418 Be Strong (2/2)

"Can we go out for dinner?" Noah asked.

Mrs. Atkins raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you sick of my cooking already?"

Noah shook his head vehemently. "No, no, I love it!" He grinned slyly. "But I don't want to overwork you Mom. You're always making breakfast, lunch, and most of the time dinner. Don't you want a break?"

Mrs. Atkins laughed at his antics. She then looked to the rest of us. "Well? What do you guys want to do tonight? Go to a movie?"

"How about we go to The Arcade?" Dave suggested. "We can play a round of mini golf and play some video games."

"Yes!" Noah immediately agreed. "Let's get out of the house for a little."

"We're always out of the house." Kyle countered. "School and baseball. We only come home to shower, eat, and do homework. I vote movie night." He glanced at his mom. "And you don't have to cook. We can order in pizza!"

Mrs. Atkins looked at me specifically. "Well? What do you want to do?"

"Me?" I asked, surprised. "I'm okay with whatever."

"Jake is so easygoing." Noah looked at Zeke. "Zeke's the only problem here."

Zeke glanced at him before looking at his mom. "I think Dave and Noah have too much energy. It's probably best to let them burn it off so they don't stay up late."

Mrs. Atkins laughed. "Zeke, you don't have to worry so much. You don't have to-" She stopped as her eyes looked pass us. "Wayne? What is it?"

All of us turned around to see Mr. Atkins coming out of his office. He was tall, yet right now he looked sick with how pale he was. He was gripping his cell phone in his left hand. "Mr. Duncan called."

The silence felt thick as we waited for him to continue.

"They-He-I." He stuttered, trying to find out where to start. His frown thickened. "News got out."

"What news?" Noah asked.

"He said Mr. Duncan, so it must be related to Jake." Kyle looked at me, putting all attention on me.

Except...I didn't really understand what was being said either. "News about me..?"

"Yes. No. Uh." Mr. Atkins struggled again. "Let's go sit down for a minute. In the kitchen." He led the way, not caring if we agree or not.

"This doesn't sound like good news." Dave stated, looking worried like the rest of us. He glanced down at me. "Be strong. No matter what it is."

I gave a silent nod.

The five us, plus their mom, moved to the dining room table.