Imperfections

| five

"Hey, munchkin?" Dylan nudges my side while I fill up my mouth with a fist full of popcorn. I don't pay any heed to him, enjoying the movie with the rare silence in the house.

But it's apparently too hard to take a hint that I don't want to be disturbed because my stupid brother nudges my stomach again. I let out a low grunt, narrowing my eyes at him.

"What?"

He grins at me, leaning forward to take popcorn from the bowl in my lap. My first instinct is to move it away from him, but I'm too late because he's already munching it down his throat.

"You've been ignoring me," he says, still chewing and I give him a disgusted look.

"Gross."

"It is gross. It's against the rule to ignore your other half."

His dramatic take on this entire twin thing always makes me roll my eyes. But I don't say anything else, going back to ignore him.

"See! Right there, you just did it again." He gasps at me, successfully distracting me from the movie.

"What?" I snap at him. "Why are you always so needy?"

"Look who's talking." He obviously doesn't take offence at my words. "Why am I being avoided? At least give me a good reason."

Oh, I don't know, Dylan. My best friend is in love with you, and she's going to confess it to you. If I don't ignore you, I'll tell you all about it and that would make me a horrible friend.

"I'm not ignoring you. Just watching the movie, geez." I sigh, far too occupied with my thoughts and hell bent on not spilling my guts to him.

It's extremely difficult for me to hide anything from Dylan. He just always knows something's up, and so far I've been able to hide two things in my life from him. This is the second thing, and I plan on being hella successful.

"Alright. Don't tell me. I'll figure it out myself," says with a grumpy tone but doesn't move from beside me. I start to count till ten in my head and reach five when he speaks up again, "It's awfully quiet in the house."

"Dad is out with his friends." I inform him and the realisation must dawn upon him because he nods along.

"So, we got one peaceful hour before hell comes down."

I narrow my eyes but silently agree with him. When he doesn't nudge me for the rest of the hour, I'm extremely grateful. But my gratitude for life only lasts for another half an hour because Dad strolls in the living room. His eyes are bloodshot but he has a small smile on his face when he looks at the two of us.

"You guys eat yet?" He asks and Dylan narrows his eyes at him.

"Yup. Do you want me to heat up the food for you?" I get up, not waiting for his response.

"Where's your mother?"

"She had a headache, probably resting," Dylan tells him, his eyes fixed on the television screen even the movie ended fifteen minutes ago.

"How's school going?"

"It's fine, Dad. Dinner?" I ask again but he just shakes his head.

"No, I'm going to head to bed."

He pats me on the head and moves on to do the same for Dylan who just presses his lips together in response. Once Dad moves down the hallway, my eyes move to my brother who seems to be fuming.

"What's wrong with you?"

"You know what's wrong, Farrah."

I do, but it bothers me when he doesn't talk about it. He just gets up from the couch and goes upstairs to his room. A sigh escapes me at his behaviour but along with many other things under this roof, I'm learning to get used to this too.