2

„Mum! Mother!" I raced around the house, my dog Cedric barking at my footsteps, swinging his tail from happiness. Whenever I was in a bad mood he would glue himself more to me until I patted his fur. Then he would be satisfied and turn to his next victim. It was like he felt who needed the most hugs that day and runned after them to give it.

„In the kitchen!" she yelled just as I neared the corner. I bounced in place, holding my hand near my chest „Gosh, hello to you too."

„Not my fault you always yell at me. That Carter boy again?" she knew even when she didn't know anything. That's my mother, always keeping up with the gossip, especially those linked to her daughter, the talk of the town.

„Yes, and we call him King in this household." I sat on the rolling chairs and swinged around, an act she hated the most and warned her children about numerous times. Yup,you heard me right-children.

 There is four of us and I'm an only girl and the youngest. It was hard being me, really, with all those boys and their extravagant hormones so I usually yelled all the time and for anything possible. That's probably why they call me a brat most of the times, except Jared, he kinda likes me. That is because I leave him alone, don't ask much questions, don't give a fuck about his wherebounds and share muffins our aunt makes every Sunday when I steal it from the kitchen.

Aside from him who is a year above me, my other two brothers don't aknowledge me much, just when there's a need of punching every boy that comes near me. Not that they have to do that much, they already terrorized half the town.

„You are the only one who calls him that." Mum put the smoking pan down and turned around towards me „Jenny said you got a call from the Principal?" it wasn't a question, more like a statement.

„Ah, how you always know things before it happens."

„What did you do?"

„Nothing serious, really, and Mrs Jenny could use another entertainment, I'm getting quiet annoyed with her." The lady was a good neighbour and a nice person to chat with when you have none and just want to talk pointless gossip to speed up the boring weekdays, but sometimes, on the days like this, she could be too noisy for her own good.

She knew everyones personal business, not that I had any with the jerk, but not to deflect the subject, she just knew things she shouldn't know and wasn't ashamed to hide it.

„Bea, we do not talk about eldery people like that, especially about such a caring, old soul." If I could, I would've rolled my eyes so hard in that moment, but mum didn't appreciate my sarcastic soul, yet she glorified the 'one leg in grave' ones.

„How is she caring when she sticks her nose in everyones business? It's called tattletale, learn the difference Mum!" she raised her finger and I shut it instantly. „Okay, okay."

„Don't change the subject." She warned again.

„I'm not, it wasn't like something extraordinary happened. I insulted him after he stole my clothes and left me naked." The pan nearly fell on the floor when she turned around again mortified. „He did what now?"

„AHA, SEE! That's what I told the Principal as well-„

„The Principal?" she yelled.

„Calm down okay, it wasn't nearly as bad as it seems. He stole my clothes while I was in the shower at the Gym, and when I came to the Indemnity I told everyone he has a small, you know..." mothers eyes widened from horror „thingy."

„Bea Ann Cooper this is not how I raised you!" the lunch was long forgotten during the time she collected her thoughts and lowered her yelling „You should be a lady, not an immature boy like himself."

„But he started first-„

„I don't care what he started, I am your mother and I raised you better than that."

„Okay." My voice sounded like a defeated whisper. „I won't do it again."

„And Carter has his own mother to worry about his behaviour, don't start with it again." It's like she knew what my next monologue would be like. Of course, she won't aknowledge what he did but only what her child did. Typical.

„Fine. I'm off to my room." Because I'm tired and cranky and no one understands me, I wanted to add but knew she wouldn't appreciate it. „Lunch will be in 5 o'clock, don't make me drag you down again."

„Yes sir." By the time I left, Cedric found Jared and licked half of his face on the couch in the livingroom.

„She angry?" he didn't look up from his phone, sitting with one leg up on the mahogany table we all hated but mum loved and cherished because, let me tell you in her words 'its modern design' and we don't understand that kind of culture.

„Yup, you better don't ask anything and get those feet of of Sofia, she'll crack." The desk got its name after our cousin we solemnly hated but acted like we loved being around with. Similiar to the desk, we somehow found resemblance. Don't ask.

