Man of the House - The Man of the House β Chapter 156
βLondon, you are so much smarter than you think you are. Iβve sat back and watched as Dan has taken advantage of you for years. Iβve had enough of it. I want to see you happy and successful for once in your life.β
βI justβ¦ donβt know what to do nowβ¦β London sniffled, blowing her nose on a tissue I held out for her.
Iβd like to say that London instantly accepted the reality of Danβs cheating and kicked him out, but even with him admitting it, he tried to gaslight her while she tried to convince herself she heard him wrong. Eventually, Jasmine confessed her affair with Dan, not because she was sorry for her friend or angry at Dan, but because she didnβt want me to think she was with Dan. It took a video on her cellphone where she was in bed naked with him before London finally accepted the truth and kicked him out.
Dan tried to resist, but I still had a black eye from the fight I had been in earlier that day. With a kitchen knife in my hand, I smiled and asked if he was ready to fight. He fled the apartment quickly after that. After that, London wept and I ended up being the shoulder she cried on. I didnβt get annoyed or push her off me though. I merely held my sister as she cried and shook.
βLondon, youβre still young. There are plenty of people who didnβt know what they wanted to do the rest of their life while they were older than you. I just know that whatever you want to do, you can do. You wonβt just have Mom supporting you, youβll have me as well. Youβll have all of us.β
She looked up at me, wiping her eyes. βReally?β
βOf course,β I smiled at her. Youβre my family. I love you.β
She bit her lip, her cheeks turning red. βNoahβ¦ I-Iβ¦ l-loveβ¦β
βAre you brother and sister?β A voice cut in.
The two of us turned to see Jasmine still sitting there, slightly bored. It seemed like she hadnβt gotten the idea the last hour or two that this was Londonβs time and she needed her space. Thus, she was eating popcorn and finishing the movie London and Dan had started while ignoring Londonβs crying. The movieβs ending credits were now playing, so she was watching us again.
βJasmineβ¦β London finally pulled away from me, straightening her blouse. βDonβt act like we can just continue being friends. You were having an affair with my boyfriend.β
βI broke it off.β She responded, putting more popcorn in her mouth. βYou wouldnβt even know there was an affair without me!β
βYeah? And you only told me because you want to fuck my brother!β London declared with a glower, then blushed when she realized she swore.
βWhatβs wrong with that?β Jasmine wasnβt even denying it. βWhat, do you want him instead? Your brother and sisterβ¦β
βWeβre half-brother and sister.β London shot back.
βWell, you canβt commit half-incest!β Jasmine responded.
Londonβs face turned red. βI-Iβm not interested in him that way. He-heβs family.β
βTell that to my uncle.β
βWhat?β
βNothing!β Jasmine shrugged. βLook, you need some time, so why donβt you chill in your room andβ¦β
βYouβre done fu- youβre not sleeping with my brother in my house.β London declared. βLast I recall, Iβm paying the rent on this place. Dan certainly never did.β
βThen, Noahβ¦β She leaned toward me, grinning. βWant to take a ride?β
βUhhhβ¦β
βHis momβs coming in like ten minutes.β London snapped. βHeβs not going with you.β
βJeeseβ¦ Iβm a hot girl, I just want to fuck, why are you making this so difficult.β Jasmine whined, looking directly at me.
βYou-β
βYou want a date?β I asked, leaning forward with a smirk.
βNoβ¦ I donβt know. A date? Youβre just some kid and Iβm horny. Itβs not like I want to be your girlfriend.β
βAlright, let me make it clearer.β I chuckled. βDo you want me to take you out and fuck your brains out with my big dick so you can barely walk after?β
βNoah!β London looked at me with shock.
Jasmine looked amused. βArenβt you acting presumptuous? Youβre just some virgin kid talking about giving it to me goodβ¦β
I shrugged. βYouβve already had a taste, you sure I canβt give you what you want? Pretty sure you wouldnβt have dumped Dan and still be here if you didnβt think I had sufficient ability.β
She looked at me for a moment and then made a noise through her teeth. βWhy does confidence turn me on so much? I can already tell youβre not that interested in me, so what do you want?β
βRecommendation.β
βHuh?β
βA recommendation, for London. Help her get through college and med school.β As I spoke, I pulled out a flyer I had printed out from the internet and put it on the table in front of London. βItβs a six-year program, straight through premed and then med school. Itβs going to be tough, but without Dan holding you down, you can make it. Get a smaller place, a one-bedroom or a studio, and use the rest to pay tuition. If you need helpβ¦ I will do what I can to help.β
βY-you think I can become a doctor?β Londonβs eyes widened. βI donβt even have a college education.β
βI knowβ¦ thatβs why I found this program. With your old friend’s recommendation, you might even have a chance of getting in.β
βNoahβ¦β Her hand reached out and touched mine, her body leaning toward me.
