‘Have you checked the drawers?’

Reuben began pulling out everything that was in the drawer, dumping the contents untidily wherever there was space.

‘Nothing’ Reuben sighed.

‘Check in the kitchen.’

Reuben shoved everything messily back into the drawer and shuffled towards the kitchen. Lucas continued to scroll down the page on the laptop, listening to the sound of pots and pans being thrown about and doors banging loudly.

‘There’s a job going in the bakery’ Lucas called to his brother. ‘Just down the road, you know the one.’

Reuben popped his head round the door.

‘I am not wearing a hairnet.’

Lucas snapped the laptop shut, turning with his arm on the back of the chair.

‘We’re going to have to get a job soon or else won’t be able to pay for anything.’

‘The money for this place automatically gets taken out of her bank account every month’ Reuben argued.

‘I know that’ Lucas huffed in irritation. ‘But what about food? We can’t eat the furniture can we?’

‘Good point.’ Reuben mused. ‘The cupboards are near enough empty….she could have at least done a shop before she left.’

Lucas groaned, rubbing his forehead with a hand. ‘Did you find anything?’

‘Found this’ Reuben produced a coin. ‘Two pounds.’ He looked to his older brother. ‘One pound each? We could go to the shop and buy something nice.’

‘Oh how dire our situation has become, alright lets go.’

Reuben tossed the coin in the air and Lucas caught it as he rose from his seat.

‘So where’s Jacob gone then?’ Reuben asked, picking up a hoodie from the back of the chair and putting it on.

‘He’s on holiday with his parents to visit family. Cousins and grandparents…you know.’

‘I wonder what it’s like to have a big family’ Reuben thought aloud.

‘Must be nice’ his brother said forlorn.

‘Oh well. So what are you going to get?’

‘I don’t know’ Lucas shrugged. ‘Lion bar?’

‘What are we going to eat later?’

‘Let’s not worry about that until later comes’ Lucas said, grabbing him round the shoulders and walking with him towards the door.

‘Aren’t we going to lock it?’ Reuben asked as they left.

‘Why? It’s not like there’s anything to steal.’

‘We could sell the TV if things get really desperate.’

Lucas shrugged again. ‘I don’t see why not. Sounds like a good idea.’ He turned and locked the door behind them.

Once they were outside, it was only a short walk towards the shop where on the way they met Drake and Lauralie.

‘Hey look there’s Drake and Lauralie’ Reuben called as he spotted them approaching.

Lucas groaned as Reuben ran towards them.

‘Hey guys!’

‘Reuben’ Lauralie beamed slowing to a stop. ‘It’s so good to see you.’

Beside her Drake smirked and gave a nod.

‘Where are you two off to?’ Reuben asked as Lucas dragging his feet followed his brother.

‘There’s a show here today’ Lauralie smiled. ‘We’re just going off to see.’

‘A show?’ Reuben asked.

‘There are two brothers performing as street dancers’ Drake replied. ‘They're supposed to be very good.’

‘I've heard about them’ Reuben said. ‘Never actually seen them before though.’

‘Hey why don’t you come along with us?’ Lauralie volunteered. ‘It’ll be even more fun with more of us.’

‘Maybe some other time’ Lucas interjected before Reuben could agree and result in them all being dragged around the town by her.

Lauralie pouted, deflating. Disappointment was written all over her face.

‘Lucas you're such a bore sometimes.’

The two glared at each other.

‘We could meet you later’ Reuben thought aloud suddenly, causing Lucas to wince.

Lucas turned and glared at Reuben now.

‘Where is it exactly?’ Reuben asked, ignoring his brother.

‘In the centre of town’ Lauralie said becoming suddenly animated again and bouncing on the balls of her feet. Drake had to steady himself as she used him for support. ‘It should be easy enough to find’ she smiled. ‘Just follow the crowd.’

‘Good’ Reuben nodded. ‘We’ll see you there.’

Lucas shrugged.

‘I told Sian we’ll be there tomorrow’ Drake said to Lucas.

‘You did? Good.’ Lucas suddenly perked up. His stomach growled then.

‘Well we’d better go now’ Reuben said. ‘We’ll meet you later ok?’

‘Great’ Lauralie cried out excitedly. ‘Don’t be late!’

Drake touched a finger to his forehead and nodded at them, before he was dragged off by Lauralie.

Once they were out of earshot, Lucas spoke to his brother.

‘Why did you do that?’

‘What?’

‘Volunteer to go to this stupid show.’

‘You don’t want to go?’ Reuben asked.

‘I don’t want to go with her.’

‘Don’t be like that.’ Reuben frowned at Lucas, shaking his head. ‘I know she can be annoying sometimes but she’s not that bad.’

‘Hm.’

‘Don’t be like that’ Reuben said again.

‘She just never shuts up.’

Reuben shrugged. ‘Stick your fingers in your ears.’

Lucas made a strange face.

‘How peculiar would I look walking around doing that?’

Reuben smirked in amusement.

‘Come on’ Lucas said marching away. ‘Let’s hurry up and buy some food. I'm starving.’

They walked for a short time before Lucas spoke again.

‘We’ve got to be careful’ Lucas told his brother seriously. ‘She seems to want to spend a lot of time with us; we have to be careful she doesn’t see our magic.’

‘She won’t.’

‘Oh? You seem certain.’

They came to the edge of the pavement to cross the road. Lucas suddenly grabbed Reuben by the sleeve and pulled him sharply back.

The car sped by, and Lucas relaxed his arm, letting go of Reuben.

‘How can you be so sure?’ Lucas continued their conversation as if nothing had happened.

‘Well as long as we’re careful, there will be no mistakes.’

‘Everybody makes mistakes’ Lucas replied. ‘I worry sometimes that she’ll find out.’

They crossed the road at a quickened pace, careful to avoid the cars. The weekend was always busy here, especially on sunny days like today.

‘We have to ensure our mistakes are kept to a minimum’ Lucas went on.

‘I thought we were doing that.’

‘We can never be too careful. Especially around her.’ Lucas paused momentarily, taking in the environment. ‘Let’s go through the skate park.’

‘You want to avoid the crowds?’

‘I would like to avoid people altogether’ Lucas said, stepping forwards. ‘But in a town like this and on the weekend it’s impossible.’

They changed course and went in the opposite direction to where they were originally heading. It was only a short detour to the shops this way, and the best way to go to avoid most of the people.

The skate park when they reached it was thankfully not too busy. Plastered with thick graffiti on every possible surface, the skate-park was a large one, giving lots of space to the people within. Some people did tricks on the rams and half-pipes, others hung around in groups watching the world around them. Everything was brightly coloured here, including the people who resided here. They wore trashy jeans and bright shirts, some with backwards caps.

The brothers passed a wall; there was an image of a large lidless eye staring unseeing outwards, alongside a psycho rabbit that was devouring heads.

A skater swerved around the brothers as they sauntered through the park, and they watched their step as they walked. It was easy to have an accident in a place like this. The sound of the wheels rolling on the concrete, boards grinding on the rails and the muttering of voices from the groups that had gathered continued as constant noises overlapped each other. Everything should have been normal, but there was something out of the ordinary here today, something that few could see.

Lucas slowed to a stop, eyes sliding across the park.

‘What's wrong?’ Reuben asked pausing and glancing back at him. ‘…Lucas?’

Reuben could not see his brother’s face from where he stood, but he knew something wasn’t right. He walked back to him, following his gaze.

‘Hey is that the new girl?’

Lucas didn’t reply.

‘I heard her name is Rhian.’