Chapter 3 preview #3

(This chapter's light on images, so this preview's all text. Also I'm gettin toward the end of the chapter so I'm thinking early next week to post it on DA)

Before she could think, or catch his hand, or grant him permission for anything, he took off at a sprint!  “Amir!?” she yelped, bewildered but giving chase.  “Amir, what do you think you’re--?!”

Agh!  The twit was using the other pedestrians for cover, darting among and between them like a rat in a maze.  Jen was damned quick for her size, but she still doubted she could catch him without bowling some poor bystanders over in the process.  So she skirted the edge of the path, using sharp words instead.  “Amir, this isn’t funny! … Amir!”

He darted to one side of a husky woman then the other, laughing like this was his favorite game.  He made such a convincing show of it – but who knew what other mean girls were out there?  To and fro, to and fro; laughing, playing keep-away … Rrrghh, he shouldn’t be doing this!  “Stop it RIGHT NOW!”

The sight of her, and the loudness of her voice, caught the attention of a group up ahead.  They yielded the sidewalk to her, veering aside – giving her a clear shot of Amir who now had no cover.

Oh shit – but a new threat loomed ahead.  This time, a crosswalk.  A small one-lane road for cars, with white stripes marked to give pedestrians the right-of-way … but Amir seemed so wrapped up in this game he didn’t even notice it!

It wasn’t a voluntary decision on her part, but pure, raw instinct that kicked her legs into high gear and caught her up to him faster than she could’ve imagined.  Shooting two forearms around his chest, she hoisted him to a dead stop well off the ground.  His legs whipped briefly horizontal before slapping her thighs. 

But he was safe.

She carried him irately, smolderingly several steps from the road and set him down, spinning him brusquely in her hands and holding on tight.  “What the heck were you—You could’ve got hit by a car!  What were you thinking??”

The same awestruck look plastered itself on Amir’s face.  “I…”  He slipped back into his usual self now.  “I’m sorry!” he admitted guiltily.  “I took it too far.”

“Damn right you did!  You—!”  She puffed out her cheeks then forced a breath, realizing the whole damned park was frowning at her.

Wait – not at her.  At him.  ‘Tsk Tsk’, she read on one mother’s lips.  “Naughty,” she could swear another muttered.

Jen was coming back to her senses again—almost—when a recognizable voice called, “Thank god.  You caught him!”

She turned to find that kindhearted blonde girl from a minute ago, jogging up to them.  “I saw him go by,” she explained.  “I started after him, but—wow, you’re really fast!”

Cooler heads should have prevailed, maybe, but Jen was still peeved.  “Yeah,” she huffed pointedly.  “Good thing.”

“Definitely,” the blonde agreed.  “My little brother’s the same.  I can’t leave him alone for two seconds without something like that happening.  I swear.”

OK, the logical side of Jen’s brain was insisting she end this absurdity, let go of Amir, correct the girl’s misconception.  But fuck it.  He deserved some payback for this.  “He’s not leavin’ my side anymore,” Jen vowed, tightening her grip, intent on making him squirm.  “You can bet on that.”

“Right on,” approved the girl.  “Well, good luck to you!”

“Thanks.”  Jen watched the chick wave at a car and hustle across, before dropping a hard glare at Amir, who—

The hell?  He was grinning, like he was actually enjoying this – a lot!  “What?” Jen challenged.  “You think this is funny?”

“No, it’s just … you’re really good at this.”

Jen recoiled.  Huh?  “At what?”

“At being a big sister.  You’re, like, a natural.”

What the--?  He really meant it!  She released his arm.  “OK, that’s enough, Amir,” she said uncertainly.  “Let’s go back to—”

Normal.  One look at his mischievous expression and she knew that wouldn’t happen.  Not once he got that look in his eyes.

“Oh hell no,” she said, when his gaze flitted to the crosswalk.  “You’re gonna make another run for it as soon as I let my guard down, aren’t you?”

“Umm, possibly…”

“Amir!”  She folder her arms in indignation; in … amusement.  OK, maybe a part of her would enjoy this dynamic and seeing how it might pan out.  It’d sure be something for them to laugh about afterwards.

