I woke up to the sound of yelling.
It was muffled by my door, but loud enough to make me want to kill them.
"Goddammit" I muttered when even putting a pillow on my ears didn't help.
As I was rising to my feet with difficulty, I suddenly saw a pair of black basketball shorts and a hoodie on my drawer.
One of them brought me clothes?
I found myself smiling.
Outside the room the shouting only grew.
I changed in a hurry, and threw the door open.
The first thing I saw was Rivo and Santo leaning against their doors.
They were still in their pyjamas, and once they heard my door open their heads turned to me.
Rivo was grouchier than usual, glaring at me.
On the other hand, Santo simply nodded my way and glanced down at my clothes.
"What is wrong with you?" Alessandro's cold voice pierced my ears from the floor below.
"What the hell is going on?" I whispered, eyes wide.
It's not like yelling in the morning is a new thing for me, but I wasn't expecting it here.
"You." Rivo seethed, looking my way with narrowed eyes.
"Excuse me?" I returned the glare. Is he seriously blaming me for something I have zero knowledge of?
Before he could retaliate, a chilling chuckle came from downstairs.
"Please, brother. Everything is wrong with me."
Riccardo.
So that's why they're fighting.
Riccardo came back last night after not being here when I arrived, and now he's facing the consequences.
I suddenly remembered our late night talk.
He was actually nice.
But now? Now his voice gives me goosebumps.
"You are unbelievable." Alessandro bellowed. "Your sister is finally home, and you dare to go get drunk instead of welcoming her?"
I gulped. Rivo's glare was burning me, but I kept my eyes glued to the stairs.
I guess I really am the reason of this fight.
"I wasn't getting drunk, asshole!" Riccardo yelled back, and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Why do I care about the reason he wasn't here when I arrived?
"But you are now! It's nine in the fucking morning!"
Rivo chuckled, finally taking his eyes off me.
"That's none of your business. I'm not taking orders from you anymore, Ali." He said, and I have a feeling that Alessandro is not very fond of that nickname.
"Are you out of your mind?" He yelled back, more angry this time. "After everything you've been through with her kidnapp--"
"Don't you fucking talk to me about that!" Riccardo snapped, and my blood ran cold.
A loud noise of footsteps was heard. Riccardo must have gotten closer to him.
I blinked rapidly and averted my eyes to my feet.
I feel like shit. Nothing about this situation is comfortable, especially not when Rivo and Santo are looking at me with expressions I can't read.
I don't even know them yet, but they still fight because of me.
I can't help but feel like this is my fault.
"You need to get your shit together, Riccardo. And don't ever yell at me like that, especially not when your younger siblings are sleeping upstairs." Alessandro's threat was clear, and I found myself clenching my jaw.
"Are you kidding me? They're probably standing right outside their doors, enjoying the show." he called loudly, amusement in his voice.
I tried to understand how is he so calm and uncaring, but then I remembered. He's drunk.
I raised my head immediately, looking between Santo and Rivo.
They tensed even more than they already were, and before we could flee Alessandro stood by the stairs.
He looked up to us, anger clearly evident on his face.
When he locked eyes with me, that anger turned to regret.
I kept my face blank, not showing any signs of the effect their fight had on me.
"We're done here." He turned around coldly after a few seconds, probably facing Riccardo.
I heard some shuffling and a small "Whatever" before Riccardo came to view.
His hair was messy just like yesterday's night, but the bags under his eyes were even darker.
We were all quiet as he stumbled up the stairs.
When he reached our floor, he raised his head towards us.
Even though he told Alessandro exactly what the three of us were doing, he still seemed surprised.
His eyes connected with mine, and he momentarily froze.
I don't think anyone was breathing.
He took a step towards me. "Oliv-", but I already turned around and closed the door.
I shut my eyes and tried to calm my fast heartbeat.
This is my fault.
Family is not a concept I'm familiar with, but somehow hearing them fight because of me makes me feel a pang in my heart.
I don't need their fights on my conscience.
I have to remember that I might be their sister, but I will never fit in this family.
"You really fucked up." somebody muttered from the hallway, and I finally shook my head.
I will never have a family, because eventually someone always gets hurt.
And I won't allow it to be me.
°°°
I didn't leave my room for a few hours.
I had no appetite, and was definitely not in the mood to talk to anyone.
All I did was pace around the room and ask myself the same question.
"What now?"
I will have to face my brothers eventually, and that's going to be very awkward.
Should I pretend everything is okay? Pretend I wasn't going crazy because one fight they had?
Why do I even care so much?
I'm here because I made a deal with Alessandro, nothing more.
I shouldn't care.
I'll just act normal.
But my normal is to tell everyone to fuck off.
I collapsed into the bed with a groan.
Right then, someone knocked on my door.
"Get up or I'll carry you to the mall." Rivo shouted.
I glared at the door.
Fuck off.
Seriously, what's this dude's deal? Every time he opens his mouth, I want to throw him off a bridge.
I rolled my eyes and decided he's not worth it.
I've dealt with worse.
Getting off the bed, I walked to the door and yanked it open.
An annoyed Rivo stood in front of me.
His eyebrows are furrowed like they always are, and his face is simply begging for a punch.
I smiled sweetly at him and tilted my head.
"Aren't you a ray of sunshine?"
He rolled his eyes and turned towards the stairs.
Here goes nothing.
Chapter 14!!
Don't forget to vote! It helps me a lot:)
I started to write this chapter with no direction what so ever, but I really liked how it turned out.
What do you think?
Cute Olive don't know what mad house she got herself into...