Chapter 28

As we sat behind that dumpster, Harvey had a paper towel with him. He told me to blow my nose into it.

"Why?"

"I seen it on a crime show...a guy reset another guy's nose...but he had to blow his nose first...some gunk and blood came out...then he cupped his hands over the dude's nose and slowly went down the sides of it...there were these loud cracking noses and-"

"Harvey! Okay, okay...just hurry up and do it."

"Kay."

I blew my nose and almost gagged at the contents. Not to mention it hurt when I did that. He then did as he explained.

"I won't lie Bry, this is gonna hurt."

"Okay...okay, just...I'm ready...go."

He applied pressure as he moved his hands. At the same time we both heard a loud snap.

"Ahhh!" I screamed and pushed him away from me.

"Wait! Wait! Hold still!"

Harvey brought his palms together until his hands were molded snugly around my nose again. He began to breathe slowly and drag his hands straight down toward my chin. We heard some smaller popping sounds. I whimpered.

"Easy..."

I clenched my fist. There was a second and final loud pop in my nose.

"Ahhh!

I held my nose and leaned forward.

"Told you I could fix it."

I just glared at him. I never got the chance to find Rosie during the last few hours of school, though I did look for her. Later that afternoon, mom took me to get a cast for my nose. I didn't tell her about Harvey adjusting it. I was doing my homework when Dad came to my bedroom. He knocked before entering.

"Hey bud, your Mom told me about what happened...you okay?"

"Oh sure Dad."

"This guy...Stan...it the same Stan that pushed you and Harvey off the monkey bars in 7th grade?"

"Yeah...unfortunately he's graduated from pushing to nose breaking."

"I'm sorry son."

"Don't be Dad...it doesn't bother me."

"Well...your mom and I just don't want you getting into anymore fights...just walk away next time okay?

"Okay Dad..."

"Alright...Dinner will be ready soon. "

"Say Dad..."

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk you?"

"Absolutely. What's on your mind Bry?"

"Um...it's about...it...it's a guy thing."

"Oh yeah?"

He shut the door behind him and came over to me. He sat on my bed while I sat at my desk. I turned around in my rolling chair to face him properly.

"What's going on son?"

"Well there is this new girl in my class...her name is Rosie Robey..."

"Really...that's crazy."

"I haven't got to the crazy part yet."

"No I mean Rosie Robey? That sounds really made up."

"Trust me Dad, okay? That's really her name, and she's in my class. I was using my mind powers during my fight with Stan...and...when I looked at her I entered her mind. Only...I couldn't see anything...instead I felt something when her blueish-grey eyes looked at me."

"Bry...remember when you were 12? I told you all I could about what every boy needs to know to be a man speech...I told you one day that would happen."

"I know Dad...but it's just I've looked at and seen other girls at school...and my pants never got that tight before...it only happened when I looked at Rosie."

"Well you could have been stressed...you were using your powers, and you were in the middle of a fight..."

"Yeah..."

"Or maybe she could possibly be your person Bry...or it was just by accident and random...but it's no big deal."

"I...I...I just thought it was strange...it's never happened around girls before."

"You're still young Bry...your body is going to be doing all kinds of things. It's just a part of growing up. All those hormones are acting up. That's all."

"Yeah I guess, this conversation has actually made me uncomfortable...I'll jusr finish my homework and then go take my medcine before dinner."

"Alright son...And hey if you need any of my pain pills for your nose, you know where I keep them."

At dinner, my sisters were talking about their first day.

"And Mom...Momma! You're not listening!" Mira said loudly.

"Okay...okay Mira let Isa get finished telling her story and you can go next."

"Anyway as I was saying, I want to be a cheerleader like you were!" Isabelle said in excitement.

"That's great honey!"

"And I want to join the basketball team!" Mira exclaimed.

"That's perfectly fine, I know you've loved basketball since you were a little girl...what about you Anna?

"I was leaning more towards choir."

"Hey that would be great babygirl, you sing in your room all the time." Dad said with a smile.

Suddenly our doorbell rang.

"Odd...wonder who that is?" Mom pondered as she took a bite of her food.

"I'll go see." I wiped my mouth on a napkin and answered the door. To my surprise Rosie stood on our front porch.

"Rosie?!"

"Hi...Harvey told me where you lived...I just came by to see if you were alright."

"Oh...oh yeah! Yeah, I'm fine."

She stood a little closer and looked at my nose.

"I'm sorry Stan hurt you. It looks awful."

"Don't worry about it. It should heal in six to eight weeks."

She looked into my eyes. As she did my jeans grew tighter and tighter.

"Uh...do you want to come in?"

"Sure...thank you."

She followed me into the dining room.

"Mom, Dad...this is Rosie. She's a friend from school."

Mom beamed a smile, she then glanced at my Dad.

"Well Rosie...it's nice to meet you." She said. She then stood and went to the kitchen.

"Would you like some ranch chicken and potatoes I made plenty?"

"Oh no thank you...I couldn't impose...I just came to see if Bryan was okay...he protected me from that bully."

"Did he now?" Dad exclaimed with smile.

"Sounds like more than a friend to me..." Mira whispered.

"Shut up, and eat your potatoes." I scoffed. My sisters looked at each other. I could tell they desperately wanted to make fun of me. Mom returned with a plate of food.

"Here hon, you aren't imposing at all. Any friend of Bryan's is always welcome here."

"Oh well thank you very much Mrs. Bryan's mom."

I pulled the chair out for her. After she sat down, I scooted the chair back up; and sat next to her.

"Please call me Harmione...and this is my husband Charlie."

"Hello Rosie."

"And I don't think you'll see much of my girls they're in a different hallway than you and Bry, but this is Annabelle, Mirabelle, and Isabelle. Anna, Mira, and Isa respectfully."

"It's nice to meet you all...you have a big family Bryan...and thanks for the food."

As we sat down to eat everyone wanted to know more about Rosie. So did I. Since she was new at school I didn't know a thing about her.

"Well...my Dad and I moved here...we used to live really far away...he was hoping I could find some friends."

"What about your mother?" My mother asked.

"I...I don't have a mother...she was..."

Rosie paused and looked down at her plate.

"She was killed...by somebody."

We grew silent. Mom then picked up her plate.

"Uh...girls you wanna help me do the dishes?"

It was then Dad and I alone with Rosie. Dad cleared his throat.

"Um Rosie...Bryan tells me that uh...he seems to like you a lot, maybe your Dad was right. Maybe you found your first real friend."

"I think so too." Rosie said with a smile. She had a beautiful smile. I was happy to have found her when I did. Now my family was happy to know her.