It's easy to fall back into the same routine, even if you've been absent from it for 3 weeks. It's like I've never been gone. 

At around 8 the alarm goes off in Roman's room. We decided, as neither of us wanted to sleep in separate rooms with Chris' temper the way it is currently, to sleep in Roman's room. We moved the mattress off of my bed into his room.  

At about 8:30 after we've both showered we head into the living room and watch some of our own shit. It's the only time we can actually choose what we watch. 

Usually this was Judge Judy but now I'm not exactly in the mood for it. Reruns of Parks and Recreation also don't do anything for me either. We end up watching a show Roman's got into while I've been away called The Office. Due to moving homes a lot when we were younger, staying up to date with popular TV shows was never gonna be easy. I've heard of The Office, who in the US hasn't, but I've never actually watched it. It's pretty decent.

It's nearly 9:30 before we hear the familiar thud on the steps which tells us that Chris is awake. He comes into the room and snatches the remote out of Roman's hand before changing the channel. Roman offers him coffee but he's waved off with a hand. 

"Mrs Davis is due to come back any minute. Are you coming with us?" I ask.

"Us? Pretty sure she only wants you." Chris replies.

If he thinks Roman is staying here with him on his own he can fuck off. 'Cause he's not.

"We're both going to the station," I say "Roman's not staying here with you."

"What if that lady says he can't go" Chris snaps.

"Then I'll refuse to go until she lets us go together."

Chris stands up. "Oh come on. You've gotta be kidding me? You're not 3 years old Connor. You don't need him around you all the time." 

"I do need to keep him away from you though" I snap.

"Why's that? To make yourself seem like a hero for protecting your little brother? You're not a fucking saint Connor."

"Neither are you!"

"I've put up with you and you're fucking abysmal attitude for 3 years. The least I deserve is some fucking respect!"

"You don't deserve anything from me. Least of all respect. I'd rather be charged with Kailin's murder than stay here with you for another 5 months 'til we're 18." 

"Well hopefully you fucking will be. It'll be a weight off my back that's for sure. Then Roman and I can be left in peace."

"There is no fucking way he is staying with you if I go down for this!"

"AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO TO STOP IT! YOU'VE GOT NO EVIDENCE!"

"YOU PUSHED ROMAN DOWN THE FUCKING STAIRS YESTERDAY YOU IDIOT!" I shout, realising far too late what I said. 

Chris is on me like a tiger. I'm pushed against the wall and I'm certain he's about to do far worse to me than what he did to Roman yesterday. Luckily I saved by the bell. The doorbell that is.

"Roman go and answer that bitch" Chris says and Roman leaves.

We hear the distant voices of Roman and Mrs Davis getting closer. I'm starting to wonder when Chris is going to let go of me. Just as Roman and Mrs Davis are about to enter, Chris lies down on the floor infront of me.

"Good morning," Mrs Davis says brightly. She notices Chris on the floor. "Oh my gosh! Are you alright." 

She rushes over and holds out a hand to help Chris up. Then he says something I'd never thought I'd ever hear him say.

"Yeah I'm fine. Connor lost his temper a bit. Pushed me over when I suggested Roman should go with you to the station." 

What. The. Fuck. 

"He's lying!" I shout "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"

"Connor calm down," Mrs Davis says "go through to the kitchen. Get a drink and calm down. Then you can apologise." 

She actually believes him. I can't believe she actually believes his words over mine. I don't bother arguing. 

I head into the kitchen and sit down. I place my head in my hands. I want to scream or cry or throw a massive tantrum. But 17 year olds aren't supposed to do those things. So I stay like that, with my head in my hands until I feel a tap on my shoulder. 

Roman. Holding out something. I take it and see that it's a picture. Of a happy man and woman, two identical boys of about 4 by their feet. It's the only picture Roman and I have of our parents. 

We were too young to remember anything about what happened. But the story goes that mom and dad went on a family vacation. An adults only vacation. Now I know what that means it's a lot less innocent than I probably thought at the time. We were staying with two of our mom's friends. 

Apparently mom, dad, dad's parents, mom's parents and our uncle Ray (our dad's brother) went on a 1 week vacation to a luxury villa. They were the only ones there and apparently the place caught fire. No one knows how or why. Nothing remains of the villa today and our parents' deaths are not remembered by anyone but us. 

With our whole family wiped out we were of course thrown in the foster care system. Chris' place was our 11th house. None had ever lasted more than a year and a half. Chris stands as the longest we've ever stayed in one place. Though unfortunately it's not by choice. 

The place we were in before Chris had a problem with me. I was the main reason we were dumped back in the system. We'd been with this family for around 7 months. Although I got the blame for us being dumped back in the system, I wasn't the real reason.

Around 4 years ago or 7 months before Chris

We were greeted by a man and woman who seemed happy enough. They had 2 children of their own but wanted to have twins. Unfortunately due to complications with their daughter's birth, the woman had been unable to have any more children. Enter us. 

The woman called herself our mom but said that her name was Alex and we should call her mom. Our 'dad' was called Ray. Obviously this brought back some bad memories. 

Their children were called Alex, he was 9 and Leah, she was 8. Both were incredibly spoiled. We were responsible for them all the time. We pretty much acted as babysitters for them. As the older of the two of us I got the blame for everything. 

When Leah got hurt by going down the slide in the park headfirst even when I told her not to and tried to stop her, who's fault was it? Mine apparently. Alex gets injured when he falls off his bike and I was too busy pushing Leah on the training wheels she was too big for. That was my fault too.  

I was accused of not taking care of their kids so frequently that I lost it with them and shouted at them that if they wanted a babysitter agreeing to foster us was not the solution. This was what landed us back in the foster care system. I was quote 'unmanageable and irresponsible with a very quick temper, and likely to 'cause problems with other children.' I ruined that possible family adoption apparently. 

I still think that we're better off out of that family but now that we've met Chris I'm not so sure. 

"Connor. I've just had a text from the officer I've been in contact with at the station." Mrs Davis says. 

She comes into the kitchen. Chris follows close behind her. 

"The post mortem revealed Kailin's cause of death." She adds.

"What was it?" I ask, knowing that the next thing she says will either make my wildest dreams come true that I'm not a murderer or confirm my worst nightmare.

Mrs Davis finally replies "the allergic reaction was considered mild. It wouldn't have been enough to kill her. She was killed by stabbing."