Nev

Chapter 1

Nev

I walked into the kitchen, my mind focused on making the cherry smoothie I’d been having daily for a week straight now, only to spot a melted fuchsia mess covering the blender. It sluggishly dripped from the countertop onto the cabinet doors below. When I turned to check the freezer for the (no doubt) empty bag of cherries, I stepped into a frigid puddle of water on the floor. Melted ice. I flicked my foot and went ahead to check for the bag of cherries. It was there, but when I lifted the bag, it had no weight to it. The bag, left wide open, had two cherries left!

That did it!

Brock! Where are you? I growled.

Silence.

It wasn’t silence from an empty house. It was silence from an oh-shit-I-got-caught older brother.

I grabbed a handful of ice and headed to the living room, where I knew he probably was on the couch exercising his sloth-like tendencies.

The thing with getting even with Brock was that you had to act quickly. Even though I could out-run and outwit him, he still had a few defenses that rivaled a rabid skunk’s.

When I rounded the corner, I caught him attempting to hide his smoothie behind a picture frame on the end table. Three bounding strides and I was on top of him, opening his boxers and throwing the ice inside. I think your smoothie needs more ice.

He yelped and stood up, dancing while shaking his boxers.

Cameron, our cousin, sat in a recliner, laughing hysterically.

Shit, dude, stop laughing and help me, Brock said with the shuddering words that only ice on your genitals could cause.

This made Cameron laugh harder. No way, bro. I don’t want to see your junk.

You won’t. It’s disappearing as we speak! Brock divulged.

The ice? Cameron asked.

No!

Ugh! I don’t want to see that either! Cameron’s face twisted with disgust, as did mine.

Dad walked by, slowing to give us a bewildered look before shaking his head and continuing to walk to the kitchen.

Now I have to change because my clothes are wet and cold.

What clothes? I asked. You only wear underwear here.

That was one of the many uncouth things about him. On a daily basis, one or more of my five senses were assaulted by my brother.

Nev, Dad hollered from the kitchen. We need to start dinner and this kitchen is a mess.

My eyes pierced Brock. Go clean up your mess.

Okay. He just sat there.

Now.

‘Kay.

Cameron warned, "Dude, you might want to go, like, now." Bless his heart, he could see the horns that started to poke through my hair.

Brock grunted and finally got up. When he was gone, Cameron and I high-fived.

Sorry you live with such a slob, Cameron said.

Yeah. I wish you were my brother instead, I confessed.

Being adopted makes me pretty far removed from your gene pool. We don’t even look alike.

"Here’s an idea. Let’s adopt him out and you in."

Aw, Nev, you know you love that Neanderthal brother of yours.

Yeah, about as much as I love a wasp.

Or being sticky?

Yep. Or going under water.

He regarded me for a moment. We gotta fix that. Summer break is almost here, you know.

I know, and no, we don’t. I’ve lived my whole sixteen years without going under water and I’m not about to change that.

Nev−

Nope. Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. If it’s by accident, that’s one thing, but I’m not willingly going under water with you. Forget it. I crossed my arms.

"I get being sticky is uncomfortable and getting stung by a wasp hurts, but going under water does nothing. It’s fun, in fact."

For you.

And you, if you would just give it a shot.

Maybe next year.

Nev, he said, exasperated, you are the toughest girl I know. How can you be scared of a little water?

I’ve told you a million times. It was ingrained into me not to get water in my ears because I had tubes in for half my life. Now I have a fear of getting water in my ears.

That’s irrational! You don’t have tubes anymore! He ran both of his hands through his thick, perpetually tousled brown hair.

Ingrained, man! I waved my hand at him, canning the subject. I need to go cook dinner before your parents get here.

Every Sunday evening, I cooked for my dad’s brother Dave, Aunt Mindy, and Cameron. It was something my mother started before she died, and although it was the most excruciating thing to do, we carried on for her.

Spaghetti with homemade sauce, garlic bread, and tossed salad with a dessert of chocolate cake was the indulgence chosen for this particular Sunday.

Nev, are you crying? Dad asked.

No, it’s this blasted onion burning what layers of eyeball I have left. One long, snotty sniffle later, I continued, I will need a cornea transplant after this. Gah, where’s a tissue?

Cameron handed me two, and I blew my nose with one and pressed the other to my eyes. In a muffled voice, I admitted, Cam, you’re the best cousin in the world.

Thanks. You are too for cooking my favorite. He smiled warmly down at me.

I reached up and ruffled his hair.

His storm-cloud blue-grey eyes darted to me as he feigned horror. Hey! You are messing up my masterpiece!

Nah, I was fixing it. You needed a little more gel.

He thought a moment, and then realized what I had just finished doing. You didn’t just put snot in my hair… Tell me you didn’t.

I fought a smile and tried to look innocent, because I was, but he didn’t have to know that just yet.

Nevada Dawn McClure!

Uh oh, he used my full name. Time to come clean. I didn’t! I was just kidding! I laughed.

He flicked my arm with his finger, but he was also smiling. It hurt a little, but I deserved it. We good-naturedly made bruises on one another. He always had more than I did, but he was so easygoing, it was often a challenge to get him fired up at me.

