Sleep it off . 04

"What's going on?" I asked him "Tell me. Just tell me."

"How did you know that those women were dead?" I asked again.

"I can't tell you, Ziig." He says finally.

"What? Why not?" I ask him.

"I just can't."

"Look. Is really weird that you came back and suddenly you think you're my bodyguard." I paused, shifting my weight to my left leg. "I don't need that kind of treatment. We're friends. We will always be friends. I care about you and you care about me. I got it, but why are you acting like you need to protect me from your own father? Are you keeping up?" I'm starting to fume.

"No. You should go downstairs now."

"You're obviously kidding me... " I storm out.

Downstairs, I asked the trio. "what is going on?"

"The sheriff is a friend and called me to make sure you and Ogimaa were okay.

Are you okay?" Mr Binesi asked.

"Yes. Ogimaa helped me and all our friends at the Diner. We're just shocked. Nothing really happens around here."

"I know. Don't worry. If you need time off school, just tell your mom. The Dean already knows what happened and said that you can have the rest of the week off if you need to. Okay, Little Flower?" He smiled fatherly.

"Thank you for that, Mr. Binesi."

"Baamaapii miinwaa kaawaabmin, Ziigwan." He says.

"Baamaapii miinwaa kaawaabmin." I bow a little. I don't know why. I always bow my head down a little to the Elders.

"I'll send the little wolf home. Don't worry Aniibish. He's just in high alert. You know how it goes. " My mom says to Ogi's mom.

"Thank you for everything. See you later. " She smiles.

When my mother closes the front door I say to her,

"Mom, why is Ogi in high alert? Mom why was he protecting me from his own father?"

"Daughter, sit down."

I sat in the kitchen table.

"You know that your blood and your father's blood is different from mine. You're a girl, it does not affect you the same way that affect the male gender. You're Ogi's most treasured friend. No matter how long he was away, the bond that you created growing up is unbreakable. As a male he will have the instinct to protect you. Especially from other males."

"Oh... that is just... okay." I reply  "That's why when I saw him yesterday it seemed like he was not gone five years. Like nothing really changed?"

"Exactly. I know it's weird, but you are First Nation People. Somethings are just different for you. Besides you are only teenagers. Hormones are sky high."

I was feeling better about this.

"Okay, mom. I will see if he's doing okay."

"Don't take long. Dinner is almost ready. Pasta a Carbonara." My mom tells me setting the table.

"Alright."

I open my bedroom door and stood there for a minute. Just watching him. He was asleep in my bed.

I approach him silently.

Sat in the bed and started to shake him a little.

"Ogi... Ogi." I say poking his back.

"O-G-I" I yelled.

I don't know how he has done it. In half a second he was up and in position to attack. "What? Where?"

I laughed so much in my bed that my belly hurts.

"Stop flashing me. Red panties, ah?" He laughs.

I got up and fix my clothes "Pervert!" I gasp as if I was deeply offended.

"Dinner is ready!" my mom yelled from downstairs

He grabs me by the waist and carries me downstairs across his shoulder as I am a big bag of sand or concrete from a construction site.

"Put me down or I will kill you. Do you hear me?"

"Akawe, you have to eat, you ate almost nothing the entire day, missy."

I admit it was fun to be carried like that. He is really strong. Jeez. I'm like a feather to him.

"Okay Little Wolf you had your fun. Put Little Flower down. " my mom laughs. Traitor!

"Sorry, Mrs Woods. And thanks for dinner. I appreciate. What is that?" He asks

"Pasta a Carbonara. I'm learning Italian Cusine."

"She means that she is trying to get me to wear a size 4, you know... " I warn him.

"You should get some meat around those bones." He mocks me.

My mom laughs.

"Seriously guys you are just plain mean right now. I was always skinny. Come on... Jeez."

"You're right. Except that one summer. You were 8. Remember?"

"Yeah." My mom agreed.

"You suck so much I don't even... " I told them.

Dinner was great comparing to the awful afternoon.

My mom served us icecream and everything.

Gelato, apparently is what it is called in Italy.

I went with King outside. To his car. To say goodnight.

"Drive safely. And calm the funk down. Ok?"

"Alright I will. Can I come get you tomorrow. 7 am?" He snaps.

"You can, but you don't need to. You know that, right? I got the bus."

"I'm here seven and five minutes sharp. Don't be late, with those female... stuff. Ok?" He says stubbornly.

"Fine." I kiss his cheek "I'm really glad you're back." I confess.

"Me too, Namid. Me too." And he drove away.

I stood there salivating. What tha funk is wrong with me?

I'm gonna sleep it off...