Olivia and I plopped down together on the sofa in the living room. She squeezed herself closer to me. She sighed softly. Zac was still eating the snack foods and dinner hadn\u2019t even been served yet. I was almost dreading the meal. I was hoping Olivia didn\u2019t mind the giant dead bird in the middle of the table as we ate.<\/p>\n
I picked up Olivia\u2019s hand and squeezed it gently. She smiled up at me, lightly touching my cheek with her free hand.\u00a0 \u201cHow are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
I considered my answer for several moments. I wasn\u2019t sure if I\u2019d ever been more tempted to drink in my entire life. Everyone around me was drinking, aside from Olivia. I could smell it, and it started an instant craving. I wanted a beer more than I wanted to breathe. I knew it would instantly take the edge off. I definitely needed something to take away the stress of being around my crazy family.<\/p>\n
Avery pushed herself through the crowds of people standing around talking. She ran toward us, crashing into Olivia\u2019s legs. \u201cLivia!\u201d She cried excitedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, honey!\u201d Olivia said in an excited whisper. She scooped up Avery and balanced her on her lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cLivia, will you come and play dollies with us?\u201d Avery asked.<\/p>\n
I stuck out my hand and Avery grinned, slapping me a high five.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I can. Is it okay if Isaac comes too?\u201d<\/p>\n
Avery wrinkled her little nose. \u201cI don\u2019t know about that.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
I raised my eyebrows. \u201cHey! Come on, that\u2019s not very nice!\u201d I chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, you can come. But you have to be Ken.\u201d She said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright.\u201d I shrugged.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. \u201cOkay, honey, let\u2019s go.\u201d She let Avery down and she pushed her way through the crowds of people again. I stood and Olivia smiled at me. \u201cYou\u2019re going to play dolls? That\u2019s so adorable! I should have brought my camera!\u201d She gushed.<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cNo way, I\u2019m not actually going to play.\u201d I insisted. \u201cI\u2019m just going to watch you and the girls playing.\u201d I insisted, moving my arm around Olivia. We squeezed our way through the other people and made our way up to the second floor. I took Olivia\u2019s hand and led her down the hall. \u201cThe girls room is down here.\u201d I insisted, leading her down the hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d She smiled.<\/p>\n
We walked into the girls room. There were dolls everywhere, and the girls had clearly made a fort out of their bunk beds.<\/p>\n
\u201cYay!\u201d Avery grinned hugely.<\/p>\n
Olivia plopped down with Avery near the doll house.<\/p>\n
I saw Jessica playing in the opposite corner. She was undressing one of her dolls and struggling her into a fancy evening gown.<\/p>\n
I crossed the room and plopped down next to her, awkwardly easing myself onto the floor with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, Jessi.\u201d I said softly. \u201cHow are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica didn\u2019t answer me. She simply picked up the brush and started yanking it through her doll\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your dolls name?\u201d I asked her.<\/p>\n
Before Jessica could even say anything, Avery answered. \u201cThat doll is Molly.\u201d Avery pointed. \u201cAnd this one is Betsy.\u201d She turned to Olivia. \u201cYou can be Susie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d Olivia smiled hugely.<\/p>\n
Jessica gasped suddenly, and I turned back to her. The doll\u2019s head had popped off, and Jessica looked close to tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, want me to fix it?\u201d I asked her. I took the doll from her and carefully put the head back on. I gave her the doll back and she smiled hugely at me. \u201cThank you, Ikey.\u201d She said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny time, Jessi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled hugely. \u201cHey, Avery. Why don\u2019t we go and get some snacks, okay? We\u2019ll see if we can find some juice for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay!\u201d Avery said.<\/p>\n
Olivia and Avery left the room, leaving Jessica and I alone.<\/p>\n
Jessica frowned and pointed to my bandaged hand.<\/p>\n
I grinned. \u201cNow we match, Jessi.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I paint yours pink?\u201d She asked me.<\/p>\n
I chuckled softly. \u201cI don\u2019t think so, but maybe later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can sign mine if you want to.\u201d She offered. She reached into the case of art supplies. She handed me a black marker and stuck out her arm.<\/p>\n
I found an empty space, and scribbled my name and drew a sloppy little flower.<\/p>\n
Jessica smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cJessi\u2026 can we talk about the accident? You know I\u2019m sorry, right? You know I didn\u2019t do it on purpose, right? It was a mistake. I was doing a lot of things I shouldn\u2019t have been doing back then, and I was stupid and irresponsible. I endangered both of our lives, and I\u2019ll never, ever forgive myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d Jessica said lightly.<\/p>\n
I frowned. I wasn\u2019t sure if she actually understood or if she was just saying that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean it, some day I\u2019m going to make it up to you, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica blinked up at me, \u201cCan we go bowling?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cSure, I\u2019ll take you bowling.\u201d I offered. \u201cJust you and me, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKay.\u201d Jessica smiled. She hugged her Barbie for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to take the bus though, okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes brightened. \u201cWe get to take the bus too! Awesome!\u201d She said excitedly.<\/p>\n
I chuckled. \u201cOkay, it\u2019s a date.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan Olivia and Avie come too?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure they can.\u201d I agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsaac?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Jessi?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs dinner ready? I\u2019m hungry.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Lets go downstairs and see if we can find something to eat.\u201d I offered. I got to my feet and helped her stand up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWant a ride?\u201d I asked her.<\/p>\n
Jessica grinned. \u201cYeah!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d I scooped her up onto my back. She was a lot heavier than I ever remembered her being, but I could carry her comfortably. My hand was killing me, but I was just happy she wasn\u2019t mad at me anymore. I felt Jessica lay her head on my back. \u201cAre you tired, kiddo?\u201d I asked her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, but Avie and I are gonna stay up and try and see Santa tonight.\u201d She informed me.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, well that\u2019s cool.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
