BullsEye

Chapter Three

On a quite sunny Tuesday afternoon, many days later, one could hear the birds chirping in the distance and the gentle breeze engaging the tall trees in a slow dance.

It's been a week since the girls lost both their parents to the tragic incidence and guests from the company and the neighborhood trooped in and out, day and night to give their condolences, some bearing gifts and stuffs for the girls who barely even graced anyone of them with their presence.

Audry, the girls Aunt who was the younger and only sibling of their late father had been with them alongside her son, their cousin Jake since after the unfortunate incident.

Though the girls barely said anything, having family around them was something they needed the most and Audry was Willing to stay with her nieces for as long as she needed to.

"I'm really bothered, the girls have barely left their rooms in days! Brenda keeps sitting by her window and Alexa hardly eats anything!" Mrs. Cruz lamented to Aunt Audry with sorrowful eyes pulling her away from her thoughts.

"It's okay, I'll go check on them or perhaps send in Jake. who knows, he might do a better job cheering them up than either of us" Aunt Audry replied slightly patting her on her Shoulder before heading upstairs to fetch Jake with Mrs. Cruz following close behind her.

"Jake honey, do you mind talking to your cousins? It's been forever now, we have to do something before they both come down with depression" Aunt Audry asked as she walked into Jake's room opening the door widely to accommodate herself and Mrs. Cruz.

Jake exchanged glances between the two women both wearing the same worried expression.

"Yeah sure, I will, after I put something on!" Jake responded holding up his shirt in one hand and firmly gripping his towel that hung loosely around his waist with his other hand.

"Uhhhh.... Could you both excuse me please? I wouldn't want two old ladies watching me get dressed. I know i have the body of a god but no thanks!" Jake added with a boyish grin revealing his beautiful set of well arranged teeth.

"Hey! I'm not..... Old!" Aunt Audry bit back at her son before walking out of the room with Mrs. Cruz to allow him get dressed.

"I am Twenty Three and you gave birth to me so technically Mom, you are quite old" Jake responded while forcing his shirt over his head.

"You are Twenty Two Jake, and No, It doesn't work that way!" Audry replied raising her voice so he could hear her through the closed door while Mrs. Cruz remained rooted to her spot and briefly laughed over the exchange between mother and Son.

The door swung open and Jake strolled out still grinning

"That was fast" Mrs. Cruz commented scanning Jake who was already fully dressed in a deep blue T-shirt that carried the Playboy logo on the front paired with Ash pants.

"I operate with the speed of light" Jake replied smirking while brushing his fingers through his curly Jet black hair.

"Let's go old ladies" Jake added interlocking his arm with Mrs. Cruz's before turning to wink at his mother with his blue-green eyes that were absolutely identical to hers.

Aunt Audry rolled her eyes and wordlessly followed behind them grumbling as Jake whispered into Mrs. Cruz's ear and she bursted out laughing.

In no time they arrived at the door of Brenda's room at the other side of the house down the hallway and Jake knocked softly on the door.

"Come in" Brenda simply replied.

The trio walked into the room and found her seated by her table, viewing photos on her Laptop.

"Hey Brie" Jake greeted as cheerfully as ever as he glided over towards her and balanced himself comfortably on the table.

"Hey Jake" Brenda dryly responded after sparing him a quick glance.

"I was thinking we all could go out for...... Lunch??" Jake asked, his question directed at both Brenda and his mom as he looked over to where she stood by the door silently asking for permission.

Aunt Audry vigorously nodded and awarded him a wide smile with both thumbs up urging him to go ahead.

"Thanks but I'm fine, I'll sit this one out... Sorry." Brenda responded forcing a smile.

"No one says no to the Big bad Jake" Jake said smirking before lifting himself off the table.

He pulled her up to her feet and she found her Aunt and Mrs. Cruz gazing upon her with hopeful eyes and then she sighed.

"Okay, fine." She reluctantly agreed.

Both Women giggled and rushed over to her, Aunt Audry pulled her in for a big hug and placed numerous kisses all over her face.

"Let's get you something nice to wear honey" Mrs Cruz cheered rescuing her from her Aunt's suffocating hug and pulled her into the closet.

"This is going to be so much fun" Aunt Audry giggled following after them into the closet.

"Uhhhh....... I'll leave you guys to do whatever it is y'all do in your closets for hours and go get Allie," Jake announced leaving the ladies to themselves.

Jake left the room and headed for Alexa's.

The door to her room was slightly opened and he could faintly hear the 'Casagrandes' theme song playing from inside the room. He knocked softly and slowly walked into the room after she invited him in and found her properly tucked in bed staring at him.

"Heyy" Jake greeted Jumping on the large king sized bed beside her and stuffing his mouth full of her chocolate bars that rested on the bed side table.

"Hey?" She replied unsure of what to say.

"We all are going out for lunch, so I came to get you" Jake informed her.

"I'm not going" Alexa immediately declined and draped the covers over her head and turned her back to him.

"C'mon, it'll be fun, Brie's coming too" Jake persuaded snatching the covers from her tiny fingers away from her face till she eventually sat up and kicked off the covers.

"Is that a yes?" Jake asked excitedly with a sparkle in his blue-green eyes.

"Well, yeah! It's not like you left me much of a choice" Alexa replied standing up to her feet..

"I'll go get dressed, I'll be out in a few" Alexa added scanning her appearance in the full length mirror that stood gloriously in her room.

