*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"BILLY, FREDDY, BONNIE!  Get your arses down here!" Eugene yells up the stairs. I grunted and sped walked out the door and down the stairs, Billy following closely behind me.

We walked into the dining room, everyone was already seated and staring at us. I looked at the empty seat between Darla and Hunter and I sat down. Billy sitting on the other side of the table, not daring to look at Hunter.

"Where's Freddy?" Victor questioned Billy and I. But before we could reply a voice spoke "I am right here," It was Freddy, walking as fast as he could on his crutch. "Unlike you assholes, I can't run downstairs." Freddy joked taking a seat next to Billy and directly in front of me. He gave me a small smile but his eyes went wide when he caught himself accidentally looking over to my brother.

"Alright kiddos, all hands on deck," Victor says holding his hand out in the middle of the table. Everyone places their hands in the center, except for my brother and I. I just looked away from the group and stared off into the distance. Everyone sat back down in their seats and began to eat.

"So, are we excited for our first day of school tomorrow?" Victor spoke up looking toward Hunter and I. The entire table stared at us, the new kids waiting for us to reply, I knew Hunter wouldn't talk so I had to.

"Uh yeah I guess so, it's been a while since I've been to school," I say looking down at my plate of chicken and vegetables. Hunter looked at the table and swallowed the food in his mouth, I knew he was about to say something I prayed he wouldn't be rude.

"Can you all quit staring at us?" Hunter grunted aggressively. The table falls silent as all the children quickly turned their heads.

"Can you just shut up and eat your dinner," I spoke firmly to my older brother. He sent me a glare but did as I told him to. I looked up from the table to see Freddy was already looking at me, he quickly glanced in another direction.

I look over to Victor and Rosa, they both were eyeing Hunter with concern. They signed up for this, it's their own faults. The tension at the table was thick and it originated from my brother, almost as if every kid at the table was ready to get hurt by him. But I knew Hunter wouldn't hurt any of them; unless they gave him a reason to.

"Hm, so Freddy what did you get up to today?" Victor says in attempts to deflate the tension. "Wha- why am I being singled out? Ask Darla, I am sure you'd much prefer listening to stories about a fairy princess tea party." Freddy spoke with a sarcastic tone

"Everyone is in such a lovely mood today," Rosa smiled. The table fell quiet again, only the sounds of forks and knives could be heard.

"I miss Mary," Darla spoke up in a saddened tone. I didn't know who Mary was all I knew what that I took her room, she could have died for all I know. But I doubt it, she probably just grew up.

"You get to see her again next month kiddo," Victor says with a sad smile. "Jeez you are all a bunch of sad sacks," Eugene mentioned with a frown. "I want a refund on this dinner," he adds.

I sighed down at my plate, I wanted to escape this table as quickly as possible. I was drowning in the tension, my brother was ready to blow any minute. He was used to just eating in silence, he didn't talk unless he needed to. I looked over to him, most of the food on his plate had been eaten.

"Breathe," I whispered to him as the table paid no attention us and everyone continued to talk about their day. I watched as he held his knife and fork tightly, his fists turning white. "Hunter," I say getting his attention as he looked over to me.

"Relax," I say in a chilled tone. He nodded slowly and took a few deep breaths. I saw him thinking, I wondered what he was thinking about, he quickly turned his head to me. Narrowing his eyes, he frowned, he began to breathe heavily again.

"I don't have to do what you say," He said. "I don't," he added. He slammed his fists down on the wooden table, silencing the room and shaking everyone's plates.

"I don't have to do what you say, I am older than you! You do what I say!" Hunter bellowed angrily as he stood up from his seat, scrapping the floorboards and storming off. I sighed, looking to Darla who was sitting next to me. She seemed slightly afraid, I wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a small side hug.

"Don't worry about him, he doesn't mean to be like that," I say and she nods slowly. I looked over the table, everyone still wide-eyed.

"Sorry everyone, he just has really bad anger management." I apologized as I glanced over to Victor and Rosa who seemed to be the only pair who was calm at the table.

"It's okay, it's not your fault," Rosa says offering a soft smile. I didn't return it, I just looked over to Billy and Freddy who both had concerned looks towards me. Why do they have to keep looking at me like that?

I finished my food and grabbed mine and my brother plate before standing up and walking into the kitchen. I didn't make eye contact with anyone I just scrapped the remaining food on Hunter's plate in the bin and began to wash the dishes. I stared out the dark window in front of me, my hands in the warm sink.

I heard someone walk into the kitchen, it was obviously Freddy from the obnoxious way one of his feet pushed off the ground. He came up beside me and put a pile of plates beside the sink.

"That's my job you know," He says gesturing to the sink. "Well lucky you don't have to do it tonight," I spoke coldly. Freddy exhaled as if he was challenged to respond to me. I stared down at the soapy water, thinking deeply about all the past foster homes Hunter and I had been to.

"Hey, Bonnie," Freddy says pushing my arm slightly. I pulled my arm back suddenly from his touch.

"Don't fucking touch me. I don't know you and I definitely don't trust you," I spat angrily. Freddy's face seemed to fall slightly as I flicked the water of my hands and walked out of the kitchen.

I went into my bedroom and stood up on the bunk bed, looking at Hunter who just ignored me while he stared at his phone. I held onto the wooden bars and continued to stare at him.

"What?" He mutters, giving in. "We have to leave," I whispered to Billy wouldn't hear. Billy was sitting at the desk reading something as Hunter's eyes glanced to mine.

"I thought we agreed we would stay for a while?" He questioned loudly not caring if Billy would hear. "Sh!" I say aggressively. "Why do you want to leave so badly? Did someone hurt you?" He whispered angrily.

"No, no one hurt me I just." I stopped halfway through my sentence. I didn't know how to explain how I felt to him or how to express anything. "Just forget it," I sighed stepping off standing on my bed. Billy glanced over to me but I turned away not wanting his frowns. I heard steps behind me, I knew it was Billy as I turned to face him. He held a sad smile on his face before sighing and leaving the room.

Maybe I need to stop being difficult.

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(WORD COUNT: 1337)

love, tassie <3
➩ unedited •