(Remember it as 12-year-old Nami and Nagi and 11-year-old Anka)

Nami smiled as she closed her book having read the last page. She let out a sigh of satisfaction as she slipped the book back into her bag. “I wonder what else I can find at the library…” she said to herself as she leaned comfortably back against the tree she was shading herself with.

“You really need to get a life,” Vick muttered, shoving Nagi.

“Shut up,” Nagi growled as he shoved his brother in return.

“Oh,” Vick pretended to cry, “She was so beautiful…gorgeous, stunning!”

Nagi glared at his brother, “You’re mocking your twelve-year-old brother who has more of a chance with a girl he’s met once than you have with any girl you’ve known your entire life.”

“Mom!” Vick whined.

Hailie turned around, “Shut up, both of you!”

“He started it!” Vick pointed to Nagi.

Layla turned to Vick, “Yes the mature one started it. Likely story,” she rolled her eyes.

“Calm down and relax,” Tina said calmly. “We’re almost there.”

“As soon as we’re here I’m voting yes and going for a walk,” Nagi sighed as he glared out the window.

“What’s wrong?” Layla asked Nagi.

Nagi shrugged, “Nothing.”

“It’s the pretty girl he was nice to when they were on the roller coaster a few days ago,” Hailie cut in.

“Lovesick?” Layla smiled weakly.

“Yes, twelve-year-olds fall in love everyday,” Nagi grumbled.

“There are lots of love stories,” Layla ruffled Nagi’s hair.

“And you know, I couldn’t even prove she felt the same way,” Nagi whispered.
Vick, Layla and Hailie exchanged glances before turning back to Nagi.

“It’s an automatic yes?” Rick asked as Nagi started walking away from the van.

“Dad, he’s…” Vick scratched his cheek, “different.”

“Should one of us follow him?” Hailie asked.

“I’ll watch Nagi,” Layla volunteered as she started after him. “Hey,” Layla huffed as she caught up with Nagi. “Where are you going?”

“Away from everything,” Nagi sighed as he slipped his hands into his pockets.

“You know Vick has just been trying to cheer you up, right?” Layla asked.

“He’s done a bang up job,” Nagi said dryly.

Layla sighed, “You really know how to depress your ray of sunshine.”

“Yeah,” Nagi drew in a deep breath.

“Nami kissed you, right?” she asked thoughtfully.

“Do you want a cookie for remembering her name and not calling her the pretty little girl?” Nagi asked.

“Right?” Layla pressed.

“Yes, you saw her kiss me,” Nagi rolled his eyes.

“She had to have felt something to kiss a complete stranger,” Layla teased.

Nagi blushed, “Thanks…” he closed his eyes and stopped walking.

Layla froze too. She blinked a few times, “Nagi, what did Nami look like again?”

“She has silver-blue eyes, long reddish brown hair that curls, light skin and a slender, beautiful build…” Nagi smiled, “Why?”

“Is she really nerdy like you?” Layla questioned.

“She likes to read, yes,” Nagi muttered as he eased his eyes open.

“And what does she make you feel like?”

Nagi gave his sister a questioning glance, “That’s personal, don’t you think?”

“What would you do for me to give a yes vote so you could live in the same neighborhood as her?” Layla asked.

“You don’t have to ask, do you?” Nagi asked.

“Okay,” Layla pointed across a yard.

“Huh?” Nagi blushed and froze in place. “Nami…” he muttered.

“I wonder if she remembers you,” Layla teased.

“Nami…” Nagi whispered as he started to dash toward her. “Nami!”

Nami glanced up from her second book, “N-Nagi?” she questioned as she slipped a bookmark into her book. She slowly stood, meeting him with a hug.
“Nagi…” she murmured happily.

“That’s a yes,” Layla sighed.

“W-what are you…doing here?” Nami asked gingerly.

“My parents are looking into buying a house…” Nagi murmured. “I hate my brother, so I went for a walking avoiding him and…found you.”

“Mine has his annoying points to as to me being here…” Nami sighed.

