Convincing her

Jen attended her last class for the week since her weekend will be starting on the next day. Once the lecturer said his final words and that he will email them the following week's reading list, he finally left the lecture hall.

Jen took her time packing her things which was a contrast to how Michael was just shoving his things in his bag.

"What's the rush?" Jen asked in amusement.

"There's going to be an important business deal today, I definitely don't want to miss it," Michael said as he quickly zipped up his bag and checked the time on his phone.

"Shit, I'm late!" he exclaimed before slinging the bag over his shoulder and running out of the hall. Jen chuckled as she looked at his departing back and also stood up to go to the cafeteria.

After arriving, she saw that the girls hadn't arrived yet so she went to buy herself some juice before picking an empty table to sit on.

The moment she sat down, her phone rang. She took out of her purse and checked who was calling and saw that it was Jake.

"Hello" Jen answered as she sucked on the juice through the straw before frowning and putting it on the table. Too sweet she mouthed to herself before sticking her tongue out

"Big sis!" Jake said from the other side.

"What is it?" Jen asked.

"I missed you," he said making Jen chuckle in amusement. She knew that he probably ran out of money and called to persuade her to let him off.

"Me too," Jen said humouring him.

"When are you coming home?" Jake asked making small talk.

"I don't know yet. If there's nothing I'll call you another time since I have to go to class" Jen lied.

"No! Um- I mean, Alex said that you told her to cancel my cards" Jake complained. He didn't exactly believe everything Alex said.

"So what if I did?" Jen asked.

"Big sis, aren't you being too harsh?" Jake said in a whiny voice.

Jen was silent for a while as she remembered Michael who was the same age as her younger brother. They were too different. She wasn't asking for him to be like Michael, but it wouldn't be bad if he was at least more responsible

"Do you think I'm bullying you?" Jen said in annoyance.

"That's not what I mean-" Jake said his heart shaking in fear. He was very familiar with the tone of voice she was using.

"Then do you think you did something good? What if you crashed the car and died while you were drunk driving, or worse, killed someone on your way home. You would end up in jail like father and who do you think would have to work their ass off to get you out?" Jen asked clearly angry. Jake wisely kept quiet and let his sister vent her anger.

"Do you still think I'm being harsh?" Jen asked after calming herself down. Jake was silent because he really didn't want to trap himself. It was true that he had been in the wrong in this situation.

"Remember the money you are using is mine, I can decide whether you can or can't use it. In this case, you will definitely not be getting money from me, and don't even think of going to ask mom otherwise I'll also cut off her allowance am I clear?" Jen said. She did not sound like she was bluffing.

"Okay," Jake said meekly.

"If you want money go work at the restaurant. For minimum wage, you are reckless because everything is being handed to you on a platter. You should realise how hard it is to make the money that you squandered on that one night. If you hate it, your welcome to work somewhere else, or better, go to university" Jen said and cut the call. If she kept on talking she would probably say something she would regret. It was the first time she had ever cut the call on him.

She picked up the juice she had abandoned in the beginning and sucked on the straw to cool herself. The sweetness was diluted because the ice had melted a bit before she slammed it back down on the table.

"Is the juice that bad?" Leanna asked as she sat next to her with an amused smile plastered on her face.

Nancy sat opposite the two of them and took the juice and gave it a taste before giving it back to Jen.

"It's alright. I don't think that's what put her in a mood" Nancy said and rested her head on her hand and looking at Jen as if she was waiting for her to tell her all about it.

"It's just family," Jen said clearly not planning to elaborate.

"Oh," Leanna said in understanding.

"Are you having lunch first or should we have it at the mall?" Jen asked the two girls.

"Let's have it at the mall," Leanna said and they all stood up to leave.

They walked together to the parking lot and they all split into their own individual cars before they all went to the mall.