< --  fourteen  -- >

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Mom came home around seven thirty looking and walking like a zombie. Wanting to finish our conversation from this morning I held my tongue watching as she dragged herself upstairs to what I thought was to shower but found her halfway on her bed fast asleep. Her lower half hung off, both shoes kicked off on the floor, but her socks were still on.

Lifting her legs I put them in the bed with her tossing a blanket from the closet on top of her. Turning off the light I went back downstairs to check on Ellie finding her in the living room watching a movie. "Eloise?"

"Yeah?" She turned from the tv.

"Mom is sleeping so don't wake her up. She'll probably be out till the morning."

"Why are you talking like you're leaving the house?"

"Because I am."

"You can't leave you're grounded." She whispered harshly as if she was the older sibling whose rules I had to follow.

"Take a shower, brush your teeth, and be in bed my nine."

Pausing the movie she crossed her arms, "Eleven thirty."

"Are you out of your mind? Mom would for sure know you stayed up because you would be too tired to function for school. Nine thirty."

"Eleven."

Rubbing over my face I tried to think of ways to bribe her or just take the punishment if mom found out. "Ten thirty and," taking out my wallet I pulled out a twenty, "here's twenty bucks. I'll even let you skip gymnastics practice on Wednesday to hang out with that William boy instead."

"Fine." She tried to fight her smile.

"But under my supervision, got it?"

"Okay."

Staring at her for a minute she tried to nonchalantly go back to the movie but I knew she was screaming with joy on the inside. Grabbing my keys from the key hook where dad's keys would have been I closed the front door quietly behind me locking it for mom and Eloise's safety.

Walking down the driveway to my baby I traced my fingers across her black coat. She was my 1969 Camaro that cost my parents a nice penny but they had saved for it ever since I was a baby waiting for the day I got my license.

Closing myself inside, her leather scent surrounded me. Looking over the radio knobs and passenger seat memories I've had in this car played like an old black and white film. Driving to parties. Having randoms in the front and backseat. Getting my second blowjob right here in this exact spot, in my parent's driveway. Pretty classy.

Glancing at the digital clock I wondered if Neema was asleep. Fishing out my cell I pulled up our messages typing out a goodnight text when three dots appeared pausing me.

[Neema ] : Goodnight Lars. Thanks for all the fun today! See you tomorrow :)

Smirking at her text I released my lip ring typing out a reply:

No girlfriend of mine will ever have a dull day while we're dating ;) See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams Ms. Marshall

Ditching the idea to drive somewhere I headed back inside expecting to find Eloise still in front of the tv but found the space empty. Checking the kitchen finding it empty as well I headed upstairs to check for the sound of water running but instead found her standing in the hall in front of Cas' bedroom with the door open.

Not sure how to approach her, I didn't want to scare her and break the possible moment she was having. From my poor knowledge no one has been in Cas' room. Two days after his funeral I found the door shut and never let myself have the chance to open it. I didn't deserve to step in his place of relaxation.

Shivering as if a chill ran through her body Eloise wiped her cheeks before closing the door. Releasing the door handle she noticed that I was watching her. A worried look covering her sad features. "Please don't tell."

Slightly frowning I didn't understand why looking at his room would get her in trouble. "Why would I tell? I can just take my twenty dollars back." I tried to joke so her heart would stop beating a mile a minute.

Rolling her eyes Eloise reached in her pocket handing over the twenty, "I knew you wouldn't let me keep it."

Nodding towards her hand I told her to keep it. "I said I could take the money back, not that I would."

"So . . . you're not going to tell on me, right?"

"Do you ever go in his room?"

As much as I wanted Eloise to hold on to her memories of Cas, I couldn't shake the forming jealousy with just the thought of her being able to walk freely in his space without the weight on her shoulders.

"No." Her eyes fell to the crumpled money in her fidgeting hands. "I keep freezing once his smell hits me. It's like if I take one step in his room he'll appear out of nowhere and tell me to scram like he always did . . . Is that . . . why you don't go in his room either?"

Not even close baby sis

Nodding my head I told her to get ready for bed. "I'll come check on you at nine thirty."

--

"The last week of school." I reached up stretching spotting Derrick coming our way.

Neema faced her locker going over sheets of band music clearly not paying attention to her boyfriend. With one foot in her locker she tapped her index and thumb flicking her wrist while mumbling something. Nodding her head in full focus she pushed the goofy glasses from the arcade up the bridge of her nose.

Not liking the way Derrick's eyes were trailing down her body I stood from my leaning position stepping behind her. Removing my hidden arm wrapping it around her waist I pulled Neema towards me. Lowering my had to her ear I spoke close enough that my lips brushed the shell of her ear making it look at if I was whispering panty soaking words. "He's coming. Play it cool like this is normal."

"What do I do?"

"You can relax and act like I'm your boyfriend."

"O-Okay." Stepping out of my hold she pushed me back playfully, a wide and silly smile across her face. "But I want to add it to my wall of Lars." I said randomly.

"Wall of me, huh?" I asked interested in this wall whether it was true or not.

"Every girl has a picture of her boyfriend on her wall," Taking off the oversized glasses she pushed them on my face stepping back. "Hm, something's missing." Snapping her fingers she roughed my hair some running her fingers this way and that sending goosebumps down my spine. Taking out her cell her took a step back. "So sexy. Pose for me baby."

Not caring about the crowd I pulled out my hidden arm resting it under my chin looking in the other direction in a thoughtful pose. "Like this?"

"Perfect. One more."

Seeing her smile so freely all I wanted to do was kiss those brown sugar lips. Removing the glasses in one shift motion I stepped forward cupping her face leaning in to have a taste. "No more pictures."

"Neema, can we talk?" He said from behind her.

