Everlasting

① ⑥

Everly's POV
Carrie and Matt are staying with us for the weekend. Carrie and I are in my bedroom playing with her Dalmatian puppy, Flyer.

"How was your modelling shoot by the way?" I ask.

"It was good, actually. It's hard work but the free snacks are worth it." Carrie says and I laugh.

"I like modelling but unless it's for Ari, I'm not that bothered." I say.

"Everly! Carrie! Come down if you want a snack!" Dad yells from downstairs.

Carrie and I look at each other and run downstairs, Flyer following us as we slide into the kitchen.

Jake and Teagal are sat at the breakfast bar with craft stuff.

"What are you doing with all those?" Carrie asks them.

"Making lolly stick dolls." Teagal smiles, holding up a handful of art supplies stuck to a lolly stick.

"It was Matt's idea." Dad rolls his eyes at Matt in the corner.

"I got it off Pinterest." Matt says from where he's in sat with Maisy.

"I'm not making a doll." Jake says.

"Oh yeah? What are you making?" I ask him.

"An octopus. It's better than Teagal's doll." Jake says.

"Jake." Dad warns.

"That's rude." Teagal says.

"But it's true." Jake shrugs.

"Is this gonna go down?" Carrie whispers to me.

"Dad!" Teagal whines.

"Yep." I whisper back as Teagal hits Jake.

"Hey, no fighting." Dad stops them quickly.

"He started it!" Jake yells.

"And no yelling. We settle things nicely in this house, without shouting or punching." Dad says sternly.

"I didn't start it!" Teagal yells, grabbing the sleeve of Jake's sweater.

"Yes you did!" Jake yells, punching Teagal's arm.

"Ow!"

"Baby!"

"Dad!"

"Jake, stop hitting your brother."

"Are you gonna cry?"

"No!"

"Teagal, stop hitting your brother!"

"Get off me!"

"Don't kick me!"

"That's enough." Mom steps into the room and everything goes quiet.

"Mom!"

"He started it!"

"I said, enough!" Mom cuts in.

"There's no questioning who's boss here." Carrie whispers to me.

"I can hear you two from downstairs. I understand that you're going to disagree with each other sometimes, but that's not a reason to be hurtful, physically or verbally. Do I make myself clear?" Mom asks.

"Yes." They both murmur.

"What was that?" Mom asks.

"Yes Mom." They both say.

"Thank you." Mom says.

"But mommy he started it!" Jake yells.

"What did I just say?" Mom raises and eyebrow at him.