The Choice

Chapter 1

Never in my life had I thought of moving to America, Los Angeles of all places, but here I was, walking through the airport to collect my baggage, that hopefully was not lost or else daddy would have to cough up to replace them. It was he's fault after all for making us move here, he just had to go be a darn good cardiologist! Tsk stupid dad and his job, I mentally cursed.

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, I am the middle (and only girl) of five children. My older brothers Blake and Connor are both in college. Blake is studying law, while Connor is following into dad's footsteps into medicine. My two younger brothers Dylan and Ethan are in 11th and 10th grade. We are all one year apart from each other.

Weaving my way through the crowded LAX airport with my brothers in tow, we finally collect our bags and make our way to the exit to find mom and dad who had come a couple of months earlier to set up the house, school and dad's work stuff. "I've located the 'rentals" Dylan says as he strides faster in the direction of our parents. "Yo, big foot? Wait up, not all of us has daddy-long legs like you, you know. So a much slower pace will do just fine thank you very much." I point out to him. All the men in my family are tall, like ginormously tall, and then there's me and mom. Like, I don't even reach passed Ethan's shoulders and his only 15 and is turning 16 pretty soon. Like what even is this blasphemy! I totally blame mom for my shortness, yep totally her fault! "Well hurry up would you? I swear Ria you walk slower then grandma Bulie and that woman is slow!" he answered back casually but not reducing his pace.

We...well I finally spot mom and dad waiting for us. They both still look the same except, mom has gotten a little plump now...huh? "Hey guys? Is it just me or is mom letting herself go?" I asked my brothers before we made it to the 'rents. "I'm so telling mom you just called her fat!" Ethan mauled into laughter, then the idiot proceeded to shout out to mom "hey mom? Guess what Ria just said?" he asked her. "What did your sister do now honey?" mom asked, with a hint of amusement in her voice. "Oh nothing of importance mother dearest, but just that you look absolutely radiant, doesn't she huh dad?" I interjected before my idiot of a brother could be the cause of my untimely death. Dad who had a smirk on his face, which caused me to believe that he heard my earlier comment on moms new look, responded "yep, your mom does look radiant. I guess that's what pregnancy will do to you" he said while rubbing mom's stomach. "Wait, what? So you're pregnant? Oh thank goodness, here I thought that you had let yourself go". I received an upside the head from dad as soon as the words flew from my mouth. Oops I do have a rather big mouth, don't I?

It is safe to say mom did not speak to me for the rest of the day after that. Though with a sincere apology and a couple of her favourite  Disney movies and many chocolate bars later we were back at being besties for the resties!

The minute we got home from the airport, my brothers and I raced into the house to claim the best rooms. Now let me tell you, being the only girl of five siblings you are quick to learn survival skills, you are make alliances but should always watch your back –that kinda sounded like an episode from Survivor-. My brothers and I are all very competitive, we love each other yes but proving ourselves to be the best has always been something that has run through our family for many generations. Dad has always said that 'to be the best, you need to be better than the you, you were yesterday'. And quite frankly my brothers are very protective of me and we all love each other and get along well, but when it comes down to who gets what, it's either rock, paper, scissors or we get mom and dad to take matters into their own hands.

The house that mom and dad bought is a lovely looking light-blue double-story house. My parents could have bought a mansion if they wanted to, because they are that rich, but dad always wanted us to have a normal upbringing, no butlers and maids, or chauffeurs and bodyguards. Dad always believed that just because you have something, it does not mean that you have to showcase it to the world, -it's the art of humility- he calls it.

So, ultimately, us running to choose our own rooms ended up being useless, because as we stampeded up the stairs and down the hallway, we immediately noticed names written on the doors. Upon further inspection it became apparent that our parents had chosen our rooms for us to avoid conflict –good choice 'rents. I found my room after Blake and Connor found theirs, it turns out that we are lined up front the oldest to the youngest and parallel to each other, so Blake's room is opposite Connor's, but next to mine, Dylan's is opposite mine but next to Connor's and Ethan's is next to mine and opposite the room that is reserved for the twins. It's a nice structure that mom and dad thought out, and thankfully I have an en-suite and no need to share a bathroom with those bozos.

After spending the rest of the day unpacking miyntains, we all ended up in the family room watching movies and eating pizza. Dad completely ruined the night by telling us the unfortunate news of school starting the next day.