Carli's POV

"Disobey me one more time," I growl into Alex's ear as my fingertips dig into her bicep. "Stop playing and pick up the cones." I roughly let her go causing her to stumble forward. Julie stares at me with her mouth slightly open. "Move!" I demand. "Pick something up! We're going to be late to dinner." She quickly shakes out of her trance and hurries to gather the balls we brought out here.

"Mal stop it." says Christen sounding annoyed while she picks up our water cooler to carry back to my car. Mallory continues to juggle her ball haphazardly. She loses control of it and bumps into Chris as she tries to save it. The left over ice and water flies everywhere. 

I sigh and walk over, "C'mon let's go." I help her up and then pick back up my bag. I put my fingers in my mouth and whistle, effectively getting Al and JJ's attention. I motion towards the parking lot with my head before managing to lead them all up the hill and into the car.

The girls are all staying with me for a few days in Houston. Brian is off on a business trip so it's just me. They were literally tearing my little two bedroom apartment to pieces so I forced them all to change out of their pajamas and come to the pitch for a few hours to run out all their built up energy.

"Mal stop kicking my seat!" complains Alex from the passenger seat.

"Mama Julie keeps reading my text!" shouts Christen annoyed.

"I am not!" yells JJ.

"I'm not doing anything to Lexi Mama!" adds Mallory not wanting to be left out.

"Cut it out!" I snap finally pulling into my complex. The car falls silent as I find a parking spot.  We all get out and head into the building. I grab Mallory's hand as we cross the street, much to her disliking, and don't let go until we make it to my door. "Five minute showers girls." Literally all four of them drop their bags right in the middle of the kitchen, which happens to be the entryway to my apartment, and race to the back. "Girls." I sigh but they're already fighting each other for the bathroom. I pick up their stuff and toss it on the couch. I need to buy more Febreze. Gosh. I go back into the kitchen and put the peanut butter that Christen left out back into the cabinet.

"Mama!" yells Mal running into the room. "Christen and Julie said I have to go last because I'm the youngest but I got there second!" I look at her confused and squeeze my eyes closed exhausted. "Mama hello?!"

I sigh and scoop her up, "Let's go talk some sense into the big girls." I carry her back to the guest room where they're waiting for Lex to get out of the bathroom. "Why are you two being mean to your little sister? If she got to the shower second then she goes second. You two aren't going to be bullies."

"Mama we weren't bullying!" whines Christen. "She's the baby so she goes last!"

"If that's true why didn't you go first?" I question bouncing Mal up a little higher on my hip.

"Because Lex smells worse than the three of us combined." she sasses.

"It was really better for the atmosphere." nods JJ agreeing. I roll my eyes.

"Mally is next." I drop Mal down between them on the bed and leave their room. "Alexandra hurry up!" I holler banging on the door. "Let's go!" I go back into the kitchen and lean against the bar tiredly. Finally after what feels like decades I'm able to take a short shower and get ready for tonight.

"Mama is there pasta at this restaurant we're going to?" asks Mallory trying to flat iron her hair but missing a whole section in the back. I walk behind her and gently take the iron from her hands and do it for her.

"It's an Italian restaurant, idiot." answers Julie walking past her to go to the kitchen. Mal frowns and looks down feeling bad.

"Julie Beth come here!" I call sternly. She comes back and looks at me sassily. "Apologize." I demand finishing up Mallory's hair. Julie groans and crosses her arms.

"Sor-ry!" she says sarcastically and then turns on her heel and walks out. I sigh and look through the mirror at Mal who has her bottom lip poked out and her eyes glossed over with tears. I hug her waist and pull her into me from behind and press my lips to the top of her head.

I speak softly to her, "Don't cry Bookend. JJ's just grumpy that Daddy isn't here. If she's mean to you again though Mama's going to get her." Mal cracks a smile and wipes the two tears that fell down her cheeks away. I smile down at her. "You ready to go to dinner Monkey?" She nods and turns to face me. "You look beautiful by the way."

She blushes and sheepishly smiles, "Thanks Mama."

I grin at her and unplug the straightener, "You're welcome sweet girl." She smiles up and then goes to get her shoes so I walk to the kitchen where Julie is playing on her phone. I walk up behind her and pop her making her jump. "Don't sass me like that again and stop being a jerk to Mallory." Before she responds the rest of the girls walk in ready to go. I grab my car keys and wait for all four of them to file out before following them. "Mal Pal gets shot gun!" I announce making her smile big and stick her tongue out at Christen who normally gets that spot. Chris playfully rolls her eyes but climbs in the back after shoving Julie to the middle. I get in the driver's seat and can't help but grin at Mallory's excitement to be sitting upfront. I back out of the parking spot and make my way to the restaurant while Mal giggles and dances to the radio and the others sing along. I pull in and turn the music down causing loud whining to fill my car.