And it was just a crosswalk.  Now that she was back to her senses, of course he could manage it without her help.

But where was the fun in that?

“Guess you leave me no choice then,” she jibed, retaking his hand before she could talk herself out of it.  “Come along, little bro,” she enjoyed saying – almost as much as she enjoyed the startled look on his face.

“Really??” he asked hopefully.

“Oh yeah.  Now show me how little guys behave at crosswalks.  I wanna see you look both ways before you cross.”

The didactic tone brought a huge grin to his face.  “Awesome,” he said, doing as instructed and looked so very believable at it. 

“’Awesome’?” Jen intoned, once they were safely through.  She squeezed his hand dominantly, arching her brow.  “You won’t be sayin’ that once you see what’s next.”

She felt him tremor in, what, excitement?  “I bet I still will.”

She gave a laugh.  “Oh I doubt that.  You know how far I like to take things.”  Yeah, when she got goin’ on something, she really—

“Bring it on,” Amir challenged with an eager smirk.

Ohhhhh that was a mistake.  “You’re gonna regret this,” she promised, her competitive streak coming alive.  Unfortunately for him, she’d already scoped out a golden opportunity.  “C’mon, bro,” she mocked, leading him toward the booths up ahead.  Cotton candy vendors, hands-on crafts, face painting…

“Um … uh …”  She felt a sudden tug from his hand, then another, as Amir realized how many of these booths were geared toward a younger crowd.

“Something the matter?” Jen laughed, certain her swift victory was in the bag.  “Might still be willin’ to let you back out, if you beg.”  With a beatific smile, she waited for his pleading to begin …

“Back out from what, big sis?” countered Amir, raising his voice back into character.  “Looks fun!”

Bullshit!  “You’re gettin’ your face painted,” she declared, “riiiight now.”

Son of a--!  He not only marched up to the booth, but sat willingly as the lady adorned him with the most garish, embarrassing bright orange tiger face of Jen’s choosing!  He actually let it happen – and seemed quite pleased with himself, grinning at Jen as he squeaked a little, “Thank you, Miss!” at the lady.

No way.  If he looked young before, just look at him now.  Half her mind insisted he was her same ol’ friend; but the other half …

Dude.  It was freaky.  That’s all she could say.

“Next booth,” she grunted, buying him three garish balloons.  “C’mon!” she huffed, dragging him to a lady selling stickers, picking a ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ one in outrageous font, and slapped it prominently onto his shirt.

“I love it,” he shot back smoothly, to her utter disbelief.

Jen was about out of ideas when … oh wow, yes … the gorgeous girl from earlier, who had started all this.  She had donned an apron and was running a pretzel stand not far away: ‘Marybeth’s Handmade Pretzels’.  Jackpot.

Jen felt a tug of surprise from Amir’s hand, but Jen didn’t slow.  “Hey,” she greeted, catching the pretty blonde’s attention.

“Oh—hi guys!”  The girl smiled welcomingly at Jen then erupted in a melodious laugh toward Amir.  “Gosh, tiger, don’t you look fierce!  Rawwwr!” She scrunched her face at him and playfully clawed the air.

Excellent.  Jen was sure her buddy would die from embarrassment now!  Being talked to like this, by such a gorgeous girl…

No WAY!  Amir squirmed, sure, but he still liked the attention in a shy sort of way!

“Mind taking our picture, real quick?” Jen interrupted, doubling down.

“Oh, of course!”

Jen could hear his gasp and feel his shudders through her grip as she faced him toward the girl and held fast.  He was having seconds thoughts about having this recorded on camera, alright!  “Last chance, bud,” she whispered triumphantly in his ear.  “Just admit that I won, and this can all go away.”

But after self-debating, his shoulders went rigid and a steadfast defiance once again lit up his eyes.  “Not gonna happen.”

You little--!  She wiped the surprise from her eyes, stood, and flashed an incredulous smile for the camera.  An extra jolt of excitement came over her.  A strange thrill.  “One more,” she blurted.  In a wild impulse, she threw an around his neck and ground her knuckles into the top of his head in a noogie, completely unplanned.

