Caraphernelia

Chapter 1

[Vic P.O.V]

"Victor! Michael! Wake up, it's our big day!" Mum hollers from the foot of our bedroom.

Mike’s bed creaks as he springs off the bed, “Getting ready mum!”

I snuggle into my pillow before muttering, “Ugh, resilient little b--”

“Vic, get up!” Mike tears the duvet from me and drags me out of bed.

LITTLE SHIT, DON’T MAKE ME WAKE UP! My thoughts scream inside my head.

“Ugh! Its only 8am!” I yell before kicking in frustration. Lazily... I manage to stumble into the bathroom closing the door behind me. 

I slip out of my Miami Heat Jersey and sleeping pants before heading into the shower. 

Goosebumps make an appearance on my skin as the icy water sprinkles down my neck.

“JESUS CHRIST, VICTOR! HURRY UP!” My mum’s voice was raw and sore from screaming.

Ugh.

I twist the tap of the shower to a more lukewarm temperature and rinse off as quick as possible. Wrapping myself in my towel, I head out the bathroom past my mum’s room where she and my father are packing. I shut Mike and I’s bedroom door and drop the towel, “HOLY SHIT VIC. I’M RIGHT HERE!” Mike flashes his hands over his innocent eyes in shock. 

I rush to grab my towel off the floor and wrap it around my waist as I gesture for him leave the room and give me some privacy.

Mike opens the door and trudges out as I slip on some clothes.

I look into the mirror above my desk... Black shorts and pull over my maroon basketball t-shirt before heading downstairs for breakfast.

“‘Morning, Victor” My mum lifts her chin up to greet me.

My dreadful, younger brother is seated on a bar chair and sat in front of the kitchen counter dunking his spoon into a bowl full of cheerios. 

I glance at him in awkward disgust and head to the fridge grabbing the milk carton and the cereal box from the cabinet. I pour some cheerios into my mouth, followed by some milk and crash my teeth on it. Carelessly, I chew with my mouth wide open.

“VICTOR! I’m sick of shouting! Get a bowl and put your cereal and milk in it! I will not have you eating like an animal in my house!” Mum sternly snatches the cereal from me. 

I shrug it off and head over to the cabinet grabbing a medium sized bowl pouring some milk and cheerios into it. Mum and Mike start to endure themselves in a conversation about college.. Here we go again..

I grab a spoon from the drawer and start to devour my breakfast. 

“Victor? Are you listening?”

I stare up at her with my face splashed with milk, “Umm.. Of course I was”

She rolls her eyes annoyed.. Sometimes I think I’m adopted...

Both of them continue to talk about college and sometimes mum would bring me up and how I haven’t gotten any offers.. Why does she hate me so much?

Eventually, their lame conversation dies and that just leaves the tension hanging in the air.

“Vivian!” Dad shouted from the top of the staircase, “I need some help!”

She quickly rushes upstairs to attend his needs..

Still.. Just Mike and I...

The household was usually dead silent.. Except for when mum was screeching at me.

It sucks being in the Fuentes family, sometimes.

•••

Ouch. Heavy bags! I drag the rest of my luggages down to the porch.

“Good job, Vic!” Dad claps me on the back.

It was only Mum who called me ‘Victor...’

But she also called Dad ‘Victor’ so we get confused quite often.

We slide the bags into the remaining space of the trunk.

Can’t believe we’re leaving the home that Mike and I grew up in..

“Vic!” A high voice calls from inside the house.. Mike was balancing several boxes worth of fancy glassware on his shoulders, heads, and carrying the remainder with his hands.

“Oh fuck!” I help him carry down the boxes and load them into the car.

“Thanks” Mike smiles up at me as beads of sweat form on his scalp.

Mum was already seated shotgun.. She didn’t even bother with helping us with moving out our stuff... Yet she blames me for being “lazy.”

Dad jumps to the back of the car with Mike.

He promised he’d let me drive to Indianapolis. 

Duffel barks and scratches the back of the car.

“Oh god...” Dread fills Mum’s eyes as Mike bursts out the door and picks up the stray.

“Michael, we have to leave him!” She shouts.

She’s quite a big fan of shouting...

“But--”

“Vivian, I’m sure we can bring him.. I mean, the boys have known him since forever..”

Mum slightly softens before nodding solemnly.

I resist a snicker.

I don’t know why I need to laugh.

I guess I just enjoy seeing Dad controlling Mum..

Well, not really controlling.. But..

You get it.

Mike achieves to squeeze Duffel in the back with Dad and Mike as I switch on the engine, put the car on drive mode and drove away from the home that kept all our childhood memories. I did not look forward to moving in with other people that I did not know. If only my dad didn’t retire, then we would still be able to afford the house. Ugh.