A Step Too Far..

Chapter One.

Chapter One.

"Mum, how long til we get there?" my little sister asked impatiently kicking the back of my seat. I rolled my eyes and swung my head around.

"Do you mind not kicking my chair!? Little brat," I snapped spitefully.

"Lexii!" my Mum exclaimed. I breathed out heavily and folded my arms to look out of the window; yet again I was the one in trouble, it was never Mia's fault, always my own just because I was the older sibling.

"What?" I huffed. "She's kicking my chair! Tell her to stop!"

Mum slammed the brakes down on the car, making me fly forwards into the dashboard, she sat there and gave me the death stare; the stare she always gave me when I had tipped her over the edge, she remained seated, breathing deeper to calm herself down.

"Please. Can we have ONE car journey when there is no fighting, no bickering, and no fuss. Please? Just one," Mum said, gritting her teeth. I gulped.

"But it's Mia's fault," I protested.

"No! It's Lexii's!" Mia interrupted.

"Shut up you little rat!" I screeched.

"DON'T START!" Mum shouted, causing both Mia and I to jump and look at her in fear. Mum's loud outburst had caused Elizabeth, my baby sister to wake up suddenly in fear, Elizabeth began to stir and then let out an ear-piercing cry.

"Look what you've done!" I exclaimed.

"Don't blame this on me," Mum warned.

"Well you shouted," I argued.

"Lexii-Mae!" Mum snapped, I looked at her, I could see in her eyes that she was not impressed; I always knew when I had tipped Mum over the edge when she used my full birth name, rather than just Lexii, this told me when to stop so I decided to shut my mouth, at least until we met Dad and Luke at the cottage  we were going to be staying at for a few weeks. Dad always backed me up and helped argue against Mum and her favourtism.

Mum unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car to tend to Elizabeth, who was still crying in her car seat at the back of the car.

"Shh shh shh," Mum soothed, putting a dummy in her mouth and stroking her face with her fingertips, Elizabeth began to drift back off to sleep, which let Mum leave her side to continue with our journey.

"Right, do you think we can manage half a journey without any more arguing?" Mum asked as she returned to her seat. We remained silent. "Mia, stop kicking your sister's seat,"

"I wasn't doing anything!" Mia protested, Mum looked back and gave her the stare, which told Mia to keep her mouth shut, she huffed. "Fine."

Mum turned back around, smiling, she clipped her belt back in and started the engine again. We continued with our trip.

For the majority of the journey we remained silent, the only noise was the occasional stirs and wimpers that Elizabeth made and the radio which was tuned on an old fashioned radio station that played classical music and old music that they listened to years and years ago. I hated old music, it bored me to death.

"So, how long left Mum?" I asked kindly. Mum glanced at the Sat-Nav.

"About half an hour to forty-five minutes," she replied, not taking her eyes off the road.

"Is it nice where we're going Mummy?" Mia asked. Mum nodded.

"What's it look like?" I asked.

"Erm, from your Father's description, it's a little white cottage in the middle of some fields by a river. Nice little garden full of flowers and vegetables and a few strawberry plants. There's horses also," Mum replied, Mia jumped up and down in her seat excitedly.

"Horses!" she exclaimed, I rolled my eyes. Horses were Mia's favourite animal; she was literally obsessed with the creatures, any shape, size, colour or variation, you name it- Mia could probably name the breed, which was pretty smart for a six year old.

Mum laughed slightly.

"Can we ride them Mummy?" Mia asked.

"Maybe if we ask the owners nicely," Mum replied. Mia jumped up and down more. "And only if you're good!"

"I'm gonna be extra good from now on!" Mia exclaimed, this made Mum grin, she was probably thinking "yes I've won!" because I knew Mum's tricks- give them a false hope and they'll behave for it. I rolled my eyes and played along with Mum's little trick, maybe I could get something out of this. Mia was blissfully unaware of Mum's trick, so maybe I could use this to my advantage also.

I turned around and smiled at her.

"Mia, that also means that you have to listen to what Luke and I tell you to do," I grinned.

"That's not fair!" she protested.

"If you want to ride that horse it is!" I replied. Mia gasped.

"You mean... you'll all let me ride an actual horse... if I behave?" she asked, her eyes were wide open in excitement. Mum and I nodded in unison and Mia jumped up and down again.

"Okay! Okay! Okay! I'll be good!" she replied.

I looked at Mum and she glanced over at me and for once Mum smiled at me.