"It looks like you just want to babysit Jake." Kaylee said again.
Noah frowned. "No. I’m hanging out with my friend. That’s completely normal."
"I don’t think it’s normal how close you are." Kaylee shrugged. She ate a chip. "It definitely feels like babysitting."
"It’s called being a friend." Noah was getting defensive. "Don’t act like Jake is-" He abruptly stopped.
Kaylee smirked. "Normal? Were you about to say that Jake isn’t normal?"
Noah looked to . But I was feeling a little clueless on what was happening at the mont. Alisha left and Kaylee ca. Alisha was nice, but Kaylee sounded like she was trying to pick a fight with Noah.
Noah huffed. "You’re so annoying."
Kaylee grinned like it was a complint. "I know. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to babysit Jake. He’s a big kid. He can take care of himself."
Uhhh, I don’t know about that. I looked at her, confused.
Kaylee noticed. "C’mon Jake. Didn’t you approach on your own when you wanted to join the softball team?"
That’s true, but Alisha was the one to show up and call her away from her friend group for . I have a hesitant nod.
"See? Jake is fine with being with . I can babysit while you go play." Kaylee said.
Noah rolled his eyes. "Like I’d let you babysit with that attitude." He glanced at . "That’s not what I ant."
"You guys...I’m okay on my own." I told them, finally speaking up for myself. "It’s when I’m in a big crowd that I get...uncomfortable." I looked around as our classmates were all in smaller groups eating, talking, and playing. "I have a good view."
Noah rubbed his nose. "Would you really be okay with just Kaylee though? She’s kind of an and you don’t really stand up for yourself."
"Hey! I won’t pick on him!" Kaylee objected.
"Your track history says otherwise." Noah referred to the ti she was an to us on the bus.
Kaylee looked at directly. "Jake, do you trust ?"
"Uhh.." I hated to be put on the spot. "In what way?"
"That you can handle Noah not being by your side for a couple of minutes?" Kaylee was really pushing this. I wonder if there was a motive behind this whole argunt.
I looked to Noah. "If you want to go play volleyball in the pool with others, then go. I’m fine. Really. Kaylee is...Kaylee."
"That’s what worries ." Noah sighed. He got up. "Fine, I’m going to prove to you that I don’t have a need to ’babysit’ Jake. I just like hanging out with my best friend. So don’t be surprised when I co back and accuse of babysitting."
"Sure, sure. Have fun!" Kaylee waved him away.
Noah took off his shirt, leaving it on the chair. Then kicked off his sandals and waved. "Yell for if you need , Jake."
"Sure." I told him.
Noah walked over to the pool area and gave so guys high fives and went in to join the ga.
"You don’t think I’m an, do you?" Kaylee asked.
I blinked in surprise and studied her expression. She looked nonchalant, but the way her lips thinned in distress gave her away. "I don’t think so." I shook my head. She was just a little rough around the edges. Very defensive of her sister, just like how Noah is with and his brothers. Our brothers. I started to grin.
"What’s making you so happy?" Kaylee pulled back to the present.
I blushed. "Well...I’m getting adopted."
"Congratulations!" She told sincerely.
I felt my face get really warm.
"Does Jeremy know?" She asked.
I shrugged and nodded at the sa ti. "Kind of. Sort of. Like a little bit. I’ll see him tomorrow night so I’ll ntion it to him then."
"That’s a little strange. Is it sothing you can’t say over the phone?"
My leg started to shake. "Well..." I started to feel uncertain because this wasn’t sothing I haven’t you talked to Noah about yet. "I..."
Kaylee waited patiently, no longer acting like a porcupine with Noah being gone.
"I want to tell him in person that...I’ve started to call Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, ’Mom’ and ’Dad’." I looked at her. "That’s new. I just started doing that yesterday."
Kaylee wasn’t surprised. "Oh. Yea. That’s a bit awkward. Not you calling them ’Mom’ and ’Dad’, but telling your brother. Does he call your uncle ’Dad’?"
I shrugged. "I don’t know." I guess I’ll have to ask.
She sighed. "Families are so complicated sotis."
I looked at her.
She gave a weak smile. "It’s the sa in the Atkins house isn’t it? There’s always sothing going on. Whether it’s you." I slouched in my chair. "Or it’s Kyle. Dave too. In my house, even though it’s only and Marie, we also have issues."
"Do you?" I asked, surprised. "You and Marie don’t get along?"
"We do. Just not all the ti." She explained. "Wasn’t Noah just mad at Kyle? And now I don’t hear any complaints. It’s the sa for every family."
"Are you mad at Marie right now..?" I asked, wondering if she wanted to talk about it.
"A little. More jealous than anything." She looked a little depressed. "I can only play softball with you guys because I’m not allowed to play for the travel this sumr."
"Oh..?"
"My parents think it’s better if they invest that money into Marie’s sumr to visit schools since she’s trying to get a full ride." She sighed again. "Marie is so good. Already one of the top ten in the state, yet needs to still visit schools? What a joke."
"Oh." I said again; this ti understanding her frustrations. The twins also had so money problems. If it wasn’t because I was too scared to leave, then...I don’t know what would have happened? A fight? "I’m sorry."
She laughed. "It’s okay, I’m just ranting. It’s not a big deal in the grand sche of life, but it sucks not being able to play with the sa girls as last year. Instead..." She trailed off, but I had a pretty clear idea of what she was going to say. Instead she was playing aningless softball with us.
"You know," I spoke up. "Noah feels the sa way. Sad about not playing baseball." And it was a little worse for him.
"Of course." Kaylee agreed. "Noah is a baseball maniac. Only he would want to play with a bunch of tools that shunned him for making the varsity team." She looked to the pool where he was playing with the others, including Alisha. "I didn’t an to be rude with you guys. I just wanted him to go and have fun. Not that he doesn’t have fun with you, but-"
"I get it." I cut her off. I was too reliant on Noah. He has other friends and interests. And, this was a good opportunity for him and Alisha to be closer, I guess. Maybe Kaylee knew of Alisha’s feelings. I was scared to ask because what if she doesn’t know? That would be awkward.
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