Confined

Chapter 4

Once I had climbed out of the vent, I turned around to see my siblings gaping at me. Nathan was the first to speak.

"Hope, we have company over! You know you aren't supposed to sneak around in the vents, but especially when we have people over. What if they see you?" Behind Nathan's back, Sean was holding back his laughter, while Faith looked at me in horror.

"You need to go back to your room before mom finds out, or you're seen by somebody." At this, Sean walked up, and swatted Nathan on the head.

"Calm down, Nate. It seems like forever since we last saw baby sis." I crossed my arms and glared, and was about to respond, when Sean began to swing me around.

"Sean, stop! You know that I can't hold in my laughter!" My whisper-yelling caused him to grin and swing me more, and it took all I had to keep my laughter contained. When he finally put me down, I was a hiccuping mess.

"You-hiccup- suck. Just because I'm your youngest sister, doesn't mean I'm your baby sister." Nathan and Sean had the same thinking face on their faces when they looked at each other, and then spoke in unison.

"No, you're our baby sis." The fact that my brothers were in complete sync was scary, but then Faith doing it at the exact same time, was terrifying.

"You guys freak me out sometimes." We were all grinning, until we heard a voice in the hall, accompanied by footsteps that we're getting louder. Nathan quickly grabbed me, and helped me in the vent.

"Go back to your room. Hurry!" Nathan and the others had just sat down in front of a pile if cards, when the door opened.

"I win!" Sean threw the cards in the air, and they showered down. A man stood in the doorway, an amused look on his face.

"So that's what you three have been doing. Who knew that card games could be so loud?" My siblings all shared a look of fear while the man looked around the room.

"It sure is warm in here. Is you vent working properly? I'll take a look." As the man walked towards the vent, my siblings had a silent conversation with their eyes. I quietly crawled around a corner, and sat there, out of the mans view if he peeked his head in. I tensed when I heard him open the vent.

"Hmm, it seems fine. Well, I'll leave you kids while you play cards." I didn't relax until I heard Faiths door shut, and I heard three relieved sighs.

"Hope, if you're still in there, which I'm sure you are, go back to your room. Don't come back out again. Night, Baby Sis."

  I stayed in my room for rest of the week, but came out when my parents wanted to tell me something.

  I walked into the living room, feeling awkward standing in front of my parents. It's been at least a year since I've actually talked to them outside of my room, so it felt like I was in front of strangers.

  "Um, hi. What was it that you wanted to talk about?" I lowered myself in one of our big, leather chairs, making sure to sit up straight. My dad laughed, breaking some of the tension in the room.

  "We're your parents, Hope. Not the president. You don't have to act so formal with us." I lightly smiled, but only relaxed a little bit.

  "We called you up here because we have some news." I immediately paid more attention, wanting to hear what my mom had to say. "We're taking a vacation to Hawaii. Your father is being practically forced to take a vacation, so  we'll be gone for a week and a half." I immediately brightened, not thinking.

  "Really?! That's awesome! I can't wait to go to the beach, maybe try surfing. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii." I stopped talking once I saw my parents exchange a sad look.

  "Hope......" I shook my head, holding back tears.

  "It's fine. I should've known that I wouldn't be coming. But, don't worry. I'll be fine on my own." I sighed when I saw tears in my dad's eyes. "But I'm guessing you're having somebody stay and house sit? So I'll have to stay in my room?" My mom nodded, and I pressed my lips together. "Okay, that's fine. I'm fine with staying in my room."

  After going over the rules, my parents asked if I was fine, and I told them several times that I was,before going to my room. And what did I do in my room? I cried. Because I wasn't fine.

  Not even close to being fine.
--------------------
  Hello.

  Please don't kill me.

  I'm super duper sorry for the long wait. Life has been kinda crazy, and when it's not crazy, I'm  just lazy.

  So, yeah. I can't tell you exactly when I'll be updating again, but I'll try to make it soon.