552 V2 ch24 (1/2)

Zeke saw my look of fear and cracked a smile. ”It won't be anything you two can't handle. Just training to keep you guys in shape. Maybe work a little more on your stamina and strength.”

”Yea! It'd be cool if you could start cranking out homeruns all the time like Zeke!” Dave got excited. ”It would be like he never left.”

I looked at Zeke.

Zeke tilted his head. ”Jake would have to do some more growing.”

I sat up straighter than ever. ”I've been growing.”

”True.” Dave nodded. ”You're no longer the bean sprout you were just a few months ago. I hope you grow as tall as Jeremy.”

I thought about seriously. ”Do you think I can?”

”Sure!” Dave was quick to tell me. ”You and him look a lot alike. I feel like your height should be similar in the end.”

My eyes widened. ”You think I look like him?” I only ever saw him in a way that he resembled our dad.

”Yea, you both have these brown curls.” Dave reached over to pull my hair. ”Which you definitely need to cut. It's annoying to have such long hair in the summer.”

”That's it..?” I asked. Just the hair..?

”Just take a look at the pictures of you two together.” Dave told me. ”You see it in the face. Like the same nose and same lips. The only major difference is the way you're built. You-” He frowned. ”You're a little thin. From...being malnourished. Your cheeks aren't as pinchable as his.”

”Pinchable?” I asked, cracking a smile.

”Yea! Like this-” Dave reached for Zeke, but was scared away with a simple glare. At this moment, Noah came back with a bag in hand. Dave got ahold of him before Noah could figure out what was going on. ”Like this!!” He pulled at both sides of Noah's cheek, stretching his face out.

Noah smacked his hands away and pushed him. ”What the heck!?”

Dave laughed. ”I was just making a demonstration for Jake.” His eyes zeroed in on the bag. ”So? What did you get this girl friend of yours?”

Noah frowned, rubbing his cheek with one hand. ”She's not my girlfriend. She's just a friend that's a girl.”

”Yea, yea. Sureee.” He grabbed the bag out of Noah's hands. ”Let's see...” He pulled out a couple of headbands. Each one had a different design and looked very pretty. Definitely something Alisha would wear. ”Wow. You have good tastes. Do you know if she even likes to wear headbands though?”

Noah got red in the face. ”She wears one occasionally. I thought she would like some more choices.” He grabbed the bag back. Then looked at Zeke. ”Can I go take this to the car? I don't want to carry it the whole time. We still have to eat and go to the movie so I know I'll lose it.”

Zeke got up like he was going to go with him. ”Dave, stay with Jake.”

”Did you want to get Alisha anything else?” Zeke asked. ”Or are you good with headbands as a gift?”

I shrugged. ”She asked that Noah give her a gift. So that's fine.”

Zeke looked at me, showing some surprise.

”Originally Noah wanted time go to the mall, because he thought of a good way to prank the twins.” I explained. ”Alisha told me she only wanted a gift from Noah so I thought that would be a good cover for him.”

He raised an eyebrow. ”Have you told Noah that?”

I shrugged. ”No. There hasn't been time.”

Zeke's lips twitched. ”Alright. Don't bother. He wouldn't understand anyways.”

I scratched my head, not sure if I understood.

I looked to make sure Dave and Noah were out of sight. Then turned back to Zeke. ”Are you here to get stuff for the twins birthday too?”