"Quick. What is the most deadliest solution I can make with these chemicals," Jordan whispered to me urgently.

I stared at him. "Even if I were to know, why would I tell you? What are you even planning on doing with it?"

"I'm going to pour it into stalker-face's drink when he isn't looking," he said, motioning his head to behind us.

"You're terrible at whispering," Dominic whispered from the table behind. Note that he was actually whispering.

Jordan was quiet for a moment, perhaps contemplating his overestimation of his voice level. "Maybe it was on purpose."

"You have a better chance making a love potion for Naomi," Dominic said with a grin.

"It's still a work in progress. I'm trying to get a strand of her hair for the last ingredient but-" He was cut off by me hitting his shoulder, nearly knocking him off his seat.

I parted my hair to the other side of my head, away from him. I began a braid just to be extra safe. "Stay away from me. Or I'm calling Declan on you."

"Just say the word and you'll never have to see him again," Declan said from a different table.

"Taking out the competition, I see," Jordan snapped.

Declan gave an innocent shrug.

"This is a study hall of finishing your work packets," the teacher scolded the class. "This isn't the cafeteria where you can talk to whomever you want."

"Sure smells like it," Jordan said, pinching his nose.

The class snickered at that.

Bennett stood up from his chair, the stainless steel announcing the movement with a wincing noise against the floor. He went up to the teacher's desk to turn in his packet and then went back to return to his seat. He stopped at a moment at my table.

"You're not done yet Naomi?"

"No," I bit out. "Jordan keeps bothering me."

"Excuses," Jordan said with a snort as he tried making a pyramid from beakers.

"Well if you need any help finishing the packet..." Bennett offered.

"Now you're just making fun of me. You don't even know if all of your answers are correct," I said with a grin to which he returned a small smile back.

"I never knew you could talk this much," Dominic said to Bennett. "Oh the things love can do to a man."

"Stop it with your comments," I hissed at him. "You don't make things any better."

"I know, that's the point," Dominic said as he wrote something into his packet.

Bennett went to his seat next to Dominic. "One of these days, I'm going to come to this class with your seat empty. And only I will know the reason."

"Because you would have visited my house knowing I was sick," he said before adding, "Lovesick."

Bennett met his match and looked away from his lab partner.

I attempted to return to answering my work packet, but I knew I was becoming unfocused because I kept making simple mistakes. That was a bit out of Bennett's character suddenly making small talk. Doing my best to hide it, I glanced back at Bennett and met his eyes, but he quickly looked away.

The door opened and kid who probably serviced for the main office came into the classroom. He gave the teacher a slip of paper to which my name was suddenly called.

"You have a doctor's appointment," he informed me.

I was confused. My mom never told me I will have an appointment. But if it meant getting out of here....

"Your sister-in-law is picking you up."

"Wait, I don't have a sister-in-law. That doesn't even make any-"

"You shouldn't be so forgetful of these things, Naomi," said Brennan as she walked into the classroom.

The whole class went dead silent. I looked around and saw everyone had their eyes locked on her. Girls wanted to be her and guys wanted to be with her. I didn't seem remotely surprised at Jordan and Declan's faces when they saw her. But Dominic didn't look at her, his eyes were on me questioning how I know her. Bennett, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to throw himself out the window.

Brennan looked used to the spotlight on her and ignored the treatment. I saw her eyes scan the room.

"Sorry, they told me to wait in the main office but I believe my little brother is in this class- Oh there you are Bennett!"

Bennett groaned and banged his head multiple times against the table.

I don't even think this is Bennett anymore.

Brennan came up to my table, looking impatient. "Come Naomi, we have to go to your doctor's appointment now."

"Um, ok, sister-in-law..." I said slowly, packing up my things. After all I experienced, I believed it was best just to not resist anymore.

Someone whispered, "How are they related if they're sister-in-laws?"

"Brennan..." Bennett began, looking both flushed and furious, perhaps figuring it out.

"Take me with you," Jordan pleaded.

"No, take me," Declan said. "I'm strong, I can carry your things."

"I'm strong too," Jordan protested.

Declan laughed. "You can barely lift your backpack. I've seen you struggle."

"That's only because I've been working out the day before and my arms were sore," he said lying through his teeth.

It brought to question what actually happened to him.

"Class, class, please calm down," the teacher started before turning to Brennan. "Miss-"

"I'm apologize for all the disturbance I caused," Brennan said, moving disturbingly close to the teacher who backed away by sheer intimidation. "If there is anything I can do to make things right..."

Bennett looked up to the ceiling. No, he was looking beyond, he looked to the sky, to the heavens. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Brennan motioned me to leave and I quietly obeyed. I looked back at the mess she created in the classroom and followed after.

She really was a storm.

-

"What is with your family and kidnapping?"

We were driving in a car whose brand makes me unworthy to even dream of riding. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing here.

"Apologies, sweetheart," Brennan said. "We Fraziers tend to bend people to our time schedules, or wills, mostly wills." She paused for a moment. "Oh, but someone else beat me to it? Was it Bennett- No, it couldn't be..."

"Your brother, Bentley," I told her.

