Owen
Mariam and Tony's kids come into the living room in a whirlwind of laughter, as always. However, they stop short as soon as they see the five of us seated around the table in a solemn manner, the smiles vanishing from their faces. Evangeline's hands slip off of the twin's arms and drop to her sides.
Tony's eyes shoot daggers of fire at his daughter, at the crook of the twin's elbows where her delicate hands were previously nestled in.
They boys smile, welcoming their mother back. "Hey, Mom. Tony." They send a short, almost curt nod of acknowledgement their stepfather's way. Even Evangeline cracks a small, genuine smile. "Hi, Mariam. Hello, Dad."
Tony glares at his daughter, making her shrink imperceptibly behind Max's broad frame.
Mariam claps her hands. "Children, go wash up, have lunch and do you homework. We'll have some guests over in a little, an are not to be disturbed.
They all nod silently and file out after dropping off their school bags.
-
Evangeline
Asher and I sit, side by side as the twins, bent over our math homework rack their brains trying to help us with the answers.
"Uhh, so..." Chris frowns and rubs the back of his neck, pupils quivering as he stares at the dreadful list of simultaneous equations printed in stark blank ink on the worksheet.
I gnaw on my lip. The five-page assignment with over twenty questions per page is due the next day, and Asher and I have only managed to go through barely half the first page.
"I used the textbook formula, but I can't be sure if the method's accurate or not. Sorry to impose on you guys"
"Not at all." They shake their heads.
From the side, Asher smirks. "As if they could refuse you." He utters under his breath.
Huh?
I twist my fingers anxiously. I'm not the only one with the jitters. Ora, Penny, Dad, Mariam, Owen, Lucas, Daniel and his guardian are downstairs in heated discussion over the matter.
Max spins in his gaming chair and clicks something into the search bar with a few keystrokes. "Wasn't Google an option for you guys?"
"Aren't you supposed to remember these things?" Asher retorts.
I nudge my stepbrother in the ribs. "Hush." He pouts, cupping his hand to my ear and whispering. "Don't be mean, or you'll pay later."
Two spots of colour bloom on my cheeks. I shift away from him and join Max, peering over his shoulder to stare at the screen. My unbound hair tickles his bare shoulder, and I brush it away. "What does YouTube say?"
"Nothing much of help." Max keeps his eyes to the computer, mouse clicking aggressively cheeks a light pink.
