"Blake, the cake." I sang while jumping the rope. "Had nothing to bake." Blake took that as a cue and jumped into his rope. We were facing each other while bouncing trying to make sure the rope wouldn't get caught on our legs. He and I started to sing together. "So he cried. And cried till he formed a lake." I grinned and kept my jumping at the rhythm of the song. "Blake, the snake. Wanted some steak, but cried and cried when he got a rake."

He grinned at me when he didn't trip over the rope. Last round he had lost his footing and face planted into the grass. "I got it down now." He said.

I smirked making the rope move faster. My feet kept coming off and on the ground as if they had a mind of their own. "So what's this about scouting?" I asked him.

"Huh?" Blake stared at my jittering feet trying to get at the same pace. It was quiet entertaining watching him trying to jump rope. When we were kids he was scrawny. So it didn't really effect him. But now, he broad shoulders were getting in the way.

I rolled my eyes. "Scouting? I heard Cole say something about scouts."

"Oh..." Blake took a moment to think, almost losing his footing as he did so. He finally took his eyes off my feet. "Well coach showed some colleges my soccer abilities over the years. In a couple months a scout is going to come by and see if I'm worth it. If I am, I'll get a scholarship."

I smiled. "That's awesome."

He smiled back, "Yeah. If they think I'm good enough."

"Well obviously." I rolled my eyes. "You're a Parris."

That's when we heard a scream. The loudest scream I had ever heard in my life. It came from inside the house, I was sure people on the other side of the globe would be able to hear it. It was louder than Suzie's shrieks, Shawn's cries, or even the screams from horror movies.

Blake and I lost balance, dropping the ropes before running into the house. The neighbors would probably ask if we were ok but at the moment I didn't know what was going on. It was later in the day and everyone was at home. Dad was watching TV with Suzie while mom was cooking dinner. But after the scream everyone was on their feet.

Shawn came racing down the stairs with his foam sword. "Where's the ninja!? I'll kill it!" He waved the sword around. "Who screamed?"

The scream came again only this time laughter fell behind it. It was coming from upstairs and moments later Cole was running down the steps. He practically jumped on mom squishing her in a hug while laughs kept coming.

"What is going on?" Blake asked.

"Cole are you ok?" Suzie asked.

Cole eye's turned to Suzie and he ran to her. He picked her up and threw her in the air making sure she wouldn't hit the ceiling. "I'm fantastic!" He said placing her down.

"What's the cause of all the excitement?" I asked. Before I had time to move Cole picked me up and twirled me in the air kissing my cheek before placing me down. "And screaming?" I asked when he set me down.

"This!" He placed a paper in front of my face. "Read it!"

"Do they have ninjas?" Shawn asked looking over my shoulder to the paper.

I held the paper in front of me. It felt stiff and had nice decorations of swirls and leaves on the side. There were three folds from where it was placed in a letter. I started reading aloud, my eyes growing wider as I did so. "We are glad to inform Cole Oscar Parris that we received you're application. Looking at you're school records, academic scores, and extra curricular classes/camps we are proud to announce that you have been accepted to attend Harvard University. We are hoping to see you on campus next year!" I shouted the last part re-reading the words over and over.

"What?" Everyone in the house yelled.

Cole kept nodding with a childish grin on his face. "I'm going to law school!"

Mom took the paper out of my hands to read it, dad and Blake looking over her shoulder. I took the opportunity to wrap my arms around Cole and hug him tightly. I felt Sue come in and hug him as well. "Oh my god Cole this is awesome!" I said to him.

There was no way that smile was going to come off his face. When I pulled back Shawn look my place. "Well Cole of the Fireplace," Shawn said with a grin, "I did not know you wanted to get into law. Now you're name must be Cole of the Firm." Shawn opened his arms with a creepy look in his eyes, "Now give me a hug brother."

Cole laughed, hugging our brother nevertheless. It seemed like Cole was too happy to even speak. He was smiling like a maniac and he couldn't stop bouncing from foot to foot. When he glanced at Blake the smile faded a bit and he gulped loudly. "I know it was you're dream to play side by side..." Cole said.

