We're the Millers

He's your only nephew...

"Kaylin, you better get your butt out here in the next thirty seconds!"

"Otherwise we're leaving without you!"

As I grab a granola bar from the pantry, I hear my older brothers Trevor and Andrew yelling at me to hurry up. Their urging does cause me to move a little faster, but I don't rush; I know they would never leave without me.

Four minutes later, I have everything I need, and I walk out to the car, where I slide into the backseat next to my twin brother Liam.

I can see Liam bouncing his left leg nervously, so I reach out a hand to him, giving his hand a squeeze. Today is the first day at our new high school, Pine Grove Public. I say new high school because over the summer, during the last week in August, my entire family moved from Duran, Washington, to Newton, New York.

After unpacking everything and getting settled in, we are now starting school, one week later than all of the other students at Pine Grove Public. Liam and I, along with our older brother Andy, are starting our senior year. Also, Connor is starting his freshman year. Trev hasn't found a job yet, as he just graduated from Harvard in May, so he offered to drive us to school, and then babysit Devin while we are at school.

During the ride to school, I drift off a little, and daydream about my life, and the move. Devin is actually the reason that we moved from Washington. The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I was raped at a party. The result? Devin was born on Valentine's Day my sophomore year. Now, he is nineteen months, but back in Duran, I was ridiculed for having a son at such a young age. No one except my family believed that I was raped, so I lost all of my friends; some of my extended family even stopped talking to me.

Going through my sophomore and junior years alone, with only the company of my brothers, brought my family closer together. It was actually Liam's idea that we move and give ourselves a fresh start. However, I was skeptical. What was the point in moving if I would just get the same reaction at this new high school? When I told my family this, my mom suggested that we pretend that Devin was another one of her sons - my brother.

I was slow to accept this plan because I didn't want to seem like a bad mom. I love Devin more than anything else in this world, and I honestly would do anything for him. I don't regret having him, and without the love and support of my family, I never could have raised him as well as I did. It was this thought that made me accept their plan. They had already done so much for me, and now all they wanted was for me to have a happy and normal senior year, with actual friends. After this year was over, I could move away with Devin for college, and assume the role of his mother again.

So, for the next year, all of my brothers, my parents, and I would all share the responsibility of Devin, and pretend that he was just our sibling. This was the reason that Trev is babysitting Devin while school is in session and my parents are at work.

Secretly, I think that everyone is happier with this arrangement. My brothers hated seeing me so stressed out the past two years, and my mom really loves babies. Before the move, I tried to take care of Devin primarily by myself, so now my mom will get to change his diaper and feed him a lot more than before. Also, Trev is especially excited. He is a sucker for Devin. He spoils him rotten, and loves watching him for me. I know for a fact that Trev will make a wonderful and devoted father someday in the future. First though, he needs to get an actual girlfriend.

"Kaylin."

I have been a little bit worried about Devin though.

"Kaayyyliiinn."

What if he grows up thinking that I really am his sister?

"KAY!"

I break from my thoughts and look at my surroundings. Trev is staring at me, looking at me like I'm an alien. Andy and Connor are waiting, outside of the car already. Liam is poking me in the side and saying my name repeatedly.

"Are we at school already? Wow, that wasn't far at all!"

Trev answers, "Kay, you really must have been out of it. It was over a twenty minute drive, and we have already been here for five minutes! Now hurry up and get out of the car! Mom is waiting back at home with my favorite nephew."

I roll my eyes, but push open my door anyway. Before I walk away however, I turn around and say to Trev, "He's your only nephew."

"Yeah, but I'm his favorite uncle, so..."

"Yeah, whatever you say, Uncle Trevor," I respond, childishly sticking my tongue out at him as he pulls the car out of the school parking lot.

I turn to my brothers and say to them, "Well good luck then." Then I turn towards the large brick building looming before us and start walking, hopefully heading towards the main office where we can retrieve our schedules, knowing that all three of my brothers are following right behind me.