Never Tear Us Apart (Part 2/?)
Never Tear Us Apart (Part Two)
Two boys walked hand in hand down the street, laughing amongst themselves and enjoying the rare stream of golden sunlight which poured out of the Seattle sky.
“Mom is making pork chops tonight.” The littlest one, an adorable dark haired boy around seven cried with excitement as he jumped up and down to emphasize his joy. “I love pork chops, don’t you Eames?”
The oldest, a striking blonde haired boy of thirteen, smiled down at his little brother with amusement.
“It’s alright, but I’d prefer steak and potatoes.” He replied, as he guided the younger boy off the side to let a woman on a bicycle pass them. The little boy, disheartened that his brother did not share his enthusiasm for pork chops, pouted miserably. The elder, took notice of his brother’s unhappiness by the way the grip on his hand loosened significantly, and sighed. “I can’t like everything you like Arthur.”
Arthur quickly relinquished his hold on Eames’ hand altogether and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“I know that stupid.” The boy scowled as he attempted to move his little legs quickly away from his brother.
His attempt was soon foiled when the much bigger Eames reached out and grabbed Arthur’s backpack then gently pulled his brother back to his side.
“Come back here.” Eames sighed in frustration at his little brother’s antics. Arthur was usually very quiet and well behaved, but like with all little kids he could be quite a handful sometimes. “Mom says you suppose to stay with me at all times.”
“She never said I had to hold your hand.” Arthur scoffed despite the fact that he really didn’t mind it when his older brother held his hand.
Eames, who was a little more than hurt at his brothers words, felt his heart fall. He knew there would come a time when Arthur wouldn’t want to hold his hand anymore; he was just hoping it wouldn’t be this soon.
“So you don’t want my hand anymore?” he asked, masking the hurt in his voice with false acceptance “its fine with me if you don’t.”
Arthur looked up at him with a frown. Hadn’t his brother known he really didn’t mean it?
Before he had the chance to make amends, the cries of “Marcus” echoed from behind them.
Two girls, one blonde with brightest pair of yellow jeans Arthur had ever seen, and the other, a red head with curls and freckles approached them with matching smiles on their faces.
Eames wanted to run for it. They were two girls in his math class, who always giggle in the back of the classroom whenever he talked; whispering things like “his accent is so dreamy” and how he is “totally hot.” While he was flattered by their words, he had no interest in either of them.
Not finding it in him to be rude, he slowed down his steps, allowing the girls an opportunity to catch up with them.
Arthur noticed the slowing of his brother’s pace and followed his lead, though he was slightly annoyed that those girls where interrupting his time with Eames.
“How’s it going Marc?” the blonde girl asked in an irritatingly shrill voice.
Eames stiffened at the name “Marc”. The only people who he didn’t mind calling him that were his parents, his stepdad, and Arthur, and even then he still wasn’t fond of that nickname. He didn’t even like his real name, let alone a shortened version of it.
“Fine thanks, Katie.” He said politely to the blonde, and then looked to the red head, whose face turned an immediate beet color. “Hey, Natasha.”
“Hello Marc,” the redhead smiled, unable to look him in the eyes.
Eames wasn’t quite sure what to say next. He didn’t know much about girls except that they sometimes smelled nice, and that his dad was always asking if he had “caught” himself one yet whenever they talked on the phone.
Arthur, who was growing ever impatient with just standing around and watching those girls gawk at his brother, took it upon himself to speed things up.
“He doesn’t like being called Marc.” Arthur said in a matter-of-fact manner tone, which Eames found to be disturbingly reminiscent of the boy’s father. The girls, on the other hand, looked down at Arthur with blank stares, as though they had just realized his presence. “He likes being called Eames.”
The girls exchanged odd looks, before turning their attention back to Eames.
“We were just headed to Natasha’s house to watch a movie.” Katie chirped, completely ignoring anything the little boy had said. “Do you want to come?’
Eames opened his mouth to politely refuse, but Arthur, who didn’t like to be ignored by anyone, and who sure didn’t want his brother to go with those girls, piped in first.
“He can’t. My mom said we have to come straight home after school.” Arthur explained coolly. “She’s making pork chops tonight.”
“Oh.” The girls replied in unison. Ugly frowns replaced their eager smiles, and Eames was sure that Katie was on the verge of tears.
“Yeah, he is right.” Eames confirmed with nod, secretly glad for his little brother’s intervention. “Sorry.”
“Aw, that’s too bad.” Natasha whined with a pout. “Maybe we can hang out some other time then?”
Doubtful Eames thought to himself but decides not to voice the thought aloud.
“Yeah, maybe.” He lied, adding a small smile that sent the girls into a fit of giggles.
Arthur (who was growing more annoyed with the girls at each passing second) rolled his brown eyes at the inhuman noises they were making.
“Eames, can we please go now?” Arthur pleaded. “I’m hungry and grandma said she would have cookies ready when we got home.”
“We really do have to go.” Eames agreed, grateful again for his brother’s presence. “I’ll see you later.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.” Katie said eagerly as though Eames had just made a date with her.
“Bye Marc!” Natasha added, bating her eyelashes awkwardly.
Eames and Arthur turned back towards the direction of their house. The promise of cookies and pork chops hung in the air, as they walked away from the girls and back into their own little world.
They barely made it ten feet down the street before Eames felt a small hand grasp his tightly.
“I thought you didn’t like holding my hand.” Eames said to his brother smugly, though secretly relieved that his brother wasn’t drifting away from him.
“I like when you hold my hand.” Arthur admitted quietly “and I sure don’t want one of those girls holding your hand.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” Eames assured his brother with a laugh. “I don’t like either of them very much.”
“That’s good.” Arthur replied happily as he looked up as older brother with a smile. “I’m glad. Really glad”
Eames smiled back at him. He loved seeing Arthur happy, but above all he loved being the one to make him happy.
Part Three