After our showers, all the boys gathered in the living room to watch tv. A baseball game was on, of course.
Kyle was the last to join us, with a heavy sigh. "You all better be on your best behavior tonight."
"So they're coming over for dinner?" Noah asked, eyes still trained on the tv. "Good for you."
"You little punk!" Kyle tackled him, trying to make him one of the couch cushions. "This is all your fault. Why couldn't you just keep your big mouth shut?"
Noah slipped out of his grasp and slid to the floor. "I'm doing it for your own good." He stuck his tongue out. "What if you tried to sneak off alone? Mom and Dad would be crazy mad. Plus, Zeke is back so he definitely would have snitched. I don't want to have to pay for your mistakes! I don't want to be grounded all summer."
Kyle moved his glare to Zeke, who sat by himself in the two seater. His attention was on the game, but with Noah's defense, his eyes moved to the duo.
"If you have this much energy after a game, then go for a run." Zeke turned back to the tv.
"That's all you have to say for yourself?!" Kyle stood tall.
"I'm the one who came up with the compromise. Any more yelling and I'll kick you out." Zeke didn't bother with him.
"Ugh!" Kyle groaned and stomped his foot. "None of you are understanding me at all."
"What's there to understand?" Dave scoffed. "This is a 'you problem'. We're not the ones who want or have a girlfriend. Stop your moaning already. We're trying to watch a game in here."
"Amen." Noah got back on the couch.
Kyle stomped out of the living room without another word.
"Is he going to be okay..?" I asked out of concern.
"Pshh, he'll be fine." Noah lazily lifted a hand as if to wave. "It's just dinner. The only thing I want to know is if we're eating at home or eating out?"
"Eating at home." Zeke answered.
The three of us looked his way.
"Mom left for the grocery store. Not something she does on a Saturday." He expanded without sparing us a glance.
No one had anymore to say. We just watched the game.
***
"Wake up! Why are you napping?" I could hear Kyle screech.
I rubbed the gunk out of my eyes and slowly opened them, only to find Kyle looking down at me. I scanned my surroundings and found that I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room. Noah had the same expression as me on the other side: sleepy.
"What time is it?" Noah yawned. He looked around. "Where's Dave and Zeke?"
"No time for them. Go upstairs and change." Kyle pointed to the staircase.
Noah looked as confused as I felt. "Change? Into what?" He looked down at his sweats and t-shirt. "Zeke said we're just eating at home."
Kyle put a hand to his forehead. "I swear to god, Noah, I'm going to start dragging you up if you don't get moving. We're having people over. You have to show some respect and dress nicely." His eyes narrowed. "Better yet, I'll go tell Mom."
Noah jumped off the couch. "Okay, I'm moving. Geez. It's just dinner. It's not like Marie and Kaylee don't wear sweats too." He waved at me. "Come on Jake, let's find something 'nicer' to wear."
I scurried off the couch to escape Kyle's anger and followed Noah.
"Man, what a drag." Noah said as we walked into our room. He started to pull out jeans and a shirt that a collar on it. "I guess I'll just wear this." He looked back at me. "What about you?"
"What about me?" I yawned. I don't know, I was still waking up.
"I'm sure Mom bought you a nice outfit when you had first moved here." Noah turned back to the closet and pulled out some clothes that still had tags on it. "I'll change in the bathroom and you can change here." He grabbed his own clothes and left me with mine.
We both changed and headed back downstairs to find out where everyone else was.
"Why hello, my sleeping beauties." Mrs. Atkins smiled at us as she came out of the kitchen. "Did you two have a nice nap? You both looked so beat that I couldn't wake you."
We both nodded, yet it was Noah that spoke up. "Yea, wasn't bad. I feel a little sore though. Is dinner ready?"
"Zeke and your dad are setting up the table now. We'll wait until Kyle's girlfriend and her family show up before sitting down." She checked the time on her watch. "They should be here in just a few minutes. Let me go wash my hands again." She left us alone.
She was soon replaced with Kyle. He gave us a nod of approval after looking at our outfits. "Good. You two don't look like bums. Don't mess this up for me."
Noah rolled his eyes. "So annoying. We won't be messing anything up for you."
"Yea, right." He said sarcastically. "You both practically told Mom that Marie and Kaylee weren't nice to you."
"They weren't." Noah shrugged. "They were both really mean. Marie bullied us in our very first meeting. And then Kaylee defended her shortly after. If it wasn't for the cookies, I wouldn't have forgiven them." He huffed.
"Can't you play nice for one night? We've already solved our differences, right?" Kyle switched from being angry to pleading.
"I don't know Marie all that well." Noah shrugged. "Only Kaylee and I talk." His eyes seem to twinkle. "But…I'm not above bribery if you want me to put in a few good words for your girlfriend."
"This is extortion, not bribery!" Angry Kyle was back.
I took a few steps back.
Noah shrugged like he was helpless. "Well it's not like I want to lie to Mom. Even Zeke can attest to the fact that Marie bullied us on the bus. Can't argue against facts."
Kyle looked like he wanted to strangle his brother. "What do you want?"
"What can you offer?"
"My lunch desserts for the week?" Kyle offered.
"What about for Jake?"
Kyle glanced at me. "You want something too?"
I shook my head aggressively. Nope. Definitely not. Not from a Kyle who was on edge.
"Of course he needs something too." Noah ignored me. "Marie was especially mean to him. It's one thing to accuse me and you guys of nepotism, but you know how sensitive Jake is."
Kyle sighed in defeat. "Fine. Cages, I know. Just be on your best behavior tonight or you two get nothing." He walked away, shaking his head at himself.
Noah smiled happily at me. "Isn't this great? I'll get extra desserts and you get free cages."
I shot him a look. "I don't think it was very nice. Kyle looked stressed."
Noah waved away my concern. "Don't mind him. All we gotta do is be ourselves. Kaylee will be coming over too so it's not like we'll have to interact with Marie too much anyways."
