I returned home after skipping stones alone to find that not only were my parents home but the Herondaleins were there as well. Joey and Jack were sitting in the living room lost in their own conversation. My parents and theirs were gathered around the kitchen island and practically jumped at me when I walked in. I simply wanted something to drink from the fridge. "Have you seen your sister?" my father asked. "No, I haven't seen Linda, why?" I asked confused. "I thought she was here with ya'll." My father frowned. The rest of them were staring me down as well as if they were trying to figure something out. "Lucas, tell me the truth. Where is your sister? I beg of you not to be hiding her somewhere. This is serious." What the hell?! He doesn't believe me. " I haven't seen her, I don't know where she is. I thought she was here with you guys. I haven't seen her since I left out earlier. We're not attached at the hip. We don't go everywhere together like we're glued together. Dad." Jack's dad was the next one to speak up. "You shouldn't speak to your father that way. It is disrespectful." The audacity he had. "I believe I wasn't speaking to you and I didn't ask for your advice. This is a conversation between me and my family. You can see yourself to the door, old man." I spat back. He was not just going to waltz in here like he had any place, especially with this whole marriage sham they had going. "Lucas!" My dad raised his voice sternly. "Fu** this I'm out of here," I said grabbing a Gatorade and a bottle of water. I walked back past the living room. Calling to Jack and Joey. "Let's blow this popsicle stand, boys." They swiftly followed behind. Clearly, neither one wanted to stay after hearing that conversation and getting the backlash from my outburst.
We stepped outside the door and the first question we all asked at the same time was, "Where do we go now?" Jack was the first one to answer. "I have a genius idea, like low-key ridiculous but it might just work. Do you remember our secret spot when we were kids that we'd hide out in from the parentals and the Fepetaineshadows?" I gasped. "Hell yeah I remember, are you crazy? It's dangerous to go there. We'd have to be on the ground. We haven't been there in a while. For all we know it could be infested with Fepetaineshadow's. Or it could be all destroyed and whatnot. We haven't been too keen on the upkeep." I shook my head no furiously. "Fear not my friend. I know what I'm talking about. None of that will be true you'll see." I still shook my head no in dismay. "It is still a bad idea, especially if we're taking Joey with us." He seemed to think that one over. "You're right we do run a bit of a risk bringing Joey along. But we'll get to hide him away from this arranged marriage bullsh**. I say let's do it. Before our parents come looking for us. If we get eaten alive. It'll still be better than having our lives determined for us." He had a good point and I did want to spend more time with Jack. I didn't want to ruin this new yet old friendship reignited. "What the he**, let's do this thing! But please make sure Joey will keep his damn mouth shut till we get there. I don't want to die cause the newbie got us caught. I want to go out in a cool way man." He laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I got this. Don't worry I'll keep my little brother in check." Joey huffed. "I'm standing right here you know." We both laughed and said in unison. "We Know!" He grunted in response. We all headed to the secret spot Jack and I used to use back in the day to climb down from our tree lifestyle.