everytime I see your face

 "What did my sister say, to make you so weird?" Mick had been meaning to ask this question to Jools for days now. Finally, he got up the nerve while Jools was cutting the green onion before he tossed it in the hot skillet. He was making ramen. 

"Oh, it's..it's nothing," Jools quickly said, but even in his voice, Mick knew it sounded a little off. Jool's had been practically numb lately. Maybe Jools hated living with him.

"I don't believe you," Mick said as he handed him the bowl of carrots and celery he'd chopped thinly.

"It'll be fine," Jools nodded. "She wants to go to California."

Mick nodded. He'd heard this before. He remembered. Something about her boyfriend's family was there. He knew he didn't want to go with her. "You think it's a mistake?"

"I didn't say that." Jools shook his head, no.

"What if they're all bikers and they torture my sister in the desert?" He looked at Jools blankly.

Jools only sighed with that sly smile and put the veg in the pan. It sizzled and the spicy scent rose ever so heavenly.

"You, like thinking the worst, don't you?" Jools looked at him and Mick nodded. Jools turned to grab the spatula and swirl the veg about. He took the handle and danced the pan over the electric heat.

It wasn't long that he added some broth and finally the noodles. The seasonings came last. It was dinner on the table in a few minutes.

"She's just worried about you," Jools told him that she felt he couldn't take care of himself.

"Why?" He looked to Jools as if he'd wait for his cue to start eating. The noodles were steaming.

"Because, she's your sister and you're her little brother," Jools said. "It's supposed to be that way."

Naturally, Mick asked if Jools had any siblings. Jools shook his head, no. In fact, Jools said he didn't have any family at all.

This made Mick sad. He could hardly eat. Of course, Jools didn't say much more. He ate. Mick did his best to take in the soup. He really wished he knew how he could help Jools.