"Should I fetch someone to help you just incase?" Jake asked as he stood up to leave.

"Uhhh..... Okay sure" Alexa replied shrugging before she stepped into her closet.

"Mom...... Mom?" Jake called out to his mother as he stepped back into Brenda's room.

"Could you help Allie get dressed?" Jake asked as she popped out her head in response.

"Oh my Goodness, she agreed?" Aunt Audry asked excitedly, now fully exiting Brenda's closet.

"Of course Mom, no one says no to the Big bad Jake remember?" Jake responded flashing his mother a wide grin.

"Shut up will ya?" Aunt Audry replied laughing and pulling him in for a hug.

"You coming with me?" She asked after releasing him from her embrace

"No! Allie's room sickens me, it feels like the rainbow threw up in there.... It's way too colourful and........" Jake informed his mom making a really sick face and pulling out his tongue in a disgusted manner.

Mrs Cruz and Brenda emerged from the closet and both laughed at Jake's complaint before Jake joined in.

Aunt Audry smiled to herself and was pleased to see that gleam of happiness on Brenda's face after a long while.

"I'll be in Alexa's room" Aunt Audry announced

"I'll be in the kitchen" Jake also announced.

"To pour myself a glass of Milk while I wait for you guys" Jake immediately added as the three ladies froze in their spots and each shot him a questioning look after his announcement.

In a few minutes (after what seemed like forever to Jake), the Four ladies appeared at the foot of the stairs.

Alexa wore a deep purple knee length dress she paired with her black sandal heels and her black clutch purse, Brenda wore a blue fitted gown and let down her hair.

Aunt Audry wore bright pink dress very much similar to Alexa's while Mrs. Cruz after much persuading by Aunt Audry to come along with them, got dressed in a Simple yellow dress.

They all followed after Jake and got seated in his car.

Jake drove them over to the restaurant and they all had chicken and shrimp before they headed out to the park after Aunt Audry’s insisting.

“Are you alright?” Jake asked Brenda nudging her with his shoulders as she oddly became quiet. He sat between both girls farther away from his Mom and Mrs. Cruz who both seemed to be lost in a deep conversation.

“I’m alright Jake” was Brenda’s short reply before she packed her mouth full with another spoon of vanilla flavored ice cream

“I’m just scared” Brenda added when Jake gave her his I’m-so-not-convinced look.

“About what?” Jake inquired moving closer sounding serious.

“You know, I’m just twenty two, I have a multi-million dollar company in my name I’m just expected to take over without any warning, I also have a little sister to look after all by myself, and I really don’t know how nor what to do” Brenda explained to Jake who listened to her with keen interest.

“You’re not alone you know, look around you, Mrs. Cruz is here with you, my mom will always be ready to do anything for you I can assure you, you have Alexa, and most importantly you have me” Jake responded with a wide boyish grin which attracted a playful swat on his head from Brenda which he skillfully dodged.

“I really feel you have nothing to worry about, with Allie beside you all the way, you are good to go” Jake added the seriousness returned to his voice.

“You both keep talking about me like I’m not here and for heaven’s sake I am NINETEEN! You really don't have to worry about babysitting me, no thank you” Alexa responded.

“I just don’t want you ever stressing out because of me or anything at all Brie, we should be in this together” Alexa calmly added reaching out for Brenda's hand and taking hold of it firmly

"Okay how about I look after you and you look after me too?” Brenda suggested smiling genuinely at Alexa squeezing her hands softly.

“Sounds fair enough” Alexa agreed smiling back revealing her perfectly laid white set of teeth.

"Oh and yeah, that was good stuff" She added again pointing at her now empty bowl of icecream.

"Want some more?" Brenda asked holding up hers.

"Yessssss" Alexa replied with big puppy dog eyes.

"I'm not giving" Brenda said drawing back her bowl and hiding it behind her laughing loudly.

"Hey! You don't do that to people" Alexa bit back struggling to reach out to the bowl while Brenda shifted the bowl father away from Alexa giggling

Jake snatched the bowl from Brenda and ran off with it, stuffing his mouth full even as he was in motion

"Hey!" Alexa screamed and took ran after him taking

"Come back here you snatching theif!" Brenda added and followed in the chase.

Jake looked back to find his two cousins running after him and he missed his steps and fell on his side on the soft carpet grass spilling the content of the bowl.

He continued laughing as Alexa couldn't stop in time and fell also after running over his legs.

Brenda caught up with them and laid on the soft grass beside them and they all laughed at their childish act.

“What did we miss?” Aunt Audry asked with a raised eyebrow as she watched the kids pilled up on the floor all seeming to be having a good time.

“Nothing much” Jake responded as his laughter faded off.

“We were just catching up” Brenda added sounding more convincing.

The two older women exchanged glances unable to comprehend what was going on but were pleased the girls were coming out of their shells.

“Well I do hope y’all are done “catching up” it’s getting late, we should probably get going” Aunt Audry said picking up their few belongings that laid spread out on the soft bright green carpet grass where they were all seated.

Jake got up and helped the girls up then they put on their shoes and walked up to the parking lot and got in the car.

Both girls sat side by side in the back seat of the car with Brenda by the window side,

She bent her head watching the sunset and the trees and buildings breeze by as Jake sped down the busy streets of Greeze land headed back home to continue a new life unprepared for their uncertain future.