Chasing Dreams

Chapter 1

Walking into the house felt unreal. I was finally here. Turning around I saw Stephen carry one of my boxes into the house, taking it from him I headed upstairs. "Em!" I heard my Mum shout up the staircase, rolling my eyes I turned around and looked down the staircase at my Mum. "What?" She gave me that look. "Em seriously! Anyway we haven't decided on rooms." She raised her eyebrows at me as I groaned. I knew that Christopher was going to get first pick, being the oldest and all and Steve would get the second pick. I just had to hope for a good room. "Mum..." I moaned hoping that I could persuade her against it. She looked up from the many boxes on the floor. "Yes Emily." She had this small smirk on her face like she knew what I was going to ask. "Can I pick the first room...please?" I gave her, or tried to give her puppy eyes. She sighed and looked out at the window where my brothers and my Dad were bringing in the boxes. "Michael!" She shouted through the door, my Dad looked up, seeing my mum's expression. He stood up from his place on the ground with Robert and walked into the house carrying a box of vases that my mum could not bear to get rid of. "Emily wants to pick her room first." She gave him a knowing look. He looked up the stairs at me, a smile evident on his face. "Let Luke pick first." He chuckled as he walked out of the house. Almost as soon as Dad had walked out of the house Luke ran in, his face alight with child-like wonder. I guess I understood him. Neither him nor I would ever get to pick anything first. It would always be Chris, Steve or even Robbie and after that there was nothing left to pick anyway. I moved out of the way as he ran up the stairs, following him as he inspected each of the rooms. I swear to God he took at least half an hour in each one. By the time we were on the last one Steve and Robbie had joined us. I knew which room I wanted.

It was at the back of the house, painted white with a light cream carpet. There was a box seat by the windows which were covered with pale purple curtains. It was spacious and had an alcove where I would put my bed. Finally, after what seemed like two hours Luke decided on the room two away from my dream room. The room seemed so Luke-like so I wasn't surprised. I picked mine and after that I didn't care about what rooms everyone else picked. After I put the final box into my room I went down to dinner. I wasn't going to lie, dinner was my favourite meal of the day. My Mum was an amazing cook already, but at dinner I felt like she out does herself every time. Even better, the meals are always massive, considering there are 5 men in the house, speaking of men I had no idea where Chris was. As if reading my mind my Mum turned to me "Chris is out, Em. So don't set his place." She then handed me cutlery. My Dad had set up the big mahogany in the dining room, and we were using boxes as makeshift chairs. As I set the table I checked my Instagram, there wasn't anyone for me to text anyway. We had just moved from Australia to England, and I missed it so much, but if I was totally honest I only really missed my best friend Kirsty, but she had moved to America three months ago after her grandma got seriously ill and they needed to go and look after her. Kirsty and I had drifted quite far apart. She had made new friends, while I had no hope in making new ones at a school I had been in for too long. When my Dad got the job offer in England I leapt at the idea of a new start.

As we all sat down at the table my Mum brought the salmon to the table. We engaged in small talk for a while but then the topic of school came up. I knew that at my age I would be going to sixth form in Britain, and I had secured myself a place at Hashbrooke Acadamy. In two days I would start there and I was worried to say the least. My brother Chris was old enough to start a job, while Steve, who wanted to become a doctor, had a few more years at University. Robbie would be starting at Uni too, and surprisingly he was offered a place at Oxford University. Meanwhile Luke and I would be starting at Hashbrooke. "So, Em..." I heard Robbie say. "What are you going to...um...Wear?" I almost choked on my food when he asked that question. "Pardon?"

"You heard me, what are you wearing. I can't have my sister being hit on in slut clothes." Then I understood. Looking Robbie right in his blue eyes, I smirked. "Seeing as you asked so nicely I will wear my, hmm, 'nicest' clothes." His expression was priceless. "Aww robbie don't be upset just 'cus squirt is incapable of dressing properly." I death-stared Steve. Being the only girl sucks. Eventually we had all finished our food and headed to the living room to watch TV. Just as we turned it on the door opened and Chris walked in. He was swaying from side to side as he entered the living room. I could already smell the alcohol. Sensing that there was going to be an argument between him and Dad I left the room, Luke not far behind. As I walked into my room I could hear Dad yelling at Chris, words like 'irresbonsible' and 'idiotic' being repeated more than enough times. After a while the shouting died down and heavy footsteps thudded on the stairs as Chris stumbled up them. I heard a yell as he walked into Luke's room and was quickly led out by Steve, who for some reason was also in there. Eventually I fell deeply asleep, worry and anxiety clouding my thoughts.