Love, Alexis

Chapter 1

Someone once told me that the only things in life that don't change, are death and taxes. Who originally said it? I don't know, but they gotta be right because my life recently has been nothing but change.

My childhood was never quite normal because I had not one, not two, but five brothers. This also ensured that my childhood wasn't boring either. The twins, Maxwell and Jaxon were the first born. Three years later, I was born. You'd think that perhaps my parents would stop there with just the three of us but they had other plans. When I was a few months short of three, Nicholas was born and two years after that, Matthew came along. It seemed as though my parents were finally finished adding on to our family but when I was twelve years old, little Carter was brought into the world. I always suspected that my mom and dad were trying to make my life miserable by continuing to bring home boys, always depriving me of a sister. However, I was told that as much as they would love to give me a sister – it was out of their control.

From the time I was born, I lived in one house, in one neighbourhood, in one city. Until recently, my parents decided to move all eight of us to a little town smack down in the middle of nowhere and that is how it all started.

- - - -

Out of all six of us, I was the most devastated about my parents moving us to Rockshore. Not only did they drag us to the middle of nowhere, but they dragged us away from our friends. I personally am really bad at making new friends – I'm socially awkward, shy, downright boring and I'm surprised the friends I had in Toronto stayed friends with me so long. But I decided to attempt to push that aside when we moved here so that I could try and make some friends. Easier said than done but hey, what's the worst that can happen?

"You can choose your room first, sweetie." Mom says and at least I have a say in something.

"Thanks." I mutter, walking through the door of our new home. The boys all wait outside, grumbling about having to sit outside in the late August heat but I just ignore them. They'll live.

Choosing a room doesn't take much time, I just pick the second biggest one since the master room is obviously off limits. I decide to linger a bit, leaving the boys waiting longer before I get to watch them all fight over choosing a room. It should be pretty interesting.

"The boys are getting restless," dad says and I turn my head to see him standing by the door of my room. "Have you picked your room yet?"

I gesture to the room we're standing in. "This is it."

He grins. "Picked the biggest one aside from the master, I see."

"Of course," I laugh and shrug. "Now I get to see the boys fight over the other rooms."

"Let me know if it gets out of hand," he says. "I'll be in the garage."

"Okay."

When I make my way back outside, the only ones still sitting are Carter, Matthew and Nick. I look around but find no sign of the twins.

"Where are Max and Jax?" I ask and Matt shrugs.

"Dunno. They just left."

"You guys get to choose your rooms first then." I say and Carter grins, jumping up and down like he just won the lottery.

"Yes!" He yells before running into the house.

Matt lets out of sound of irritation before slowly following Carter inside. Nick hangs back and tilts his head to the side slightly, studying me.

"It's gonna be good here." He says and I know it's an attempt to cheer me up but I just shrug.

"We'll see."