Hello everyone. I'm seriously amazed with the number of views this story has, I wasn't expecting so much.

*****B****

Paths – Chapter 3 – Deal

After a good shower, I get dressed and finally go downstairs to check the living room and the kitchen. Lately, the tiniest thing can make my mother mad so I try to prevent it the best I can. I forgot to close some cabinets and drawers when I was searching for food and the boxes aren't organized like they used to be.

I lean on the kitchen counter, relaxed. Today I had an awesome exercise along with Mark. Sometimes I miss playing football and being tired after a practice. Lately, to not lose my shape, I run 3 miles three or four times a week. I won't get any more muscles, but it makes me feel good and in a good mood.

The place where I'm standing gives me a complete view of our driveway. My mother must just some minutes away and I'm waiting for her, to have a chance to talk to my brother the instant he arrives. I hope the dentist went well because I don't want him to be mad at me and whine. I'll need his help for this new task: get to know the neighbour.

I look between my and the kitchen clock, bored, when I notice a couple entering my neighbour's front yard. I get closer to the window. The man starts to open the mailbox. He definitely lives there. The light at 7p.m is inappropriate to see their faces clearly; I can only see shadows on their features.

While he is checking the mail, the woman starts to open the front door but waits for him to enter. When he passes by, she ruffles his hair and gives him a little pat on his shoulders. It's an adorable sight, I can tell you.

I go to the other side of the kitchen, where the windows are completely faced to their house. I'm glad all the neighbours in this place decided to have small fences, or I wouldn't see anything at all. And now, I'm glad that they enjoy the natural light enough to have light curtains in their living room. The moment they turn on the lights, I can see almost clearly everything that happens in there.

The women goes to the stairs, climb one or two steps and I think that she called someone who's upstairs…. Maybe she called the girl! Now that I look at the women, her body movements resemble the girl's.

The man approaches the woman and puts an arm around her and then, the girl arrives… She greets them with a smile and kisses. They are her parents for sure. Now it seems like they are giving her some good news because she looks excited. And now it's hugging them. I wonder what made her so happy. She doesn't look like the kind of girl who gets easily excited. She is too mature for that… I think.

During our brief meeting, I only noticed her eyes… big, brown and vivid eyes, despite the tiredness in them. But now, since she's not looking at me, I can see the "big picture". She has a slight figure and curly long brown hair. It must give her a hard time everyday. I smile to myself, thinking that maybe that's the reason behind her tired look.

She's talking and gesticulating and they are laughing at her. She is adorable, looking like an excited little girl. I bet that's her true personality. Maybe she covers herself up for the world, but not for the people she loves.

I only wanted to get to know her, but now, I want more. I really want to be her friend.

"Michael, quit playing with the mashed potatoes!"

My brother drops the fork and ignores my mother. He hates when one of us scold him. He thinks he is too old for that. He starts to drink his juice looking at the ceiling, bouncing his legs.

I didn't talk to him already because, when they arrived home, my sister Susan asked me for help with a new kata she has to know for karate classes. She received the green belt a couple weeks ago, and since I memorized all the katas I learned myself when was having karate too, she wants to know this one already to be advanced compared to the others. She is demanding with herself.

Now that I'm more interested in my female-neighbour, I really need to make Michael talk to me. So I decide to ask him an easy question.

"So, Mickey, how was the dentist?" He looks directly at me with a serious face. I only use this nickname when we are in good terms. And apparently, we aren't.

"It was good. He only checked my teeth. I had a little cavity and he took care of that." He answers, while playing with the mashed potatoes in his plate. My mom notices that and sighs loudly.

"Today he had a new dentist: Dr. Granger. His wife is also a dentist." My mom adds.

"That's cute. Do they work together?" My sister asks interested. She loves romance and any hit of that calls her attention.

"Actually, they do. And they live in our street. I don't know exactly where, but they do."

"That's… nice. Did you like him?" I ask my brother. He has his mouth full so he answers with his head. I feel that he is still mad at me so I give up. If I ask for his help right now, he'll certainly tell me no. Unless… I give him something back.

Fortunately, I have a lot of things Michael desires, and since I'll leave for college soon, it's a good idea to give them to him. That way I won't feel vandalized if I find out that he rummaged through my things.

"Hmm… Michael?" He looks at me. "After dinner I have to sort some old stuff I have in my bedroom, to throw away. If you want to, you can pick what do you like, for yourself…"

My all family stares at me suspiciously: my mother is well aware of our argument some hours ago, my sister knows that I don't enjoy having my brother in my bedroom and Michael himself, can't believe that I just invited him. He stares at me, looking for some hint of mockery. Then he seems convinced.

"Okay. Wait for me there. Today is my day to clear the table."

"Alright kid, thanks!" I get up quickly and start go upstairs when I listen to my sister saying: 'Did he say 'thanks'? '. I slap myself mentally for that slip up. Now they must know I'm up for something with Michael. I need to "pay" him really well to keep it a secret.

I enter my bedroom and start looking for the old shirts I have. I have some of Manchester United, one of Aston Villa and two of the England national team. Since two years ago, Michael asked me a lot for one of them. I never wanted to give him a single one but now, I'm willing to give them all. It has to work.

I display the shirts on my bed. I gather some accessories football-related like gloves, caps and shorts that I don't think I need anymore when I notice a light being switched on in front of my bedroom. One of my windows is facing my neighbour's house. I go around the bed and stand in front of the window.

