By the book....

THE BELITTLED LITTLE FOLLOWER

At the crack of dawn Kyle was already playing his hard core rock music at the highest level as the sound blasted across the house. I groaned rolling over in my bed," Kill me now, not today!" I rushed to his room stationed only a few places away from mine. Scoffing at the sticky note he placed by his door, " I'm not going to lower or turn it off Alexa live with it!" He had the absolute audacity to address me with a stupid note on his door.

I grabbed the door knob turning it downward only to realize he had locked it so not only was I stuck outside but I couldn't do anything about it. My feet tread down in the direction of the kitchen straight bare footed with my hair ruffled up into a messy bun and a toothbrush in hand.

"I always tell you do not bring your toothbrush with you into my kitchen Lexi," Lory sat by the counter sipping her coffee as her eyes met my shocked guilt ridden face. "I was looking for you Kyle is blasting music too loud again it's going to burst my eardrums at this rate.

"Didn't the two of you agree on some hospitality terms? We have talked about this guys." I shrugged walking over towards her. "Lory please get him to stop make it stop. I have a headache and my stomach is still upset." She watched me beg onto my knees.

"If I agree to help do the rest of the chores I have a get together to go to." Lory smiled smuggly. In case I didn't mention Lory, Kyle and I are almost like siblings we share chores and we argue, disagree etc etc the whole bunch. Lory may be the mom but there are dual agreed concepts and ground rules:

1.A favour is always returned on a 24hr basis
2.Boundaries should be taken seriously and privacy is respected
3.Everybody has responsibilities in the house like chores, cooking meals and maintaining overall a clean environment
4.Last but not least everyone has an opinion but that isn't a rule and it's only bound to the three of us excluding dad because he just isn't all there for it....

"That is the bargain take it or leave it? Going once going twice, I don't have a lot of time here." Lory laughed watching me scrunch up in a turmoil expression. Lory always absolutely always would pick getting the advantage for every favour.

"But mommy dearest I have to go with Kelly to the Ellorkit Festival today we talked about it all week remember." I'd never call her mommy unless I really want something and desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Call her over she'll help you so you go out in time. Besides Kyle will stop right away if he knows she's coming, killing two birds with one stone." I gapped for a second ,wait she knew about Kelly? She giggled as she watched me paused in thought.

"I know he likes her Alexa it's so obvious." Now it was my turn to laugh ,Lory knew all along and she never said anything.

"So agreed?" She asked taking her bag and car keys in hand as she composed her summer dress. "I love you so much do you know that? Thanks Lory, you just gave me an idea."

She lightly kissed my forehead and nodded, "I know, be back by five. And don't leave before the chores are done. And this deal is sold to the highest bidder. I love you more." Lory walked out leaving me to slouch on a chair fetching my phone from my pocket. I dialed, "Kelly change of plans you need to come here, it's an LKACIEOSN! Situation" that means it was a Lory ,Kyle and Alexa case in event of solving notion... She groaned on the other end,"But I'd gotten ready to go." "Hurl your way here if we get to go early! Kyle is here for the record." I giggled hearing her go silent at the mention of Kyle.

She arrived not long after all dolled up with a pink floral sundress and a red cherry bow in her hair, not forgetting small size 3 Nike sneakers. "Floral dress and sneakers rule is a go!You look bomb Kelly."

She giggled spinning around to show off her look,"I thought today deserved a dress up." I croaked," Sadly you have decided to come here looking like that,Kyle is going to die of staring like a creep." And correct me if I'm wrong but I could almost swear she blushed and twisted a strand of hair.

I'd tipped Kyle off already so the loud music issue was solved and he'd even rushed to take a shower and worn cologne. I laughed at him watching as he had paced up and down getting ready before Kelly had arrived. Kelly always seemed to just bring out the stranger in my brother and I was enjoying every part of it.

We started off clearing the lounge fixing cushions and dusting. Kyle practically modelled down the stairs wearing khaki shorts a plain t-shirt with rolled up sleeves and to my disbelieve the exact same Nike sneakers Kelly was wearing but only they were black and white.

"Did Lory go out already? Isn't she on duty? Oh Kelly hey." Kyle melted right in front of me as I struggled to not burst into an uproar of laughter.

Kelly smiled briefly waving at him and oh boy he scratched the back of his neck, no way he was nervous. Basically Kyle would absolutely never make effort to dress up, always acts rude and stupid but look what we have here he was a completely different person. "We're wearing the same sneakers for the record wanna play snookums." I gawked at them both as Kelly walked up to him. "My eyes, my eyes! Please spare I'm a mere mortal here in case you can't see me." They were literally doing a handshake I never knew they had and the leg work was so insanely in sync I wondered when they'd learnt that together.

"Shut up Alexa, your phone is ringing." I frowned sticking my tongue out at him. There it was a call from that maniac Tyler I sighed then answered," What?" "Your contract says to always treat me with respect assistant. Come with me to the festival today. Don't get any ideas it's not a date doofus, I need you to be my hanging rack throughout the day."

"I'm busy I can't." Tyler just seems to get worse by the day. I scoffed rolling my eyes. "You don't have options see you there by ten sharp, don't be late." And ladies and gentlemen with that he hung up.

Kelly by now was seated by the couch with Kyle and they both had their arms folded scrutinizing me. "What did you get yourself into this time?" Kelly asked in amusement laughing at me outward.

"I just honestly don't get what the deal is between you two really." Kyle highlighted grinning like a Cheshire cat with his usual questioning, "I know what this is but let me mind my business smirk"

"Kelly I'm your bestfriend not him remember. You're on my side."

Kyle scoffed," We don't have a side we are just observers this calls for popcorn don't you think?" Kelly nudged him lightly giggling, "This show seems to have way more to it than the intro led on, I mean just how many more episodes do we need to watch before the main characters profess their undying love and we get the happily ever after." I could not believe she could throw me under the bus for Kyle. "Wow so this is what they call ganging up, look at you two tag teaming to bomb me but we never address the elephant in the room. What are you two?"

They both froze and Kyle immediately stood up, "I'm going to my room don't want to be the banner in this conversation. Kelly festival rollercoaster stakes one to three?" I mean is it me or they seemed to have a language of their own because she nodded and he walked of. "For the record I don't endorse this, you can't be friends with Kyle he's an idiot! I won't allow it."

Kelly faced down. I couldn't tell whether she was ashamed or just nervous. "But Kelly you don't have anything to hide do you?"

"Not at all we should get ready for the festival you're barely changed your clothes and Mr Tyler Hersting is expecting you soon." If I didn't know any better I'd say she changed the topic to avoid something but I don't get much time to ponder over it. Just then my phone rang once again, I took it barely taking a look at who it was. "Hey I missed you. I was wondering if you'd want to go to the festival with me today?" I gasped recalculating and checking my phone.

"Leon, hey I'm not sure I might be free today, I have a few things I need to take care of," Kelly gave me a discerning look hinting that I should agree

"Our last date was ruined so I was hoping to make it up to you now, are you sure there is no way I can help?" Leon sighed and that was enough for me to feel bad. "I'll be there, see you at eleven." And just like that I had to figure out a way to be in two places at once. "Is it me or this feels like a love triangle brewing?" She smiled at me mischievously.

"No absolutely not yuck. I'm with Leon and we are good that way." I would never ever allow myself to fall for Tyler I mean Tyler seriously even if he was the last person on earth.