Chapter 16: The Trouble with Brothers
Sighing softly, Dil drummed his fingers on the armrests of the incredibly uncomfortable plastic waiting room chair he was sitting in. He wasn't used to having to stay so still for so long. It was boring. Besides, next to him he could feel Kim almost dripping with anxiety. He reached over and placed his hand over hers, giving a small squeeze, and she looked up and offered a wan smile.
Tom glanced over at them and muttered, "I'm never gonna get used to you two. This is so out of the blue."
Dil rolled his eyes. "Actually, it's not. Since you left for college, Kim and I have been hanging out a lot more." He paused and turned to look at Tom. "And you'd know that if you bothered to ever call or email me."
Leaning over, Lil whispered, "Busted," in Tom's ear. He glared at her briefly then switched over to glaring at Dil. "I totally call and email," he said huffily.
"Oh, bull."
"Stop it, both of you," Kim growled. Dil flinched when her eyes focused in on him like a laser beam. "Dil, stop being a dumbass, and just admit that you miss your brother." Then she turned to his brother. "And Tom, stop being a dumbass, and start calling Dil more often. I know you're a big man on campus now, but family's family."
Lil made an interesting choking noise as she stifled a laugh.
Before anyone could respond further, Angelica strode into the waiting area, waves of irritation pouring off her like heat from the sun. "They threw me out of the room," she complained. "Me, Angelica Pickles! They whisked Chuck off to take some x-rays, but I have no idea what's happening otherwise." She plunked down next to Lil and crossed her arms over her chest.
Kim gave a tight nod, and Dil squeezed her hand again. "Thanks for the update," she said. "Any luck reaching Susie?"
"Because we haven't been able to get Phil," Lil added, with a worried edge to her voice. "His phone's still turned off."
"Yes, actually." Angelica's bad mood slid away suddenly, and a very cat-like smile—the smile that Dil had dreaded since childhood—spread over her lips. "She's on her way over, and you just would not believe who she's with." Her eyes cut meaningfully over to Lil.
The look didn't escape unnoticed. Lil's eyes, filled with a suspicion deeply-nurtured over the years, bored into the side of Angelica's head. "Who is Susie with, Angie?"
"Why, none other than Philip DeVille."
As Lil's jaw fell open, Tom burst into laughter. "Looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't know what's going on with my brother."
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Author's Notes: I know the plot has been developing at a somewhat languid pace, but this is a "beginnings" story. Next chapter, however, will see some rather interesting developments with our star couple.