Let's just get this straight right off the bat. My parents were amazing. That's right....
Were.

When I was twelve, my parents died in a car crash. My little brother was seven at the time and his brain had blocked the accident out.

After the funeral we were immediately moved in with our Uncle Ben. He was only twenty four at the time, so that was interesting. He's gotten a lot better at the whole parenting thing since then.

"Athena have you seen my keys?" My Uncle Ben asked me as he searched through the living room.

Without missing a beat I pointed to the kitchen island and said. "They're by your spot at the island."

"Thanks, kid." He said ruffling my hair as I put some scrambled eggs on a plate. "Where's your brother?"

"I'm letting him sleep in a little longer. He kept having nightmares last night." I explained with a sigh. Ever since the accident, Max would have these night terrors about our parents' deaths. They weren't as frequent as they were five years ago, but they still happened.

When my brother gets his night terrors, Either Uncle Ben or I sit with him until he falls asleep. What makes them worse for Max is his tendency to get anxiety attacks. That something we both have developed since the accident.

"Okay, wake him up soon please. You don't want to be late for school again." Ben told me as he picked up his keys. "I'm off to work, make good choices."

"Love you too, Uncle Ben." I chuckled, rolling my eyes as the twenty nine year old man exited the house.

I heard a door shut in the direction of the hallway, making me turn around slightly. A small smile formed on my face at the sight of my twelve year old little brother.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." I chuckled as Max simply rolled his eyes in mock irritation, a smile forming on his lips making me grin.

"Morning, Thena." He yawned, sitting down at the kitchen island as I handed him a plate of scrambled eggs and toast.

"Eat up, we've got school in thirty minutes and I'm not risking another detention from Harris for being late to his class again." I told him, playfully pointing the spatula at him in a mockingly threatening way.

"Says the girl who takes ten minutes to think about what to wear and another ten to actually get ready." Max joked, making me laugh.

"Go get ready, squirt." I chuckled, pushing him towards his room.