I hear before seeing. I also feel my head pounding. “Damien, do you feel any better?” Roberts asks when I finally open my eyes. “I feel like I have a hangover.” I mumble, holding my head. “Well I mean… Jack punched you really hard.” Charlotte mumbles. I sigh, sitting back against the pillows. Nole is nowhere to be seen but I have an IV in my arm.

“We had to do it so you wouldn’t get worse.” Roberts explains. Aaron walks in, an annoyed expression on his face. “Thankfully you haven’t been out for too long, only about two hours.” Charlotte says with relief coating her voice. “Anyway, your mother called. I couldn’t understand most of it besides the part where she said Rose is coming.”

“Aha what?” Aaron nods solemnly. “They can’t. She isn’t ready.” Roberts looks at me, his gaze telling me to calm down. “It’s okay, she’ll stay here with us.” Charlotte explains. “Yes, because I need my sister who has the same issues as me to be around Jack.” Roberts hums, thinking. “Maybe we should just like…” He trails off, a door slamming and people shouting.

Nole walks in, his grin immediately disappearing. I let my head fall back onto the pillows, suddenly very tired. Roberts lets me rest for the next four hours before getting me up for dinner at 6pm. He finally gets the IV out of my arm. I feel a bit hungrier than normal. Rose walks out with Charlotte, her face lighting up when she sees me.

“DAMIII.” She squeals. I pick my younger sister up, spinning her around. “Hi Rosie.” I gush, setting her down. “You have gotten so much taller.” Rose giggles, tapping my nose. “Or you shrunk.” I feign a gasp, putting a hand to my heart. “So mean.” She chuckles at my antics before sitting in the empty chair. I slide into my chair, eating today.

“NOLE.” Roberts shouts. He walks out, not even looking my way. Charlotte grits her teeth, but I send her a look to not say anything. “I have to go to the gym tomorrow.” Roberts looks at me. “No.” I bite my lip. “That’s not fair, I just ate.” Roberts sighs, shaking his head. “No. I can’t risk you getting more hurt. Wait a week.”

Nole glances up, confused. “Charlotte and Aaron can go.” Charlotte purses her lips. “Damien… we eat. You- you are skin and bone. It’s not healthy.” I sigh, relenting. She has a point. I do need to get healthier if Roberts will let me go anywhere. It’s just… I got used to never getting food. Roberts knows this and is working with me slowly so I can get used to it again.

We finish dinner quickly, Roberts going off to do some work. Nole ignores me, focusing his attention to Rose. “Who are you?” I sigh, tuning them out, sitting on the couch and sketching a crumpled-up paper. “Look at that.” Charlotte comments. I smirk, showing her a sketch I did of her. “Woah…” She says, surprised. “Want it?”

Charlotte nods quickly. I put my initials on it and rip it out. “Here ya go.” Charlotte grins, kissing my cheek. “EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD.” Aaron screeches. I snort, surprised. “So glad we almost made it. So sad we had to fake it.” The music from his phone plays louder. I smirk at Nole’s annoyed face. Rose cheers, launching herself on my lap.

“Sing for me.” I flush a bit. “Rosie I can’t sing.” She pouts. “Yeah you can.” She crosses her arms, glaring at me with a cute ten-year-old glare. “Rosie, I don’t feel the greatest, go have Charlotte sing okay?” Rosie purses her lips but doesn’t object. I let my head fall back on the cushions as she runs off. “Oh fuck.” I mumble, realizing I fell asleep at some point.

“What time is it?” I ask Roberts who is sitting on the chair across from me. “11pm.” “You just let me sleep that long?” “Yeah. You needed it. Damien you got your head bashed into a wall. Your body is going to make you sleep so it can heal faster.” I sigh, standing up to stretch out my sore limbs. “Not the best position for that.” I grumble.

“Well, everyone is asleep so have fun being bored.” Roberts closes his book and says goodnight as he leaves to go sleep. I shake my head, amused by his readiness to leave me alone. Nole is asleep, ON MY BED. God, I fucking hate him so much. This is bullshit. I pull him from the bed and let his body drop on the floor. I flop on the bed, tired.

“You little shit.” Nole grumbles. “You were on MY bed.” I mutter. Nole is quiet for the rest of the night. I sigh, not tired at all when the lights flick on. “What now?” Nole mutters into the pillow. “Tradition, anyone who lives here does the chores.” Roberts explains. I’m already dressed. “Go eat. You have to clean the kitchen anyway.” I nod.

Charlotte is off cleaning the bathroom and Aaron is cleaning the living room. I eat a piece of toast before hurrying to finish my chore. Nole ignores me today too. The next day, and the next, then the day after that day… ugh. This feels terrible. He glares at me for no apparent reason. Is it because I proved him wrong? I don’t know anymore.

I ignore the teacher droning on. Thank god it’s Friday. I almost scream when I get yanked into a closet. “Who?” Nole is in there with me. I back up against the wall. “I swear to god if you hit me.” I mumble, trying the handle. It’s locked. Oh my god I’m gonna die. This is it. Bye Rosie, bye Aaron and Charlotte. I love you so much. Roberts… you were a nice guy. Thanks dude. Nole rubs his face.

“I’m not gonna kill you. I just need help.” I don’t process that for a second. He said he isn’t gonna kill me. I’m not gonna die. WHOOOOHOOOO. “With what?” “I need a gift for my girlfriend.” I snort. “I’m a guy.” “A GAY guy.” Nole looks disgusted by the word. “Dude, yeah I’m gay. So? It’s not like I like you. For fucks sake you tried to kill me.”

Nole scoffs. “What does she like?” “Pink shit.” “Pink stuff that comes from your asshole? Choose a new hoe then.” “No, pink colored things.” I snicker, having a fun time with this. “Mmmm… a shirt? A ring? Honestly, I don’t care what my lover would get me. As long as they care.” I answer truthfully. Nole raises his eyebrows. “Surprising coming from you.”

I cross my arms. “Can I go now?” Nole sighs, unlocking the door. I scurry down the hallway. Scurry is a fun word. “I’m back from being locked in a closet.” No one answers. Not surprising. Roberts is probably with a kid and Aaron is most likely out swimming. Charlotte could be anywhere for anything she wants to do.

She once blew up a glass bottle in a lab and left it because there was a fire drill. Shards were in her arm and she was bleeding. Not fun times. I yawn, tired and bored a few hours later. Charlotte came home and immediately went to bed. Aaron is asleep too. Roberts is helping another kid who keeps throwing up. I am not tired and Nole is in the room. I’d rather sleep on the floor than in the same room with him. He can have both beds. Roberts walks out, tired and looking annoyed. “I trust the kid for a bit. It’s almost midnight, why don’t you sleep.” “I’ll sleep out here.” Roberts sighs but knows not to push me. I get my blanket and pillow before walking back out.

I curl up on the couch, tired but not tired at the same time. I hate Nole so much. He stereotyped me. He took over my bed, tried to kill me, and ruined my already dumb life. This is great, so fucking great. I groan in frustration one last time before falling into a deep sleep.