In Too Deep [BXB]

V

Dan

The five of us sat around the dining table, all sat in our assigned seats of course. I wasn't sure when, but at some point in my life I decided that my chair was the one closest to the door. I was next to Ivy and across from mum. It was an arrangement Ivy only dared to fuck up a few times when we were younger.

Usually, she'd do it as a petty response to whatever argument we'd had previously that day. The last time was when we were ten, we'd gotten into a dispute on who's turn it was to do the dishes after lunch. I'd won that argument and she ended up having to clean them and out of pure pettiness she decided it would be a good idea to sit in my chair at dinner time.

Of course, that meant I had to to tip her out of that very chair. Which unfortunately, early us both a yelling at from mum.

Family dinners were something I took for granted as child. I hadn't realised how much spending time with my family actually meant to me. But with dad working longer hours, Ivy being out all the time doing "uni stuff" and all of my football practises - they were becoming rarer.

I twirled a piece of pasta around my fork. I brought it towards my lips, pausing as Ivy, my older sister cleared her throat.

"Sian has a boyfriend."

I let out a snort as my dad choked on his food. Mum's brows furrowed- I wasn't sure if her concern was because of Ivy's comment or dad choking. She pushed his glass of water towards him, gesturing for him to drink it. Spluttering, he made a sound that sounded something like a 'thanks' before taking a sip.

"I don't!" The eight year old in question resorted. Horror distorted her features, her green eyes widened.

"She does," Ivy folded her arms across her chest. "I saw him."

Dinner usually went like this. We'd spend the first ten minutes telling each other about our days. Sian would tell us about her numeracy and spellings. My mum would enlighten us on whatever rude patients she'd encountered that day. Ivy and I would talk about school and my dad would tell us about his boring corporate job.

Often, a minute or two would pass before someone brought up the next topic of discussion. Yesterday, it'd been whether super speed is better than super strength (obviously not). The day before it'd been whether or not mum could pull off blue hair (again, obviously not). Today's topic of conversation however, seemed to be about Sian's supposed love affair.

"Oh my god Sian..." I said, eyes widening at the my younger sister. The poor girl looked to be having a mini breakdown as her eyes flashed between Ivy and I and our parents. My lips drew into a flat line as I returned my gaze to my older sister. "Tell us more Ivy."

"He had his arm around her."

"That doesn't mean anything!"

I was fully aware that Ivy was bullshitting at this point. But I'd take any opportunity to torment my little sister- and that meant going along with it.

"Oh but Sian that means everything."

"...But-" Flustered, she paused. I took advantage of the pause cutting in with my next words.

"It's practically love-"

"That's enough," Mum said, placing her fork on her plate. "Sian," Her voice lowered, an uneasy smile on her face. "I thought we agreed that you're not allowed a boyfriend until your thirty."