„Sofia is a strong piece of furniture, don't doubt in her." He laughed at his own joke. „You would be surprised."

„I don't even want to know." I made a face and walked to the staircase „Good luck."

„Thank you my dear sister." He shouted after me and put another leg on the table. Idiot, he should listen to me more.

***

„Daddy you're home!" when I came down that afternoon after dealing with various assignments, Dad smiled at my running figure and enfolded me into a hug. „Where is my favorite girl?"

„I am an only girl besides mum, of course I'm your favorite." I laughed at his mediocre, old jokes and sat on my empty chair. As always, I was the last one down which received me a three hungry glares from my brothers and one from my mother whose eyes screamed 'I warned you' but I ignored it.

„How was in lectures? Did you do good today?" Jared snorted on my left side before I could answer the question. I looked him up from the corner of my eyes silently begging him not to start with it again.

„Good, same ol'."

„That's my girl. You Jared?" Dad diverted his attention from me as I let out a sign of relief. Mum warned me with her eyes to not ruin the day and folded a napkin on her lap. „Awesome, the gossip that circeled around really intrigued me."

The son of a bitch. My hand did on it's own record and pinched his arm on his sides. I'll do anything, just shut it, I though to myself in panic. „But you know, I don't spend much time on gossip because it won't get me anywhere."

I exhailed. „That's my boy, I taught you well. More studying and less of that stuff, please."

Mum took the lead from there almost like she couldn't wait to stop the conversation „Thank you God for giving us such a good life and this food that we have today on the table. Lord be with us."

„Amen." We all murmured and digged into our plates. My two older brothers started to explain their first week at their new job they got at the local IT department. They are twins and did almost everything together, from studies, to interest, to social events.

 It looked like they always found a liking in the same stuff hence why they managed to get the same job at the same company. They both finished their studies half a year ago with an astonishing record. We were all really proud of them, especially dad.

„The boss is a nice man, really, we get along with him just fine. That's what is the most important thing, really. Remember Johhny? He never gave us a chance." Matthew looked so at ease with the new arrangement, anyone could tell he really enjoyed working there.

„Yes, he talked nonsence most of the time." Anthony agreeded wholeheartedly.

„I'm so proud of you. It only gets better now." We ate in silence afterwards with me thinking about the conversation I had with Klo on the phone a couple of minutes ago. Allegedly, Professor Crossbore was really angry after the scandal and made the rest of them do much more then usual, commenting on our demeanor as disrespectful.

„Yes, I'm telling you B, he won't let go of this any time soon. I think you crossed his line of patience." Her words were concerned while I tuned her in. „Agh, I can't possibly deal with it now. He can screw himself for all I care."

„I know but I think we shouldn't take it lightly. He can have a strong impact if he wishes." She ment if he decided to take matter into its own hands and make my life miserable for the rest of the semester. Klo was always the panic one among us, analysing every word too many times in her head.

„It's okay, I'll survive somehow. I'm more worried about Dad finding out because of that lousy neighbourd of mine. Mum found out before I came home." I could roll my eyes now in piece behind my four walls of piece.

„Again? That grandma really doesn't like you."

„I knoow! That's what I tell my mother all the time but she won't listen." I turned around on my back.

„And there is a party at Nicks tommorrow, I have to go prepared." Nick is the guy from our year that throws almost every party because his parents are never home and he is rich as hell. I'm not even overdoing it, he parks his Lamborghini in the no parking zone and never gets a ticket for it while I don't even own a car but I'm sure if I did, would get a ticket the minute I park it. Life and its unfairness.

„What do you mean?" she asked confused. „You think King will do one of his pranks again?"

„He might, I left him in a bad mood today. Like 'angry, stabbing his feet all the way to the parking lot' way." I remembered the look he gave me. It was promising me another battle. „He'll do something, I'm pretty sure of it."

„Do you have something in mind?"

„Not really, but we'll see what the circumstances get me. All due its time. Gotta go chica, I'm already late." Looking up at my watch on my hand, I jumped from my bed expecting my mum to burst through the door anytime soon. „Bye."

I'll worry about King later.