Cameron and I were close, more so than I was with Brock. We were also the same age, separated by only a week. We often shared a birthday party. Both of us never minded it at all, and, in fact, our parties were always more fun that way. Our parents would go in together and get a moon bounce or something else equally cool when we were little.

Our moms really enjoyed our being the same age. They took us to the park together, took us to get our haircuts together; you name it, it was together.

Aunt Mindy adopted Cameron after multiple miscarriages. Both McClure families felt complete when he was put in Mindy’s arms, so my mother had told me.

At the dinner table, Uncle Dave said to my dad, Danny, are you ready to lose to your big brother again this summer?

Dad laughed. We’ll see about that.

Aunt Mindy said, Oh yes, it’s almost time for that. I’m so excited! She jubilantly clapped her hands quickly.

Every summer, both McClure families would travel to Colorado to the lake house that Pappy McClure built ages ago. It had been renovated a few times; adding more rooms, updating the kitchen, and extending the porch around a hot tub.

It was certainly our favorite place to vacation because it had every summer activity one could think of right outside the back door. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and numerous others, along with fun activities the town hosted. Dad’s was the various cooking contests where he got to taste everyone’s dishes. Aunt Mindy enjoyed the pie swap. We lived for these vacations.

We all sat there at the table in one form or another of a daydream. That was until Dad spoke up. I think this year, we could pack more if I take the kids in my truck and you cram your SUV to the brim.

Sure, sounds good to me, Uncle Dave agreed.

Brock, Cameron, and I blinked at each other. Our parents normally tried to separate us, even going as far as rotating us between vehicles, but in Dad’s truck, there was only so much room.

Dad, will you be drinking the whole drive, or smokin’ something? Brock asked.

No, Brock. Certainly not.

Perplexed, the three of us continued to blink.

"Will you be in the truck?" I asked.

He rolled his eyes. Yes, Nev. Where else would I be?

He knew better than anyone how Brock and I acted when we were sardined together. He normally wasn’t far from shooting himself, or me and Brock, by the time we got there. Every year, he would down four beers the minute we arrived. How could he possibly handle the three of us on a twelve-hour drive?

Chapter 2

Cameron

I helped Nev with the dishes while Mom and Dad walked back home to finish a few chores before the work week started. Really, I felt bad that all of the cleaning was left for Nev to do.

Ever since Aunt Sarah died five years ago, my family decided to help out as much as possible. We even sold the house I grew up in and moved next door.

I gently bumped Nev’s shoulder with mine. You wanna play ball after we’re done here?

"I can’t. I’ve got a dryer full of laundry to put away, and I’ve got to read a few chapters in Great Expectations for a quiz."

I’ll help you with the laundry, I offered. Granted, Brock and Uncle Danny should have done their part, but that wouldn’t happen.

No, Cameron, you don’t have to do that.

I normally had to force her to accept help. I don’t mind. I don’t have anything else to do.

You have your chemistry done?

Yep. Did that yesterday.

History?

Did it Friday evening.

"Ready for the quiz on Great Expectations?"

Yep. I could help you study too.

No, that’s okay. I’m sure there are other things you’d rather be doing.

I did have other things I could invest my time in, but honestly, I’d much rather make sure Nev passed the tenth grade. She never had as much time as others to work on her homework. She was determined and headstrong, but only to a point. Even she had cracked when it was too much. I watched her do it through her bedroom window once.

Once was all I vowed that it would happen.

I don’t have anything to do tonight.

The next day, I shot a few hoops with my friend, Jayson. Sweat poured down our backs as we got into our game.

Jayson blurted, I think I like Nev’s friend, Kennady. Why don’t you find someone and we can double date?

Why can’t you just go out with her by yourself? I knew the answer, though. Jayson was one to get around, so he was inadvertently labeled a player, but in reality, he wasn’t. If there was anything that got on his nerves about the girl, he just straight up dumped her. They never knew his ridiculous reasons, though.

I really like her, but she’s never gonna give me a chance. You’re her best friend’s cousin. She’ll agree if you’ll be there.

And what happens if she gets on your nerves like that one…what was her name? Katy?

Katy was too philosophical.

And Megan?

Walked funny.

Erin?

Gassy.

I laughed. Beth?

Addicted to extreme couponing.

I gave him a look of horror. Okay…

Yeah, we couldn’t do anything unless there was a coupon for it. So one day, I made a coupon for sex. She said it wasn’t valid. I boycotted her then.

I busted out laughing. Jayson wasn’t really one to kiss and tell too much, so all of this was news to me. I wished he’d shared that earlier. I could have used the laugh.

So who do you have your eye on these days? he asked as he dribbled the ball.

No one.

Oh, come on. The ball bounced off the rim, probably because he knew I was lying. Who is it?

I got the ball and made a slam dunk.

I like being single. I shrugged.

No one likes being single. Who is it?

I don’t have time for a girlfriend. I went to get my bottle of water.

Yeah, but you have time to master the guitar and spend a ton of time at Nev’s house.

I started to get angry. I tended to when I felt defensive. I just don’t want a girlfriend right now, okay?

