The Hitting Zone

Chapter 1157 V4 ch5 Twin’s 18th Birthday (1)

Noah and I had limited time to come up with ideas and even less time to execute them. By the end of class, he had something in mind and wanted to run the idea by Mom. So when she picked us up, Noah asked.

"How would you feel if we wrapped the cars?" Noah put forward.

"Like as a present?" Mom asked. "I was kind of thinking maybe you boys could write some goofy sayings on the window with car marker."

"We can do that too!" Noah said. "But we were looking on the internet and there are plenty of ways to prank someone with their car. We can fill it with balloons. Write on the windows. Wrap saran wrap so it's difficult to get in. Then use wrapping paper like it's a normal present."

"Won't the twins feel like giving them cars we already have is the prank?" I asked.

"Only if they're ungrateful." Mom said while squinting at the road ahead. "Cars are a privilege, not a right. Of course, if they want to return that gift to us, that's fine too. I tentatively know how much everyone has in savings."

"That's intrusive." Noah held his chest.

Mom laughed a little. "It's not like it's too hard to figure out. You boys don't have any income other than cash gifts from family. I just have to subtract a little, expecting most of your expenses are snacks and playing around."

"Paying for a singing gram for Zeke was kind of expensive." Noah pointed out.

"And now you're saving money on the twins by getting me to buy the supplies." Mom answered.

Noah grinned at her. "Thanks, Mom. We appreciate your hard work."

"Yea, thanks Mom." I echoed.

Mom drove us straight to the store so we could buy supplies. Saran Wrap. Wrapping paper. Rolls of duct tape. Car markers. Balloons. Noah wanted her to buy a helium tank for the balloons, but Mom shot that down.

"I don't want these balloons flying away and littering all over the town." She said. "You boys will blow these balloons up yourself."

Noah glanced at me.

This time it was my turn to pat him on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you."

Noah rolled his eyes. "You can't make me do it all. That's two cars full. And big cars at that."

Mom hid the supplies in her trunk before we got home for dinner. At the table we talked to the twins about stopping at Kaylee's house after school tomorrow with Alisha and they both agreed easily.

Alisha came to school more prepared than any of us. She had two different packages of cookies and a singular huge cupcake.

Noah raised an eyebrow as we walked to the car after school with her. "Are we throwing her a party? Is this for everyone to share?"

"No. It's for the patient." She stressed. "It's just something sweet that can cheer her up if she can't make it to school this week."

"Shouldn't you bring patients healthier foods like fruits and veggies?" Noah laughed.

"My Dad said he'll bring those by when he comes to pick me up." She stated with a smirk. "I just couldn't bring them fo school because some would need fo be refrigerated."

"You've really got it planned out." He nodded in appreciation.

The five of us arrived to their house just as Marie was pulling in too. Neither parent seemed to be around. It made me feel more comfortable, but I had to think that Kaylee might not have liked spending the whole day alone.

Contrary to that thought, Kaylee looked pretty relaxed and entertained by the tv in the living room. Her arm was elevated on two pillows and there were new bandages where she must have had new incisions.

She grinned. "Are we having an early birthday party for the twins?"

"Nah forget them losers." Noah brushed off. She gestured to Alisha. "Plus, Alisha said it was a healing celebration for you."

"Ooo. Cookies. Can I have one now please?"

Alisha helped open one of the packages and let Kaylee have one of her choosing. Kaylee took one and waved it away. "Let Noah have one before he burns a hold through me. It's like he's never had one before. The look he gives makes me uncomfortable."

Alisha obliged, holding out the container to me and Noah. We both took one each, though I think everyone could tell that Noah wanted it all. He was exercising a lot of self-control right now by simply not begging for more. Yet. There was still time to change.

We hung around for an hour to make sure Kaylee was doing well and she was. Absolutely. Even saying she would be at school tomorrow, just with a different kind of splint and sling. Her positive attitude really made it seem like this surgery made a difference.

Once we got home, we started on our homework. Noah and I wouldn't have an opportunity to get to work on the cars until the twins fell asleep. This year would be a little more challenging now that we shared a room together.

It proved even more difficult after dinner as we prepared for bed and the twins started talking about sharing a bed with us.

"It's a double-edge sword." Kyle muttered. "If we sleep too close to them, we give them opportunities to mess with our faces. Too far and that's too much freedom for them. Can only be bad news."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Dude. We've got nothing plan. It's just been way too busy."

"Then you shouldn't mind that we share a bed tonight." Kyle still sounded skeptical, eyeing Noah's reaction.

I was looking at him too, trying to figure out what we would have to do if the twins are going to watch us this closely tonight.

"You're looking awfully suspicious, Jake." Dave had gotten up and looked at my face as closely as possible.

Instinctively, I backed up. I tried to keep my expression neutral. "I was just thinking about my sleep quality. I don't think I can sleep if we share a bed."

"We shared a bed in the hotel just a couple nights ago." Dave wasn't biting.

"Those beds are almost double our size." Noah shook his head. "You can force yourself to share space in my bed, but I don't think you guys will have any luck with Jake. If he can't sleep because you're so close, Mom and Dad will deal with you."

"I was just joining in on the fun." Dave sighed and backed up. "No way will I share a twin size bed with one of you. There's just not enough space.

Kyle didn't back down though. He eyed Noah. "We're sharing. I just can't trust you." He followed through at the end of the night as we all got into bed. Kyle joined with Noah and got him to scoot closer to the wall. If that wasn't enough, he started to search the bed, finding two sharpies in Noah's pillowcase.

"I knew it."

Noah shrugged. "Knew what? I didn't have the idea or plan to draw on your face until you suggested it yourself."

Kyle tossed the sharpies on the closest desk and squeezed right next to Noah.

I didn't know what we could do with Noah like this and I couldn't text him with Kyle right next to him. So I did what I would normally do: which was sleep. I was the first one out.

I only woke when I felt someone close by, slipping arms under my knees and neck. I was startled and started fo struggle but the person held me close and took me out of the room.

I stared wide-eyed at Zeke's face as it was illuminated from a phone light. He motioned for me to stay quiet, carrying me all the way downstairs and then into the cold garage.

I shivered when my feet made contact with the floor as he put me down. "Zeke? What are you doing here?"

"Mom called for reinforcements when she noticed that Noah might be incapacitated." Zeke grinned and rubbed the top of my head. "Besides, how else would I contribute to this small project."

The garage door opened again and Dad slipped in, shutting the door as lightly as he could. He looked to Zeke, me, then Zeke again. "Guess the gang's all here?

Zeke nodded. "Kyle has a tight grip on Noah so there's no extracting him."

"Let's start working on the balloons then." Dad pointed to the pile of supplies that he brought in earlier. Both SUVs were inside the garage too. It was going to be our workshop.

I had never blown up a balloon before and certainly never had to tie one. Thankfully, Zeke and Dad were patient teachers and led by example. Every time they got one full, they would show me how to tie it. I could only do one for every three or four they did, but it felt good working beside them and filling up the car with a bunch of balloons.

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