" What does the it say on this circle?", Mabel asked as she pointed at a drawing of hers with a circle above it's head.
Holden didn't want to answer her. It felt like she was playing with him. After he had read out a bunch of stupid words all she did was draw.
But somehow he didn't, he saw she was trying to pass a message. Slowly, he finally spoke when the lights of anticipation in her eyes were just about to go off.
" That's Lenny, the dead son, although you drew him in the worse way, he probably is recognizable", he said and she smiled.
Holden didn't even bother with her face anymore and started staring at the drawings. The book described Lenny as weak and frail when his father met him. Just one page but he could already picture them if he was the one who drew them instead.
He became so engrossed staring at the notebook that he slowly drew it close to him and observed the so many changes that could be made. Of course, what he didn't notice was that, the bunch of stupid words he just read, he still fucking remembered them and it was because of Mabel's weird drawings.
Mabel smiled at her achievement. She let him live in his own little bubble for a while and when he was so engrossed in the notebook, she tapped him causing him to nod hmmm? in response.
Wow he was literally obsessed with drawings. He had been staring at the book for so long that she was sure that he would have even already seen her mistakes and hurriedness in some of them.
" Holden let's go back to reading", she said and he finally turned to look at her. Noticing her gaze, he behaved himself and sat up right.
She stretched out her hand to collect the notebook but he withdrew it. " You read and I'll draw. You are such a terrible artist", he said and she smiled softly, she wasn't offended but happy that he was willing to study without his face looking horribly tired like before.
She picked up her glasses which she had before placed on the study table and wore them. She then proceeded to the next page of the story and as she read, Holden drew what he felt were the new characters in the play and what he understood of them. He even found himself immersed in her sweet voice as he drew but he dare not think too much, he just listened.
...............
Meanwhile in the living room downstairs. Luke who was busy texting on his phone, out of the blue, asked Jace a question.
" Jace do you think she must have finished the pain killers I gave her?", He asked but Jace just shrugged and continued on his game level.
" Maybe she even needs more, maybe I should go see if she needs more, your brother Holden can be a pain the ass", Luke said like he was reminding himself.
" YES", Jace screamed after acing the level successfully and he finally turned towards Luke.
" Am literally surprised she hasn't come down stairs yet claiming he wasn't going to be helped out all", Jace said and then stood up to realize he had butt cramps from sitting on the floor and playing game for too long.
" Wanna go check them out?", Luke smiled as he asked him mischievously. Whenever Luke was around, there was always a thrill that gets into Jace making him think he could go against all odds for sometime. Luke was his cousin brother but more like his brother.
He had known Luke since childhood but Met Holden when he was just ten years. He literally loved them both and if he had to choose, he would rather faint and avoid them for years than give his answer. Well how could anyone choose between Step brother and cousin?
He gave Luke an heartwarming smile as they stormed upstairs and went to Holden's room which had a poster up, Luke had already seen it but Jace hadn't so he read it out loud
" Come in without knocking, not in the mood for knocks", he said softly and shook his head at Holden's childishness.
" Holden sure does know how to express his feelings. Come on let's get to work", Luke urged after commenting and softly Luke was about to open the door when Jace stopped him abruptly causing him to fall from his bending position straight to the floor.
After helping Luke up, Jace took him to a corner and quietly explained to him. " You know how Holden and I always have small arguments?", He asked and Luke nodded a bit not understanding where Jace was going with this. He was so ready to play spy and sneak in to see what Holden and Mabel were up to.
" Well out of childishness I crazily bought a cctv camera and installed it in a secret place in his room to watch what he does every day and night in his room and literally freak him out on how I knew", he said and Luke started understanding everything.
Without letting Jace say much, he pulled Jace to Jace's own room and gave Jace the look to go on with what he was just saying just now.
Jace got to his study table and turned on his laptop and quickly switched to security camera for HL ( Holden Love) and waited for it to load.
" It will take some time as I haven't used it in a while", he said and Luke frowned. " Why?", Luke asked suddenly interested on why a crazy person like Jace wouldn't go further at such an opportunity.
Jace hesitated before speaking softly " It was because the last time I used it, I caught Holden masturbating. Not surprising as he just lost his virginity that period to a girl he met at camp and I also couldn't bring myself to watch it", He said and watched Luke's expression but Luke appeared to be glued to the screen so he turned towards it and saw it had connected.