Criminal Skills.2.

Ch. 2

 

"Nathaniel, get out of lala land and listen to me!" I blinked my wide green eyes at Haley. She had her hands on her hips. I gave her a smile and sat up on the cheap, blue couch.

 

"Sorry, you're just so boring." I let out a joking laugh and a smile crept up her angry face. "What were you talking?"

 

"It's my birthday and you aren't even listening to me! I said, 'Which frosting should I pick, vanilla or chocolate?' I know your birthday was last week and you didn't get to celebrate, but I want to celebrate my 17th birthday!" I fake yawned.

 

"First, I didn't want to celebrate anyway. I don't even know anyone to invite. And second, I think the chocolate." She rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen. I laid back and dug my hand into my Lay's chips. I stretched, my blanket falling off as Aaron walked in. He stopped to look at me bluntly in my underwear, then rolled his eyes as he followed his sister into the kitchen.

 

Aaron was 11 years old now. Haley was 17. I'm 17. My parents are 41 and 42.

 

"Aaron, I swear if you steal one more cookie, I'll snap that hand of yours!" I laughed as he ran out of the room with an armful of sugar cookies.

 

"Hey, toss me one junior!" I shouted, holding out my hands. He rolled his eyes and flipped me off as he sprinted up the steps. Haley had chased him to the stairs, then stopped and sighed at me.

 

"Don't teach him that kind of stuff and put on some clothes before my-" There was knocking on the door. She shooed me as she went to open it. "Nathaniel!" She whined. I pulled the blanket up to my bellybutton and glued my eyes to the tv screen. "Hey Dillon! Sorry for the lump on the couch, that's my cousin Nathaniel." I gave a cheesy grin and a small wave at the short, scrawny kid that waltzed in. Haley turned towards me. "Go upstairs and get dressed." Her voice actually scared me. I let out a playful whine and pulled the blanket over my head. A few more people came in and Haley glared. "If you don't get dressed-"

 

"Why?" I whined. She gave me a glare and I groaned, giving her a puppy dog look. "You liked it last night!" The people that she hadn't introduced me to laughed, and the ones that did looked scared.

 

"He's joking! Now Nathaniel, get the f-" I cut Haley off.

 

"That's a no-no word!" I taunted as I stood and walked upstairs to get dressed. I had my fun. As I was jumping into a pair of jeans, I heard steps going down and then back up the stairs.

 

"Nathaniel!" I heard Haley scream.

 

"I'm getting dressed!" I let out an irritated noise.

 

"Get down here! I need to talk to you!" I threw down the heap of clothes and stormed downstairs without my shirt.

 

"What?!" I brushed my brown hair out of my eyes to look at the petite woman. She was mad. More anger in that chick than anyone before.

 

"Don't you dare get an attitude with me when you're the one teaching Aaron bad things!" she hollered. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "He's 11 years old and he doesn't need to know these things yet!"

 

"Funny thing is, I don't remember cussing once around him. I don't remember talking about drugs or any of that 'bad things' while he's near. I know he's 11, I know he doesn't need to know those things," I said calmly. I didn't want him to hear us fighting, again. I told him earlier that we would stop.

 

"I want you to move out." It was silent as her friends stood there awkwardly. She glared at me and kept her ground. I shifted and looked in her brown eyes.

 

"You know I don't have anywhere to go," I muttered. Haley let out a breath and unclenched her fists.

 

"You're a bad influence. I can't have you around anymore."

 

I know Haley. If she said that, she meant it. She won't ever change her mind.