2 kids

Fly again.

Alex.

It might end with our dead bodies being eventually found.

That's just what happens when you allow four teenagers, still kids, to live on their own.

The fridge is empty, there's nothing left in it. Nothing to make proper food with at least. We don't possess excellent cooking skills, rather the opposite, yet there's nothing we could attempt to make dinner from. Maybe soon we'll die of starvation.

In the nineteen years I've lived, I haven't spent many of them in the kitchen. The few days I've dedicated to some vague attempts haven't prepared me enough for living alone. And none of my dear friends have spent much time in the kitchen as well.

I close the fridge and turn around to face the boys. I didn't really believe them when they announced we had run out of food. Truth is, it doesn't surprise me. No one does any grocery shopping; I can't even remember the last time we restocked it. How we survive is a mystery to us all.

"If there's a way I never wanted to die, being burnt or buried alive is one of them. But starvation surely isn't a way I'd like to die either," Ace says dramatically as always. After all these years and everything he's been through, one would think his dramatic behaviour would abandon him completely. Thankfully it has stuck along, bringing some light to both his life, but ours too. When life gets too boring, I'm always grateful for his dramatic ass around.

"You're not gonna die," River assures him. Ace stares at him, eyebrows raised in a disagreeing manner.

"Then tell me what I'm supposed to eat. I'm dying of hunger." He lets his head fall on the bar table. "I want to eaaaaat!"

River turns to me, a bold question mark in his dark eyes. He quickly understands he won't find support in me. I'm as clueless as he is.

We have two options – order takeaway or do grocery shopping. It's a shame to say that while being on tour our dieting habits haven't been exemplary. Besides the few days we had off, and the few times we managed to visit a recommended restaurant, we haven't consumed much home cooked and healthy meals. Though we've always been trying to pick the healthiest options, it's no lie takeaway is far from healthy.

"Seems like we have to do grocery shopping." I say with a dry voice. Not a thing I really had planned for today, but death isn't on the list either.

Ace lifts his head and looks at me with a frown. Terror crosses his face at the realisation of what that means. Then he lowers it again. His arms are lifelessly hanging by his sides, and if it wouldn't be for the gentle rising of his chest, I'd honestly assume life has left his body. That makes two of us with no intentions to go grocery shopping.

Suddenly Ace lifts his head and looks at River at the exact same time as me. Neither of us say a word, we just stare at him. It only takes him a few seconds to understand. He starts to shake his head, first slowly then faster and faster.

"No." Those are his only words. As the oldest one here they should hold some power, but they really don't. He made a mistake choosing us as his roommates. "Absolutely not. Why should I do it?"

"You're the oldest," I say in unison with Ace.

"And?"

"You have the responsibility to take care of us," I argue.

"It's a promise you made to our parents, remember?" Ace adds.

That's not entirely true, but I keep my mouth shut.

River frowns. "I never made such a promise."

"Not officially, yes," Ace says with a serious look. "But unofficially you did. That's the price you pay for being the oldest."