“So, what do you say to…a walk?” Nagi asked shyly.

“Okay,” Nami blushed back, twirling her hair coyly.

“I’m going back, Nagi,” Layla announced, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Same sister as before?” Nami questioned as she watched Layla turn and walk away.

“Yeah,” Nagi murmured. “Layla actually realizes that she’s not the youngest.”

“I’m the youngest, too,” Nami sighed. “And Oso is only here for today, which means I’ll be gone until later tonight.”

“What were you reading?” Nagi cleared his throat.

“I get this at school all the time.”

“Get what?” Nagi asked.

“Nerd, geek, dork, loser…” Nami sighed.

Nagi blinked, “You’re acting like being nerdy and different is a bad thing.”

“Well apparently it is if my entire class makes it a point to taunt me,” Nami grumbled.

“Well, it’s not,” Nagi said softly. “Because if you weren’t nerdy and different you’d be like my brother…”

“And what’s he like?” Nami asked.

“Annoying,” Nagi said firmly.

Nami laughed, “Just like my brother.”

“So, what were you reading?”

“Ray Bradbury,” Nami muttered.

“Science fiction for the win,” Nagi nodded.

“You’ve earned a few points,” Nami whispered as she looped her arm with his.

“What am I being tallied for?”

“Because I want to,” Nami shrugged. “What do you do for fun?”

“Reading, fencing, karate and trying to get fast enough to leave my brother in the dust,” Nagi replied.

“Competitive?” she guessed.

“Very,” he admitted. “I can argue about just about anything and win.”

“I’m gonna try to prove you wrong,” she informed him.

“W-why’d you kiss me?” he blurted, covering his mouth afterwards.

She blushed a little, “Because you’re sweet, and…it felt right.” She glanced away from him, “But why do you ask?”

“N-no reason…” Nagi stammered.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Nami asked as she twirled a strand of her hair.

“Yeah,” Nagi smiled.

“Do you have a stutter?”

“No,” he blinked.

“Okay,” she smiled, shaking her head.

“Why?”

“You’ve stuttered here and there,” Nami shrugged.

“How is that personal?”

Nami glanced at him, “Not a lot of people would admit it.”

He smiled warmly, “No stutter at all.”

“Would you admit it if you did have one?”

“I think it would be obvious if I did so a confession would be redundant,” he countered.

Nami blushed, “You said…redundant…”

“Okay…superfluous, meaningless, unnecessary…”

“Superfluous…” she repeated.

“I…am a little confused,” Nagi said slowly.

Nami shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just…Anka’s the only one I know with my
extension of a vocabulary.”

“Does she live around here too?” he inquired.

Nami’s heart fell to her feet. “Yes.”

“I figured you two were inseparable,” he offered.

“Did you want to see Anka?”

“I wasn’t even expecting to see you…considering everything…” he blushed.

“What?” Nami asked.

“Well, I didn’t think we’d see each other again…” he whispered.

“You sound like you wanted to see me again,” she said softly.

“I did,” Nagi said quickly. “I mean…”

Nami stared into his eyes for a few seconds before blushing and glancing away quickly. “You have really pretty eyes…” she whispered.

“Thanks…” he muttered. “You do...”

“Hmm?” Nami glanced over at him.

“You have gorgeous eyes,” Nagi said more clearly.

“Th-thank you…” she stammered. “Aren’t you worried about getting lost?”

“No,” Nagi shrugged. “Because I’d at least be away from my idiotic brother.”

“My thoughts, too. I love him and hate him at the same time. My sister I can deal with,” she shook her head, “When she’s not barking orders.”

“Ever wonder why you’re the youngest when you’re definitely the smartest?” he asked.

“All of the time…” Nami blinked a few times.

“That is my life,” Nagi grumbled. “Though I could probably kill Vick in a fight.”

“Karate thing?”

“Fencing would be a cleaner kill,” Nagi stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Well, all of the houses here have a deep cellar,” Nami whispered. “You could easily cover it up.”

“Duly noted,” Nagi nodded.