Blake looked up from the paper. "Dude," He said holding up the paper in front of Cole's face. "Why didn't you tell me?" Cole paled. Before he could open his mouth Blake was at talking again, "This is freaking Harvard. The Harvard. You know? The one that like everyone makes a big deal out of?" Blake enveloped Cole in hug. "I'm so proud of you little brother!"

Cole's smile returned. "You're not mad?"

"Mad?" Blake stepped back and gave Cole a confused look. "Why would I be mad?"

"Because it's your dream to play together on the big fields." Cole said softly.

Blake smiled, "If it's not your dream then why should I force you? I don't care, now I have a lawyer that won't charge me as much in case I get in trouble."

"Who says I won't charge you?" Cole smirked, "And I'm your twin. So I'm not your little brother."

"Triplet." Shawn interrupted. "I was born on that same day too you know."

Blake and Cole looked at Shawn and grinned. At the same time they both spread their arms and said, "Baby brother!" Before hugging Shawn. The three then turned to look at me and urged me to join their hug. I rolled my eyes, joining into the group hug.

******************************

Cole's POV

Overjoyed. Ecstatic. Blissful. Drifting through cloud nine.

All how I felt yesterday when I opened up the letter and read the words on the paper. My nerves had kicked in the moment I pulled the neatly marked envelope out of the mailbox. I sat on the edge of my bed, holding the letter in front of me for twenty minutes. The butterflies in my stomach were over the roof. I chewed four nails off and my leg kept bouncing in anticipation.

When I did open the letter, anxiety hit me like a brick wall. My breathing had completely stopped until I read that I had been excepted. I did the most common reaction a kid like me would have, I screamed. I screamed making sure China could hear me. I was that happy.

All those science, math, law, even history camps I took over the summer paid off. I was moving to Massachusetts over the next year and to make matters better, mom had already started to Google housing places or dorms for college students. I was beyond happy. Everything was falling into place.

The next morning I got up and dressed for work. I got in my uniform which consisted of t-shirt with the name Hollister written across. Just the fact that I was going to be able to see Jodee made me smile even more. Today after work was suppose to be our first date. With all the smiling I was doing, I knew my cheeks were probably going to get sore.

My eighteenth birthday had a been a success for me. I knew I was falling for Jodee. When I had gone to talk to Shawn, he asked me far to many question about how I felt. It made me feel slightly violated but he came to a conclusion that I liked Jodee. I didn't even bother denying it. Whenever I made her smile, it gave me a reason to smile. Whenever I caused her to laugh, my heart would squeeze just knowing I was the source of that beautiful sound. Sure we'd play around and fight. But it was different. A good different.

Shawn and Tori agreed Jodee was awesome. They invited her to come back any time, which I was thankful for. I thought Shawn would be upset because we still haven't told everyone about Tori. I didn't understand what happened that day. Blake had choked. He never choked. If he had just walked away saying he didn't feel like telling everyone, I would have gone behind his back and just spit the secret out. But he choked. That's definitely something Blake doesn't do often.

Shawn and I had waited on the steps while everyone asked what was going on. After the five minutes passed by, we went in the house to make sure Tori wasn't stabbing Blake with a knife. Everyone seemed to have followed us inside, expecting something was going on. I felt bad when I opened the door to the bathroom door and both my siblings tumbled out.

When I had confronted Tori and Blake about what they were talking about, they'd give me lame excuses. I knew their faces though. It was the same face they both had when Blake brought Tori back from the cemetery on Thanksgiving night. That day seemed like such a long time ago, but it barely was. After that night, we all started to bond better. Stronger. We did almost everything together. Tori was one of us now. In a weird, twisted way, she was a Parris. And I was proud to call her my sister.

I parked near the Hollister and got out of my car carrying the small bag of cookies. On my way here, I decided to stop by the cookie shop and get some of Jodee's favorites. If you're ever in a really good mood, like I was, then anything courteous would come to mind. "Dalton I'm in." I said to my manager as I walked into the store. He only gave me a wave causing me to roll my eyes.

That guy.

