Hailey's POV:
I rolled the bracelet around my wrist and exhaled dramatically.
Alvin glanced at me, but he continued to eat the cereal.
I exhale again.
He grabs another spoonful and shoves it in his mouth.
I went closer to his face and exhaled again.
"What?!" His cheeks were full of food. "What is it that you want from me?!" Milk splattered all over the table.
My parents wanted to have a family day - as in, just us - before they leave later. This means I have less than 24 hours to persuade my parents to give me something valuable, or I'll get kicked out of M.I.N.D.
They have a vending machine with free snacks that I've gotten really attached to ever since I discovered it in the club room's back. I can eat as many snacks as I want and then-
"Tootsie. How do you get mom and dad's trust?"
Alvin smiled, "First-"
I listen to him intently.
"I would let them finish breakfast."
My lips fall into a straight line before I move away. I settled my cheeks on my palms before I exhaled dramatically again.
Alvin swallowed, "If they don't trust you. Do you think they'll let you move across the country?"
I tilt my head towards him. "But, what if I want something tangible from them as an act of trust?"
Alvin's face twisted, "You're starting to sound like those weird rich kids on tv." He grabbed his bowl and made his way to the sink.
A beep sound made its way into the room, and I turned the chair to see Mr.Greyson. "Good morning Mr.Greyson, but I think you're in the wrong hotel room. The penthouse sweet is way upstairs."
Mr.Greyson smiled, "Good morning to you too, Hailey." He messed up my hair, "Morning, Alvin."
Alvin shoves another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. "Mowing."
"I have something to give your dad. Where is he?"
"In the room with mom," I said.
"Thanks." We watch as Mr.Greyon walks down the hallway and disappears.
Alvin leaned against the table, "Do you think he has gifts for us?"
"Us?" I question. "Why would he have gifts for us?"
"Dang." He got off the table and went to the couch. Alvin crashed down, "You think dad is gay?"
"Huh?"
"You think Mr.Greyson will be our new dad?"
"What in the world are you talking about?"
He turns on the tv. "You think he will buy me a Gamestation?"
"Alvin!" I feel like I want to pull out my hair. Suddenly, I don't miss him anymore. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't you think Mr.Greyson and dad are a bit too close? I mean, he bought dad a car. I'm pretty sure they're using mom and Mrs.Greyson as cover-ups for their love affairs."
"Alvin. Mom told you to stop watching those Spanish Soap operas."
Alvin scoffs, "I haven't watched that in years."
"The Korean dramas?"
His face scrunches up, and he turns his body over. "You can't stop me from being who I am!" He muffled into the pillow.
"What's going on here?" Mom came out with earrings in her hands. She pushes them on.
"Alvin is watching Korean dramas again."
Mom rests her fists on her waist, "Alvin. What did I say about watching Korean dramas without my consent!"
Alvin pops up from the couch, "You also say to do things you love even if your friends find it weird."
"What imaginary scene did he come up with again?"
"That Mr.Greyson and dad are having an affair." I covered my mouth when Mr.Greyson and dad appeared.
Silence.
Mr.Greyson and dad look at each. The disgust on their faces can be seen a mile away.
"I'll see you all," Mr.Greyson said before making his swift escape.
"What?" Alvin shrugs, "You and Mr.Greyson are both very close. And I don't think it's too bad to have new brothers." I cannot believe that Alvin approves of the idea of Mr.Greyson and our dad's love affairs.
"What about mom?" Mom asks.
"Mr.Greyson has a lot of money. He'll take care of you too."
We were too stunned to even respond to Alvin's comments. One by one, we left the room to do our own business until it was time to go.
After a day of exploring the town, I was tired in the back of the rented car. Alvin was fast asleep on one side of the car with his leg extended to my side. I push it off, but he bounces it back on.
"Dad," I whined.
"Alvin. Give your sister some space."
Alvin didn't respond, but we all know he's awake.
Mom turned around and smacked his head.
"Ow! Mom!" Alvin whined.
"Listen to your dad."
Alvin groaned before he removed his leg. Then, he did as I expected. He came closer and said: "I'm not touching you."
He continues not to touch me for the rest of the ride.
I grabbed his finger.
"Mom!" Alvin shouted. "Hailey is touching me!"
"Dad! Tell Alvin to stop not touching me!"
Then, it began - the headache bicker. It started with words, but soon, fists were thrown. I grabbed Alvin's cheek, and he grabbed my hair.
"Kids! Kids!" Dad shouted. "You two better stop fighting, or I'll turn this car back around, and we'll have to spend more time together!"
"It's his/her fault!"
Alvin licked my forearm.
I kick his leg.
Mom threw down her phone and turned to the back, "Stop it!" She hit us with a magazine. "Stop! Stop!"
Immediately, we separated to our own windows.
"She/He started it!"
"Look! Look!" Mom pointed in the middle space, "This is the line! Don't cross it!"
Once we stopped, mom sat back at her place. She adjusted her clothes, "What are you two going to do when you have another sibling."
Silence.
I turn my head to see Alvin's pale face.
Then, I look forward again to see dad staring at mom.
The car came to a complete stop.
Mom still had her face forward.
The car behind us honked.
We still didn't move.
"W-What?" Dad question.
"Oh. Look. That light over there is green. We should drive," mom replied.