Jayson backed down. Okay, man.

Friday after school, I helped Nev with her homework. It was like pulling teeth with her.

"Cameron, why do we have to do this now? she whined. We just got home."

Come on, let’s get it done so you aren’t stressing over it Sunday evening.

She flopped into a kitchen chair with a candy bar. I’m hungry. And tired.

I dug in her backpack for her books and acted like I didn’t see the tampons at the bottom. Gah, girls and their things!

We spent the next hour and a half on her homework, with intervals of clever deflection on her part, but we got it finished.

She glanced at the clock. Crap, now I have to start on dinner.

Let’s order pizza.

She pursed her lips and considered this. I guess we could.

We could watch a movie too.

Yeah. Sounds good. She nodded and smiled.

I felt a profound sense of relief that not only felt good, but also puzzled me. I brushed the thought away as soon as Nev started talking about pizza toppings.

Brock walked in, scratching his blaring white chest, and then adjusted himself. We’re having pizza? Get me a large supreme.

Nev glared at him. You do not need to eat a whole pizza yourself. I’ll just end up finding some growing mold in your trash-hole room.

Brock feigned horror that Nev could accuse him of such a crime, but she was actually spot-on. Sometimes a gas mask was needed just to enter his room. I gave up playing video games in there a long time ago. It was the den or no deal. There used to be a time I spent the night on his bunk bed…yeah, never again.

We ordered, and subsequently ate two large pizzas. Nev forced us all to eat at the table, much to Brock’s slew of complaints. Thankfully, Uncle Danny was there to stave off any fights.

After dinner, we went to pick out a movie from their expansive collection. The den was my favorite room in their house. It was the perfect man cave with the dark leather couches, flat-screen TV, and high tech surround sound.

Brock sauntered in and slid sideways into a leather recliner. Wanna play that new game I got, Cam?

Nah, we’re going to watch a movie.

He gave me a long, curious look. The ensuing silence was uncomfortable, and I realized I’d never turned him down before, much less a new game.

Nev dropped a DVD into my lap. Put this in for me. I’ll be back in a minute.

I glanced down to see what she picked out. Hopefully, it was something that Brock would understand, maybe even want to watch with us.

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A musical.

Oh, Jesus…

Um…you want to watch this with us? I gulped and held up the case.

Brock laughed, a note of hysteria taking over.

How the hell am I going to live this one down?

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

Nev came back and slapped him on the arm as she passed. Get the hell out of here if you’re not going to shut up.

He kept laughing. You don’t have to tell me twice. He gave me one more puzzled look, as if assessing my masculinity, before disappearing down the hall.

You don’t want to watch that one? Nev motioned to the movie.

I realized I was still holding it rather than having put it in the player like she had asked. Oh, this is fine.

She read right through my lie and took the movie from my hands. I watched her search for a different one, impressed she cared enough to switch it.

She had put on an old T-shirt and sleep bottoms that showed far more leg than I was used to seeing on her. I blinked and looked at the floor, embarrassed I even noticed her legs.

"How about a Halloween marathon?"

Sure. Much better, even though Halloween was her thing.

She turned on all the electronics and put the DVD in. Her brown hair was up in a messy bun. I looked at the curve of her neck…

Stop! What the hell was wrong with me?

Do you want a pair of Brock’s shorts? You look uncomfortable.

My eyes darted to hers. Was I that readable?

I guess so. It would be nice to get out of these jeans.

She took off and came back with a pair of jersey shorts. I changed in the bathroom and came back to see Nev holding Brock in a headlock.

The speed at which they could get into a fight was incomparable; something inborn to just them, or rather, just Nev. Brock’s skinny butt was no match for Nev’s muscles.

Dude, get her off me, Brock begged breathlessly.

What did you do to her? I laughed. I couldn’t help it.

Nev answered. Brick-head thought he could help himself to our candy.

I looked at the salt-water taffy scattered across the floor that was evidently headlock-worthy.

Brock, you know about Nev and her taffy. I raised my hands to show there was nothing I could do.

Nev stood him up and shoved him out of the den.

Really, Nev? I raised my eyebrows at her.

What? Oh, the candy. Hell, yeah. It’s mine. She paused. And now ours, she added with a smile.

I smiled and shook my head as I helped her clean up the multi-flavored mess.

Once the movie started, we settled onto the leather couch, candy in hand, and microfiber blanket in our laps. Nev had dimmed the lights to give the perfect serial killer aura.

Nev’s obsession with all things Halloween was a bit over the top, but it made for epic parties. Every year, she would manage to scare the crap out of me, Brock, and Uncle Danny. Actually, no one was safe.

Why are you smiling?

I looked at her. I was?

Like a little boy on Christmas morning.

I wasn’t smiling that big!

"Okay, but you were smiling. What, Michael Myers finally making you into a masochist?"

No! Jeez… I was just thinking about your Halloween pranks.

Oh, those… She giggled. Yeah, those rock. I actually need to start thinking what I plan to do this year.

Oh God… I can hardly wait.

She slapped my arm playfully. You love it.

I laughed. "Oh, sure. I enjoy crapping my