I reached the bottom of the stairs, finding a group of adults standing around talking. My dad spotted me and smiled. He knew as well as anyone that Jessica had been avoiding me. He knew I felt horrible about the accident.\u00a0 He knew just as well as anyone that I blamed myself, and rightly so. I was responsible for her broken arm.<\/p>\n
I walked into the kitchen with Jessica on my back. I found Olivia holding Avery on her lap, she was holding a plate and filling it with all of the items that Avery was picking out.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey.\u201d I smiled, coming into the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Olivia turned and smiled. \u201cHey, how are things?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jessica started kicking, wanting down.<\/p>\n
I easily swung her down onto her feet and she toddled over to the table of food.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d I mused.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled brightly. \u201cI\u2019m glad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avery asked to be put down, wanting to copy Jessica. She always copied everything that Jessica did, including the clothes she wore and how she wore her hair.<\/p>\n
Olivia gave her the plate of food and Avery started putting all of the items on it that Jessica put on hers.<\/p>\n
Olivia crossed the room and wrapped her arms around my waist. \u201cAre you really okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
I kissed her hair softly. \u201cYeah, she\u2019s not mad at me anymore. Or at least I don\u2019t think she\u2019s mad at me anymore,\u201d I mused. \u201cAlthough I do have to take her bowling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAww\u2026\u201d She laughed softly. \u201cYou\u2019re the sweetest big brother ever!\u201d She cooed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, lets not go nuts.\u201d I rolled my eyes. \u201cI\u2019m still cool and tough and macho and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia giggled. \u201cOf course you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d I bent down and lightly kissed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cEw!\u201d Both girls screamed, running from the room, with their plates of food.<\/p>\n
I sighed. \u201cWell, we sure know how to clear a room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly, standing on her toes and kissing me.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, gross. Really?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to see Taylor coming into the kitchen. He\u2019d stopped in his tracks with a disgusted look on his face. His nose was wrinkled in a sign of repulsion.<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouldn\u2019t you do that somewhere else besides the kitchen? I mean, the food is in here!\u201d He protested.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess you\u2019ll starve.\u201d I mused, leaning down at kissing Olivia.<\/p>\n
She laughed, playfully swatting my chest.<\/p>\n
Taylor rolled his eyes and moved past us to the refrigerator. He opened the door and peered in for a minute, removing a can of coke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis party is totally getting lame.\u201d Taylor mused. \u201cI\u2019m so bored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia slipped her hand into mine. \u201cMaybe we could watch a movie or something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAwesome idea!\u201d Taylor replied, \u201cI like this chick.\u201d<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes at him. I was just about to warn him against calling my girlfriend a chick, but Olivia smiled, shrugging lightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll pick a movie and we can set it up downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cThat idea sucks. I think we should let Olivia choose the movie. She\u2019s the guest. And she likes better movies than you do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olivia shook her head. \u201cNo way, I\u2019m absolutely fine with anything you guys choose.\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cHa, see?\u201d Taylor smirked.<\/p>\n
I shook my head. \u201cYou got lucky.\u201d I told him. \u201cWe\u2019ll meet you downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
I picked up Olivia\u2019s hand and led the way out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n
My mom stopped us suddenly outside the kitchen. \u201cOh, hi, kids! Isaac, how are you? Are you okay?\u201d Mom asked, fussing over me. She turned my chin to the side. \u201cYour eye looks a little red, honey, are you okay? Does it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine mom.\u201d I insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about your hand? You should put some ice on it again.\u201d She offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I\u2019m alright.\u201d I insisted. \u201cI\u2019ve had worse, believe it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom let that slide. I saw the way her face changed. \u201cBut still. Are you sure I can\u2019t get you anything? Maybe we could put something on it\u2026 I might have something upstairs in the medical cabinet\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, mom.\u201d I insisted again, rolling my eyes.<\/p>\n
Olivia laughed sweetly. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, I\u2019m taking good care of him. I promise.\u201d She smiled up at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, good.\u201d Mom sighed of relief. \u201cAre you having a good time, Olivia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yes. Absolutely!\u201d She insisted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should maybe call your dad later if you want to. Just to wish him a merry Christmas\u2026 that is if you want to.\u201d Mom said quickly.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled. \u201cHe\u2019s at the office again tonight. But I certainly will call him a little later.\u201d She mused.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Let me know if you kids need anything.\u201d Mom offered. \u201cDinner should be ready in an hour or two.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you. You\u2019ve been a wonderful host.\u201d Olivia smiled politely.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, what is Zac doing?\u201d She sighed. \u201cI swear I have to watch that boy like a hawk!\u201d She sighed, crossing the living room and grabbing Zac by the back of his shirt.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow\u2019s our chance to escape.\u201d I said quickly, pulling Olivia toward the basement. I helped her down the basement steps and we found Taylor putting a movie into the machine.<\/p>\n
Olivia smiled up at me once we reached the bottom of the stairs,<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of cool down here; do you want me to grab a blanket?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
She smiled. \u201cCan we cuddle under it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Taylor made hacking and gagging noises nearby.<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes. \u201cSure, just let me beat the living shit out of my brother first.\u201d<\/p>\n