11pm - September 18th
—————————————
I can't sleep, and it's all Mikey's fault.
Him and mum are fighting again.Worse than last time. I'm lying here in my room listening to it through noise cancelling headphones because it's loud even though they're downstairs in the living room. Their voices are clear through the floorboards because we live in a Housing Executive house twenty minutes away from my school. They're saying things about lying and cheating and stuff like that. It looks like Mikey's got another girlfriend and not told Mum about it. And it also looks like there's been more than one, because Mum's throwing out names. Great.
All of this isn't for a fifteen year old to be hearing about her stepdad. Then again, me and Mikey have never gotten on. He's constantly complaining that I'm way too high maintenance because I have ADHD. Whenever I tap my fingers on any surface I sit down at, he yells. If my leg is tapping the ground like a very long jackhammer, he yells. If I'm humming or saying Hazbin Hotel lines under my breath, he yells. It's been everyday since Mum brought him home to live with us.
Anyways, back to the fighting.
They've moved upstairs now, so having noise cancelling headphones on and hiding under a blanket doesn't help any more. Time I put on some music...or maybe check on my little siblings first. They need priority, not my favourite music(sorry Patrick Stump) right now.
I creep across the landing to my littlest sister's room, wincing every time I hear Mikey yell. Slowly, I push open the door and spot her standing at the door already, sniffling. She's been crying.
"L-Luci!" She sobs, flying into my arms and burying her face in my long brown curls. "They're being too loud and scary!" Her voice is high and sweet and adorable, but it's choked with tears. "I don't like it!"
"Hey, hey, hey! It's alright Lily!" I soothe, picking her up and shifting her onto my hip. "They're being meanies. Y'know what, we should get the twins and have midnight feasts! How does that sound, huh?" I keep my voice calm and low, trying not to show that I'm scared. "Have all my snacks? Make a den?"
"Yes!"
"Let's go then!"
We shuffle down the hallway towards the twins' room, the noise of Mikey and Mum's yelling a little quieter down here. It sounds like the twins are awake, because I can hear them talking and Violet sobbing. They sound distraught.
I open the door cautiously, trying not to spook them further, and poke my head round it. The twins are sitting on their separate beds holding torches. They look at me when they see the door open and their faces light up. They look relieved to see me.
"Luci!" Violet breathes, not daring to be louder. "What's going on? Why are they fighting again?"
"I don't know," I lie, looking back over my shoulder. "But, I'm putting Lily in here with you while I get snacks!"
"Midnight feasts!" Nico yells, standing up and dancing. "Off you go then!"
"Shush, Nico!" Violet says, putting a finger to her lips. "We don't want them to hear!"
I set Lily down and gently shove her into the room. She toddles in, sitting beside Violet and chewing her fingers in a way to show she's nervous.
"I'll be back in a sec." I say. "Promise."
