Sometimes Love Is Wrong

Chapter 1

Gerard's POV

An antique looking spider drifts down past all of our heads and hovers, suspended from its twinkling web, above Aunt Mel's shoulder. Her and Mum are too busy gossiping away about the wedding to notice the fascinating arachnid. Even if they did, they would just scream and squash it with a newspaper. So I don't say anything. I look at the spider as if to confirm our silent pact. It doesn't bite me, and I don't bring attention to it.

I sigh and flop my head down on the table. I like coming over to Aunt Mel's house- but only when Frank is here. Frank is my cousin. He's 16 too and is just like me. Black hair, obsessed with music and guitars and art and dreams of travelling the world. The only difference between us is he plays the guitar- I prefer to watch him. Just like he loves to watch me draw. He says when he makes his album I can design the cover art!

I lift my head a little to see the spider lower itself and snuggle into Aunt Mel's soft cardigan.

“What time did you say Frank is back?” I ask from underneath my blanket of sooty hair.

Aunt Mel jerks her head towards me, sending the spider hurtling in the opposite direction. It hits the floor and scuttles underneath the cooker, leaving no trace of its existence behind. I wish I could do that.

“In 10 minutes, love” she says before returning to the topic of table decorations for the wedding.

My Mum, Hattie, is getting married in October. It seems to be the only source of conversation my entire family can scrape away at. Dresses, cakes, invitations, speeches, decorations, music. You name it, it has been thoroughly discussed and analysed in every shape and form by the family, namely Aunt Mel. Mum is marrying my Step-Dad, Thomas. He's nice and all, but I'm not exactly sure what Mum sees in him. He's just a middle-aged balding businessman in a fading suit who calls everyone “darlin'”... even me. Even worse than that, his daughter. Estelle. She is only 14 but could easily pass for 18. She always gets her own way, always. I am not looking forward to having to live with her, that's Mum's big plan anyway.

“Isn't it going to be great Gerard? Me, you, January, Ricky, Estelle and Thomas... one big happy family!”.

It's going to be great Mum, just great.

January is my older sister and Ricky is her boyfriend. January insisted on having him move in with us too. At first Mum wasn't too happy about it but he pays his rent, does the washing up and stays out of everyone’s way so she can't really complain. Me and Ricky don't exactly dislike each-other but don't exactly love each-other either. The furthest our conversations ever reach is:

“Alright Gerard?”.

“Alright Ricky?”.

As for January, it is the typical brother-sister relationship. Don't talk to me and I won't talk to you, kinda thing. Deep down though I care about her. She has had it hard. She remembers Dad and remembers his death, I don't. I'm always thankful for that. She takes meds for her depression and Ricky has helped make her better. In-fact, I don't think it's the rent or the washing up that convinced Mum to let Ricky stay. It was his impact on Jan.

The only reason I am going along with this whole wedding thing is because I want Mum to be happy again. She has put on her best smile and raised us well for over 16 years. It's time for her to move on. Jan knows so too, that's why we both agreed not to cause a fuss.

I hear the door swing open and know Franks back from his guitar lesson.

“How was guitar sweetie?” calls Aunt Mel.

“Good” I hear him grunt from the hallway. He was never good at small talk. Frank doesn’t talk unless he has something that matters to say. That saves us both from making idle chit chat when we sit together in his room writing songs. He plays guitar and I write lyrics. None of this “hows school?” and “what are you wearing to the wedding?” type thing.