High School Teenagers

Chapter Five. *Chloe's Diary*

Player Gabriel

The second brother and the most dramatic one from the Mr. and Mrs. Burkes; no not really, but he can be. He's the drama boy next to Raleigh who's the drama girl, but the drama queen. She's Gabe's favorite sister next to me, but like I give a rats ass. She's the mega drama princess in the family next to Gabe. Gabriel Burkes is the second mistake of my parents. I would've thought that they'd stop there but I guess they kept going. Probably because there's royalty on Mom's side and they want each and everyone of us to have a throne to dress on. But that's not important. Gabe has brown eyes that look hazel from time to time, curly dark hair and he's the only one that introduced my baby sister to permanently borrowing.

Gabe and I have Music together and I've caught him permanently borrowing a lot of things from the shelves and the closets; which my brother is doing now. I turned to my brother and then to our music teacher Mrs. Jessica—not paying no mind—Gabriel grabbed a handful of unused music sheets and stuffed them into his bag and mines. I went to take them out and he stopped me and kept on stuffing more and music sheet books in my bag. Mrs. Jessica kept her eyes on the rest of the class. I looked at Gabe and stuffed his guitar in my hands and told me to strum a chord; and knowing me, I can't play a chord. I don't even know how to play the piano or the drums. So I just air played the role. If I get caught taking up for my brother's addictive hobby, I'm so dead. The class was playing O 'Witchy Toe; a game turned into a song.

Gabe sat beside me with his book bag, full and heavy as hell. He basically threw it on my lap, making my legs nearly fall off. I looked at him and he has his hands behind his head leaning comfortably in his chair. I gave him a dropped jaw and forced his guitar in his lap.

"Stealing music sheets is the most babying thing I've ever saw you do," I said, "and that's coming from me."

"It's pronounced permanently borrowing," he corrected pointing a finger at me. I rolled my eyes at him and rubbed my forehead with the palm of my hand. Are me and Raleigh the only two persons in this family? I mean other than Raleigh causing trouble. She's good at what she does but I think she knows where to draw the line.

Mrs. Jessica went into the closet that Gabe just came from and pulled out the book with fresh unused music sheets. I closed my eyes and put my head down in my arms before turning to Gabe. Her eyes caught mines and I looked at her and gave a smirk and laid my elbows on my legs and laid head on my hands. Mrs. Jessica closed the door to the closet, and turned to the rest of the class.

I looked at Gabe, "don't pull me into one of your tricks," I said to him. Gabe gave a smile and laugh before giving a little pinch to my nose.

"I can't promise that, lil nose," he said smiling and went back to his position. I swear if I get caught taking up for my brother's crimes, I won't forgive myself. I looked at Gabe once more before Mrs. Jessica hit a new key on the grand piano and the Altos started to play their violins. I looked at Gabe and he started to tap his fingers against the chords on the guitar. Why can't I have a normal life and family?

I flipped a page in my music book and looked at Gabe who tapped his foot to the music in his earplugs and tapped his pen on his book. I looked at his book and he was writing music notes and doodles. Gabe is kinda like a nerd in music, but unlike Raleigh and Aaron and Justin and his sister Beverley. They're pretty good at music.

"Okay, so I'm sure all of you have noticed, is that we're having another quiz next Friday," Mrs. Jessica said. The class groaned and sucked their teeth before Mrs. Jessica could proceed, even Gabe sucked his teeth and groaning. "Now this doesn't affect your grade," Jessica said. "It's just goes to show what you know and what you remember this semester." I looked at Gabe and he looked at Mrs. Jessica with dark eyes and eyebrows furrowed.

"Do I have to literally dress in the music?" Gabe's hand shot up. Mrs. Jessica gave him a smile that made his arm come down and his eyes do a twitching thing. Gabe's been permanently borrowing since he could talk I'm sure. Ivan said that he tried to steal a woman's watch to pawn it. Dad caught him in the act and grounded him for a long time.

"I'd rather give back the music sheets I just permanently borrowed," Gabe said. Mrs. Jessica looked at me and I moved my chair back from Gabe and Mrs. Jessica. Just in case they were about to go at each other's necks. I need my neck.

"Mr. Burkes, I assure you that this quiz will give you the opportunity to pass senior year," Mrs. Jessica said.

"You calling me stupid?" Gabe spoke quickly to her, giving her a hard look. I looked at my brother and pursed my lips as the class looked at him, half of their eyes on me. Something I'm used too by the way. Mrs. Jessica looked at me and I shook my head desperately at her.

"No, Gabriel I'm calling you out. I'm just telling you. Making sure that you know that it can't affect you," Mrs. Jessica said; "it's just to show what you know," she went on and straightened her smothered dress out by her hands. She gave him a smile, and even I know that he's not gonna buy that. Gabe's fun to be with but he's not an i***t that's for sure. Just to point that out.

"Yeah, okay but Chloe's a permanent borrower," Gabe said smiling and Jessica gave me venomous eyes. I smiled and pursed my lips before pulling at the hem of my shirt. I looked at Gabe before angrily kicking him in the shin. He let out a sharp scream before turning to me followed by the rest of the class. I gave the class a sweet smile before turning and giving a dispirited look at my brother. He put a hand up like he was about to strangle me but I kicked him again, and this time on his foot.

"Don't get kicked in the face," I muttered to him before turning back to Mrs. Jessica who turned from me and back to her lesson.

"What was that for?" Gabe wanted to know through clenched teeth, and rubbing his bruised shin like a baby.

"For annoying me and pulling me under your permanently borrowing state," I said doing air quotes and turning back to the class and folding my arms.

"Not my fault I'm in this state," he whined and moved his leg, exercising it. I looked at him and raised my eyebrows at him.

"You sure about that, Romanleo?" I said raising my eyebrows at him. "You were born a PB." Permanently borrower, of course. Gabe muttered something under his breath and turned to me and smiled.

I turned and looked at Gabe, "who the f**k you think you talking too?!" Gabe laughed and the class looked at us, and snickered which grew into laughter, but Mrs. Jessica snared at me. Crap.