Begin Again

Chapter VII. An Old Place With A New Start

Four Years Later...

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"Catch!"

I let out a shriek as I grab the box. "Larry, stop!" I grumble as I place it on the counter.

"You agreed to help, little sis." He smiles cheekily as he carries more boxes into what must be the living room.

"Yeah, help not join the circus." I huff, wiping away the thin layer of sweat that seemed to have made an appearance on my face.

"Guys, stop fooling around if you want to be done before the party tomorrow." Karla says, setting down a bag on the carpeted floor.

"No problem, babe." Larry winks at her before stalking off to take more stuff from the pick up truck.

"Remind me again, where is my favourite nephew?" I asked her, opening a box and taking out the framed pictures. I set them carefully on the table.

"Sleeping in one of the rooms, little brat had been up all night excited about the new house that he barely got any rest." She huffs, pulling out some kitchen supplies from a box, and going to the cupboards.

"Aw, want me to wake him up? It's noon already."

"Oh God, really?" She pulls her phone out from the back of her shorts. "Please, he's going to torture us tonight."

I chuckle and get right to it.

I jog up the wooden steps of the staircase, feeling a bit of dimmed excitement to see Felix. It is an odd name, but it sort of fits him for a skinny little boy with dark black hair and blue eyes.

I peek inside the first room to my left, and I see him right away sprawled over the bed that's covered with only a white mattress. He must have been real tired then.

I walk in casually and sit by his upper body as he's layed over his front, drool basically dripping with the side of his head pressed against the pillow.  Despite the gross drool, he looks adorable for an eleven year old.

"Felix..." I softly say in a singing voice. "Wake up."

He was lying still, not making any move or stopping his snores.

"Felix," I say louder in a teasing tone. "Get up, or I'm getting the cold water."

He groans and rolls over, squinting at me, then turning back to his stomach and resuming his sleep. I stifle a laugh and clutch his ankle, "wake up!" I holler and drag his foot to the edge.

He yelps and kicks at my hand and I start laughing finally. "What the heck?!" He sits up abruptly, his hair wild and eyes puffy from the sleep. It's such an amusing sight and I just laugh more.

"Get up nephew, we ordered pizza. If you want to eat then hurry up." I flick his forehead. "Don't forget to wash you face."

He scrunches his nose, closing his eyes and rubbing where my fingers hit his head. "Fine."

+++

"Way to ruin it. Where are we going to hold the party now?"

I stare at the dripping paint with a grimace. "How did a cat even come in here? " I huff, crossing my arms.

"That's what I wanna know."