The next time Adam had Anthropology, Erica plopped down in the seat next to his and chirped, "Hi, Adam! Today's reading was brutal, wasn't it?"
He hadn't expected this but supposed he should have. She was the one who said they should do homework together again. Sitting by him in class was nothing by comparison. People sat by other people all the time.
"It was. Did you manage to retain any of the names?" he asked.
"None whatsoever."
"I think I can distinguish maybe two."
Erica laughed. "That's a lot better than me. I may have to mooch off of your superior brainpower."
"By all means," Adam said faintly.
"Thanks!"
She was acting very friendly with him. It reminded him a bit of seventh grade when he first fell for her. This really wasn't going to be good for his heart!
Erica continued talking to him about the reading until class started then went quiet but still occasionally leaned over and whispered snarky commentary about what the professor was droning on about. He couldn't stop himself from snorting more than once and she grinned at him each time it happened, seeming pleased that he agreed with her.
There wasn't an assignment to do today but she still asked if he wanted to get lunch and do other homework as they walked out. Once again, he was powerless to say no. Was this going to become a pattern with her or what?
Today's lunchtime conversation involved her asking about the other classes he was taking. In the process, he discovered that she was an education major. She wanted to be a teacher, just like he had before that became an impossibility.
"What would you want to teach?"
"Probably elementary school. Kids are so funny, don't you think? My niece says the most hilarious things sometimes."
"How old is she?" Adam asked.
"Three. Do you have any nieces or nephews?"
"No, I'm the oldest. Some of my siblings are still pretty young though."
"Oh yeah? How old are they?"
"My twin brother and sister are almost seven," Adam said fondly, thinking about some of their antics. Erica was right. Kids WERE so funny. Especially those two.
She raised an eyebrow. "You have twin siblings? Are they your only ones?"
"No. I have three other brothers."
"Wow! I only have one sister and she's eight years older than me. How old are the rest of yours?"
"Fifteen, twelve, and nine."
"So you guys are all about three years apart," Erica mused. "Must be nice having someone close to your age. My sister was out of the house when I was in upper elementary and went to college out of state so I pretty much only see her on holidays when she comes to visit. We're as close as we can be despite that. Are you close with your siblings?"
"Very. I still live at home," Adam told her.
"Me too. Gotta take advantage of free rent, right?"
That was part of it but, in his case, it was more because he needed to be around in case something happened and that was easier if he was there. It was beneficial in multiple ways.
"Yeah," he ended up saying because it was easier.
That was the end of the conversation because they moved to the library and both worked on their respective assignments. He did his best to push thoughts of her out of his head until he was at work that night but still found himself gazing at her far too often because of how adorable she looked when she was concentrating.
Once he was cleaning, he was able to think about what she said earlier both about her career plans and her family. That was more personal information than he had ever gotten out of her before.
He had no idea that she had an older sister who lived out of state. She had never said anything about a sister in seventh grade but why would she? They hadn't been friends.
Adam wasn't sure whether or not they were now either. If he had to put a label on it, he would say they were study buddies if they were anything at all. Twice could still be a fluke. He didn't want to count on this happening too much.
He was able to put Erica out of mind the next day when the whole family went on a bike ride that ended up taking several hours because of the trail they took and the fact that they all stopped for cheap soft serve on the way home. He had work and homework to do but still lived for the weekends because he didn't have class so he was actually able to see his family, which hardly happened during the week since he was always on campus or at work.
He would see everyone off before they went to school but that was it because he got off work so late. The younger kids complained about missing him but Sarah always said that people got busier when they got older.
"I never want to get older," Jonas would reply as he pulled a face and Jenna would nod her agreement.
Adam always laughed when they said things like that. He hoped they were able to avoid responsibility and enjoy their childhoods as long as possible. That was why he was working so hard, after all.
He missed them when he was busy too though. That was why he was sure to spend as much time with them as possible when he didn't have other commitments.
Unfortunately, he had to keep his grades up or he would lose his scholarship. He couldn't slack there no matter how tired he may be.
He had been up way too late at work but was still happy to go out and do something with his siblings. Even if they did wake him up earlier than he wanted despite their mom trying to hold them back. When they were that excited to play with him, how could he be annoyed?
Adam had a lovely, if busy, weekend between the bike ride and the twins' soccer game. He was the coach because their dad used to always coach their soccer teams since he used to play when he was younger and they bawled at the thought of not having him do that anymore. He couldn't bear to see them upset and he had played soccer as a kid too so he couldn't say no to those pleading eyes.
On Monday, Erica continued her new pattern of sitting next to him and eating lunch with him because there was another assignment for them to do and ended up asking him what he did over the weekend while they ate.
"Went on a bike ride and to a soccer game," he said simply. "What about you?"
"I went to dinner with some friends. What soccer game? Is there a team around here that I don't know about?"
Adam actually laughed at the thought of the twins' team being anywhere near professional. The goalie had tangled himself in the net because he was bored and Adam and his mom had to work together to get him untangled after calling a time out.
"This is my twin siblings' team. I'm the coach and there's never a dull moment."
"Oh! That's really nice of you. What can happen at kids' soccer though?" Erica asked curiously.
"You'd be surprised," he said before telling her about the net incident.
"PLEASE tell me you have a picture of that!"
"I don't but the kid's dad does. He was too busy cracking up to be of help when it happened and his wife wasn't terribly happy with him."
Erica giggled. "I bet. Was the kid okay?"
"Oh, he was fine. He thought it was hilarious too. He was all tangled up hanging upside down having fun as his mom freaked out. I get the feeling that sort of thing happens a lot with him. He's even more of a troublemaker than the twins and that's really saying something."
"Are they that bad?"
"I think 'energetic' is a better word. They can certainly be little brats when they want to be but they are cute so…"
"Sounds about right. Cuteness is a kid's best defense, you know. That's why my niece didn't get in too much trouble for ruining my sister's makeup. She said she was trying to be like her mom and my sister thought that was adorable."
Adam laughed, thinking of Jenna. "Sounds about right. My little sister can and will 'cute' her way out of pretty much anything. She knows how adorable she is and uses it to her best advantage."
"Do you have a picture of her?"
"Yeah, hang on."
Adam kept a picture of his family in his wallet. It had been taken on their last camping trip with their dad alive so it was a bit outdated but he didn't want to update it to a more recent one because Darren wouldn't be in it.
"This was taken last year so they're a bit older now but…"
"Aww, she is cute," Erica said with a smile. "Is that her twin?"
Adam laughed when he saw who she was pointing to. "No, that's my nine-year-old brother. They get that a lot because they look the most alike out of everybody. Jonas—her twin—hates it."
"What are all of your siblings' names? You never said. My sister's name is Julie."
"Colton, Evan, Peter, Jonas, and Jenna," he said proudly. "They're the best. Well, most of the time. But that's just how siblings are."
"Yep. Must be fun having such a big family. I've been the only child at home for so long that I can't even imagine what that's like," Erica said a bit wistfully.
"I can't imagine having things any other way. Chaos and all."