2. Mr. Black

A hand hit my left cheek which woke me up from my sleep. I didn't even bother to look who it was as it's Adam for sure. He cuddles while sleeping and end up hitting me. Unlike me, a single touch or sound awakes me.

"He slapped me." I murmured while stroking my cheek and searched my phone to see the time, was awake five minutes earlier than the alarm. I tickled Adam and whispered in his ear. "Wake up."

"Hmm hmm." He replied in a sleepy voice with closed eyes. Responding means he is awake. So, I left him and went to the kitchen to prepare cereal for us. And we quickly got ready to leave.

Dropping him to school, I wished him good luck for his exam and drove straight to my college. The heavily blowing autumn wind was messing my silky black hair where its coldness was indicating the arrival of the winter. Everything was ablaze in the color of autumn. I like this season it gives different colors to plain green leaves.

It's so strange that autumn is so beautiful, yet everything is dying.

Hmm, is dying is beautiful?
How does it feel?

I reached my class lost in my thoughts.

Chemistry would have been more interesting if chemicals were living beings. A little ball of blue chlorine and another ball of pink potassium run towards each other while shining bright, woosh!! interacted. And produce a big ball of what? A purple plorine? or chlotassiun? Wow!!

My little chemical movie was interrupted by Jacob. He sat and stretched his hand towards me. "Maths notes."

"Not again." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Of course, always. Be quick please." He said and I handed my notes to him. He never does his work and always copies from mine. Our chemistry class was replaced by the physics one and the schedule went on as usual. During language class, I sat on the second bench and Jacob right behind me. A girl walked in and sat beside me. I was surprised to see someone rather than Jacob sitting beside me. She has brown hair with red ends. Thin eyebrows with big shiny hazel eyes, while her nose was pink and barely visible lips were colored red. She was wearing a knee-length dress.

Is it a cold or she cried causing her nose to turn red. I haven't seen her before. Maybe she is newly enrolled or maybe I am noticing her now. My observation was disturbed when she sneezed. Yeah, she did have a cold.

"Sorry." She murmured.

Oh! She doesn't have to apologize.

"Bless you," I said.

Class ended and lunch starts. I made my way towards our class as I never go to the cafeteria. I don't like crowded places and the voices of people disturb my reading which I usually do during lunch. I was reading a book with a sandwich in my hand. On hearing footsteps, I raised my head and saw students were entering the class indicating the end of lunch.

Oh! Crap! Lunch ends i.e 12:30 Oh no!!! Adam!!'. Because of his assessments, his school ends at 12 noon.

I have to hurry.

Picking up my book and the backpack, I hurried out. As soon as I stepped out of the class, I bumped into someone and my forehead hit that someones' nose. I glanced up at the person he was a tall boy almost 6'ft with black shiny hair and dark eyebrows. His blue-green eyes sparkle when he looked down at me. A pink nose and water in his eyes assure that he got hit hard. Lips were perfect in pink color and a V-shaped jawline. He was wearing a black shirt with folded sleeves below the elbow, exposing his muscled arms. And black trousers with black shoes. My eyes went wide on his complete black attire, he was wearing my favorite color. Everything about him was black except his cold blue-green eyes which met my blue ones. Why cold? I didn't bump into you intentionally.

I was lost in my observation which was turning into a stare. Quickly stepping aside, I murmured a sorry and rushed towards the main door. I guess he is new like the 'red end hair' girl.

He called me on my back. "You have a class to attend."

Who is he to say that?
"None of your concern Mister," I replied without turning and disappeared from his sight.

I quickly drove to Adam's school. He was waiting for me with hands crossed over his chest and a leg tapping on the ground. I horned to make aware of my presence. He angrily walked towards me with heavy footsteps and sat. Throwing his bag on backseat he tugged off his shoes and folded his legs.

I drove silently for a while then, clear my throat.

"You are not supposed to sit with folded legs in the car," I said in a normal tone.

"My legs are paining as I stood for a long time." He snapped, reminding me of my mistake then and added. "You're late by 45 minutes Levy!"

"Hey! I'm 6 years older than you, do not call me by my name." I said in a bossy sister tone.

"Yet irresponsible." He shouted back at me.

"Fine, my mistake. So, what do you want? Burger or pizza?" I asked.

I'm sure he will tell both.

"Both."

Yeah, I knew that.

Not ice-cream?

"And strawberry-vanilla ice cream." He added.

I smiled and turned my car towards a nearby shop and bought a pizza, a burger, strawberry-vanilla and chocolate hazelnut ice cream. While I was leaving I saw an old lady who was confusingly looking at me.

I walked towards her and ask about her confusion.

"Can I get a Burger with this money? He never ate one before." She showed some money and gesturing her head towards a kid beside her.

"Yes, you can. Do you want 2?" I offered my help.

"Yes. Even grandma hasn't eaten any." The kid responded while hiding himself behind her.

I took the money from her hand and went to the counter. This money was not enough. Adding mine I bought 2 Burgers for them and thought to give her some money back but didn't do so. This might cause her problem if she visits the shop again.

As I was about to leave, a hand on my arm stopped me. I turn towards the old lady, she asked my name with a smile. When I told her my name, she whispered in my ear.

"Be safe."

Was it a blessing? I opened my mouth to ask then stopped.

Mostly people bless you with 'be happy, God bless you' but be safe? Well doesn't matter.

When I was in the car Adam frowned at me.

"Who's she? Why were you talking to her? And what did you give her?"

I ignored his questions and ask mine. "You were keeping an eye on me from the window?"

He continued his. "Brother told you not to talk with strangers. Why did you do that?"

"C'mon Adam it was just an old lady who needed some help, that's it. You don't have to make such a big fuss about it."

He kept quiet and we drove silently. Brother always pampered us, as we leave alone. Well, that's understandable.

We got home and had our food. Time passed while I was reading a book that I took from the mother's library room. It was a book on business management, named 'Good to Great' by an author 'James C. Collins'. Adam was watching TV. We were interrupted by the sound of our telephone. Yes, we do have a telephone.

"I'll get it," Adam said and lifted the receiver.

"Brother!" He said.

I took out my phone to see the time, it's 03:05 pm.

He never calls at this time.

After having a big conversation with him, almost 37 minutes. He then called for me.

"Hey! Admund." I said in a teasing manner.

"Call me brother, I'm older than you." Was a predictable reply from him.

"Brother." I added then asked "Anything special for calling at such an odd time?"

I waited for his reply.

"What? no way." I frowned at him.

*waiting till he speaks*

"No-no. I can not do that. That's highly impossible for me." I protested.

*waiting *

"But they are all older than me."

*waiting *

"What if they won't listen-" he cuts me off.

*waiting *

"Will that work?" I asked.

*Waiting *

"I'll try," I said slowly.

"Your best." He said.

"Of course, I will try MY BEST".
I said stressing on the words 'my best' and hung off the phone.

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                                                         H.LOCKHART.