Dim-sighted

  – Hey – Bastian kissed Aly’s cheek and then took a seat in the empty chair next to her –. How’s the lacrosse going, Jesse?

  – We’re having a tiny crisis on the weekends with the whole thing of the community service because the schedules cross and the coach thinks they won’t be ready for the next game since half an hour from Monday to Friday isn’t enough so he took in the other three guys from your try-outs just in case the bullies won’t be able to attend the games and have alternatives – he rolled his eyes –. Actually, some of us think he went crazy because he’s been teaching us how to play in different positions to rotate us and it’s getting old

  – Well, but we can’t say that the coach doesn’t know how to handle things

  – He does a good job, most of the times

  – Why most of the time?

  – He shouldn’t have let you go! The team needs you, it’s a mess

  – He could understand my reasons, besides I won’t go back to give Anthony the chance of murder me – he shook his head –. If you lose a few games it isn’t the end of the world, if you make sure to play well when the coach of uni come out

  – Obviously but you won’t go back to lacrosse, even if the coach asks you?

  – No

  – How about you, Finn?

  – I just did it for the credits and I completed them so I have nothing to do there, I wasn’t even that good!

  – Not even for this guy? – Jesse pointed at himself

  – Sorry mate – Bastian shrugged

  – For the memories? – Jesse begged Bastian and Finn shook their heads

  – Bloody hell, you two are spiteful!

  – I’m trying to redeem myself and I can’t really risk it

  – You can’t say no to the coach, you should go back if they need you – Aly suggested

  – You’re right, I’ll think about it

  – Wow – Jesse murmured at the way Bastian showed that he would only change his mind if Aly wanted him to

  * * *

  Their classmates knew that Bastian was into Aly but they thought it was because of what Anthony tells some guys to do so they could be part of his circle of “friends”, the new of the former lacrosse star leaving the team shocked them all, and when he accused the bullies with the principal the fact surprised some but also made them question if the word loyalty existed in his dictionary because why he decided to burn them that way after years of giving people hell in their company?

  They didn’t contemplate Aly in the equation because they didn’t think that his thing for her was serious.

  So, it did surprise them all to see Aly and Bastian holding hands comfortably sitting in the twins’ usual bench with Briar and Finn.

  Bastian was aimed to woo a girl actively and letting everyone see it for the first time.

  It was a brand new feeling to him since when he was in Anthony’s crew he only talked to the selected girl once and privately to get her number and then waited for the weekend to ask for a date and that was it but now he wanted everyone to believe that if Anthony and the other guys were still the same no matter their punishment, he had nothing to do with that.

  – Let’s plan what to do this weekend

  – I’m afraid we don’t have many options

  – There must be a museum or somewhere we can go

  – We’ve tried to find a touch museum but we didn’t have luck

  Bastian sat there discouraged for a minute when an idea hit him.

  – I think I have an idea and we don’t have to get away from the city so Terrence won’t slay me, it’s perfect

  – And what’s the idea? – Briar wanted to know to shut down his stupid suggestion of something Aly has probably done plenty of times

  – Come on, let me perfect it a bit

  – What did you think about, reading aloud or talking books? There’s nothing that can cross your mind that we haven’t done already

  – That doesn’t matter, okay? – Aly intervened –. As long as it makes me think I’m not completely useless at least for a while it doesn’t matter that I’ve done it already

  – You aren’t completely useless, Aly – he squeezed her hand softly –. I was thinking about air dry clay or modelling sand and yea I might have thought about reading aloud

  – We can’t blame him for lack of effort, can we?

  – No, when it comes to creativeness for inclusion activities

  – We haven’t done it in a while – Aly recognised

  – Good thinking, Bastian – Briar nodded making the mentioned guy smile widely –. Don’t let it go to your head – she rolled her eyes

  25

  – Mate, we didn’t see you in the break and then you basically ran off yesterday

  – I had to get ready for the practice

  – And what about the break?

  – I don’t like to see them together, Aly and Bastian, I had to run off

  – But since when his presence bothers you?

  – Hey guys – Bastian walked in the classroom and took a seat in the chair next to Aly’s seat engaged by Jesse’s backpack

  – Hey

  – The girls seem to be a little late

  – I noticed a little traffic on my way here, it must be the deal – Finn shrugged –. They still have like 20 minutes

  – Yea – Bastian nodded –. And Jesse, just for the record, like I once said to Finn, Aly is mine. I met her first in case you didn’t realise and I won’t leave her side just because you don’t like to see her with me

  – I wasn’t expecting you to do it

  – Good, because I won’t – Bastian stood up and took Jesse’s backpack to hand it over to him

  – Fine then – Jesse pursed his lips and saw Bastian putting his backpack in the chair so Aly could take that seat

  All of sudden, the room went silent because Jesse didn’t want to talk to Bastian, Bastian didn’t want to talk to Jesse and then there was Finn, he didn’t want to take a side since Jesse was his only friend in the lacrosse team and Bastian was basically dating Aly and she was his girlfriend’s sister.

