523 Prep

Sure enough the twins had found a baseball game to put on and all five of us watched until Mrs. Atkins came in and demanded that we all take showers. 

\"Again? I took one this morning.\" I said. 

\"No helping it.\" Noah shrugged as we walked up the stairs to our room. \"She wants us to look our best.\"

I couldn't argue. Not with all the others going upstairs obediently. 

Noah let me shower first, which also meant I had to get dressed first. I did my best to get ready before Noah got back, putting on the buttoned up shirt, the pants, socks and shoes. Noah came back as I struggled with the belt. 

\"You have to tuck your shirt in first.\" He told me. \"Like when we wear our uniforms.\"

Oh. With that hint in mind, I was able to look somewhat decent. 

A knock came at the door as Noah was getting dressed. He opened it to reveal a very dressed-up Zeke. In a full blown suit, Zeke didn't look like a high school student at all. He looked like a young man going to work. 

\"Mom said you two might have trouble doing your ties.\" Zeke came into the room. 

Noah finished buttoning up his shirt. \"Yea. Help Jake first; I'll be ready in a second.\"

Zeke looked down at me. \"Where's your tie?\"

I grabbed it off the bed and went to Zeke. He still stood over a foot taller than me. He took a seat on the chair at our desk, almost eye level with me now. Then took the tie. 

\"Pay attention.\" He said, wrapping the tie around my neck, behind the collar. He made the thicker end longer on one side. \"You want the wide end to be roughly this much longer than the thin. You wrap it around the thin end like this.\" He explained slowly while demonstrating. \"Up and through. Then pull here to tighten.\" He adjusted the tie to fit around my neck, and got my collar fixed. \"There. Done.\"

I backed up and checked the mirror. Then smiled. \"Thanks Zeke.\"

\"My turn!\" Noah tossed Zeke his tie and stepped up. 

The corner of Zeke's mouth turned up, forming a weak crooked smile. \"Why haven't you learned this yet?\"

\"Why should I?\" Noah shot back, standing proudly. \"I have you. You can do it for me for the rest of my life.\"

Zeke rolled his eyes. 

\"That's What big brothers are for.\" Noah added. He glanced at me. \"Tell him, Jake. Did you learn when he was showing you?\"

I turned red in the face. \"I forgot.\"

Noah laughed as Zeke sighed and shook his head. 

\"You two are...\" Zeke sighed again, then focused on helping Noah with his tie. \"Pay attention this time. Really. Who's going to help you next year when I'm not around?\"

\"Dad.\" Noah answered with ease. 

\"Where are you going to be?\" I asked, frowning. 

\"College.\" Noah and Zeke said at the same time. He finished helping Noah with his tie and slowly stood up. 

Zeke smiled. \"You already knew that, didn't you?\" He patted Noah on the head and left the room. \"Don't forget to brush your hair.\"

Noah's eyes followed his older brother until he left. He looked at me and sighed. \"Rhys must have decided to go to Stanford. That's the only way Zeke would answer with college so easily.\"

\"Are you upset about it?\" I know that Noah really wanted to see Zeke go pro. It was all he could talk about. 

Noah shrugged. \"It is what it is. Zeke and Rhys, plus the seniors left on Stanford. I think this time next year, they'll be preparing for the College World Series.\" His eyes started to shine as he got excited. \"It would be crazy cool if they made it that far. We'll be able to watch their playoff games after our season.\"

\"Did Stanford make it this year?\" I asked. 

Noah shrugged. \"Too soon to say. They still have to do their conference tournament. The College World Series doesn't start until June 15th, after Zeke's graduation so we'll see then.\"

I nodded, getting the hang of it. College baseball season started around the same time as high school baseball, but ran longer. Makes sense. They are older. 

\"Since Zeke is planning on college for sure, doesn't that mean he has to stay for at least two years?\" I asked, remembering some of the details from before. 

Noah grinned. \"Yep. Gives us a little time to catch up.\"

\"We'll still be in high school...\" I reminded him. 

Noah shrugged. \"Who knows. Maybe he'll want to complete his degree before going pro. Things change, Jake. Plans, people, and feelings.\"

I nodded, completely agreeing. I've changed my mind about my own brother more than a few times. I wanted to find him. Then I didn't. Then I did. He didn't sound like a good person so I changed my mind about wanting to get to know him. Now that he's trying, I feel little guilty for not reciprocating. 

I went to my bed and picked up my phone. I only had a few texting conversations started. Letting Dr. Moore that I had a new phone and him replying that I could reach out to him anytime. And then Jeremy letting me know that he had my number. I only said 'okay.'

\"Did you want to text Jeremy?\" Noah practically read my mind. 

\"Things change.\" I repeated what he had said. \"People too.\" I looked up at Noah. \"What do you think I should say?\"

Noah shrugged. \"If Zeke wasn't around, I'd probably text him about the baseball banquet.\" His eyebrows lifted as he thought of something. \"Wait until you get an award. Then you can send him a picture or something!\"

I nodded and put my phone down. \"Yea, that's a good idea.\"

\"Noah! Jake!\" We beard Dave's yell from faraway. \"Time to go!\"

\"Oh shoot!\" Noah cursed and started running around the room, trying to find his socks and shoes. 

I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair. It was getting longer and somewhat tangled at the ends. I handed the comb to Noah and then bent down to tie my own shoes. It took us an extra couple of minutes to finish getting ready before running down the stairs. 

Mrs. Atkins was the only one left waiting, the others must have gotten in the car. She held up a can of hairspray and a brush. \"I knew you two wouldn't be prepared.\"

Noah laughed and stepped up first. \"I did brush my hair though.\"

\"Right into your eyes.\" She retorted, brushing his blonde hair back and using the hairspray to keep it in place. After a minute she looked to me. \"Your turn, Jake.\"

Noah switched spots with me. I clenched my jaw a little, prepared for Mrs. Atkins to get close. She didn't waste any time brushing my hair and using the spray. 

She stepped back to look at the two of us. \"Awe! What fine young men you two have become! Looking good!\"

This time I wasn't the only one to blush. 

\"Mommmm!\" Noah groaned. He nodded to the door. \"Let's go, Jake. Hurry up Mom, or we're going to be late.\" I followed him out the door. 

\"It's you two that were late coming down!\" Mrs. Atkins called out after us, soon following us out to the car where the rest were waiting.