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Jacob

“Ty you have a funny birthmark.” My four-year-old self-stated looking at the shoulder of my five-year-old cousin who looked just like me.

“Your birthmark is weird too. It looks like you have a scar on your arm.” Little Tyson cheeks puffed out.

We both sat there for a second and then started to laugh.

“What are you two laughing at?” I looked up and saw my mother smiling down at both of us.

“At our birthmarks.” We said in unison just smiling away.

My mom smiled at us but I could tell that it was a sad smile.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” I asked confused.

My mom said something, but I couldn’t make it out. “Mommy?” I said again.

Everything started to flicker.

“Hey Jake, get up.” I heard my best friends voice call for me as my body shook.

I didn’t want to open my eyes to look at her. The sun felt so nice on my body as I lay here on the rooftop trying to take a nap during lunch. I’ve been really busy for the past month at night so I haven’t gotten too much sleep lately. Instead of eating lunch all I want to do is take naps. I usually eat when I get home anyways, and on top of that, I always had little snacks in my locker that I could snag before going to class. I was set.

“Jacob!” She shouted in my ear and I quickly shot up from my spot. Closing my eyes from the sun blinding me through my bangs I rubbed my face and groaned. I felt her foot on my back and she pushed my torso forward so I was like a sandwich. “Why do you make me repeat myself?” She sighed.

“But Mi you interrupted a good dream. I want to go back to it.” I pouted stretching my arms out in front of myself and grabbing the bottom of my feet.

“I thought I told you not to call me Mi.” She responded sounding a bit upset. Was it her hormones that were acting up? Maybe it was that time of the month for her. And I forgot to get her chocolate.

“But you’re getting dirt on my uniform so don’t you think we’re even?” I questioned right back.

I felt her take her foot off my back so I could sit up straight once more. “I did not, besides you’re the one that was taking a nap on the roof, to begin with.” She crossed her arms as I stood up and brushed my uniform off. “You know you’ll get in a lot of trouble if you keep doing this.”

“But what if I want to be a bad boy for once?” I raised an eyebrow at her and nudged her with a light chuckle. But she apparently wasn’t buying it.

“You’ve been sleeping a lot lately is something wrong?” Mia questioned as we walked down the steps into the school.

“I’m a growing boy I need my sleep,” I commented puffing out my cheeks a bit. Though I think I was done growing. But then again I could be wrong. Mom said that dad didn’t stop growing till he was around twenty so there’s still hope right?!

“Well, you need to stop growing.” She huffed and looked away from me.

“Awe is someone jealous that she isn’t taller than me anymore?” I smirked and she punched my arm. “That hurt,” I muttered rubbing my arm where she just punched me trying to make the pain go away.

“I am not jealous.” She said crossing her arms “Although it would be better if you shrunk a couple of inches.” I heard her whisper under her breath.

“Ha I was right you are jealous that I’m taller than you,” I exclaimed fist pumping into the air from victory.

The next thing I knew she took my feet out from under me and I hit the ground. “Well maybe if you didn’t grow like a frickin’ weed over the summer then we wouldn’t have this problem. It’s not fair it was only the last couple of months too and I’m a year older than you too.” She pouted.

“Ow...” I groaned. I was not ready for her to do that. She’s usually so nice. She really must have her period and this is payback for no offering. “It’s not like I said oh I think it’s about time I’m taller than my best friend now so let’s grow a bit,” I commented looked up at her. She was just far enough away so I wasn’t able to see up her skirt. Yes I know I’m terrible she’s my best friend, but damn it puberty it makes me want things that I’ve never wanted before.

“Serves you right.” She snickered putting her hands on her hips.

“You’re so mean to me today Mi.” I pouted as I sat up and held out my hand for her to help me the rest of the way up.

“Besides you shouldn’t be taking naps, to begin with, you’re not the one with a job you know.” She commented Taking my hand and helping my up off the floor. “I should be the one that takes the naps not you.”

“Oh right so following a guy around who steals things is completely normal for every girl your age and younger,” I stated. I think she told me once that if she can get this article she was sure to be able to get an internship at the newspaper company that was a town over.

“Hey, I’m a reporter, it’s my job to find out what I can on Zero,” Mia commented as we walked down the hall to our lockers.

“I don’t understand what’s so great about him, though. And you know what I noticed that a lot of manga characters have the name Zero as a name. Like in Code Geass, or Vampire Knight.” I suggested trying to get onto a different topic.

“Why do you refer things back to your comics?” She responded.

“They’re not comics their manga get it right there is a difference,” I mentioned poking her nose.

“Whatever.” She sighed and we stopped at her locker first.

“So why do you have to follow Zero around again?” I questioned.

“It’s a story that I’m writing alright, I told you this before Jake.” She groaned and I could have sworn that she rolled her eyes.

“I know it’s just fun watching you get mad.” I smiled wide at her to try and get her to smile back at me.

“Will you ever grow up?” She asked and hit me in the face with her locker door. My nose stung so bad from that that I took a few steps back and held onto my nose.

“What is it beat up Jake day or something?” I asked rubbing my nose as I felt tears well up in the corners of my eyes.

“No, it’s beating up Jake month.” She answered and shut her locker after grabbing some of her books.

“Oh, I haven’t seen this notebook before what’s in it?” I asked going to reach for the little green notebook that was resting on top of the rest of her books.

“It’s none of your concern.” She huffed and turned away from me so I couldn’t take it from her in risk of actually touching her chest to try and get it.

“You’re no fun, Mia.” I sighed and then straighten up then walked to my locker, which was all the way at the end of all the lockers in our class. “My apologies for forgetting my offering to the PMS gods. I will make sure to bake you cookies when I get home.” I smiled and stuck my tongue out at her with a wink.

Her face went beat red and she started chasing me down the hall. It was completely worth it. I couldn’t help but laugh as I maneuvered through the others in the hall to get to my locker that was all the way at the end of the hall.