  – Hey guys – Briar walked in guiding Aly with a hand in her shoulder

  – Hey girls, why so late? – Bastian and Finn moved their backpacks from the chairs next to and in front of them respectively

  – It was a miracle we got here in time – Briar sighed deeply as she took a seat after accommodating Aly –. Our parents had to go to the hospital earlier and Terrence didn’t want to wake up so we had to walk

  – Ow – Bastian winced in pain –. Aren’t you tired, Aly?

  – Not as much as Bree – Aly mentioned since it was Briar who had to drag her with finesse through 4 streets

  – Don’t be silly – she rolled her eyes –. Here – she took Aly’s hand giving her the lilac vacuum bottle

  – Thanks – Aly gave it a big sip

  – Wait, Terrence didn’t want to wake up?

  – He took his girlfriend out and went back home after midnight

  – If he’s got a bachelor and a girl, why he still lives with your parents?

  – To help me – Briar nodded at Aly

  – He has said that he was moving out until marrying Ariana

  – Do you like that girl?

  – Yea, she’s kind and understands that Aly is his main priority

  – We are his main priority – Aly corrected

  – Yes, we – Briar caressed her sister’s hair making her smile lightly

  There was no need to make a big spectacle of it since it was implicit who needed more attention and Briar never felt that Aly had all the love of their family members. Aly was Terrence’s world, just like Aly was Briar’s.

  When Aly said she didn’t want to go to the special school, Briar took the responsibility as if it was a job, just like their parents expected her to do.

  There were countless moments in which Aly made her realise that she’s not wasting her time.

  Briar felt proud of being part of
her sister’s skill development but what made her feel prouder was that Aly had the heart to include her in everything too.

  In the next class, Finn saw Jesse taking a seat away from them, so he decided to sit next to Briar instead of behind her.

  “Where’s Jesse?” Briar texted as Aly was preparing her laptop and headphones for the class

  “Bastian heard him say to me that he didn’t have lunch with us yesterday because he doesn’t like to see Aly with Bastian”

  “And what did Bastian say?”

  “That he met Aly first and won’t leave her side just because Jesse doesn’t want them together”

  “Oh joy, now I have to talk to him,” Briar thought

  – I’ll be right back – she stood up

  – Where are you going? The class will begin soon

  – To the restroom, I won’t take long

  Finn saw her going straight to Jesse and taking his arm to take him outside whilst Bastian seemed overwhelmed looking at Aly pressing buttons that made the date and the name of the subject appear on the screen.

  – Do you think you’ll have the patience to teach me braille sometime, Aly?

  – If you want to I might as well be patient – Aly smiled lightly

  – Stop chatting up in front of me! – Finn whined

  – It was a completely innocent proposal – Bastian put his hands up in surrender

  – Yea, right

  – Yea right what? – Briar inquired taking her seat again

  – Bastian “innocently” – he made quotation marks –, asked Aly if she could teach him braille sometime

  – Could you not – she turned to Bastian –. Are you going to start flirting with my sister, fella?

  – I was aimed to start, yes

  – Now that’s cute

  – Can we presume that you hate me less now?

  – I guess you could say that

  “As long as you make my sister happy and unhurt,” Briar thought.

  ***

  The couples headed to the bench and again, Jesse didn’t appear though Briar tried to talk to him out of it.

  Even if Bastian would have loved to get rid of him, he knew that the twins thought of him as a friend. Obviously, they didn’t invite him to their birthday party for nothing.

  He had to get him back. For Aly.

  – I’ll be back shortly – he kissed Aly’s cheek and stood up

  – Okay

  Bastian entered the cafeteria and spotted him in a table with Lily Anderson and two non-bully guys from the lacrosse team.

  – Hey – he greeted to no one in particular

  – Hey – they replied

  – Can I talk to you, mate? – He patted Jesse’s shoulder

  – Sure – he forced a smile and stood up, then followed his former teammate to the hallway

  – Lily, huh?

  – What do you want?

  – You say you don’t like to see me with Aly and then you turn around to spend time with Lily? You know how much it costed me to get closer when she warned Briar about me

  – I think she’s too much for you, yes but I didn’t say that because I fancy her or anything

  – Good – Bastian nodded –. Because I don’t plan to leave her side unless she wants me to

  – I’m glad

  – You should come back, the girls will hate me if they find out I pushed their friend away

  – I will, but not for you

  – Thanks, I appreciate it

  The next day, Jesse regained his seat behind Aly in class and next to Finn in the break.

  26

  – Hello love – Bastian greeted as he walked in the classroom straight to the seat next to Aly

  – Hey – she smiled lightly as he kissed her cheek

  – Briar – he nodded at her

  – Bastian

  – Are we ready for Saturday?

