The Book Of Me & You

"Turn Right, Into My Arms"

"No, Em-ma, dos is mine!" He shouted aggressively, scooting on his knees and yanking the plastic pieces away from his little sister's reach. She whimpered, grunting softly as she tried to keep her tiny grip. "Nooo! Stoppp!" Whining, John tightened his hand around the toy, ripping it out of Emma's hand, making her cry.

Hearing the ruckus from the living room, the door flew open, her slippers slapping against the hardwood floor as she took the 7 steps down the hallway. Her brow furrowed upon seeing the 3-year-old grasping a handful of cars, while the 4-month-old cried loudly atop the blanket on the floor.

Catching his mother's stare that told him he was in trouble for making his sister cry, he twisted his foot into the blanket, eyes fixated on the red Corvette nestled tight in his hand, "Um, um, Em-ma jus twy an g-et my cars, mommy..."

Rolling her eyes at her son being a tattle-tale, Amy ran a hand through her hair. "Where's daddy?" She asked him, crouching down and handing her whimpering daughter a rattle. He pointed at the door, shrugging before going back to his toys, spinning the two back wheels of the black truck silently as the door opened sharply, and Ricky stepped back inside the space "Where were you?" She stood up, putting her right hand on her hip, shooting him a glare.

Eyes widening at her reaction, he shut the door, raising a brow, "I was taking out the trash... why?"

"And you just left them alone?"

Ricky rolled his eyes, annoyed, "They weren't alone, Amy. You're literally not even 50 feet away from them." Bending, he scooped the baby up sideways, holding firm to her whimpering body inside the bend of his left arm.

Her eyes widened slightly, taking in a deep inhale as she watched her husband with their youngest child, "Will you be careful with her!"

Rolling his eyes again and ignoring her, Ricky went to the sofa, descending down onto the cushion. They'd been at odds with each other since the night before, when Ricky had decided to open up a letter from Hudson inviting Amy to tour the campus. She insisted it was no big deal and threw the letter away, but he wasn't sure he completely believed her and stomped off into John's room for the rest of the night to sleep. "You should finish getting ready before you're late again." He deadpanned, balancing the baby on his knees as she shakily tried to push herself up, gripping his fingers tightly as she grunted.

20 minutes later

"Hurry bud, we've really got to go, we're already running late." She stated hastily, motioning for her son to pick up the pace of getting to the door so they could leave.

In his usual difficult way, John took his time, dragging his feet and slumping his shoulders before stopping abruptly to pick up a car he missed littered on his sister's playmat on the other side of the room.

Sighing in frustration, Amy put the carrier carrying the whining infant on the floor, and went over to him, lightly grabbing his arm to get his full attention, "Go, up, come on - mommy has to get to school." Begrudgingly, he moved his feet, taking the backpack from her hands, as she juggled the diaper bag slung over her right shoulder and her purse on her left. "I hear you!" She groaned at her daughter's cries, rising in pitch as she began kicking her legs against the seat. Taking his hand and securing the car seat handle in the bend of her right arm, Amy put her hand on the knob, yanking it open roughly.

Her eyes widened, stopping dead in her tracks, mouth slightly agape at the sight in front of her.

"I-I didn't know where else to go..." She sniffled, her eyes swollen and puffy as her hand stilled into a closed fist raised to the door.

Unknowing what to think or say to the blonde weeping on her doormat, Amy squeezed John's hand right as the chime from her phone started singing out.
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Checking his watch, he blindly sprinted into the room, rushing up to the counter, "Can you make it a double?" He inquired, not bothering to look up as he dug for his wallet. "I've got a 2-hour lecture ahead, and I could really use the extra boost."