“Duly…” Nami drooled before shaking it off.

“Sorry…” Nagi whispered.

“It’s okay,” Nami said quietly. “It’s nice to not be teased for being smart.”

“I promise to never tease you for being smart or different,” Nagi said quickly, holding his open hand over his heart.

“A few more points,” Nami smiled, blushing a little. “So where do you want to walk to?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he shrugged.

“Then…walk around doing nothing else?” Nami questioned.

Nagi smiled, “Walking and talking is multitasking.”

“I like you,” Nami laughed, shaking her head.

Nagi blushed, “Well, what do you normally do?”

“What you saw me doing,” Nami replied.

“Really?”

“Really,” she said softly.

“Only science fiction?” Nagi asked.

“No, I read everything,” Nami sighed. “It’s more entertaining to me than most things, really.”

“You sit outside reading?”

“No, usually I’m inside and I only leave to go to the library,” Nami blushed, staring down at the ground.

“I bet you’d like to do other things,” Nagi said thoughtfully.

“Well, you can learn to do everything by reading. It’s the most important skill that’s taken for granted,” Nami offered.

“In theory,” Nagi added. “You can read a recipe a hundred times and not actually know what to do.”

“What are you going to convince me to do against my will?”

“Nothing,” Nagi replied tersely.

“Nothing, huh?”

“If you’re too shy to give things a shot on your own then you’re just too shy,” Nagi replied.

Nami smiled, “Reverse psychology won’t work on me.”

“Not trying to make it work on you,” Nagi responded.

“Good because it won’t,” Nami said proudly.

“I believe you,” Nagi said calmly.

Nami glared over at him. “What would you want me to do?”

“Whatever you want.”

Nami considered it, “Alpha male complex.”

“Hmm?”

“You have an alpha male complex.”

“A what?”

“You gave some sort of complex because of your older brother giving you a hard time,” Nami explained.

Nagi blushed, “You mean like dominance?”

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Nami said evenly.

“I do not,” he argued.

“First sign, always having to be right,” she teased.

“He’s an idiot, why would I need to compete with him for anything?” Nagi asked.

“Pride and dominance are two and three,” she added.

“There is no way to analyze somebody like that,” Nagi grumbled.

“Yes, there is,” she whispered.

“No,” he argued.

“Always having the last word..four,” Nami smiled.

Nagi bit his lip and considered it. “Okay, so I might want to outdo him to prove that you can be smart and attract a girl and…”

Nami blushed, “And?”

Nagi sighed, “Nothing.”

“Oh, come on,” Nami pressed.

“It’s…not exactly something…normal to talk about,” Nagi blushed and glared down at their feet.

“What is it?”

“And that relationships shouldn’t end with the goal of sex,” he whispered.

“Of course they shouldn’t,” Nami agreed.

“Y-you…think…about…that?”

“Well, I know what sex is and I don’t think it should be the main focus of any relationship,” she shrugged. “But a large number of males beg to differ.” Nagi blinked a few times, as he continued to stare at Nami. He blushed and held eye contact with her as she turned her gaze to him. “Creepy?” she asked softly as her cheeks reddened.

“No,” Nagi said softly, smiling as he watched her break their eye contact. “But I do despise my brother and feel the need to be better than him. You are right,” he conceded.

“I know,” she chirped.

He smirked, “And you know a little too much about psychology.”

“It’s not psychology,” she said quietly. “It’s obvious.”

“Thanks,” he sighed.

“Anytime,” she whispered.

“What are the houses around here like, anyhow?” Nagi asked quickly.

“We can go check out your possible new house,” she suggested.

“Do you really want to meet my weird family?” he asked, blushing profusely.

“Do you want to meet my too normal and almost creepy family?” Nami retorted.

He shrugged. “It’s something new.” He glanced over at her, trying to stop staring at her. She is so beautiful…<i>

“Come on. You might as well fight your brother to the death for the best room,” Nami said encouragingly.

“I like that thought,” he blushed as they turned around with their arms still twined.