Amber eyes moving from my hazel eye to my green one they fell to my lips as she forced herself to swallow. "I want to kiss you." My voice barely audible even to my ears.

"Neema." The bell for first hour rang cracking the special moment I was trying to have.

Closing my eyes in an irritated exhale I kissed the corner of her mouth for the performance of Derrick watching. "You can't." I stepped back giving her enough room to put her things away. "We have to get to class."

Derrick looked past me at the back of Neema's head. "Are you being serious right now? You got this guy answering for you like you don't have a mouth of your own."

Rolling my eyes at his attempt to get Neema's attention I looked down the hall seeing Ethan run past several students on his way to class.

"Neema!"

"Back the fuck up Derrick." I stood tired of his presence. "She doesn't want to talk to you. That's what I'm here for."

Stepping up to me ready to try and fight for the third time I felt my arm being pulled. "Let's go Lars."

The sound of his annoying voice boiled my skin as we headed for class. I wanted nothing more than to punch him just one good time to shut him up. What did Neema ever see in him?

" . . . with me."

Blinking a few times I looked down at her round amber eyes, "What did you say again?"

"I want to hold your hand."

"Sure but you're on the wrong side." I began to move my arm from around her shoulder so she could switch sides but she only slipped her hand around my prosthetic. Oh. "Neema, I don't think my hand is -"

"You won't crush my fingers Lars. I would like to hold hands with you and we need to practice. No time like the present."

"Right um, but - hey would you look at that? Your classroom is here!" I kissed her forehead scooting her inside. "See you later babe! Learn something useful!"

Hurrying off to my own class I brushed through the crowds of kids not caring about being on time anymore. This was the last week of school with nothing else to do. Cas and I used to skip the last week of school with his friends. We would go to the beach. Dance, eat sub sandwiches, play two hand touch football in the sand. Back when things were simple, back before I met Ethan and Griffin became a bigger asshole. Back before I had a fake girlfriend and two hands.

Slouching in my seat our teacher didn't care what we did as long as we were quiet enough for him to get our grades in the computer. Rummaging through papers every now and then he would ask someone about an assignment that was due three weeks or even two months ago giving them until tomorrow to bring in the completed assignment.

Every class went on dragging every minute until the bell for lunch rang. Elated for the break I practically ran out of the room, feeling the sweat run down my temple. It was ridiculously hot today and not one teacher wanted to open a window. Why make everyone suffer in sweat? Why make me suffer underneath this hoodie and uniform jacket?

"Mr. Crawford. A word?"

Seeing Ethan speed walk towards the cafeteria I knew Neema would sit with him and his friends so he was safe.

Slowing down I turned to Mr. Santos continuing to walk backwards. "Actually my stomach is touching my back." I lied. "Growing boys have to eat, you know."

"It'll only take a few minutes."

"I really don't -"

"Hey Lars!" Kelsey bounced towards me. "You want to get lunch together? I wanted to ask you about what you said earlier anyways about this girlfriend thing. Who were you -"

"Can't Kelly. I have to hear a lecture." Sidestepping her stretched out arms I made my way to Mr. Santos classroom. 

Taking the first desk my butt objected in pain from the hours of previous sitting on hard chairs. "Lars, we had a staff meeting last Friday and there was a discussion about us teachers bending the rules for students." Keeping quiet I nodded my head. "Rules specifically pertaining to the dress code."

"I'm guessing my name was thrown around there somewhere?"

"It was, yes."

"And what about the rules of bullying and keeping this a safe place for students to learn?"

Mr. Santos brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you referring to?"

"Is everyone turning a blind eye to Griffin? The kid makes student's lives hell around here and yet he walks the halls without a single repercussion but you all are so damn worried about the hoodie I'm wearing."

"Your hoodie is out of dress code Lars."

"Are you really trying to justify Griffin's behavior or my clothes?"

"I'm not," he leaned against his desk, "but I was asked to speak with you personally about your problem."

"My so called problem also deals with Griffin."

"Then I will discuss that with Principle Howard after school but as for you - right now, there was a motion to speak with your parents about your wardrobe and explain to them that you cannot wear hoodies next year during school hours or you will be suspended."

"Suspended! Over a fuc-"

"Hey!" He yelled over me cutting my curse short. "There are teachers here that are tired of telling you to put your hoodie in your locker. They have been complaining to the principal and this is his way of hoping to get you to understand that you too, have to follow the rules."

"This is ridiculous. All over a hoodie."

"After two suspensions . . . you'll be expelled from school." Getting up I stormed out of his room ready to punch a wall. "Please, just stop wearing the hoodie Lars!"

Walking in the opposite direction of the cafeteria I headed for the principal's office ready to give Howard some nice words not giving a damn about the consequences. Determination and anger with every step I shrugged out of the uniform jacket pulling my hoodie over my head ready to throw it in his face as soon as I opened his office door.

The wooden framed glass door opened. Walking out with her uniform pants cuffed into capris and her colorful braided anklet on display. The navy jacket cuffed up her arms, her dark curly hair was pulled up into a high puff leaving a few curls to fall around her temple and the back of her neck.

Looking to the right then the left she double taked seeing me coming towards her. Walking to me with a smile that soon faded my name being called from her lips was like hearing a person trying to talk underwater. My rage plugging my own hearing.

Slowing down she continued to call me stepping in my path as I tried to walk around her. "Get out of my way Neema."

"Where are you going pissed off like this?" She placed her hand on my chest. "Do you want to talk?"

Grabbing her wrist with my prosthetic her eyes didn't widen at the bionic arm in fear that I would squeeze her delicate wrist too tight. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." Dropping her wrist I stepped around her getting only five steps away when she called out -

"PRUNES!"

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