One Summer Only

Chapter Two

"Caleb, make sure that the downstairs is cleaned." My mother instructed. "On it, mom." Caleb said as he ran down the stairs to clean what was currently his man cave. "Honey, is your room and the guest bedroom clean? I don't want Brielle to come into a messy household." My mother explained as she pushed the vacuum to the nearest electrical outlet. "I'll go clean my room now, but you know that guest bedroom hasn't been touched since they were last here, right?" I said with a chuckle. " I know. I know but I don't want it to seem like I haven't been doing anything this past month." She shouted back as the vacuum echoed throughout the housed. I smiled, shook my head, and left the living room to clean my room.

I ran up the stairs and walked to my bedroom door, which was located at the end of the hallway on the left. When I opened the door, my yellow and grey walls shone brightly as the rays of sunlight reflected off of them. Ever since I was little, yellow had always been my favorite color. In my eyes, yellow was the only color that could promote happiness, so when my dad asked what color I wanted to paint my room, I couldn't help but to choose a soft yellow. My room was everything but out of the ordinary. My plain, white bed was situated in the middle of my room, laying against one of the four walls. To the right of my bed was my closet and to the left my bathroom. A white, stained dresser was placed in front of my bed, having multiple pieces of jewelry stationed on top of the wood furniture. Above my dresser, hung my TV and DVR. There were many nights that I spent in this room with the triplets, watching our favorite TV shows and movies. Finally, my most favorite section of my room, on the left side of the bed was a bay window that was may of times used as a reading nook for the days I felt like books were my only escape from reality. The seating area hand been transformed into a bookshelf bench, where most of my books were stored. All in all, my room had quickly become my safe haven.

As I entered my room, I looked around to find anything that would need to be picked up. However, the only thing that caught my attention was a framed photo of the triplets, Caleb, and I. Caleb had his hand resting on Zac's shoulder while smiling, Raine was giving bunny ears to Caleb as she stood next to him, and I was perched on Luke's back as he held onto me, making sure I didn't fall. I was laughing and Luke was looking at Raine as she was picking on Caleb. The photo was a literal definition of happiness and it had become my favorite photo of us after we had taken the picture.

"Honey, how are we doing on cleaning?" My father asked as he cautiously walked into my bedroom. "Oh umm...good, I guess. I don't really have much to clean." I said, putting back the framed photo that sat on my bedside table. My father's attention diverted to the photo, and a soft smile grew on his aging face. "Your mother loves that photo so much." I looked back at the photo and once again smiled. "It really is a great photo of us." I redirected my attention to my dad, still aware that his gaze still concentrated on the photo that included all of the kids he considered his. "When you guys took that photo, your mother and Brielle ran to the nearest photo printer in town and printed multiple copies of that same exact photo. She says-"

"It reminds her to cherish the moments with those she loves." I spoke, completing his sentence for him. His gaze fixated on me and without a thought, he engulfed me into a hug. "She loves all of you so much." He whispered softly. "I know...."

After a few moments spent with my dad, he finally left my room, mumbling a sweet "I love you" before he disappeared. When I was left to myself, I continued to finish the task that my mom had assigned me. After 30 minutes had passed, I returned to the living room to find my mom asleep on the couch. I carefully walked over to the blanket ladder and grabbed one of the fuzzy blankets that hung limp on one of the rods. Cautiously, I laid the blanket over her frail body and made sure she was fully covered. Curious to know what my older brother was up to, I wondered down to the basement.

When I stepped onto the basement floor, a loud shout sounded, making me jump.

"No! Shoot him not me!" the volume was turned way up, causing the surround system to boom with noise. "Cover me! God dammit!" I chuckled to myself with my hand held over my mouth. My brother was playing COD and had just been killed by his opponent. Caleb took of his headset and turned around in his chair. "What's up, sis?" He said with a smile. "Nothing. I was just seeing what you were up to." I replied, leaning up against the wall next to the stairs. "You wanna go get Larry's after this?"