Living with 7 boys could be real fun [if I stay away from him] {19. Burned}

I slept over the whole Sunday. I was tired and didn’t want to see anyone so I just slept.
Mary didn’t ask anything about where we were since I got home with Jesse and Jack and she probably didn’t even notice anything strange. When we got home I told her I was really tired and went straight upstairs enjoying my personal space until Jesse entered quietly. It was probably around midnight so he had stayed downstairs and watched TV in order to avoid catching me awake so I pretended to be asleep. I didn’t want to talk to him either. I felt weird now when I was thinking clearly.
So when I woke up on Sunday morning he was still sleeping and I pretended to be asleep once more. And then I continued. I didn’t want to see anyone of my so-called brothers. I was still deeply hurt from what they did so I waited patiently in my bed closing my eyes every time the door opened. They were checking on me.
Finally they went out. All of them – Mary came upstairs, woke me up, like I was asleep, and asked me if I was feeling all right because all of them were going shopping for presents. I politely declined the offer and as soon as they were gone, I rushed out too.
A practice wouldn’t hurt me – now when the house was empty they wouldn’t ask where I am going so I decided to go to the small hall where Dan was training with the others every afternoon, especially on Sundays.
That was a bad choice. I mean he didn’t say a thing about yesterday’s events and we barely talked but I was not concentrated enough to practice with burning fire. And I had to pay attention. So for a blink of an eye one of my fans brushed against my bare back while I was trying a complicated move. Dan wasn’t looking so I clenched my teeth tightly in order to prevent myself from screaming or moaning. I knew what his reaction would be and that was the least I needed. I put out the fans and walked to where he was practicing with the smaller kids.
‘I am going home.’
I whispered at his ear and he only nodded without turning back to look at me. It seemed strange – his behavior seemed strange but I let it go. Normally he would push me to talk with him, he would talk even if I didn’t want to but now he acted differently which I kind of like although I was a little bit worried.
I took off, thinking that I should talk with him in school on Monday but then I realized that was impossible since winter brake have begun.
I glanced at him before closing the door behind myself. Maybe he finally managed to forget about me and go on with his life. It was for the best. I wasn’t someone who deserved his kindness.
I searched for an open pharmacy for a good thirty minutes and after that I ran back home with aloe vera cream and antibiotic ointment. Good thing I knew how to handle a burn. Bad thing I could not reach it on my back so I realized I really needed help.
There was no one around – the others hadn’t come back home yet so I had little time left to think about what to do. I could ask the old Mrs. Aggie next door but she would eventually tell Mary when she sees her and Mary would immediately realize what I have done. So that was not a good plan.
I was just reading the instructions on the cream when the door opened and I jumped startled. I grabbed the little ointment jar from the table and put it under my shirt along with the cream. Jack and John both were to clever and they would understand what I have been doing during their absence and I preferred not to fight with them right now.
‘Hi Mary’
I waved at her as she entered in the small lobby, taking off her coat.
She smiled happily at me. Man, she loved shopping for presents. Sometimes I didn’t even understand how she always managed to buy the perfect present for each of us.
‘Any luck?’
I asked her and she glanced at me her face beamed. She hung her coat and almost run to the sofa where I was sitting.
‘They are so cool, I am telling you – this year I’ve outdone myself.’
She was sitting in front of me and talking lively waving her hands in the air. The boys went in one by one. Jesse was the last one and he closed the door. They all looked at me and then started putting off their coats while I continued starring in the closed door. I expected Mike to walk right in to smile goofy and to do something stupid as always. My eyes slowly fell down then I heard a click and looked up hopefully again. It was only Jesse locking the door. He suddenly turned and looked straight in my eyes. I felt shivers and looked down. Mary was still talking happily without noticing I didn’t pay attention.
My back hurt. I wanted to slip to my room unnoticeably and try to do something with that burn. Drew was dragging a big Christmas tree and I saw in that a perfect opportunity:
‘Let me help you with that.’
I jumped and ran to him hoping that no one will notice the two little jars under my shirt. Drew smiled and then we both placed the tree in the corner and while everyone was staring at it I quietly tip-toed upstairs and put the medicines down on my bed.
Now, how to do it?
I was just wondering what to do when the door creaked and once again I jumped startled. It was Jesse.
‘Were you waiting for someone when we were downstairs?’
He said coldly standing on the doorway. This was the first time we talked since yesterday afternoon and this was all he was able to say? Such coldness in his voice…
I looked up because I felt my eyes stinging and I didn’t want to cry in front of him. It was his coldness that upset me. Of course I was waiting – I was waiting for my brother and he made it sound like I was doing the stupidest thing on the world.
‘What do you want?’
I hissed and sat down on my bed, covering the little jars with the pillow.
‘To play.’
‘I don’t want to play games with you.’
I stated coldly finally regaining my common sense and looked up glaring at him. The door opened in that moment and Drew stormed in:
‘Did you find them? They must be right there.’
He pointed to the corner and then ran, taking a box. Great - the Christmas tree toys. They’ve send Jesse to take them so when he said “to play”, he really meant it… I made a fool of myself.
Drew rushed out with light speed and Jesse just smirked before leaving too.
I slowly stood up and walked down myself. I couldn’t miss the best part of Christmas although this was going to be a really sad one.