That photo was sublime, catching Amir in mid-squirm and mid-squeal.  It was honestly surreal.  No one could ever look at that photo and see them as anything but actual big sister and little brother.  Amir was too convincing.  And, frankly, so was she.

OK, Amir was winning Jen over now with his dogged determination, his so-convincing portrayal.  It was becoming easier and easier to view this as a real-life day on the town with an insufferably cute little brother…

“Thanks,” Jen laughed, swept up in it.  “I think I’ll add this to my Insta.”

“What??” Amir exclaimed.  “No, y-you can’t!” 

At last his façade cracked!  But Jen had warned him …

“Lil’ bro, why do you always gotta be so shy?” she acted out flawlessly.  “It’s just one little post online.  And you look too cute not to share.”

“But … But …!”  He lowered his voice, dropping the act.  “O-OK, Jen, fine!  Y-You wi—”

“Uht!”  Jen pressed a finger to his mouth, feeling saucy.  “Didn’t I say that was your last chance?”  She gave a mock-sigh.  “OK, fine, I miiiiight reconsider.”  Her grin widened.  “But only if you’re really well behaved.”

Amir sucked in air.  He was catching on, finally, that he’d awakened a monster.  “Wh …What do you want me to do?”  His voice held a real tremor in it.

Yesssss!  Oh, it was such a power rush.  “Whatever I tell you,” she hummed, rising, victorious at last.  Without further hesitation, she turned to the girl.  “Could I ask you a huge favor?  Could you watch over my brother?  I gotta go handle something.  It’ll just take a few minutes.”

The widening of Amir’s eyes wasn’t lost on Jen, as the pretty girl considered for all of two seconds then nodded happily.  “Sure!  Doubt I’ll have much customers anyway.”

“Cool, thanks.  This is Amir, by the way, and I’m Jen.”  She looked at the ‘Marybeth’s Handmade Pretzels’ logo on the girl’s apron.  “Are you Marybeth?”

“Nah, that’s my mom.  I’m Kylie.”

Jen felt giddy goosebumps as she dragged Amir toward Kylie.  But behind his surprise she saw a flicker of thrill.  Anticipation.  Yep, under all that bluster, he was still very much into this.  Apparently big sisters really do know best.  Haha.

“He ain’t goin’ anywhere,” Kylie warmly assured, laying a protective but gentle hand on his shoulder.

Jen waved, finding herself excited by the thought of leaving him like this and walking away.  She … She …

Huh.  The farther she got from him, the more her protective instinct spiked – growing into a genuine stab of worry just before leaving his sight.  That was silly, right?  Irrational.  He wasn’t actually as young as he looked; didn’t actually need Jen watching over him 24/7! 

And yet …  she couldn’t shake the thought from her head.  Even if that one pack of bullies wasn’t still out here, there could be others.  The risk to him was surely much smaller if he stuck close to Kylie; and ‘normal’ Amir could be trusted to do that. 

But the face-painted, cartoon-stickered, goofily-grinning little guy currently following Kylie around the booth like a puppy – could HE be trusted in that same way?  Or would he get some harebrained notion to run off, making Kylie chase him.  Or lord knows what.  She … couldn’t brush aside these doubts.  It was to this version of Amir that she sent a quick but pointed text.  She saw no other way.

<< Do NOT leave Kylie’s sight.  Period. >> her text read.  << I mean it >>

From afar, she watched Amir’s eyes blink wide as he read it.  Whether he thought Jen was being facetious or not, he seemed to take it to heart as he scanned the crowd, saw Jen, and gave a jerky nod.

She felt strangely, genuinely relieved the moment he did.  Well … it was his own fault for acting so damned convincing all morning!  If she was having trouble separating the old Amir from the new one, then that’s why!

“Hrmph.”  Crazy times.  But she might as well lean into it for what little time they had left.  A line of shops was just ahead, at the outskirts of downtown.  There was bound to be something she could get him there as a present; a nice little something to end this day right.