Chapter 16s: Fluffy Jail

"When have you pushed someone too far?"

Had you asked me a week ago, I would not have been able to answer in any serious form.

But right now I can. From my soft, springy bed. With all the sheets. And Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Parrot and Mrs. Piggy and all the other stuffed toys they've tried placating me with before today.

It is the shiny new lock in my door. And it is currently locked.

Until a few days ago, there were no locks on any doors. Clara and Chris decided that my trips to find Nii-san had to come to an end, so they decided to put a lock there.

And then they had the bright idea to check their spare keys. Well.. the one for the backdoor was missing. So with that came an all-round replacement of all locks in the house.

I can only conclude they are officially tired of my shit.

Grounded, that is the word they use. I call it 'fluffy jail'.

I get to come out for school, where I get brought and picked up under extra supervision. I get to eat downstairs with the rest of this 'family'. Oh, and toilet visits, most obviously.

And when I'm nice, they let me watch TV with them in the evenings, but I don't quite feel like being familial with them after having been stuck inside fluffy jail for the rest of the day. So I only end up with more time in fluffy jail.

OK OK, I exaggerate. I'll admit as much. Fluffy jail makes my imagination go a bit wild at times. In fact, they let me out of the room most of the day. But that bunch of paranoid fakers is actually locking up all the doors so I don't sneak out.

I'm definitely not nominating them as foster parents of the year.

I groan audibly as the boredom assaults me. There's homework, but when you are locked in jail, homework isn't exactly on the list. There is the window, but being two floors up has convinced me that heights are most likely a healthy thing to fear.

Besides, last summer was sweltering. If the temperature rises in the next few months along with the arrival of summer, then this room is going to be stuffy. Having the ability to open my window... I think I don't want to lose that bit of freedom by trying to challenge whatever fears I possess in regards to the ground down there.

The door unlocks, and before I quite realize, it is already open and Jenny comes in.

"I'll leave the door unlocked for you, Jenny, but make sure you lock our little escape artist back up once you two are done hanging out, okay?"

Chris is joking about the manner in a lighthearted manner, but I can only stare at him in an unimpressed manner. He shrugs and turns to leave, no doubt a bit disappointed his joke didn't get a smile out of me.

Meanwhile, Jenny is all over me.

Literally. I am being assaulted by a hand shaped like a fist that is applied in the form of a noogie on top of my head.

"Pipsqueak. Seriously. Why the hell don't you just promise? This place turned into Alcatraz because of you?!"

I do my best to dodge, but she's still got those long arms and few more years on me. At least she ends up giving up and sitting on my bed with me.

"I tried, didn't I?"

"Did you think they don't smell your bullshit from a mile away?" she responds, being a bit more serious than I expected. "I'm sorry Setty, but I wasn't quite the model pipsqueak myself. Nowadays they seem to sense whenever I'm honest."

She laughs about it easily now, but of course, she is still in a position to leave the house whenever she wants to. I try to give her my best angry glare, but it is no better than throwing a snowballs into a volcano: utterly ineffective.

"Just be honest with them. Stop your silly shenanigans and they'll let you out and about as you used to."

"Do I get a phone call?"

That hand is back, noogie-ing it up once more. "You little..!" she laughs out as she teases me.

"I meant, with Nii-san. I don't believe he has forgotten me. Or does not want to talk to me!"

My voice sounds far more desperate than I'd like. Maybe he's got a new sister. I know I've got a new older sister, so... No, I can't think that way.

Jenny leans back, folding her arms over one another as her face takes on that sisterly, sympathetic touch.

"I doubt it. If it was that easy to get a phonecall going and stop your silly ass from running to the nearest bus station, don't you think mom and dad would have already done so? It has to be out of their reach."

I topple backwards. My head hits my pillow only a little; I mostly end up leaning against Jenny who wraps her arms around me in a comforting manner.

It frankly isn't a very comfortable position to be in, but I don't want to chase her away. I hear puberty sucks, and she doesn't need me disliking to snuggle up with her simply because her breasts are doing such a good job filling out.

Ugh, I hope I never get breasts. They seem annoying.

Does Nii-san like girls with breasts? Ugh. I hope not. If he does, I'll just consider myself lucky that Jellybelly is my sister, and not his!

"What are you thinking about, Setty?"

"That it must suck to have breasts like yours, Jellybelly."

"It does. And your turn will come."

She just laughs it off, and I find that comforting as I jokingly reply with a "Neverrrr." of my own.

A silence falls. It lasts a while, but then she speaks up.

"Serious question. If your Nii-san says he hates you, will you stop your silliness?"

I tilt my head backwards, glancing up to look at her through my bangs. "I suppose. I really hope he doesn't though." I mumble.

I don't want to give up. I want my Nii-san back. But if he really is done with me...

"Okay. Fine then. I trust you." Her grip around my tightens lovingly, pushing the air out of my lungs a bit. "You know I'm on your side, right?"

I hesitate slightly before nodding. Where is she going with this?

"I'll prove that I can be as good a sister to you as your Cain is a brother."