"Alright! Alright!" I say silencing them. "You guys need to behave while we're here. No alcohol." I say looking through the rear view at the three on the back seat. "No soda." I look at Mallory. "And no screaming or kicking or acting out." I finish glancing at all of them. They like to kick each other under the table and then it gets out of hand and JJ has a melt down and I just don't have time for that. "Do I have any questions? None? Great! Let's go!" I get out and let them all pile out before locking the door and taking Mal's hand while walking across the street into the restaurant. We immediately get seated toward the back and I order water for everyone. I thank the waiter and then look back at the girls to find them already bickering. On one side of the table is Julie, then Christen, and then Alex. Mallory is standing next to Christen between her and Alex looking pitiful.

"Alex move." demands Christen looking at her meanly. "Mal wants to sit there." Al looks at her upset. "Move!"

"Christen!" I warn in a hushed town while taken my seat. I lean across the table not breaking eye contact with her. "You are not going to be bossy. Come sit by me."

"But Mama!" she protest quietly. I glare at her. She sighs and starts to stand up but JJ grabs her arm.

"No Pressy! I wanted the sit by you!"

"Me too!" adds Mallory showing signs of a temper tantrum. I massage my temples and squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them, I give Christen a stern look.

"You sit here." I point to the seat beside me. I look at Mal. "You sit there." I motion to Christen's old seat. Christen solemnly pries Julie's fingers off her arm and takes her seat.

Mal doesn't sit. "I wanted to be next to Chrissy!" She says again.

I give her a stern glare. "Mallory Pugh. You better sit down and zip it." Grudgingly, she sits down. She lays her head on the table, in her arms. Alex still looks wounded and Julie is not happy.

The waiter comes back with five glasses of water. He takes our order, looking a little overwhelmed as he scribbles it down. I'd be too if I were on the other side. Christen and I got a pasta dish, Julie got chicken parmesan, Alex got a salad, Mal got pasta with meatballs, and we got some appetizers.

He left to put our order in. I took the time to send a text to Hope. Meanwhile the girls were playing some game Mal suggested. It was so like her to be crying and in trouble one second and sweet and innocent the next. The girls took turns.

Concentration *clap* *clap* *clap*
64 *clap* *clap* *clap*
No repeats *clap* *clap* *clap*
Or hesitation *clap* *clap* *clap*
Category *clap* *clap* *clap*
Movie titles *clap* *clap* *clap*
I start *clap* *clap* *clap*
You follow *clap* *clap* *clap*

They choose categories and take turns. For once, all four are actually getting along. "You hesitated!" Julie suddenly blurts.

Lex shakes her head. "No I didn't." I groan internally. I send Hope another text about the kids. Her response is about 100% teasing and 0% helpful.

Julie nods vigorously. "Did to!"

"Liar!" Lex retorts.

Maybe they'll be able to figure it out without me. I mull over the chances of that. The results are comical.

They turn to Mal and Chris. "Who won?" They demand.

They point to the opposite girl. "Mal can't be trusted," Lex says as she glares at the youngest girl's finger. It is jabbed in Julie's direction.

Mallory's nose crinkles in frustration. "Why not? I'm more trustworthy than you!"

"Knock it off," I snap lowly, eyeing all of them sternly.

Mal kicks her chair legs and huffs. "Alex is being mean to me!"

Alex glares at her. "Am not!"

"You're all very close to taking a trip to the bathroom," I warn as the waiter comes up with trays of food. Julie pales at the threat. Christen and Alex blush, glancing at the waiter. They are obviously worrying if he heard. Mal's bottom lip quivers. She bites it as a plate of pasta with meatballs are placed in front of her. The rest of the plates are divvied out. We thank him as he leaves.

I'm a few bites into my dish when I notice Mal sitting and staring at hers. "Mallory, eat your food." Her face scrunches up in disgust.

Christen finishes her bite and says, "Mal doesn't like sauce on her pasta." She stuffs another forkful of pasta into her mouth

Sure enough, her meatballs are sitting in the center of her dish. The sauce coats her pasta and her meatballs. I sigh. "Mal, just eat it." I point to her plate with my fork. "It's the same food whether it's touching or not."

"It doesn't taste the same," she whines, gripping her fork like it's a weapon.

Before I could reprimand her for whining, she stabs the fork. The prongs hit the edge of a meatball. It flies off her plate and hits Lex's cheeks. Her eyes widen in surprise. I open my mouth to scold Mallory. I take my napkin off my lap and get ready to stand.

Whap!

Mallory cries out. Marinara sauce drips from her forehead. It smears in her hair. These are not my kids. My youngest touches her finger to her head. She flicks her wrist to rid the sauce. It flies onto Julie's jacket. Her favorite jacket. She gasps in horror. The defender grabs a fist full of pasta and shoves it down the back of Mallory's shirt. Christen fidgets next to me. I can feel her glancing at me.

"Mallory Diane!" I shout.

Alex tries to dump her salad bowl on Mallory's head. "Alex Patricia!" Mal puts her hands to deflect it. Salad flies everywhere. Julie tries to dodge the chaos in favor of her jacket. "Julie Beth!" Her water is tipped and spills onto Christen. She shoots out of her seat screaming.

