Chapter Eighteen
Lexi
Lexi: Since when does a comma go there?
Brock: Since forever?
Lexi: I swear you’re making me add all these random commas just to mess with me.
Brock: And risk you getting a bad grade on an essay for my aunt? Never.
I smile as I make the corrections to my essay. I sent it to Brock earlier for his opinion, since I really want to get a good grade on the assignment. But instead of giving me advice or constructive criticism, he’s focusing on my grammar mistakes and typos.
Lexi: You’re like the grammar police.
Brock: Can’t help it. They just get under my skin.
Lexi: And I have yet to hear what you think of the actual essay.
Brock: It’s really good! I love your thoughts on the book. It’s very enlightening.
Lexi: Thanks. So I have a chance for an A?
Brock: If you fix all those grammar mistakes.
I send him a sticking-out-its-tongue emoji. He responds with a laughing one.
We continue to text here and there while we work on the rest of our homework. Texting with him feels natural, as though we’ve been doing it our whole lives. My mom bought me my first phone right before I started seventh grade, just a few weeks after Brock left to Boston. So he and I never had a chance to text.
Of course I’m also texting the other guys throughout the evening, but would it be bad to admit that I enjoy texting Brock more?
Lexi: There’s this shark documentary that was just added today. Want to watch it with me over the phone?
Brock: Sure! I never say no to shark movies or documentaries.
Lexi: Duh.
Brock: But we need to finish our homework first. Get to fixing all those grammar mistakes before I arrest you for being so uncultured.
Lexi: Haha.
Twenty minutes later, my phone rings. I assume it’s Brock and wonder why he’s calling me—I’m not at all done with my homework—but then I see Aidan’s name flashing on the screen.
“Aidan!” I leap onto my bed and get comfy, waving as his face appears. “Hi! How are you? I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in ages.”
His brown eyes brighten when he sees my face. “Hey, little sister. How’s life?”
Aidan has shaggy brown hair, though it’s shorter than how he wore it in high school. It definitely makes him look more mature.
“Life’s good,” I gush. “Where’s Ava?”
“She got together with her Musketeers and will be home soon.”
“Nice. Hey, do you know I was cast as—”
“Clara, yes. You texted me the news like five million times. Congrats! I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks! You and Ava will come to the performance, right?”
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Yay. So how’s your life? How’s marriage? Are you guys super duper in love?”
“Completely in love. Ava is perfect. She makes me so happy.”
“Aw.”
“We might take a vacation soon,” he tells me. “Work has been a little stressful with the launch of the new program. I know Ava could use the break. So what else is going on in your life?”
“Other than dance and school, nothing much.”
I tell him about some news going around school. Since he attended Edenbury High a few years ago, things haven’t changed that much. Most of the teachers are the same and all the school functions are the same.
“The fall dance is coming up soon,” I tell him. “Though Principal Nakamura threatened to cancel the dance because some freshmen pulled a stupid prank the other day. But VP Rivera said today that only the kids who participated in the prank will be penalized. So it looks like the dance is still a go.”
“Has anyone asked you?”
“Yeah, seven guys.”
He gives me a face. “You know what I mean.”
I raise my shoulders. “No one ever asks me. It’s always me and the guys spending a fun night together. And now that Brock is back, it’s like we’re finally whole again.”
He nods in understanding. “It must feel amazing that he returned.”
“You have no idea. I finally have my best friend back.”
I tell him more about how awesome it is that Brock is in my life again, and Aidan is super happy for me. He tells me more about what’s going on in his life. Some of it is boring adult stuff, but some stuff sound so fun and cool. A part of me can’t wait until I’m an adult and have total independence, but the other part of me still yearns to be a kid.
“Ooh, Skylar’s texting me,” I say when my phone beeps. “I’m adding her to the call.”
Once she accepts, her face appears on my screen. Skylar has straight brown hair and brown eyes, and lately, they carry more light than they had in the past.
“Hey, Lexi and Aidan!” she says with a huge smile. “When was the last time the three of us video chatted like this?”
“Far too long,” Aidan says. “How are you, Sky? How’s your last year of college going so far?”
“Amazing. I have many great professors this semester.”
“That’s good to hear,” Aidan says. “Cherish every second of it because the months will fly by like the blink of an eye and then you’ll be graduating.”
Skylar is about to respond, but I say, “Who’s the guy?”
Her lips snap shut and her brows furrow. She frowns at me. “Who said anything about a guy?”
“Aidan, does Skylar look different to you?”
He narrows his eyes. “I don’t know. Does she?”
“Remember that grumpy individual we had to suffer with all our lives? The one who would close herself in her room and watch anime all day?”
Aidan chuckles. “I think I remember that person.”
“She was still a little grump when she left for college,” I continue. “But look at her face now. Do you see any grumpiness there?”
Aidan narrows his eyes at her again. “Nope. Not one bit of grumpiness there.”
“What the heck are you two talking about?” Skylar demands.
“Give it up, Sky!” I say. “Who is he? I want his name and a photo, pronto.”
“Give up who?”
“Your secret boyfriend!”
“I don’t have a secret boyfriend!”
“You so do. Why don’t you post pics of him on Spill It!? I spent hours stalking your posts trying to find him the other day, but I failed.”