Over the last couple weeks, I got used to working here. I was better at pointing everything out to customers and sometimes I was allowed to handle the cash register. Like I imagined, the school started buzzing about me working here. A lot of my friends would drop by to say hi or some girls would try to flirt, they'd act upset when I ignored them and concentrated on my job.

Dalton was mad at first, then he realized my popularity and let it go. He knew I was attracting more customers. He also caught Jodee and I playing around some more, yet every time he'd just say: I'd fire you. But then I'd have to do work to replace you. He was a good boss, he was just lazy. I wondered how he stayed in shape, he had to do something outside the job. Here he'd just lay back on the sofa and scratch his balls while reading on his phone. I don't get how he was placed manager.

When I asked around my co-workers they all had their rumors and stories: Dalton saved the life of the owner of the building. Dalton used to be super studious and set on the job until his girlfriend dumped him. Dalton stopped a burglar that tried to steal the money in the cash register. Dalton this, Dalton that. They were all stories, whichever was true I didn't know.

I walked into the lounge and towards the fridge. Inside were a couple water bottles, soda's, and peoples lunch boxes in case they got hungry. I took a water and sat on the sofa picking up one of the magazines. My shift didn't start for another fifteen minutes, so I had time to kill. Why work when you're not getting paid?

I couldn't even process the words I was reading. They wouldn't get put into my brain. They'd just linger around like an alphabet soup. I was thinking too hard on college now. Wondering if I was prepared to take this step, if other kids were better, or if I would be able to move far away from home. "It's upside down." Jodee said as she walked into the lounge.

"What?" I asked her.

She opened the fridge and took a coke. "Your magazine." She popped the can open. "It's upside down."

I looked down at the magazine. Well no wonder I couldn't read it, it was upside down. "Oh." I couldn't get the smile off my face. My hands reached down and I picked up the small red bag. "I brought cookies."

She stared between the bag and me. A small smiled played on her lips before she frowned. "Are you trying to make me fat?" She asked.

I slowly answered, "No..."

"I think you're lying." She said with a fake glare.

I shrugged, "Well if you don't want-"

"No!" Jodee shouted before getting quiet. "I mean, no no. I didn't say that."

A smile formed on my lips and I held the bag out. Just as Jodee reached for it, I pulled it back. "First a kiss Jojo." Jodee sighed, rolling her eyes before pecking my lips. "Another," I whined, "That was too quick."

"Cole! Just give me the cookies."

"Ok ok," I handed her the bag and she took a seat next to me.

"So why the good mood?" She asked grabbing a chocolate chip in the bag. I would've gotten a cookie as well, but I was afraid Jodee would bite me again. She started chewing on the cookie like it was her job.

I smiled, "I got in."

Her mouth was stuffed but she managed to talk with crumbs flying out. "Got in where?"

"In Harvard." I dropped the subject softly. My eyes kept staring at my hands, my smile never leaving my face.

Jodee's eyes widened as she looked at me. "Cole that's awesome!" She jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly. I pulled her back slightly to cup her face in my hand and press her lips to mine. I moved my lips slowly against hers. They were soft and tender, a feeling I couldn't get over. And I didn't ignore the fact they fit perfectly with mine. It felt right kissing Jodee, even if it was a short amount of time, it just felt real. Nothing fake or used, but real.

"No sex on the couch." Dalton said walking in, causing Jodee and I to part. "Although," He stopped for a second like he was remembering something, "I wouldn't fire you because-"

"Yeah because it's too much work." I said to him with a smirk.

He shook his head, "No I was going to say because I remember having sex with a girl on that couch."

Jodee and I jumped off the couch at lightning speed. "Warning next time please." I said looking at the sofa in a whole new way.

"You can get some Dalton?" Jodee asked confused. "I would have never guessed."

Dalton sneered at her, "Get to work. I don't want to have to fire you."

I rolled my eyes and put my hand on Jodee's back leading her out to the main part store. She kept eating her cookies with a happy smile. Just as we were about to start our shifts I leaned over and pecked her lips. "We're still on for that date after work, right?"

She nodded, "Course. After you practically forced me on it."

I grinned, "Not that you're complaining." She rolled her eyes and I smirked, "You taste like cookies." I licked my lips.

