The Rosett Legacy

Chapter 4

Monday 2nd February 2016, 8:30pm...

They really outdid themselves this year. That was the thought going through my head as I went down the carpeted stairs coming out of my room. The wooden base of the steps creaked at each step I took. The sound was muffled by the noise from the living room. They were all ready to go somewhere. Don't know where but somewhere. I walked through the hallway in the brightly lit living room. Who the hell changed the room light from yellow to white. I squinted, my eyes trying to adjust to the colour change.

The dull brown room was extravagantly decorated. The right wall, where the ballerina painting used to be, now had a humongous banner. The banner read: Happy 18th Birthday Jess and Oli. The banner looked good. But the Pink ribbons attached to the ceiling made me feel I was in a Barbie movie. I am quite sure the ribbons were Jess's idea. "Well, I am ready!" I shouted at the group of chatterboxes.

"Finally," Jason said coming towards me. He was wearing a red plaid shirt and worn out jeans. "We can cut the cake and eat." He said rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"I will get the cake out the fridge," said one of the bimbos who Jess was friends with. I really hadn't noticed anyone other than Jason in the room. There were some of Jessica's and Olive's friends and Oliver , Jess, Jason and me. Seeing as Mr and Mrs Rosset said they would meet them half way to whatever the hell they were going, the cake was being cut without them. The square cherry cream cake was a mediocre cake which you could find in any cake shop but cherry was Oliver's favourite fruit. He chose the cake. After singing our chorus and eating the cake, everyone was ready to go. I on-the-other-hand wasn't. I didn't go to these shenanigans.

I was the one to wave to complete strangers out the door. Jason was the last one to leave. "Are you sure you don't want to come, Mat?" Ohh, Jason, I loved it when he played the over-protective brother role.

"No, you go enjoy yourself." I punched his shoulder playfully.

"Okay, be sure to lock the door." He said as he stepped out the door, not before giving me a hug.

"Aye- aye captain." I saluted.

The twins said their byes and retreated towards the car. Their brunette hair bouncing in their every step. They were happy, which made me happy. Hoping they had a blast on their 18th birthday, I watched them leave. Me being a year older made me a friend to them but Jason was four years older. He treated everyone like children and we didn't complain. Jason was the one to go to all of our parent-teacher meetings, he would always be there picking us up from drama or rugby. He also attended Jessica's school play, she directed it and everyone was really proud of her. I am sure mum and dad don't remember any of that because they were attending business meetings.

I was a bit upset that mum and dad weren't at home to cut the cake. I mean they are never there when something important or meaningful happens to us four. I could see Oliver was trying to hide his hurt when they had phoned in a day before to let them know they won't be home to cut the cake. Oliver hides his emotions well, he once told me that not letting anyone know what he truly felt was like having an advantage over them. When he told me that, my response was to tell him to join politics. It was a joke conversation but I knew Oliver better. He was touchy when it came to our parents. Jessica was the opposite, her emotions were always on her sleeve, loose and sometimes annoying. Her doe eyes could convince anyone to do her bidding, but she didn't know that. She was an intelligent Dumbo. Don't really know how she got A's in her GCSE but you know what they say, nothing is impossible.

The car's drove off, giving me the cue to close my door and get into my bed again. I went back to the living room to take some snacks to bed. With a bottle of coke from the fridge and a bag of Doritos, I went upstairs to my room. Taking my laptop, I logged on and sat on my bed. My back against the headboard and my duvet covering my legs, I put my laptop on my lap. The coke and bag of crisp sat on my bed drawers. My room wasn't big, a university-sized room was good enough for me. I was going to stream YouTube, because reasons. I would usually stream funny stuff, have a laugh and not get bored.

Just when I finished the fourth video, I got this unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach. Like something bad was going to happen. Last time I felt like this was a few years. Jessica had got badly injured while playing rugby. She got tackled badly and had critically damaged her hip joint. The bad feeling helped because it caused me to pick Jess up earlier from school than usual. I got really worried when the feeling occurred and would not rest till I had seen Jess or Oliver were okay. Oliver was okay in his room playing video games with Jason. So I left to go to Jessica's school. Just when I reached the rugby pitch, I heard Jessica's scream. I was scared to death. The school phoned an ambulance and everything became hectic. Jessica was told to rest and everything was fine in the end. Still it caused me and Jason to worry quite a lot.

However, the pain I was getting during my video fest was worse than before. I was getting anxious and worried all over again. This time, I felt hopeless. I didn't know where they had gone. Putting my laptop at the side of bed, I jumped out. Opening my wardrobe I got my navy blue jeans and a GAP hoodie and changed from my Winnie the pooh onesie. Going to Jessica's room I looked around the room for the invitation she sent out. Looking in her side draw I found it. In cursive handwriting, the pink invitation held where they had gone. Looking at the address, I was surprised. Seriously, Nandos in the Enfield retail park. Was that the only place they could have a party?

Shaking my head in annoyance, I grabbed my phone, bag and put on my blue converse. Wearing my raincoat, I went downstairs to get my oyster card and go to Nandos. Something was bad was going to happen and on my sibling's birthday. This was their special day, I couldn't let anything thing happen to them. Just as I was leaving I remembered to take extra cash with me, just in case. Getting a hidden ten-pound note from underneath my clothes in my drawers, I was just about to leave when I heard the door open.

Running downstairs hoping it was Oliver or Jessica, I saw something which surprised even me. Mr and Mrs Rosett coming in.

"What the hell are you two doing here?" I screamed standing on the stairs.

Mum just looked at me, "Is that how you greet us?" She said taking off her purple woollen coat off her slim body. Her black librarian glasses were sitting on her nose. I was counting how long they would be there before they fell off her face but that never happened.

"Yes, when you are supposed to be at Nandos for Oli and Jess's birthday." I countered

"I thought I told them we were not coming," Dad said coming in and rubbing his expensive (don't know the brand) shoes on the door mat.

"What? That can't be possible. I was there when the call occurred. You were meant to meet them there!"

"Lower your voice down. We aren't your school buddies. Speak with respect." Mum said taking her Gucci shoes off. "We are only here to pick up our luggage."

I closed my mouth, grinding my teeth. I was breathing heavily. My hand were clenching the wooden railing. I closed my eyes and took a breath to calm myself down.

With a calmer demeanour, I walked in front of dad. "Dad, you haven't seen Jess and Oliver for so long. Please just meet them for five minutes. Then you can go where ever the hell you like. It is their eighteenth birthday. Please." I pleaded. I could see dad wanted to go, but it was the mother who was being a problem.

"Maddie lets put the luggage in the car. The restaurant is in the way of our route. We won't stay there for long. " Dad told mum. She just made a face. I really hoped she would say yes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Hi. Thank you so much for reading our story. It really means a lot. Please comment on bits that you like or don't like. If you think anything writing techniques-wise or grammar-wise needs changing, do tell.  

Thanks once again. 

M