  – Yea, we can do it in our garden – Briar suggested following Terrence’s instructions since she also thought Aly will be safer in her house –. The crafts

  – If that makes you two feel more comfortable, then sure, no problem

  – You could manage the terror of the intimidating eldest brother already? That was quick

  – Not even a little, no but I’m trying to get used to Terrence. I mean, I have to, right?

  – That’s up to you

  – Then I’m in

  After school, Bastian went straight to an art supply store in York St. to buy the air dry clay, modelling sand and silicon moulds when out of nowhere the simple thought of getting liquid glue, glitter, plastic beads, and seed beads popped into his mind also, in order to make slime so Aly could stretch it and feel the texture. He understood it was like a trend for kids and looked quite fun and satisfying so he liked to think it wouldn’t hurt to try it.

  * * *

  – You have it all prepared, mate? – Finn questioned –. You don’t really expect the girls to buy everything for your idea, do you?

  – Absolutely not, I’m not stupid! I bought it all yesterday

  – What’s it all? We only agreed on the clay and the sand

  – I went nuts, some other things occurred to me

  – Things like what?

  – We can do that slime thing made of glue that is making the kids go mad, with beads

  – You’re becoming fluent in this kind of activities

  – I’m a hard worker

  – So are we going to get all crafty tomorrow?

  – I could do it alone with Aly but Terrence and their dad insist in double dates, so we can’t avoid this unless you don’t really want to be with Briar – Bastian smirked knowing the answer

  – Let’s not apply highly extreme measures

  – That’s what I thought, it will be fun. You’ll see

  27

  – Finn and Bastian will be here any second, come out already! – Terrence rolled his eyes at the door of Aly’s bedroom that has been closed for 10 minutes

  – We’ll be right out, big bro so don’t bother

  – Geez, I just wanted to make sure that you two are still alive – he articulated –. Mom and dad would hate me if something happened to you when I’m in charge

  – We know – the twins replied at the unison and Briar opened the door

  – Come in before I change my mind – she made room so her brother could enter –. Quickly!

  – How nice

  – I couldn’t draw her eyeliner evenly and we had different ideas on what she should wear

  – Women – he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in his chest

  – She wanted to feel comfortable! – Briar protested –. Bastian thought about air dry clay and modelling sand

  – Beginners – he rolled his eyes

  – I know, right? – Briar laughed

  – Hey! – Aly shouted –. Give him some credit for trying

  – I don’t think he’s trying so hard, that’s the problem

  – I must be the first person with a visual impairment he meets so don’t be so mean and be grateful because he’s making the effort

  – Finn’s idea of taking you to a sort of petting zoo was a lot better

  – He’ll learn and come up with better activities in the future

  – I hope so babe

  – So don’t give him hell, please – Aly begged almost wanting them to sign a contract of discretion

  – Okay – Terrence and Briar answered forced and then the bell rang

  – This should be good

  – Open the door and I’ll lead Aly to the back

  – With pleasure – he walked out and waited for his sisters to disappear in the backyard to open the door

  – Thanks – Aly smiled lightly after Briar helped her to sit down

  – Nervous?

  – I think I’m more curious than nervous

  – Yea, I’m anxious to see how Bastian works with tactical activities

  – Me too

  – I hope he knows
how to manage

  – Hey – Bastian kissed Aly’s cheek

  – Hey

  – Are you girls ready for this?

  – Yea, bring it

  – Okay – Finn chuckled at the response –. What do we have here? – He opened the cardboard box Bastian left in the garden table –. Elmer’s glue, colourful seed, and plastic beads, white glitter, several moulds, clay, sand, containers, and plastic glasses – he listed as he took the things out

  – What’s the glue for? – Aly’s head titled to a side

  – Slime; you’re going to like it, come on – he took her hands making her stand up, we’ll make it together, ready?

  – Yea

  Bastian stood behind her and took her hands putting his hands over hers to mix the glue and baking soda with a spoon.

  – Don’t you think he’s being way too bold? – Finn whispered in Briar’s ear as they played with the glue mixture

  – Let him

  They observed them incorporating the glitter and then the beads to then mix them together.

  – It feels good – once finished, she took the slime out of the container to stretch it –. Different textures

  – And noise – Briar made a face at the crunchy sound

  – I like it

  – Want to try the clay?

  – Yea, I want to try it

  – Very well – Bastian smiled and led her hand to the bucket

  Aly managed to build five types of flowers and two leaves for each, stars, butterflies, clovers and hearts touching the silicone or polymer moulds and filling them with the air dry clay occasionally needing Bastian’s assistance, with short intermissions to drink iced tea and eat snacks like twisties, cheezels (like good born and raised Aussies) and popcorn.

  When they realised, they were an hour to midnight and it started to get cold.

  Since it was getting late, Terrence decided to find a subtle way to tell his sisters’ friends to go home already.

  He literally could breathe again when he saw Bastian taking some of the stuff he brought to place them back in the box since he didn’t want to be rude and kick them out because his sisters seemed to be quite fond of those fellas.