“113 Maple Avenue here we come,” Nami hummed.

“H-how’d you know?”

Nami glanced at him, “It’s the only empty house around here.”

Layla smiled and shook her head as she stared out a window, watching Nagi and Nami approach the house. “What are you staring at?” Hailie asked.

“Nagi and Nami,” she muttered.

“The pretty girl?” Hailie questioned.

“Yeah, that’d be her name,” Layla said softly.

“Wonder if he’s snaked another kiss,” Vick stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Doubtful,” Layly said dryly.

“Wonder if she’s got any hot sisters,” Vick remarked.

“Nagi?” Tina asked, staring in disbelief at her youngest.

“Yeah?” he responded, confused.

“I figured you’d stay gone the entire day,” she whispered. “With your fight with your brother and all.”

He shrugged, “I’m not sharing a room with him, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Well, this house is big enough for all of you to have your own room,” the real estate agent announced.

“That’s good news,” Nami said encouragingly.

“So without seeing the house you already are saying yes?” Rick guessed, glancing between his son and Nami.

Nagi glanced over at Nami, blushing as his gaze fell to the floor. “Yes.”

“That’s the spirit,” Vick said as he ruffled Nagi’s hair. Nagi glared up at his brother, not saying anything. “Learn the importance of getting close to a girl young…”

Nagi clenched his fists, glaring at Rick. “Dad, he’s going to college in the fall still, right?”

“Yes,” Rick responded slowly, nodding slightly.

“Thank you,” Nagi folded his hands and glanced up to the sky.

“You might want to catholic cross too,” Nami whispered.

“Only if he leaves earlier than expected,” Nagi replied.

“Go scope out your room and the best places to arrange things,” Vick said slyly.

“Knock it off,” Tina sighed in frustration. “Or he’s going to end up kicking your ass and embarrassing you, Victor.”

“Yeah,” Hailie agreed as she joined them in what would be the living room.

“Nagi’s already ripped and he’s twelve. You barely have a tone and you’re eighteen.”

“You can do it,” Nami chuckled with amusement.

“I know I could,” Nagi said softly as he led her up the stairs.

Hailie pursed her lips as she watched Nagi and Nami. “So cute…” she cooed.

“Definitely,” the real estate agent agreed.

“Pfft, he doesn’t have a chance,” Vick scoffed.

“Yeah, he does…” Hailie argued.

“Claiming the biggest room?” Nami asked as she and Nagi stepped into an empty room.

“Unlike my brother I don’t need everything to be the biggest and the best,” he grumbled.

“That’s called over-compensation,” Nami remarked, blushing a little.

He returned the blush, “Something I’ll never do.”

“Good to know…” Nami said quietly. <i>I’m twelve…mind out of gutter! But he’s so cute…

“Uh?” Nagi blinked.

“You won’t get annoying,” she said quickly.
~A few minutes later~

“So…I guess…” Nagi scratched his cheek.

“Bye?” Nami guessed.

“Sadly,” he whispered embracing her. She hugged him back, nestling closer to him. Nagi stroked her hair soothingly, “But, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of each other.”

“Okay,” she blushed as he stepped away from her, turning away quickly and starting home.

“She likes you…” Hailie whispered as Nagi settled.

Nagi glared at her, “I’ll walk back if you start.”

“Just telling you,” she responded.

“Show off…” Vick muttered, glaring at Nagi.

“Okay, normally I let your stupid remarks go, but this one is so stupid that I have to ask,” Nagi shifted his attention to his brother.

“He’s jealous since you comforted a girl and she kisses you and he talks macho for hours and gets laughed at,” Layla explained.

“I, unlike you, will never need to overcompensate for anything,” Nagi said flatly, patting Vick’s arm.

Vick blinked a few times, “What did he just say?”

“The one thing every girl has been too nice to tell you,” Nagi said as he slouched in his seat.


“Anka?” Nami asked happily as she rushed into her room. Anka was on her belly on Nami’s bed reading a book. “Anka, guess what!”

“Mom bought ice cream?” Anka asked hopefully as she sat up.

