"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Marissa yelled, slamming the door behind her and discarding her shoes and bags on the stained welcome mat. Rami looked up from his place on the couch, the end of a pencil bitten between his teeth and a dark eyebrow raised. He laughed and mumbled quietly to himself.

"What the hell was what? Scared they'll finally realize what a monster you are?" Rami taunted, removing the pencil from between his teeth and waving it around with his left hand as he spoke.

Marissa shook her head, her mouth slightly agape.

"Monster? Holy shit, Ram you must be insane! I haven't done anything illegal, and that includes killing Dad! How the-" She paused, her hands flying rapidly and her cheeks heating up. Something Rami and her used to have in common whenever they got worked up, but he had learned to keep a cool expression over the years.

She groaned, stomping her foot and in that moment she reminded Rami of a child. A tall, rather pathetic, child.

"Calm down. It's not as if anyone believes me. They practically worship the ground you walk on. I'm just-" he tilted his head, "-providing them with a new view."

Marissa shook her head again. Rami didn't look like the short, frightened fifteen year old boy that he normally did. No, he was much different, and that's what terrified Marissa.

She turned away from him, walking to her room, to scared as to what she would find if she looked back.

***

"How was school? Anything interesting happen today?" Their Mother asked. The sounds of scraping forks and chewing filling  the small room.

This was how their dinners had been ever since their father died. Forced. Awkward. Quiet. Rami and Marissa pretended as if they hadn't heard their Mother crying behind closed doors and she pretended that she didn't notice their grades slipping. It was quite a nice system.

"It was fine. I got an A on the science test we had last week," Rami said, his eyes locked on his sister seated across the table, waiting for her to call him out.

Marissa scrunched her nose at him, aggressively chewing on a piece of lemon pepper chicken.

"Oh that's great! How'd you do, Riss?" Serena, their Mother, asked, turning her head to smile at her daughter.

"Fine. I got a B. Not surprising though, science is my worst subject," she said, making a point of avoiding eye contact with Rami.

"That's still great," Serena insisted. Science was Rami's best class, although it was the opposite for his sister, proving once again how different the two were.

"Yea, good job! We're both so proud of you, Riss!" Rami said, his tone flat and uninterested. Marissa forced a smile on her face.

"Thanks," she managed to spit out.

If Serena noticed the tension between the two she didn't say anything, and the rest of the dinner was spent in silence. Just a normal dinner.

***

Rami held his blanket in his small hand, arching his other, free hand up to knock on his sister's door. Knock. Knock. Knock. He could hear her, her footsteps were quiet and light.

"Rami? You okay? What time is it?" She stopped asking questions once she saw the tear stains on Rami's cheeks.

Rami hurried into the room, pressing the soft material of his blanket to his face, only his eyes showing.

"Was it Dad? I told you not to bother him after eight, he gets grumpy 'member?" She reminded him and he nodded, taking a seat on her bed, his feet kicking back and fourth. She sat down next to him, the bed dipping with both of their weight.

"There's a spider in my room. Dad wouldn't get rid of it and Mom's asleep. Can I stay here tonight? I know Dad says I should stop doing this 'cause I'm too old, but I really really don't wanna go back in there," Rami pleaded, leaning his head on his Marissa's shoulder.

The twins were eight, and as close as ever. Marissa had already grown a head or two taller than Rami. She constantly held it over his head, but Rami knew it was all in good fun.

"I guess you can stay," Marissa teased, sighing dramatically. She scooted towards the wall, turning her body and then slipping her lower half under the large purple comforter. She patted the spot besides her.

Rami smiled, crawling in next to her, making sure to lay his blanket over top of the covers (although it barely covered him). Marissa adjusted herself so she was facing him, a small smile gracing her chubby cheeks.

"Night night, Rami. I love you," she mumbled, closing her eyes.

"Love you too, g'night."