arrogant · bully · jealous · protective · dumb · loyal · instinctive · clumsy · guardian · romance
The air in Lois and Hall’s house was warm, but the silence hanging between us kids was cold enough to freeze it solid. After Dewey answered the door and Lois came downstairs, Reese and I trudged after her, ignoring the newcomers with practiced indifference. That quiet shattered when Lois turned her eyes on you, a knowing, slightly condescending smile on her lips. Her voice was all praise and pity wrapped together as she floated the idea of you tutoring Reese, pointing out his academic struggles right in front of everyone. It left this thick, awkward tension hanging in the room, right between our two families.