“No,” Nami laughed. “You’re not gonna believe this! Nagi might be moving here…” she blushed.

Anka gave her a quizzical look. “Your crush from the roller coaster?”

“Mhm,” Nami nodded. “I was just with him….”

“Come faint on the bed,” Anka sat up and patted the spot next to her. “We want as few injuries as possible.”

Nami smiled as she rolled over to face Anka. “He’s even cuter than I remember.”

Anka shook her head. “Puberty is something I never want to go through…”

“Why?” Nami laughed.

“You’re smart and it’s turning you into a fan girl…” Anka tapped Nami on her forehead.

“You saw him,” Nami said defensively.

“Not my type,” Anka said softly. “I prefer mine tall and blonde,” she admitted.

“His brother’s blonde,” Nami informed her.

“How old?” Anka asked.

“Eighteen, and a jerk,” Nami shrugged.

“Eye candy and nothing more,” Anka said firmly. “But, aside from being friendly and gentle, what else is your dream boy like?”

“He has a decent vocabulary,” Nami blushed as she closed her eyes, “and is really competitive for some reason.”

“Living in the shadow of his older brother would do that to him,” Anka offered.

“Yeah, but it’s a fun quality,” Nami admitted.

“Fun?” Anka blinked in befuddlement.

“He’s fun to argue with,” Nami smiled.

“Then you have found your husband,” Anka laughed.

“I wish,” Nami sighed dreamily as she rolled onto her back.

Sif poked her head into Nami’s room. “Hey, mom bought ice cream,” she said with a smile.

“You’re good,” Nami laughed as she sat up.

“I know,” Anka grinned proudly. “We’ll be down, Siffy…” Anka said as she slowly sat up.

“Okay,” Sif said as she started down the steps.

“What is it?” Nami asked.

“You don’t seem too excited having obsessed over him,” Anka commented.

“It’s not a sure thing,” Nami frowned.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket?” Anka guessed.

“There’s an old adage for everything,” Nami sighed as she stood.


“Anka?” Nagi called.

Anka turned around and stared in disbelief for a moment. “Nagi?” she asked.

“You do remember me,” he commented as he halted beside her.

“Let’s just say that you’re hard to forget,” Anka said dryly as she remembered Nami’s obsessive rants over the past few days.

“A bad thing?”

“No, just bad experience,” Anka said flatly.

“Yeah, but let’s not go back to that,” Nagi insisted.

“Nami said you might be moving here,” Anka stated.

“We are,” Nagi assured her. “My parents bought the place and signed the papers as soon as their tour was over.”

Anka scratched her head, “So what are you doing now?”

“Well, everybody wanted to do the cleaning of the place and I was shooed so I’m just walking around,” he responded. “What were you doing?”

“I was going to Nami’s,” Anka replied.

“R-really?” he blushed.

“You like Nami,” Anka said pointedly.

“Uh,” Nagi glanced away from Anka. “Is it that obvious?”

Anka smiled, “Is that a rhetorical question?”

“Is that?”

“I won’t tell her if I can tease you in her absence,” Anka extended her hand.

“W-what?” he blinked.

“Or I could tell her that you like her…” Anka said thoughtfully.

Nagi shook Anka’s hand, “D-don’t tell her?”

Anka laughed, “Okay.” She turned away from him and continued on her way.

“Hey, wait…” he called as he followed her.

“Hmm?”

“Can I come?” he asked anxiously.

“Let me go get her…” Anka said quickly. “You can come though.”

“Thanks,” he said softly. “Any reason you want to get her?”

“We’re going to the library,” Anka explained, motioning to her backpack.

“Do you need a library card?” Nagi asked.

“To rent books, yes,” Anka replied, “But not to read them.”

“What all does she read?” he wondered.

“Save the questionnaire for a date,” Anka said dryly as she turned into a yard. “Or watch her all of the time and get to know her by talking to her yourself.”

“You’re making me out to sound creepy or something,” Nagi complained.