βYou sure you two are brother and sister?β Jasmine asked.
Before we could answer, there was a ringing sound. London jumped up and ran to the door. After buzzing someone in, she came back.
βItβs Mom!β She confessed.
βDamnβ¦β Jasmine growled.
I threw my phone number onto Jasmineβs lap. βYou can take the offer or not. I believe London will succeed with or without you, but this might be a way you can win her good graces back, especially after the boyfriend thing.β
βR-rightβ¦β Jasmine deliberately looked away like she didnβt care.
I got ready and by the time I was cleaned up, Mom was knocking on the door. I noticed that the phone number had disappeared from the table, even though Jasmine was still looking away as if it had nothing to do with her. I opened the door only to be assaulted by Mom immediately.
βI heard from Bob, oh my god, you did get into a fight.β Mom grabbed my face and started fretting angrily.
βMom,β London spoke up, but Mom didnβt hear her. βMom!β
βWhat?β Mom asked, finally looking Londonβs way.
βDonβt punish Noah too hard. He was just looking out after his sister.β A smile formed on her lips. βI guess, brother does that from time to time.β
βUhhβ¦ y-yeahβ¦β Mom raised an eyebrow.
βIβll be around if you need me to, London.β I handed her another slip with my phone number too. βDonβt be afraid to call me for anything.β
London looked at it for a moment, then teared up and threw her arms around me, hugging me. Mom let out a noise of surprise.
βI love you.β She whispered, but as she pulled back she grabbed the back of my neck, and under the guess of kissing my cheek, she whispered. βJust a heads up, Jasmine has herpes.β
βYeah, I figured,β I responded, chuckling.
She finally pulled away, realizing Mom was now staring at her as she had turned into some strange beast. London blushed, and before the pair could say any more, I ushered Mom out the door and said one last goodbye.
βPromise me you won’t be causing any more trouble like thatβ¦β Mom was saying as soon as we got in the car.
βYeah, I promise. Unlessβ¦ my sisters are in trouble.β
Momβs expression twisted for a second. βAre you doing okay?β
She reached up and touched my forehead while steering with the other hand.
βHey, stop!β I swatted her hand away.
βItβs just since you woke up, Iβve felt like things have been changing.β
βOh? Howβs that?β
βI donβt know. The family just seemed to be in pieces lately. It was like you were all living in the same house, but didnβt have any relationship with each other. Dawn hid in her room, while Bethany wouldnβt even talk to anyone. Mackenzie seemed to be in her little world, and donβt even get me started on the twins. Yesterday, Dawn told me she wants to use her college money to start a photography business. When I picked up Bethany, she cried and told me all kinds of things about her life.β
βI might have spoken with them,β I responded vaguely.
βI donβt know if thatβs it. Ever since your dad leftβ¦ no, I can speak about it.β I was about to stop her but she sensed that and held up her hand and continued. βEver since your dad left, it was like this family had lost something. We continued to live in the same house, but nothing was holding us together. Somehow, since you woke up, I feel like we found something that we lost.β
βA manβ¦β I spoke quietly.
βHmm?β
βAh, nothing.β I smiled. βIβm glad if youβre happy.β
βWell, there is one thingβ¦β
βWhatβs that?β I asked.
Mom wouldnβt say until we were finally home. When she opened the door, it was already late at night, but I froze when I looked around the kitchen. Other than London, the rest of my sisters were all there. As soon as I walked in, they all turned to me, but that was it. They turned back and started grabbing at cartoons of food on the table, putting them onto their plate.
βItβs about time,β Kelsey growled. βIβm starving.β
βYouβre always hungry.β Kristy snorted.