Her cheeks turned pink. "Shut up." I smiled placing the lanyard around my neck before heading deeper into the store.

It was a lot busier these days. The temperature had slightly calmed down. There was no more snow, it was still cold sometimes or just cool, but the snow days came to a stop. Because of that a lot of people were coming in now. Not to mention it was a Saturday, only making everything even more hectic. My co-workers and I were going from customer to customer. They'd ask for different sizes that weren't available up front so I'd go in the back to see if it was there.

We'd take shifts in the dressing rooms. Standing there for an hour at a time as people came by asking us to unlock the doors so they could try everything on. Anything they didn't like or want, they'd hand to us and we'd place it back where it belonged. I got so good at folding clothes that I didn't have to think about it, I just did it on the spot. No thinking involved.

"Jodee put a dollar in the jar." I heard Dalton say. He pointed at the jar on the counter and Jodee grumbled putting another dollar.

"It's not my fault my vocabulary is more colorful than a rainbow." I heard her mutter while placing a fresh dollar into the jar. A smirk formed on my lips while I finished re-stacking some clothes. Jodee was definitely something else. Her smart and witty remarks never stopped smiles from forming on my face.

"Hey Cole." I turned around to come face to face with a girl that had blood red hair.

I plastered a fake smile, "Good seeing you here Sara. Do you need any help with anything?"

She gave a flirty smile. "I thought we went through that last time." Her feet took a step towards me, I backed up.

"Nope." I grabbed one of the boxes on the ground. It was filled with clothing items I was suppose to stack in specific sections. With the big boom today, some of our items were running low. "But if you don't mind, I need to go put this in the back so excuse me." I gave her a curt nod, along with the friends that were standing behind her.

When I left the back, after placing the box where it belonged, I ran into one of Sara's minions. "Why weren't we invited to your birthday party?" She said with a pout.

"I've never seen you in my life." I answered truthfully. She was a short girl with blonde hair and highlights. For someone so small, she sure wore small clothing. Honestly do they just shop in the youth section because not even an extra small was that small.

She gawked at me. "Yes you have."

"No I haven't."

"Cole no fighting with customers." Dalton said from behind the clothes rack.

I swear there has to be two or three of them because he's like everywhere. Does he follow me?

I faked smiled and looked down at the girl. "Where are Sara and your other friends?" She smiled and pointed at the other girls. I grabbed her wrist and put her in her group. "Wait here," I said a cheeky grin. They all nodded like robots, it made me pity them.

Has the world really come to this? I know there are some smart people out there in the world but did there really have to be girls like this? They think their life is made, that they should have fun. That's what I thought. Until I realized a lot of rumors went around or people talked behind my back. These girls all thought they were friends, they weren't. If anything exciting or juicy happened and you so happen to tell one of these 'friends' they'll simpy go tell the whole world. Well I'd rather have four quarters than a hundred pennies. Something my sister taught me.

I grabbed Jodee's hand while she was folding some more clothing. "Cole what are you-"

"Shh." I led her to where I left the girls waiting.

"You did not just shush me." I could feel Jodee glaring at the back of my head.

I pulled her in front of me, displaying her to the girls. "You see this person right here?" I asked them. They all nodded and I felt Jodee stiffen underneath my hands. "She is my girl. And I would like you to post that on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, whatever the heck you have." I looked down at Jodee entwining my fingers with hers. "Because she is the most frustrating, blood boiling, annoying girl I've ever met." Jodee looked up at me with so much anger, it made me want to crawl under something. She opened her mouth but I placed my forehead on hers and smiled at her, "Yet I'm hopelessly falling for her. And I don't know what to do about it because I've never felt this about anyone."

I could practically hear Sara and her friend's mouth's dropping. But I didn't care right now. It was just me and Jodee, and that's how I wanted it to be. I kissed her lips softly, ignoring all the protest from the girls. Their heels clicked away, I was to absorbed in the kiss to really pay attention. "No PDA," We heard Dalton groan behind us, "Seriously guys! I don't want to have to fire you. I don't want to do extra work."

Jodee and I pulled back. I looked up at my manager, "You wouldn't want to fire me would you? I've gotten you more customers."