Chapter 3
Hige groaned as his teacher handed back his math test. A red, thick "55" let him know he'd failed. Miserably. The worst part was that he'd done better than he'd expected. Was it really his fault that there were so many... distractions in the Math classroom?
"Hige I suggest you pay more attention in class. A multiple choice test shouldn't be all that hard" Mr. Matthews quickly lectured, and Hige blushed in embarrassment. Did Mr. M really have to call him out like that? It's not like he didn't try...sure, he could try harder, but Blue was the teacher's aide during his class period.
The pretty, smart and sassy girl who always demanded his attention. Yes, he'd spent way too many days in detention and being grounded because of her, but it was absolutely worth it.
A burlesque laugh interrupted his thought. " 55?" Blue asked leaning in to see his test. "You're such a loser Hige"
He blushed in embarrassment and slight annoyance, miserably hoping that he wasn't the only one that had failed so miserably. "It's not like I care"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll care once you're in summer school" She grinned, and then leaned in to whisper, "You didn't get the worst grade in class." It shouldn't have, but it did make him feel better, he stuffed his test in his backpack, and waited for Blue to grab hers, so he could walk her to her next class.
"I hate it Blue, I just don't get it. "
"You just have to study Hige. Now, come on, why don't you come to my house, and I'll help you study" She said, taking her hand, gently up his arm, which suggested she had other plans in mind.
Hige grinned widely, but almost immediately frowned. "Blue...I...I think Kiba was gonna give me a ride home, actually."
"I didn't see him today… what, you're not scared I'll kidnap you, are you?" It was a running joke between, the fact that she was 16, while he hadn't yet turned 15.
He laughed, really wanting nothing more than to go with her.
"No, but...I should go home, and study there."
She glared at him, feeling anger bubble inside of her, why did she even like this idiot? He hadn't wanted to go to her house ever since her father almost caught them making out. Her father was the sheriff, and a very intimidating man, he had been overprotective before, and even more so, after the death of her mother and younger brother, Blue knew this, but she still wanted someone to make her feel like that didn't matter. She wanted Hige to make her feel like he'd stand up to her father, and take her away, even if it wasn't real.
"Right, I forgot you're actually just a coward." She glared, opening her locker and grabbing her books.
"Blue, come on, don't be like that" Hige tried to laugh, but nothing really came out. He did like Blue, a lot, but he didn't feel like dying at a young age. Still, seeing her disappointed face made him feel brave.
"Okay, listen, I really do have to go home and study, but give me a ride home?" He asked, hoping that she would brighten at the thought of spending more time with him, at her unchanged face, he sighed and went on.
"I'll go over and study at your place on Friday, okay?"
At that, her whole face lit up, and his response to that was a wide smile, and every part of his body feeling joy, whether he wanted it or not.
"Fine, let's go, loser."
Tsume was currently in a staring contest with his youngest brother. They were both glaring, but Tsume knew that he had this in the bag, especially when the 13 year old's nose started to twitch, which prompted a sneeze, where blinking was very much involved.
"Ah man!" The boy yelled out in frustration, though he honestly was just happy to be in the the same room as his older brother. Tsume was always working, or sleeping, or resting from work. Toboe missed his brother, and looked forward to any time they got to spend together. Tsume's great stress reliever was running, the older boy would go on a run every morning, and Toboe had begun accompanying him every Saturday at 5:00. It was how they bonded, but this was nice too.
"Haha, alright little brother, go for it!" Tsume laughed, though he wasn't actually expecting the young man to eat the questionable food, to his surprise, Toboe grabbed a fork, and actually put the foul looking ...meat? into his mouth.
"So is it good?" He asked trying hard not to laugh as Toboe ran to the kitchen sink and spit it out. "Argh! Ugh!" He gagged and whined trying to get the awful taste out of his mouth, rinsing his pallet with water.
"Ugh!" Was his response to Tsume's question, trying to give him a vengeful look, even if he didn't really mean it.
"Oh, come on, I'm sorry. Let's go shopping?" Tsume shrugged, hearing the front door open, and giving a somewhat rare smile, as he saw one of his brother's come in. Kiba.
"Having fun?" Kiba asked, with a straight and serious face, but a quirked brow,which meant he was actually amused. Tsume returned the quirked brow look.
"Oh, you know, Tsume is just trying to kill me!" Toboe answered, coming back from the kitchen sink and giving Kiba a hugged, it wasn't returned, but it was appreciated. Tsume and Kiba were both not very warm people, they didn't express themselves with hugs or words of encouragement, but Hige and especially Toboe, did, which made their family a ...well balanced one, or at least, Toboe thought so.
"Hey Kiba, do you wanna come grocery shopping with us? There's nothing left to eat...well, except some poisoned meat..."
"Was it in a blue container? I actually think that was Hige's science project..."
Tsume looked up at that, feeling even worse for Toboe. "Where is Hige?"
"Oh" Kiba groaned as he recalled having gone into work, and completely forgetting his younger brother. Toboe went to the Jr. High, which got out earlier than High School, so he would take the bus. Kiba and Hige went to the same school, so he'd give the younger boy a ride whenever he could. "I guess I forgot him" He finished lamely, hoping that Tsume wasn't in a mood to lecture him about watching out for each other.
Tsume just rolled his eyes, and grabbed for his keys. "Well, let's pick him up on our way to the store."
Toboe beamed at the idea of a "family trip", even if it was just to pick up a few groceries, while Kiba groaned at the idea of going out, but also wanting to make sure that they bought more than cereal and bacon.
The three brothers had just gone outside and were getting in the car, when Hige came running up to them; looking suspicious and nervous, Kiba thought.
"Hey guys! Having a party without me?" He asked, trying to act insulted, but he really just exuded cheeriness and curiosity. Out of the brothers, Hige was the most carefree and immature one, and his brothers often envied his ability to live so freely and without worry.
"Hey Porky, we're going shopping. Get in" Tsume ordered, earning an annoyed look from Hige, though his energy didn't dissipate.
"Okay" He agreed, getting in, and tackling Toboe with a hug, this one was returned, though Toboe did complain after a few seconds, as he was being crushed. "but do you really have to keep calling me that, Tsume?"
"Yes."
To be Continued...
