be? You could do anything you want and I wouldn't love you any less. I'm not going to turn my back on you just because you like guys, how many girls did I mess around with before I turned twenty?" She had actually dated both genders before and saw nothing wrong with it. It wasn't a secret either and every knew about her flings. "Now I know why you always wanted me to invite Trey over all the time"
Trey had been her boyfriend in high school and that made Deran shake his head with a laugh. Jessica now teased him over it in a playful way and was excited for him. "Okay stop it. I didn't' have a crush on the guy or anything. Craig is the only one who knows so if you wouldn't mind keeping it quiet…"
"What do I know that no one else doesn't know?" Craig had just walked over from the driveway. Of course he didn't dress up and wore baggy shorts and a surfer tank top. Deran had said something to him about it but he brushed it off. "You two are definitely related; at least you both could look like you're going to a family dinner"
Deran's clothes weren't a suit and tie but he wore a nice shirt and pants. "That our dear brother here is gay and we don't have a problem with it…Right?"
Craig had moved to stand in front of them blocking her sun. Yelling at him to move he didn't budge so she slipped her shirt back on. "No, like I could care less if he's dating a guy or not. It's not my preference but whatever works for you. Hey, remember that time you made out with that Jade girl or whatever her name was. That was hot for sure, you were lucky…I think I slept with her after that"
Jessica blinked then exchanged a look towards her younger brother. Grabbing her shorts, she slipped them on and began tucking the shirt back in. "You're disgusting. I'm your sister and you think it's hot I made out with a girl, here I thought Pope was the one who had problems" She stopped quickly when she saw him walking in. "Anyway, enjoy my sloppy seconds cause I did her first"
Laughing out loud, Deran nearly choked on his drink. It was a revelation to him and he in fact found it hilarious. The look on Craig's face had made it better. Nicky, J, Baz and Lena all had showed up at different times but at least everyone was together.
Lena had been getting her nails paint a light blue by Jessica who in turn just painted hers. The little girl was excited and once she was done ran off to ride around on the bike Smurf got her in the driveway.
Everyone had been making pointless conversations. Jessica stood up and looked at the edge of the pool debating on if she wanted to go for a swim. She didn't want to ruin her hair or make-up but she stood near it staring at the water. Craig had nodded towards Deran signaling for him to notice her.
"Careful Jess, remember last time you were in the pool?" Craig asked which made her turn to face him. Shrugging her shoulders, she backed away slightly not knowing what he was talking about. "Oh come on you have to remember that?"
"What happened?" Pope questioned curious to what was going on.
"The one time we threw a party, Jessica here decided to go for a swim and nearly drown in front of all these people and this guy she was crushing on. Safe to say he left after that"
Thinking it over, she mocked a smile then shook her head in disbelief. "First off you gave me enough coke to overdose so I was high out of my mind. You then dared me to go swimming and your brother thought it was a great idea to throw me in it. Trust me Pope, you didn't miss anything"
Baz had been sitting in one of the chairs listening and had laughed along with the others remembering it like it was yesterday. Craig had given him the side eye to tell him to do it again and he didn't hesitate at the chance. Jumping up, he moved over before she had a chance to turn around and grabbed her around the waist.
"Baz get off of me!" Jessica yelled trying to pry his hands off of her. He was stronger than her and was dragging her back to the edge of the water. "I swear to God if you throw me in there!"
"You'll what? Call my Mother and tell on me?" Baz responded and Craig was finding too much enjoyment in the situation. Since she was their little sister, they always picked on her.
"I'll kick your ass! Let me go…I'm serious" She was trying not to laugh because she knew they were just playing around.
Deran shifted his eyes between them before giving Craig another look. "You better let her go man before she gets mad"
Baz turned his head to his left agreeing with him and let her go out of his grasp. Just as she was turning around, he quickly shoved her forward and she reached out to grab him before falling right into the pool. He ran away and sat back down before Craig leaned passed Deran to give him a high five.
It took a few seconds for Jessica to come up but once she did she was furious. She didn't have a second pair of clothes and didn't want to walk around in her bathing suit all day. She splashed the water as hard as she could at them before wiping her eyes. "I just did my nails!"
J was willing to help her but had a hard time getting up due to his leg. He watched Pope enjoy the fun before getting up and bending down reaching for her hand. Jessica took it and thanked him as she climbed out of the pool.
"Oh it's all in good fun, you know we still love you" Craig said tipping his beer bottle towards her with a wide grin.
"I would have got you out myself but I know you would have thrown me in there" Baz spoke.
"I hate all of you…" She snapped before walking away raising her middle finger. Jessica now had to dry her clothes and figured out what she would wear.