She let out a laugh. "Always the trouble maker. I need to go visit him sometime, especially as punishment for bothering you. He's always avoids me when I visit. Oh, he'll absolutely love it when he sees me."

The car suddenly braked at the red stoplight. My mind flashed to when Bennett referenced Brennan's driving.

"You all have a weird sibling relationship."

"Comes with the family name," she said with a light shrug. "I know they hate it, but someone needs to mother them."

"Well, they're nice guys so you did a good job," I said. "Although Bentley needs some work."

She hummed at that. "Let's get something to eat. I want to have a private chat with you without my brother and his friends lurking in the distance. Getting you out of school will buy me a couple of hours- especially since they need to find us too."

We went to a small cafe and found a quiet spot at the corner of the building. We both ordered tea since there was still a chill in the weather.

"So what would you want to talk about?" She asked me.

"Oh, well you brought me here so I thought..."

"Right, of course. Well, you're the first girl I found to be actually close to Bennett. I want to ask you a few questions, but I don't want it to be a total interrogation. I figured you'd want any questions answered to make it fair."

"I don't want to ask anything about Bennett behind his back," I said.

"Oh but I'd love to talk about him, as a loving sister and all." She thought for a moment. "These are one of my out-of-the-blue visits, happens a few times a year. I enjoy disrupting the peace my brothers think they have until I come visit."

I chuckled at that. "Is your university far away?"

"Sweetheart, I already got my degree years back. I'm flattered you think I'm that young," she said as she took a sip of her tea. "I was in the Philippines for a EWB project."

Understanding my confused look, she translated, "Engineers Without Borders."

"You're an engineer?"

"Civil to be specific. I joined the student chapter when I was in university and continue to volunteer after I graduated. I went there to help design projects to provide access to water in remote areas." She stopped, setting down her cup on the table. "What did you think I was?"

"I think it's safe to say I thought you were a model. Everyone thinks you are," I said, motioning to all the people staring and taking pictures. "Mind your own business," I snapped at them.

She shook her head. "I only have friends who are models. I'm too photoshy to become one."

"Right, photoshyness..."

"Really it's true," she protested. "I've only modeled for favors from my friends."

"I would think you were in business with your family's company."

Brennan sighed and sat back in her seat. "My father didn't want me to take over the company. He had his eyes set on Bennett once he was born."

She looked at me and gave a small smile. "Don't look so sad for my sake. And I'm happy I got into engineering, I can help a lot of people with the power of science and math. I can travel the world designing structures for those in need rather than stay cooped up in an office."

"That's really admirable."

"Oh you're so adorable. Why can't I have you as a little sister? Well, I did say we were sister-in-laws. Even I can surprise myself sometimes," she said with a light laugh.

"But you could have said sister or cousin..."

"Nether would have been able to get the look on my sweet little brother's face," she said before her eyes lit up like she remembered something. "Naomi, did Bennett talked to you?"

That was a weird question. "Yeah. We're friends. Why wouldn't we?"

"No but did he try to strike up a conversation with you?"

"Yeah..." I put two and two together. "Did you make him do that?"

She smiled. "Of course. I told him that he needed to start a conversation with you once a day or I'll never leave."

I looked down at my cup of tea.

"What's wrong?" Brennan asked tentatively.

"It's just... I don't think you really have to force Bennett to be like that. I don't really want you to. He's my friend, and I know him well enough that whenever he speaks, he has a good reason for it."

Brennan went quiet and looked out the window. "I didn't really think about that..."

She became quiet once more, thinking to herself. I felt like I didn't have a right to intrude in their sibling relationship, but I had to say it for Bennett's sake. Now, I couldn't do anything but take an awkward sip of tea.

She let out a shaky breath. "Maybe I'm not the good sister I think I am."

I almost choked on my drink. "I know I don't know much about you, but already know you're a caring sister for your brothers. You might be the rock they need in whatever family drama you have. They may never say that, but even they must know that and just don't have the courage to tell you or else you'll just mother them to death. But always know that they're lucky to have you."

Brennan slowly stood up from her chair, looking at me. I didn't just cross the line, I destroyed it. I just branded myself in the Frazier hit list. Suddenly, she moved to pull me into a hug.

"I need to adopt you," her arms tightened around me. "I really needed that, Naomi."

I hugged her back.

Hey guys. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I was having a bit of writer's block because I felt you would be too bored with this. But I found it was absolutely necessary, Naomi needed a female role model and Brennan burst in to take the job.

Expect a surprise in the next chapter.

I originally wanted Brennan to be a lawyer. But I intend to be a civil engineer and wanted to create a character who was one. I hope to also join a student chapter of EWB.

I'll be updating more often for now on. I've been focusing on college applications and the first semester for senior year is really important for colleges. I'm in winter break and the last phase of college applications are almost over. I almost wasn't able to publish this chapter because I am right now working on applying to private colleges and it will be due by New Year's. I'll try seeing how my schedule will be, but I am leaning to updating every other week although I'm aiming for a weekly schedule.

I truly have a lot to write for this book. I miss writing this book, and I hope you all understand the hiatus I was in.

Also, I'm planning on a side project for TGGBB to make up for the lost time.

Now, all ships, prepare to set sail!

Rubix