Hard to Love

Chapter one

“This is the last straw Alexis! I am tired of the constant disappointment. It doesn’t matter where we go, you always end up disappointing me,” my father yelled at me.

 “Well sorry that I’m not perfect like Josh and Kat!” I yelled back. This is a typical day for me. I am constantly living in the shadows of my older brother and sister, Josh and Kat. They were perfect. Kat was prom queen, senior class president, captain of the cheer squad and the debate team, and somehow she managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Josh, on the other hand, was quarterback on the football team, captain of the soccer and hockey teams, and he somehow also maintained a 4.0 GPA.

 Me? Well, I’m kinda a loser. I play soccer, but I’m nowhere near as good as Josh was, and my father and the coaches never let me forget that. I’m also on the chear squad, but again, nowhere near as good as what Kat was. I am never going to be the prom queen, or date the quarterback. I will never achieve a 4.0 GPA, but I’m happy with my 3.5. I’m known as “Alexis, Josh and Kat’s younger sister” and the only boyfriends I’ve ever had only used me to try to get to Kat or Josh. Yes, you heard me correct. I have dated guys who used me to try to date my brother. But I just pretend that never happened.

 “It’s not that Alexis, but I really don’t know what else to do,” Dad crossed the room and sat at the table right across from me. I could see the pain and confusion in his eyes. Whatever he was about to say, I am not going to like it. I could feel my heart in my throat and the blood drain from my face as I wait for what is about to happen.

 Dad sucks in a deep breath and he looks like he’s about to throw up.

 “I think it would be better for you to go live with Uncle Dez for your final year of school. As much as I’ve tried to make things easier for you with tutors and private trainers, I think living in Josh’s and Kat’s shadow is just too hard on you. I want your senior year to be memorable,” he rambled without stopping, or looking up at me.

Wait, what? Did he just say I’m going to live with Uncle Dez? Seriously?! This is the best thing that has ever happened. I love Uncle Dez! He is dad’s baby brother, and we are exactly the same. We are both babies of the family with overachieving older siblings. We both prefer doing our own thing and going with the flow. We are both musical. He is like the older brother I always wished I had, and being only 5 years older than me, he might as well of been. I can’t count how many 11:11s and shooting stars and birthday candles I’ve wished on to trade both Josh and Kat for Dez. He is much better than the evil twins from hell.

 “I’m sorry Lex, I just don’t know what else to do. I hate seeing you like this and I’ve run out of options. I was talking to Dez the other day and he is beyond excited for you to come. He just moved to a new city, so he’s feeling a little lonely. I think this will do you both some good.” Dad was saying.

 I ran over to him and threw my arms around his neck. “Oh, thank you Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I squeeled. I am beyond excited, it is like a dream come true. “But, you said he moved? He’s not living in Manchester anymore with Nana?”

 “Nah, he just moved to London. Said something about getting a really cool job, but didn’t really say what. But go pack Kiddo, you leave in the morning.”

 Without another word, I turned on my heals and ran up the stairs into my room. I cannot believe my father is sending me back home to England to live with the bestest uncle in the world.

 The next morning arrived and I still wasn’t finished packing. I’m having a hard time figuring out what I absolutely need to take, what I can just get Dad to send over to me, and stuff I don’t even need over there at all. I no sooner finished packing when Dad peaked his head inside the door.

 “Ya almost ready to go, kiddo?” He asked

 “Yeah, I think I have everything I need,” I said, doing a final glance over my room, making sure I haven’t forgot anything.

 “I’ll just take your bags down to the car, we’ll be leaving in 15 minutes,” Dad said as he was walking down the hall.

 “Okay Dad, I’ll be right down,” I called after him.

I sighed as I took a look around my room. This is the one place, other than my old house in Manchester that actually felt close to being my home. But now I’m actually going home, kinda, and living with someone who actually knows the real me and accepts me for me. This is going to be the best senior year ever. I have to remember to thank Dad again, sometimes he does things for me that makes it seem like he actually cares.