She was now standing in the bathroom she was in a day ago with a towel wrapped around her though she was still dripping wet. Jessica didn't want to go back home to change and wasn't going to wear anything Smurf had. She had put her clothes in the dryer and all she had was her bathing suit. Untying her top, she tossed it into the shower before moving into Smurf's room.
"Hey…I don't know you if you'll fit in them but you are more than welcome to wear some of my clothes" Nicky had come through the doorway which made Jessica jump slightly.
Feeling relieved at the thought, Jessica was thankful and agreed on it. After going through clothes that Nicky handed her, she was lucky to fit in a pair of shorts and a fitting t-shirt. Ruffling her hair, she knew that Smurf had a blow dryer some place and once she found it she moved into the bathroom to do that.
Nicky had come to the rescue once more and offered her makeup because hers had faded off due to the water. She promised she'd make it up to her and took the things into the kitchen to watch the boys and apply her make-up. Jessica grabbed a portable mirror and sat at the kitchen island.
"I always wish I had a sister but I ended up with a little brother. Well half-brother actually" Nicky said facing the opposite end of it with her back to the doors.
Not minding the company, Jessica sorted through the items. "Still a brother is a good thing right? Well as long as they are a pain in the ass like all of them out there" Grabbing some eyeliner, she began to focus before raising her eyes to look at her. "So how long have you and J been dating?"
Biting her lip, Nicky wasn't aware that she didn't know about her relationship. "Um…I'm not dating J anymore. I'm with Craig now"
That made the Cody sister freeze at what she was doing. She hadn't talked much to her since J's leg and she had automatically assumed that they were dating due to their age. Nicky saw the look in her eyes and she looked away for a moment.
"Oh, okay…" Jessica really wasn't sure what to say that would be polite. She'd have to have a talk with her older brother, it looked like she needed to talk to pretty much all of them. "So…You're J's age though right? Look, I'm not judging that much because everyone in this house has mommy and daddy issues. I'm not one to judge anyone anyway, look at the way I ended up"
She went back to the eyeliner and that was okay for Nicky. "We dated but things didn't really work out so I kinda clicked better with Craig and here we are"
Nodding faintly, she went now for some mascara. "Just be careful. Not saying he's bad guy but I know my brother better than you" Jessica had smiled faintly and didn't want her to feel uncomfortable even though she felt it a little. "Was J your first boyfriend and first you know…?"
Being only curious, Jessica just wanted to understand the situation a little bit better. She had told Nicky she was just trying to get to know her and she was fine with it. Nodding yes, there wasn't any tension of awkwardness in the air until she asked the next question. "How old were you the first time?"
Screwing the cap back on, she placed it down feeling trapped in the question. Looking around for the eyeshadow, Jessica took a long pause before speaking. "Probably like sixteen. I had this boyfriend and I was too nervous to do anything with him. He broke up with me of course but I was like fourteen or something. I lost it to someone else at sixteen" Trailing off, she stared out the doors at her brothers.
Nicky watched her then got a little confused on what she was doing. Looking over her shoulder, she gazed out as well. Turning back to Jessica, she glanced on more time and then it finally clicked to her, she was looking at Baz. Once Jessica noticed the brunette looking out the window, she cleared her throat and began with the eyeshadow.
"Anyway, there isn't much else to tell from that point forward. Just make sure you stay safe because I really don't think you'd want a baby at this age" Jessica was hoping that she didn't understand anything.
Thinking it over in her head, Nicky was dying to know the answer but didn't want to ask it. She didn't know her that well and quite frankly she could become offended. "Are you and Baz like a thing?" She couldn't help it anymore.
Finishing both eyes, Jessica looked up at her but couldn't say anything. They weren't dating and they definitely weren't an item. They had a different relationship at the moment that would possibly lead someplace else but wasn't moving fast enough. Jessica didn't have a problem dating him but it would be Smurf and the Boys that would. She hoped Baz would feel the same way and if they did turn into something, it would have to be secret like any other time they had a moment.
Not being able to find any words, Smurf had come around the corner, bags in hand just like last time. Shifting and moving quickly, Jessica began to gather the make-up up.
"Hey baby…Are those Nicky's clothes?" Smurf asked setting the bags down on near the sink looking her daughter over.
"Yeah, my clothes are in the dryer…I hope that's okay?" Jessica asked slowly sounding like a child asking permission.
"Of course it's okay. What happened to them?" She smiled at Nicky who began to help with the groceries for dinner.
"Go ask your sons or should I say son. They were dripping wet and my bathing suit is in the shower. Thankfully Nicky had clothes that fit me so I could change"
Turning her head to the right to look out the window, the Cody boys were drinking and laughing as always. Excusing herself, she opened the patio door and walked over to them with her hands on her hips. "Okay, what did you do to your sister this time?"