I felt Momβs warm hands on my back. βThey didnβt want to start eating until you came home.β
βItβsβ¦ Chinese.β
βWell, mom was out all dayβ¦β Dawn responded, immediately grabbing a plate. βAnd the brother was at Londonβs place.β
βHow is London?β Mom asked as she took off her coat and put up her purse. βI was in a bit of a hurry. I didnβt even get to catch up with her. Is she still trying to plan this elaborate wedding with that boy Dan? I donβt necessarily dislike him, but I canβt afford to pay her bills.β
I was silently watching all of my sisters together. They were eating together like this was a normal thing, but it was the first time I had ever seen them do it.
Mackenzie kicked an empty chair out. βHave a seat.β
She looked away, a complicated expression on her face. I slowly sat down.
βNoah?β Mom asked as she sat across from me.β
βAh! She broke up with Dan.β I declared. βHe was cheating on her.β
βSeriously?β Kristyβs eyes widened.
βI hate cheaters,β Mom responded, but then winced slightly, her thoughts easy to read.
I felt a tug on my shirt. βIs your eye alright, brother?β
βBethany? Ah, yeah, itβs fine.β I reached up before letting my hand drop.
βI do hope it heals up before prom. Thatβs only a week away.β Mom declared.
βMackenzie was just telling us that she doesnβt have a date for prom.β Kelsey declared.
βWhat? I didnβt tell you that!β Mackenzie cried out.
βItβs true though, isnβt it?β Kelsey asked with a little grin on her face. Β
βTh-thatβs none of your business,β Mackenzie growled.
βI wonder if sheβs just waiting for the right guy to ask her,β Kristy added, sharing the same grin with her sister.
βIβm not!β
βWill you two stop teasing your sister?β Mom interrupted.
βIβm going to be doing the photography prom night,β Dawn announced before things became silent once again.
βReally?β Kelsey spoke with a mouth full of food, βThatβs cool!β
βJ-just for yearbookβ¦ not the officialβ¦ images.β Dawn blushed.
βStill, itβs something.β Mom smiled. βIβm proud of you.β
Dawn blushed more, but then she looked my way. βAre you coming? Are you going to leave your big sister a dance?β
All of my sisters looked in my direction.
βMe?β
βI-isnβt it a bit weird to dance with your little brother?β Mackenzie asked.
βIβll be dressed up but I wonβt have time to bring a date,β Dawn responded. βIt isnβt weird unless I make it weird.β
βIβm a sophomoreβ¦ Prom is for Juniors and Seniors.β I tried to deflect.
Mom had mentioned the prom earlier, but I hadnβt thought much about it since the world returned to this one. In the other world, it seemed a given some Junior would take me, but this was a bit different. I could get Abigail to take me as she was a bit older. There were also Anne and Samantha, although they were both Sophomores too.
βI know! Noah should just take Mackenzie!β Bethany declared.
βWh-what?β Mackenzie cried out. βA d-d-dateβ¦ he-heβs my brother!β
βI donβt mind,β I responded, causing Mackenzieβs eyes to snap at me. βI have a few friends, we could go as a group.β
Mackenzie relaxed slightly. βAh, ye-yeahβ¦ we could do that.β
Bethany looked oddly disappointed. βThatβs not what I meant.β
Of course, I didnβt tell her that the other three people I planned to invite were my girlfriends. Iβd cross that bridge when I came to it.
The girls continued to chat, joke, and fight as we ate all of the remaining Chinese. It had already been closed tonight when I came home, and by the time we finished, it was already late.
As the girls finally headed off to bed one after another, I made my way to the living room. I remembered the last few crazy months. I had done so many crazy things with my family on that couch. I had grown close to them, although perhaps not in the healthiest of ways. I picked up the family image. It was the same one no matter which world. I was standing apart from all of the girls, an invisible barrier erected between us. I didnβt know when it had appeared or how, but I knew I no longer wanted that wall anymore.
This time, I had a chance to get it right. Weβd take a new family picture. We had the rest of our lives to get it right. This was my house, and no matter what happened, Iβd always be their man.
Yes, this is the end of Man of the House. I’ve debated how I want to do this. I might rewrite and break it up into 3 ~50 chapter books, perhaps adding a few more chapters in between for publication on eBook. In which case, it’d be a trilogy. I have at least 2 bonus chapters planned out taking place after this (the prom and his first day of college). The eBooks won’t come out until this summer at earliest. Either way, thank you and don’t say I never finish nothing! π
This was a good story