Alena and her George

Chapter 1

A few months had passed since Lena moved in with Doug and his family. Things had been pretty good. The new job was perfect and she was about to start school for the fall semester. Doug had given her his old truck when his dad gave him a new one for a graduation present. Lena loved the freedom it gave her not to mention being able to relax in the bed as she was fishing. She was spending the last day before her classes started at the river fishing. It had been a very peaceful day.

Doug had known where she was and walked quietly up to the bed knowing that she had caught her limit by the fact that she was curled up in the far corner of the bed lost in a book. He waited until she turned the page before reaching out and grabbing her shoulder “hey what’s a pretty thing like you doing all alone” he said making her jump.

“What the hell!” she screamed at him. “doug do you have to freak me out?” she groaned. He was always sneaking up on her. He had actually become pretty good at scaring her lately. Luckily she had been accepted into a university a couple hours away so it would be harder for him to freak her out.

“What mom wanted me to come get you it’s time for dinner and then we have to pack you up for the move to the Valpo U campus. I cant believe your leaving again but your gonna come back and visit this time right?” he smiled. “come on let’s go I’m hungry.” He walked around and jumped into her cab. She rolled her eyes before getting in and starting her truck and heading home. It was a quick drive and before they knew it they were home. Once they arrived Doug helped her grab her cooler filled with bass and bluegill. “Moms gonna be happy to have more fish in the freezer before we head off to college.” He laughed. “I told you I’d be joining you at Valpo U right?” Alena stared at him

“I’m sorry what?” she said she knew he applied but thought he decided on Northwestern.

He shrugged and smiled. “what don’t want your brother cramping your style? don’t worry I’m going to be a floor below you.” He grinned at her stunned silence.

Dinner was pleasant and the family made plans to drop the two of them off the next day. It was fun watching the younger brothers argue on who would ride in her truck on the way there. They finally decided that Matt would be allowed to ride with her, Jeff with Doug and Joe would ride with his mom and dad.

The rest of the night was filled with a huge bonfire and of course movies played on the side of the house via the projector. The younger boys didn’t want to go to bed so Lena convinced them to lay down outside. Once asleep doug grabbed Jeff and Lena grabbed Joe and carried each boy up to bed after saying goodnight.

Doug came downstairs around 2am. “hey you awake” he whispered as he shook Lena.

“I was,” she replied softly, “we have to drive to school what are you doing up?” he just smiles and climbed into the bed. “what the hell dude!” she hissed at him.

“come on let me lay here. Just tonight. Please. I don’t want to spend it in my room it’s so empty and weird.” He begged.

Lena rolled her eyes. “fine but I get the blankets you go find your own.”

He laughed at her and laid down on his back. “Remember when we were kids and teased each other and joked about how cool it would be to be brother and sister?” she groaned and turned on the table light flipping over to look at him. “we finally made it a reality for a few months.” He smiled sadly, “will we still be family once we’re on the campus?”

She laughed and hugged him “you always were and always will be my brother, I promise.” She whispered. “now go to sleep or I’ll go tell mom your trying to keep me up.” She turned off the light and soon both of them were snoring softly. They were woken up to a bright light before the mattress started to lift and Lena jumped off the bed as the mattress started to fall from the frame and Doug with it.

“s**t dad what the hell?!” Doug screamed as soon as he hit the floor. Lena grabbed a cup and poured some coffee. “Lena what time is it?”

She smiled “we over slept about 20 minutes but I blame you as you woke me up at 2am.” She pours a second cup and hands it over. Doug’s dad laughing.

“if I didn’t know better I’d say you two were married. Can’t wait to show y’all’s next date this picture.” He brings it up on his phone and shows Doug who groans. “come on kids time to get moving. We want to see both rooms and your brothers are excited to go see your college.”

Lena grins and nods “let me get ready.” She heads to the bathroom and quickly dresses. Doug heads upstairs and does the same. Before long they are both getting the last box of their things in their trucks. The boys jump into their assigned vehicles and all three take off to Valpo U. It didn’t take too long but Matt talked Lena’s ear off as they went down the road. Mostly about how he couldn’t wait till next year when he could be the one going to college. Lena smiles at him. She knew he was excited as could be. “I got an idea Matty how about you come and shadow me later this year to see if you like Valpo U. I mean it would be fun to have all three of us here.” She laughed. “then again I’m not sure this town could handle all three of us the way they did back home.” This made Matt smile and sit quietly the last 10 mins of the drive. Lena pulled into a parking space when Berta came up to the door.

“Lena I actually rented you and Doug a house for this semester let’s go inform the university of the change. It should help with the cost of tuition.” Lena just stared at Berta. Before Matt pushed her out the door. Lena nodded and followed them to the administration building. They were more than happy to change the housing arrangements. Then Lena followed the rest of them to house she would be calling home for the next year.

It was a beautiful small two bedroom home with a finished basement. Lena laughed softly recalling how Doug has told her the night before that he would be a floor below her. They got out and she noticed that the place was already furnished as she started to carry her thing into the first of the two bedrooms in the main floor.

Once all their things had been moved into the house Berta cooked a nice meal for everyone. “Now kids I will help y’all for the first month on food however after that you both will need to provide yourselves with groceries. Your dad and I will be paying the rent and bills for the house while your in classes. We love you both and hope this will help both of you are here.”

“seriously? This is so generous of you both. How can I ever repay y’all?” Lena starts to cry happy tears.

Once dinner is over they say their goodbyes and everyone leaves. Doug and Lena settle into their new home. It was comfortable and there was plenty of coffee in the cabinets. Lena gets a pot ready and starts the timer so they will have coffee when they wake up. The two of them settle down for their last night before classes start and turn on the TV.