Hard Life

Birthday

I woke up and found Logan in my bed sleeping. I smile and touch his face feeling his warmth as it conferred me. I slowly made my way out of his grip and slid out of bed. I turn around to make sure I didn't wake him and begin to walk out of the room. There is no sound in the house, I guess no one is awake. I open up the fridge and get out some eggs, ham and cheese. I look around for a small skillet and begin to make breakfast.

Just as I was finishing up my last omelet Mis. Beth and Mr. Dave walk out of their bed room. Damn I'm caught. I turn off the stove and get out another plate acting like they're not there. "What are you doing Lilly?" Mis. Beth asked. I place the omelet on the plate, "Just making some breakfast. Is that a crime?" They both laugh at my reply. "No not a crime." I place their omelets on the dining table and place Logan's on a tray. "Thank you Lilly for breakfast," they both say before eating. I give my replay and poor a glass of orange juice and stick it on the tray for Logan.

"Lilly where are you going with that?" Mr. Dave asks. I stop but I don't look at them, "I'm taking it to Logan. It's something I would like to do for him for now on. Please do try to understand." I started to walk to my room once more as I wasn't given a reply. I place the tray on the end table and try my best to wake Logan up. "Hey, wake up. I brought you breakfast," I said softly. He opened his eyes and sat up. I placed the tray on his lap and walked out.

I make my way to the couch in the living room and sit down. Man does it feel good to finally have a real home again. I turn around and see Mis. Beth and Mr. Dave eat. "So what do you think?" They look at me and smile. I giggle seeing a piece of ham stuck in his teeth. "You're one amazing cook Lilly," Mr. Dave says. "I really love how everything is just so perfect," Mis. Beth says. "Thank you," I smiled, "When I was smaller I watched my mom cook so I just duplicated what she did."

Their eyes went from happy to sad in a moment. "What's the matter?" I asked. Mr. Dave just shook his head. "It's nothing. Anyway, I need to go shopping for a bit. I'll be back soon." Not long after Mr. Dave finished his comment, Logan walked into the kitchen and placed his plate and glass into the sink and put the tray away. For some reason I was the only one watching. I really couldn't hear anything else. I was too focused on my brother's small movements and where he was looking.

I'm shaken suddenly. I look at Mis. Beth with her hand placed on my shoulder. She looks worried then begins to laugh. "You okay Lilly? You blinked out for a second." I giggled. "Yah I'm alright," I spoke happily. "So let me repeat myself," Mis. Beth said with a straight face, "What would you like to do today?" I thought for a moment but couldn't figure out a thing to do, "What day is it?" "It's Thursday," Mr. Dave replied. My eyes lit up as I remembered my favorite show, Criminal Minds, was doing a series of episodes on Thursdays.

"Can we please watch Criminal Minds!? Please!" I begged. Everyone laughed, even Logan. I really don't know what was so funny. "Sure, we can do that," Mis. Beth told me. I quickly turned on the T.V and Logan came to sit next to me. I'm so happy I get to have my brother back into my life.

I heard the front door open then close. I knew Mr. Dave and Mis. Beth had left. I didn't mind having this big house to just Logan and I. Five Episodes (three hours and 45 minutes) later, I hear Mis. Beth and Mr. Dave walk back in. Logan got up before I could turn around to greet them and said, "Hey why don't you come and play with me on my new Xbox." I nodded my head but I refused to shake this suspicious feeling I was receiving.

I follow Logan to his room. He turns on his Xbox and puts in a disk. I sit on the bed and watch him do the magic thing. As he walks back to me, he hands me a controller and sits next to me. I didn't expect the game to be a racing game. I thought it would be a fighting game with a ton of guns. We play the game for a good thirty minutes. I've beaten him about three times and he's still winning by two. I haven't really been keeping count. As soon as we are in the middle of our next race Mis. Beth screams, "Lilly....... Logan, come here please. We have something to show you!!!"

We put down our controllers and rush to see what it was. I saw many streamers in the hall way. This has to be big. As I walked into the living room I'm frozen in shock. There were even more streamers and a banner that says "Happy Birthday!" with each letter being a different letter. A small piñata is hung in the middle of the Living room with the furniture pulled back pretty far away from it. In the kitchen there is "Pin the tail on the donkey" and a big cake for me! I look at the ground and find small little confetti all over the ground which can be easily vacuumed up.

"So what do you think?" Mr. Dave asked. I look at him with a big smile, "I love it! It looks amazing!" I keep looking around slowly and a few rapped presents under a table ketch my eye. Mis. Beth smiles, "Okay, before some cake let's play pin the tail on the donkey!" I nodded my head fast really excited and hugged her tight. I had completely forgotten that today is my birthday! Am I really 14?

After the game we sat down at the table and ate some cake. I was the closest to winning the game. The way the family sang happy birthday to me made me feel all warm and queasy. As I finish up eating Mis. Beth and Mr. Dave let me beat the snot out of the piñata. It was so much fun. After cleaning up the big mess my new parents sat Logan and I down to open some presents.

I got a new dress, season one and two of Criminal Minds, and a music box. Logan got a new T-shirt, a pocket knife, and a DMV notebook so he can start studding for his permit test. I love my new home so much. I have a brand new family that loves me and my brother. I couldn't have asked for anything else.

Now a few weeks have passed, Mom and Dad enrolled us in school. We were much further back than what we should have been but we were gone for a long while. I got to be in the same school as Logan but I don't have a single class with him. At least I'm allowed to see him at lunch.

Mom and Dad had gotten used to me called them by that name now. When I first called them that mom nearly cried. Logan hasn't changed much, he still has trust issues. About a week after school started, he had gotten into a fight and nearly beat him to death just because the kid said something stupid about his hair.

Even though my brother is still getting used to his new life, mine is pretty great. I have a wonderful home. I have my brother close to me. I have someone who looks after me. I thank the world for giving me such a wonderful family. I wonder where life will take me next. I may still have a long journey ahead of me but I think it's best for me to enjoy the moments I have and live them like they will be my last.