We went up to Jonathan's room. He shut the door behind us and flopped onto his big beanbag chair.
"Start talking," he demanded.
Let me point out now that Jonathan knows almost as much about me as Taylor does, which is basically everything. I started pacing around the room.
"What is Mom's problem?" I asked simply.
"Oh, jeez, what happened now?" he sighed sympathetically.
"It's-it's just-she doesn't care, Jon! She always told us that she liked home-schooling because it gives her more free time with us, meanwhile, I don't see her putting forth even the slightest bit of effort. We could be going to regular school for the same price. We're teenagers, we need our parents and it's their job to be there. Why isn't she? She spends so much time working, why doesn't she actually do her job?" I was almost in total hysterics.
"Sari, I-" he paused, trying to find the right words.
"You what? You know I'm right!"
"Sari, she has a lot going on right now, and I think what she's going through is a legitimate excuse. When you've calmed down, I'll tell you," he said. "But that's obviously not all. What else happened?"
I opened my mouth to protest and beg him to tell me, but I knew he wouldn't budge. When Jonathan says something, he means it. He wouldn't hurt a fly, but I wouldn't cross him or disrespect him, ever. I took a deep breath. I hoped he wouldn't get all big-brotherish on me. I closed my eyes and repictured for the umpteenth time the moment in my head.
"Sari?" he asked in a concerned voice that reminded me of Isaac.
"Taylor kissed me," I blurted out.
"What?!" he stood up angrily.
"No! It wasn't like that! I-I kissed him back," I said.
He sat down, dumbfounded.
"Uh..." he began.
"Uh what?"
"Uh..."
"Uh what? Jonathan, please, say something!"
"But I-you-the two-Taylor-" he swallowed. "I never would have imagined," he finally said.
"Well, it happened, and we decided that we only want to be friends, but..."
"Are you the one with second thoughts, or is it Tay?"
"If anyone, him. My problem is Isaac. I think he knows something happened between me and Taylor. I basically just told him he was my crush."
"What do you mean, basically?"
"Just that. I told him that my crush thinks of me as a sister," I said.
"Well, you don't know anything for a fact, so don't stress until you do," my practical brother said.
"You're right," I said. I mean, there was nothing else to say. Jonathan started polishing his fingers on his shirt. I giggled. Jon is the greatest.
"Thanks, Jon," I said, holding my arms out for a hug. Jon gives great hugs.
"Now get out of here, I'm studying," he said.
"Which is what I should be doing. Bye," I said, shutting the door behind me. I went in search of my mother. My mother! What did Jonathan say he was going to tell me about her? I barged back into his room.
"Now, what were you going to tell me about Mom?" I asked.
"I hoped you wouldn't remember. Come, I think Mom should tell you, it's really not my place to say."
"Ok..." I said, giving him a strange look. We went downstairs and found Mom.
"Mom," Jonathan began. "I think you should tell Sari, she kind of has a right to know."
"I don't think she should just yet. When Dad gets home, we'll tell her together," she implied.
"Mom, this is really important, and time will fly until the time comes, and every second counts, so why don't you just tell her?"
I was starting to get worried. I expected the worst-we were moving, or mom had gotten cancer like Diana, or Lord knows what.
"Mom, you're scaring me," I shouted. "Now please, just tell me!"
She looked at Jonathan, then me, then back to him. He gave her a stern look, a warning glance, almost, that told her not to cross him. She looked back at me.
"Sari, I know this will probably change everything, and I know I'm 43 years old, but I want you to know tha-"
"Mom," I begged. "Stop beating around the bush and just tell me, please."
"OK," she said. My mother drew in a deep breath and held her head in her hands, massaging her temples.
"Mom?" I asked cautiously.
"Sari, I'm pregnant."