The curtains are pink. I bet it's her room. I can see her shape and I know it's her. I need to know what kind of things she likes to do, before the first friendly approach. I know it's not right to be spying on her. No, this is not spying. This is almost voyeurism!

"I'm here…" Michael enters my room and sits on the chair I have near the desk. He scared me a little. I didn't heard his footsteps…

He is looking at the content in the bed, examining it, and I can tell he wants something… everything!

"Oh…good!" It's no use to pretend that I just want him here to choose the things. I need his attention right now. No time for acting.

"Listen, Michael…" He looks at me while I sit on my bed, facing him. "Before I give you something I have a deal to make with you…"

His gaze goes to my bed and then, to me. "I knew this wasn't for free."

I almost feel sorry for the kid but I can't give up. I stand up to close my bedroom door and sit down again.

"I'll need your help. You are a kid and people believe in kids. Do you remember when we broke the garage window, and when you told mom that it was a kid passing by, she believed you?" I hate lying, but I would hate more giving my money to pay for that window.

"Yeah, I remember. But I was a real kid when that happened. Now I'm almost a teenager…" I feel myself roll my eyes. I didn't felt like a teenager until I reached 13 years old. What does he know about that matter?

"Yeah, sure. But since you're younger than me, people still believe in you. I'm eighteen and that doesn't work anymore…" It's true. I frown at the thought.

"I'm sorry about that Luke." He really seems sorry.

"And that's why I need your help" I wear a pleading smile. Thank god for the kid's kindness, because that works.

"What do you need me to do? …" he asks with a sigh. It's like I'm the kid and he is the patient parent.

"Apparently, we have new neighbours. They live in this house, right here" I point to her house.

"I don't remember seeing anyone living there." He says, scratching his head.

"Me neither…." We are looking outside. I don't know what is catching his eye, but mine is surely attached to her bedroom window. She is still in there. Without turning my gaze away, I continue.

"I think there's a married couple and their daughter living there." I can feel his eyes on me. I don't know why but I can't look at him back. I'm about to ask my little brother if he wants to help me to know a girl.

"How old is the girl?" he asks suddenly.

"I don't know but she's older than you. Older than Susan too." I need to look at him now. His face doesn't tell me anything. It's just searching my face.

"Do you want to date her?" He is not making fun of me, just asking. I love when he doesn't behave like a kid. He can be really mature when he wants to, since my grandfather's death. One year ago.

"No, now I just want to be her friend. " Now? Why did I use this adverb? I've never got lost in my words so many times. Today is a record. I'm getting worried. Maybe I'm just tired…

"What do you need me to do for you, Luke?" Shame on me! My brother is willing to help me!

"I need to know her. She seems nice and she's new around here, but I don't have the courage to speak to her alone. I need you to go with me…" I bite my lip, scratching my legs.

"When?" He asks, while he grabs a Rubik's cube he found on my desk and starts playing with it. Someone told me that that cube doesn't distract you from your conversation. On the contrary, it helps.

"What about tomorrow morning?" I ask biting my nail. Jesus Christ! I take it out of my mouth quickly. He doesn't notice my worry.

He doesn't answer me right away and I start do doubt that Rubik's cube theory when he just drops it on the desk and turns to me.

"Alright. We'll go together to her house tomorrow morning." He smiles and then looks at her house.

For the second time today, I feel myself getting lighter. First, with Mark and now, with my little brother? I don't recognize myself anymore. Six hours ago, I despised him and made fun of him for being afraid of the dentist. Six hours ago I wouldn't ask him for his help. Now, I need him. The personality I built for myself in the last years was getting damaged.

"You will pay me with those things?" I was distracted and I take a while to understand what he's saying.

"Yeah, they are all yours". Before our conversation, I was thinking about negotiating my stuff, but now I feel tired and worried.

"I don't want them all."

"What?"

"Give me just one shirt. The England one. If the thing goes well, you can give me the rest. It's sorted?"

I have to close my mouth and shake my head. Before, I was only confused with my behaviour. And now, I'm confused with his.

"S-sorted!" I stutter.

He gets up from his chair to shake my hand. It's your silent agreement. In this moment I know that he understands that this is a secret.

"I'll go with this one, ok?" He picks the one my father bought me when I was ten, and just leaves my bedroom.

I'm amazed. I know that someone else would want a lot of answers for what I just asked. My brother somehow realized that I didn't have those answers.

I know Mark told me to get to know this girl, but honestly, he just suggested it. The way I'm dealing with this makes it seems like it's mandatory. Is it because she humiliated me? She didn't intend to and I know that.

I need to get this straight: first I was curious about her. Then I felt protective. And since the moment I saw her with her (assumed) parents, I got stuck in her excitement and in that moment, thought that she was adorable. Yeah, I said it. But all of this in one day makes me feel really confused and afraid. Afraid of what? I don't even know….

I hope that tomorrow I'll have some of the answers I need. I, Luke Keynes, am not used to lose my head like this.

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If you are little disappointed with this chapter I can understand that. But I can't make Luke introduce himself to Hermione in one go. He is nervous and thinking a lot about the matter.

I already have the next 3 chapters written.

If you have any question about the story, characters or honest opinion to give me, go ahead and review.

Until next time :).