So...I'm feeling generous today. I'm giving you two chapters! Yay you! I hope you enjoy this one. He, he. I enjoyed writing it.

AUGUST 19

I sat at the kitchen table, tapping the metal part of my bracelet against the wood. Willow was trying to act normal again, like nothing was wrong. She'd been trying – and failing – since I'd talked to her a couple days earlier. Now she was trying to pretend like there was absolutely nothing going on.

We all knew that wasn't true. We all knew that something was up, even if she wouldn't tell us. We were even more suspicious of her than before, because it was so obvious that she was trying to fake it.

Dad came down the stairs, carrying Kensley in his arms. "Stryker," he said, when he saw me. "What are you doing?"

"Just thinking."

"Ah. Any chance you do a huge favor for me?"

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him. He had a funny tone in his voice. "What kind of favor?"

"Well, I need to run down to the store to get a few things. The sink in Bex's bathroom is acting up, and I want to get it fixed today if I can, but I need to get some different tools and stuff before I try anything. Your mom is spending some time with her twin, and I don't know when she'll be back. Could you watch your brothers and sisters for a little while?"

I grinned at him. I just had to tease him. "You should know that I charge a hundred dollars an hour. Per kid."

Dad rolled his eyes. "Very funny. You should consider being a comedian for a living."

"Yeah, I'll watch them. No charge." I took Kensley from him, setting her down on the table in front of me. Kenny had also gotten Dad's reddish-brown hair, though it seemed to get a little darker every day. She would probably end up with a really dark brown, with just a hint of red in it. And she'd gotten Dad's green eyes. Bex was the only one who'd gotten Mom's blue eyes.

"Thanks. The twins are watching a movie in the theater room. And Bex is upstairs in her room, listening to music, I think. She might come down at some point, I'm not sure. I don't think I'll be gone for very long." He waved at my baby sister. "Bye, Kenny. Daddy will be back."

She grinned widely. "Buh, Dada."

Dad clasped my shoulder once in thanks before he left.

I smiled at Kensley. "Hey, Kenny."

"Styk," she said, and reached out to grab my lower lip.

I pulled back before she could actually grab it. Between her and Roman, I was surprised that my face wasn't riddled with bruises. They both loved to pull on various parts of my face. And I wasn't always fast enough to pull away before they could.

"Be nice, Kenny."

She reached for my hair and yanked.

"Ouch. That is not nice, Kensley Amala."

The doorbell rang, and I heard Bex yell, "I got it!" A moment later, the door opened and closed, and then my sister was hollering again. "It's your girlfriend, Stryker!"

"I'm in the dining room!" I called back.

Brittany walked into the dining room, looking slightly amused. "Your brothers are on top of the pool table, just so you know. I'm not sure if they're trying to breakdance, or if they're having seizures."

I sighed. "Great. Here, hold Kenny a minute, please?"

I handed her the baby, ignoring her slight scowl – Brit wasn't exactly a fan of kids. Then I rushed into the billiards room.

Sure enough, the twins were on top of the pool table, laughing and dancing like little maniacs. "Jaxson! Cayson!" I said loudly, startling both of them. They looked at me, and then scrambled down off the table. "You guys can't climb on top of the pool table. You know that. You'll break it."

"Sorry," they muttered together.

"Don't do it again. Go play in your room if your movie is over."

They ran off.

Shaking my head, I rejoined Brittany in the dining room. She immediately passed Kensley to me. "Stryker, do you actually like me?" she asked.

I stared at her. I had not been expected that. How could she think that I didn't like her? Why would she feel the need to ask? "What? Of course I do. I like you a lot." And I did. I didn't think I was in love with her, but I definitely liked her. A lot.

"Really? Because there are times when it doesn't feel that way."

I was totally confused. "What do you mean?"

"I know that you don't really like any of the things that I like. And to be honest, I don't really like any of the things that you like. So a lot of our dates are just awkward. You hardly ever even listen to me when we're talking anymore. I swear, everything I say just goes in one ear and out the other. You don't pay any attention. All you seem to be able to think about and talk about lately is Willow."

That's what she was upset about? "Sorry, but she's my friend, and something's up with her. I'm worried about her. So are the rest of my friends."

Brittany rolled her eyes. "And you are so blind. She's in love with you, Stryker. And I'm starting to think that you're in love with her, too. You just don't know it."

"What? That's crazy. Willow is not in love with me. And I am no–"

She held up her hand, cutting me off. "Yes, she is. That's why she's acting the way she is. And I'm pretty sure that you are, even if you can't see it. It's pretty obvious to me. You should be dating her, and not me. I'm sorry, Stryker, but you and I…We're not going anywhere in this relationship. And we haven't been for a while. We're not right for each other. Sure, we both like each other. But even if you weren't in love with Willow, you and I wouldn't last much longer. Let's be honest. We have nothing in common, and it's making things kind of awkward."

She started to leave, saying over her shoulder, "Go ask Willow out."

To be perfectly honest, I never meant for him to stay with Brittany for too long. They were never right for each other.