“Because he doesn’t exist,” she stresses.
“Liar.”
“Why are you sticking your nose in my personal life?” she demands.
“It’s my job.”
“Don’t you have a whale documentary to watch?” she mutters.
“Actually, I have a date with Brock to watch a shark docu later. Well, not really a date,” I quickly clarify. “Just friends watching a thing together.”
Skylar moves closer to the screen. “So are you and Brock together?”
“Were you not listening? I just said we’re just friends watching a movie. You never listen to me, just like when we were kids.”
“Are you trying to be a brat again? You were the one who wouldn’t shut up about some mystery guy who doesn’t exist.”
“Aha!” I hold up my finger. “You’re the one who just called him a mystery guy.”
“No, you were the one who invented someone who doesn’t exist—”
“He does exist! But for some reason, you’re keeping him all to yourself.”
Aidan stares up at the ceiling. “Why do I feel like I just traveled back in time ten years?”
Skylar’s mouth closes and she nods. “Aidan’s right. I’m too old for this crap. Arguing with my little sister is so immature.”
“Ooh, look at you, sounding like such an adult.”
“I am an adult.”
“Who is in a serious relationship.”
She throws her hands up. “What am I going to do with this kid?”
“Lex, lay off,” Aidan says. “Sky, tell me more about your life. Are you looking into any internships?”
We continue to discuss various things. Skylar’s phone beeps a few times, which are probably texts. Ooh, from her guy? I bet they are. But I hold myself back from grilling her again. As much as I love to tease her, it really isn’t my business. She’ll tell me and the rest of the family if she wants to.
Aidan is informing us about renovations on the mansion he and Ava live in, but his lips snap shut and the brightest expression I’ve ever seen pops up on his face. “Hey, sweetheart!” he calls. “Sky and Lexi are on video call.”
No more than a few seconds pass before Ava’s face appears on the screen. “Hi, Skylar and Lexi! It’s been so long since I’ve seen your beautiful faces. Lexi!” she squeals. “Congrats on Clara. My mom told me you’re perfect for the role.”
“Thanks. She’s awesome for giving me a shot.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” she jokes as she gathers her gorgeous wavy dark hair—identical to Dani’s—to her left shoulder. “I miss dancing, but things have been so stressful with the launch. Hopefully things will die down now that it’s over.”
“And we can enjoy a nice vacation,” Aidan says as he wraps an arm around her and snuggles her to his chest.
“What did you have in mind?” she asks as she gazes up at him with nothing but love shining in her eyes.
“Whatever you wish.” He bends down and presses a sweet kiss on her lips.
“You guys are so darn cute,” I say.
“Thanks,” Ava says. Her eyes focus on my sister. “Sky, who’s the guy?”
I burst into giggles. Looks like I’m not the only one who’s noticed that Sky is in la-la land.
Skylar groans. “Why is everyone asking me about a guy?”
“Because you look like you’re smitten,” Ava informs her.
“Smitten? Oh my gosh, it’s bad enough I have to deal with Lexi. Now, you, too?”
Ava grins. “You’re my sister now. So you bet your butt I’m going to try to squeeze out every bit of information from you. Tell me about him. What’s his name? His major? Did you meet him in animation class?”
“I’m out of here.”
Aidan holds up his hand. “Don’t go anywhere, Sky. I want to add Mom to the call. She’d love to be part of this small family reunion.”
“Only if they quit with the nosy questions.”
“Or you can just admit that you have a boyfriend,” I suggest.
“Lexi,” Aidan says.
I scowl. “Fine.”
“What about you, missy?” Ava says to me. “I’ve seen your photos on Spill It! You and Brock seem to be getting very close.”
“Yeah, we are. We’re best friends again.”
“Just best friends?”
Without my control, my cheeks flush.
Ava’s eyes light up. “Ooh! I need all the juicy details, Lexi. Right now.”
I shake my head. “There are no juicy details. Things were a little strained when Brock first came back, but they’re so much better now. He and I have had long talks and have grown very close. Like I said, we’re best friends again.”
“Do you like him as more than a friend?” Ava prods.
I press my lips together, trying my hardest not to blush again.
“Doesn’t feel good, huh?” Sky says.
I stick my tongue out at her.
“How about we stop with the personal questions?” Aidan suggests. “I’m going to add Mom to the call.”
Mom is so freakin’ happy to have this small family reunion. We spend the next hour catching up on each other’s lives. We would talk for longer, but Skylar has a social function and Aidan and Ava have a dinner meeting with some prominent people, plus I have to finish my homework. So reluctantly, we end the call. After Mom and I eat dinner, and I finish the last of my homework, I text Brock.
Lexi: Captain, all my homework is done, sir. Ready to report for the documentary viewing.
Brock: Understood. I am ready as well.
After he calls me, we start the documentary. Wow, it’s so cool! I’ve seen so many movies on ocean life, but they never cease to amaze me. Nature is such a mesmerizing thing.
“I think I might cry, Brock,” I say into my phone. “Everything is so gorgeous.”
“I know.” His voice sounds choked up as well. “It makes you appreciate life more, doesn’t it?”
I sniff. “Definitely.”
After we’re done with this documentary, we watch another. And another. Until Brock and I fall asleep, still on the line.