These are not my kids. These are not my kids. These are Hope's kids.

She grabs a fistful of her pasta and throws it at her sisters. "Christen Annemarie!"

Food flies back and forth. It's too much chaos. They can't hear me over their own bickering. The surrounding tables watch. I can feel their judgment burning my skin. Embarrassment burns through my body. Before I can say anything, a clump of pasta lands on my head. It droops down like hair. Sauce drips down my cheeks and forehead. The girls fall silent and still. 

I take a deep breath while shakily using my napkin to wipe some of the sauce away. I turn my head and see the entire wait staff standing in a line staring with their eyes wide. When our waiter notices my glance he steps forward timidly. "M-May I g-get y-you-"

"The check please." I take another deep breath, "Just the check," and he nods his head and then runs off. I turn back to my girls. I speak lowly and as calm as I can manage, "Go get in the car." The girls quickly scramble out of the restaurant suddenly becoming best buddies with each other. The waiter comes back and I write a check leaving a 100% tip. I apologize sincerely then leave the building. I unlock the car and I can see the girls from across the parking lot quickly get in. I look both ways before crossing and getting in the car myself. I drive us back to the apartment complex with nothing but the sound of the radio playing in the background of my thoughts. I park the car abruptly and get out. The girls quickly follow behind me. I snatch Mallory's hand while walking to the door. I unlock it and make them all go in before I do. 

"You have exactly five minutes to go get your swimsuits on." They all look at me for a second like I'm crazy before slowly starting to move. I look down at my watch. "Four minutes!" I shout after them which makes them move. "It better be appropriate too!" While they change I go to my room and change into shorts and a t shirt as well as flip flops. I grab the pool bag and toss in four towels on top of the toys and goggles that are already in there. I walk to the living room and find everyone but Julie waiting. I turn to yell for her but she come sprinting into the room before I can. I get them all back into the car and drive us to the fitness center where the indoor pool is open. 

I pull up and I hear Alex's timid voice, "Mama why are we h-here?"

I stop the car and switch gears to put it into park. "You'll see." I open my door. "Everybody out." I grab the bag from by my feet and then lead them all into the building. We walk to the area where the pool is and luckily, to save them from embarrassment which I honestly don't care about, it's empty. I put our bag down at a table and direct them to take off their shoes and cover ups and to get in the water. JJ has to physically drag Mallory in and Christen holds her to her chest to get her to stop freaking out. Mal loves the beach but she's not a huge fan of actually getting in the water and swimming. I squat down next to her and put my hands on her shoulders.  "Mally you need to calm down. You know how to swim and you're safe. Your sisters are with you and I would never let anything bad happen to you." She looks at me and sniffles while nodding her head. She wades out of Chris's arms and stands next to her. I smile slightly and then walk around to the side of the pool. 

"Alright you four decided to make a mess so now you need a bath." I have to try really hard to control my evil smile. "You're going to swim from there," I point to where they are, "to there." I point to the other end of the pool, "when I say go until I get tired of watching you." 

"You can't make us do this!" argues Christen. "This is crazy!"

"I'm going to tell Mom on you!" adds Alex crossing her arms stubbornly. 

Julie turns to her in a panic, "NO!" she shouts. "Mommy would kill us! Just shut up and swim!" I chuckle at her reaction but she is correct. Hope would fly down here and beat their tails. 

"Alright Jay settle down." I say shaking my head while trying to retain my straight face. Alex glares at me but gets herself ready to swim. "Go!" I yell. They get to the other side. "Go!" "Go!" "Again!" "Go!" The girls continue at a steady pace for a while before I notice Mallory lagging behind. She makes it to the ledge a little while after the others spitting water. I walk over to where she is and grab her from under her arms and pull her out. She sputters and coughs into the air while a carry her over to our bag to get her a towel. I set her down on a lounge chair then wrap her hot pink towel around her shoulders. Once I see that she's okay I go back and stand on the edge of the pool. "Let's go! You're not finished!" They groan but swim the length of the pool again and again until Christen taps out her thirteenth time of swimming across.  It's roughly thirty feet across the long side so honestly I'm surprised she made it that long. I look at Alex and Julie who are still wading in the water. Julie goes down and back one more time before I have to pull her out against her will. She wanted to swim longer than Alex. Al goes three more lengths before having to stop. I sit them all on the lounge chair and stand in front of them with my arms crossed.

"Showers and then straight to bed tonight. Mallory you're sleeping with me, JJ and Chris you two have the guest bed, and Lex you're on the pull out. Also no pancakes in the morning we're having plain oatmeal." That last statement caused more complaints than anything else. I scoop Mal up into my arms and grab the pool bag. I carry her out to the car and then drive us all back to the apartment. Everyone gets their shower, I comb out all their hair, which Alex and Christen can do themselves but they insisted, tuck all four in as well as give kisses and turn off lights. I finally get to get my shower and and put my warm pajamas on before climbing in bed next to an already snoring Mal-pal. If this trip continues like today, this is going to be a loooong next few days.