“Wait here,” Anka said before she opened the house door. “Nami!” Anka shouted as she dashed up the stairs.

“What is it?” Nami called from her room.

Anka rushed in and watched Nami slip her bikini on. “How much do you love me?”

Nami gave her a quizzical look as her wavy red tresses fell. “You know I love you, but why are you asking?” she questioned as she slipped into a pair of shorts.

“Nagi’s here,” Anka said quietly.

Nami paused, “N-Nagi?”

Anka nodded once, “Your Nagi.”

“You’re serious?” Nami asked in disbelief. “Where is he?” she asked eagerly.

“Back deck,” Anka said tersely. “He told me that he’s moving here,” Anka commented.

Nami’s cheeks reddened. “Really?” she gasped.

“Yes, really,” Anka smiled as Nami embraced her, hopping up and down during the hug.

“Oh-my-God- Oh-my-God- Oh-my-God- Oh-my-God!” Nami said in one breath.

“See? Fan girl,” Anka laughed.

“I am not!” Nami blushed.

“You squeed,” Anka said flatly.

“Did not,” Nami argued.

“Finish getting dressed,” Anka rolled her eyes.

Nami slipped her shirt on and slid her feet into flip flops. “Ready,” she smiled warmly as she grabbed her backpack.

“You are so in love with him,” Anka rolled her eyes.

“Shut up,” Nami hissed, playfully hitting her.
“Not until you marry him,” Anka teased before running down the stairs with Nami at her heels.

“You’re not fair!” Nami blushed at the remark even more so at Nagi’s presence as she closed the door behind her. “Hi…” Nami murmured.

“Hey,” he responded, meeting her gaze.

Nami started twirling her hair, “Anka told me that you’re moving here for sure…”

“Yeah, my parents are signing my sisters and me into school later today,” he said softly.

“Vick’s going to college?” Nami guessed.

“Yeah, luckily,” Nagi replied.

“So, let’s head to the library while there is still a month left of summer,” Anka cut in.

“Right,” Nami and Nagi chorused, turning away from one another in embarrassment after they did so.

“This is gonna be fun,” Anka grinned evilly as she glanced back and forth between Nami and Nagi.


“Great Expectations?” Anka questioned.

“Already read it,” Nami and Nagi chorused, staring at the other in awe after doing so.

“How do you keep doing that?” Anka blinked.

“I don’t know,” Nami said softly.

Nagi shrugged, “It just seems to come naturally.”

“People try for years and years to do that,” Anka said slyly.

“Do what?” Nami and Nagi chorused again, blushing profusely.

“Try to be emotionally in tuned with another to where they finish one another’s thoughts or even say something simultaneously,” Anka said lightly.

“Uh..” Nami and Nagi stared at one another for a long while as Anka continued searching the shelves for a new readable book.

“What did you think of it?” Anka asked over her shoulder.

“Ew,” Nami made a face.

Nagi smiled, “You hated it?”

“It doesn’t live up to its title...that’s for sure,” Nami replied.

“I think that old novels are mostly rated highly because they are old,” Nagi commented.

“Of course they are,” Nami replied. “It’s because they mocked society back then and people want to have read them but never do.”

“Wuthering Heights?” Anka asked.

“Amazing book,” Nami and Nagi said in unison again. They each met the other’s gaze, their cheeks lightly reddened.

“How so?” Anka asked as she turned to face them.

“Do you want to…?” Nagi cleared his throat.

“Sure,” Nami paused, “It pretty much says that bad things happen to good people all of the time and is filled with betrayal and how people really are.”

“Sounds interesting,” Anka remarked as she turned back toward the shelves of books. “What else do we have here?”

How are we doing that? Nami asked herself as she stole another glance of Nagi who was watching her intently as well.

We’re unbelievably alike… Nagi thought as he looked her up and down.

“The Invisible Man?” Anka asked.

“Another Classic,” the paid said together again.

“If you’re intentionally doing that, can you stop? It’s getting a bit…creepy…” Anka admitted.

“Not intentional,” they muttered, amazed at their synced responses.

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