428 No Relation (1/2)

Wednesday after class, Zeke took us home to an empty house. Their parents were both out, working with some clients to get a house sold. Even though Mr. and Mrs. Atkins seemed to be free to watch our games and they always came home for dinner, they were actually really busy with work. Noah told me before that when it gets to be summer time, more people move so his parents would get even busier.

Without practice, we easily beat them home.

Everyone went their own way to get homework done before dinner. Noah and I weren't assigned much in the middle of the week, but I helped him with his math before doing my own. Noah then played his video game as I did my own math homework.

"Jake, you done yet?" Kyle asked, coming into our room.

"Can't you do it yourself?" Noah looked at his older brother with disgust. "Stop using Jake."

"It's okay." I told Noah as I passed my math homework to Kyle. "I'm done. Make sure you follow it step by step. We have a test on Friday."

"Thanks kiddo." Kyle patted me on the head and left without responding to Noah.

"Why do you keep letting them copy your work?" Noah asked me, putting down his game.

I shrugged. "Isn't this what brothers do?"

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Did they tell you that?"

I shook my head. "No, but-"

"Then quit it. You can get in trouble. Not just with Mom and Dad, but with the school too." Noah lectured, sounding more like Zeke and less like himself. Old Noah would talk about blackmailing them for benefits.

Noah had been in a weird mood since yesterday. I wanted to ask him about it, but he turned his attention back to his video game.

"I'm going to go swing my bat a few times in the backyard." I told him, hoping he would join me.

"Yea, go." He brushed me off.

I started to go, but then stopped myself. If I was acting like he was, he would definitely make me talk about it. Or worse, tattle on me to his parents. I need to either speak up now or go tell his parents.

But...they weren't home. That left me with only one option.

I cleared my throat. "Noah?"

"Yea?" He didn't even look at me.

"Is there...something wrong? You don't-you aren't sounding like you're happy."

"I'm not happy." He shrugged. "It'll pass."

I frowned. "That doesn't sound right."

He groaned and put down the game. He looked at me. "I'm just frustrated. That's it. There's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh." I mumbled. "I guess I'll go play alone." I dragged my feet down the stairs, reluctant to leave, but wasn't sure what else I could say or do.

"Wait!" I heard Noah yell. He came jogging out of our room and easily caught up with me on the staircase. He put his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. "I shouldn't play video games so much. Some extra bat swings wouldn't hurt."

I smiled, relieved. Baseball is still on his mind.

We walked down the stairs, and to the back sliding door. Through the glass we could see Dave and Zeke sitting on the back porch, talking.