"What!" Alvin shouted. "A what!"
We burst.
Everyone was talking about the same topic but at different paces. The best way to describe this scenario would be that we're reading the same book, but everyone is reading different chapters.
When we got back to the hotel, I called Josh.
"Hey," he answered.
"I'm going to have a baby sister!"
"No!" Alvin quickly rebuttal. "It could be a boy! Baby brother!"
"Present!" I raised his hand, "We don't need another boy! Baby sister!" I imagined my little sister and me frolicking in the flowers instead of having mud thrown at me. Then, the image of us playing tea house instead of a little boy shoving cookies down his throat and then vomiting.
"No! It's a boy!"
Then, Alvin went quiet. He's probably imagining something on the line of playing prank war or farting in each other's faces.
He farted on my face while I was sleeping before.
"What's going on?" Josh question.
"Just Alvin's imagination running wild." I squeal, "I can't wait for a younger sister!"
Then, the bicker resumed.
Mom walked in with dad behind her. He placed the keys on the counter and walked into the bedroom. Alvin and I were still in a verbal argument about the gender of our younger sibling while Josh hung on the other line.
"Stop!" Mom hissed.
That's her angry voice.
Immediately, we stop bickering.
"See what you did! Your dad can't function with all your bickering!"
Us? We are the reason why he can't function?
"Darling!" Mom sang. "Let me give you a nice foot massage!" She glared at us one more time as a warning to stay quiet before she scrambled into the bedroom.
"I don't want a foot massage!" Dad whined from inside the room. "Foot massage was the core of the problem!"
Soon, the sun went down, and it was time for everyone to pack. They're checking out early tomorrow morning. When I watched my family pack up their suitcases, a part of me wished I could pack myself inside to go back with them.
Near midnight, I found Alvin on the balcony.
I knock on the door before I slide it open. "Alvin?"
He turns his head and smiles slightly, "Hi."
I nuzzled the sweater closer to my chest as I paced towards him. "Why are you still up?" I settled on the metal chair across from him.
He shrugs, "I don't know. Can't sleep."
When I turned my head, I saw the glorious town view. Of course, what captures the eyes of everyone the most would be one of the most exclusive schools beyond the bridge.
Everything you ever need-
Everything you ever want-
It is beyond the bridge.
It's a privilege to gain admittance.
I should be happy to go there.
My friends are there.
No one is bullying me there.
I should be happy.
But the longer I stare at the area, the emptier I feel.
"Hailey?" Alvin called for me.
I look back at him, "Yeah?"
"Do you think I'm going to be a good big brother?"
I smile, "Of course not!" I teased him as a big sister should. That was a mistake. It wasn't the time to tease him. "Alvin. You're going to make a great big brother."
Alvin's gaze drops, "Do you think mom and dad would forget about us?"
"Did they forget about me when you came?"
Alvin looked up and shrugged, "Sometimes."
I hold up a finger, "If you're thinking about when they forgot me at home when we went to the grocery store. I assure you, it only happened once."
"So, the worst that can happen is that they forget me at the grocery store?"
"That can never happen."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because I'm here. I won't let them forget you."
Alvin's jaw motioned slightly, and then it halted in a location that almost made it look dislocated. "But, you're not. You're not here with us."
I chuckle, "What are you talking about? I'm here."
"No. You're not."
It took me a few seconds to understand Alvin's words. I hold his hands, "Alvin. I'll be back for the holidays. Soon, you'll wish I wasn't there."
His lower lips tremble, "Can't you come home?" He hugs me. "Please come home. I miss you."
I never expected this day to come. The day when my little brother would hug me so tightly, asking me to come home. Alvin and I had always been on separate ends. If I pointed West, he would march East. He would not touch me until I pulled my hair out of my head. The more annoyed I got, the happier he got.
That's what makes us siblings...families.
When Alvin stops crying, I cuddle close to him. "Hey. I know it's hard now," I said. "But, look at the bright side."
"What bright side?"
"For the next few months, there's no one there to take away mom's and dad's attention."
Alvin continues to pout.
"You can use this - I miss my big sister card - and get stuff."
He still pouts.
"Like that new game station you want."
His head lifted, "Well, I mean, I am just a little boy who misses his big sister."
"There ya go."
Being an older sibling is so hard. I don't understand how Josh hasn't packed his bag and galloped away.
Wait.
He's in a boarding school.
"Here," I said. I gave him my beaded bracelet. "Something to remember me by."
He slides it off his wrist, "Ew! I don't want something so girly!" Even though he said something like that with a tongue sticking out for full disgusting effect, he didn't throw it away.
Alvin exhaled dramatically, "You go to this awesome rich school, and all I get is this cheap bracelet?"
He knows I'm not the one who paid the tuition. Our parents aren't the ones who paid for it either - well, fully that is. Because of my impressive history, I get to enroll here at a discount.
Alvin grabbed the Gameboy he was playing with earlier - the one he got when he was a toddler. "Here. Since you gave me something, I have to give you something too."
"But, you love your Gameboy."
He shrugs, "Well-" he said slowly, "I love you more."
I press the Gameboy close to my chest, "Aw. You-"
"Shut up! I hate you!"
"What's going on out here?! Are you two fighting again!?" Mom shouted.
And we're back to normal.