Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

16) Conflict

The next morning, I get my butt off the floor and make myself a quick cup of coffee, my eyelids heavy. Don't fall asleep. Elmyra and Marlene are curled up on the couch, making me scowl at the unwanted memories that try to surface.
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"Get off the couch," the black haired boy commands, arms crossed. "Dad's gonna be home soon, he'll wanna be there."

"Okay." I roll off the cushions and turn around to say something, but he's gone. Okay then.

Sighing, I pull my sweater tighter over my arms and walk to the kitchen. It really only gets cold in Midgar one month of the year, and Dad never bothers to pay for heat or a/c anyway, so I'm freezing my butt off with my brothers and sister while we wait for our father come back from the bar, or maybe even Mom to come back from wherever she's been the past two nights. Tseng was supposed to be here at five, but that was three hours ago. Why's everyone missing all of a sudden? My stomach growls and I have to leave the room before I get into the fridge. Dad banned anyone from touching his food years ago; we learned the hard way.

I can hear my sister crying over something (probably) ridiculous in the other room. My younger brothers laugh loudly and run past me, covered in marker ink and one's carrying a stuffed bear. The little girl comes next, sniffling and rodding past with her curly blonde hair and baby blue eyes, features that suspiciously match up to our neighbor Jacob. Honestly, none of us would be surprised. A knock comes to the door and the tall boy from earlier yells across the house.