Our Little Family (COMPLETED)

Here's To Another Night Alone... Or So He Thought.

Zoe came to pick the upset boy up. Oakley was walking to the main office where Zoe was when he heard someone call his name.

"Hey Oakley"!

He turned to see Emily there. She smiled at him then approached him quickly.

"H-Hey Emily".

"Where are you going"?

"Uh... Home".

"What? Why?! You can't leave"! Emily said worried

"Why"?

"Because! If you leave then you can't be King tonight at the dance"!

Oakley's body turned ice cold. He watched her sparkly blue eyes dance with excitement, excitement to talk to him. Though Oakley couldn't lie, the truth would come out that night.

"Um.. actually.. there was a m-mistake with the vote counting... I didn't win King".

Emily's smiled dropped immediately. Her face burned red with embarrassment for some reason.

"Oh.. I'm so sorry". She said quietly

"I-It's okay".

"Well... I.. I better get going... I'll see you around then".

"Yeah.. sure".

Emily turned and walked quickly away. Oakley then made the rest of the way to the main office where Zoe stood still looking beyond exhausted. The ride home was silent. No words could be exchanged.

When they returned home, Oakley immediately ran to his and Strummer's room. It felt so empty without his brother's big personality to fill it. Now that he's experienced what it would be like if Strummer was never born, he misses him more then anything.

FLASHBACK
Oakley, who was 6 at the time was swinging on the playset in the backyard. Evan cooked burgers on the grill, Zoe was coloring with Strummer at the picnic table. It was a normal, perfect family day.

"Mommy! Daddy! Look at how high I can go"! Oakley yelled kicking his legs as he swung

"Wow bud, that's really high. Be careful, okay"? Evan warned

"I'M GUNNA JUMP"! Oakley called

"NO! Oakley Connor don't you dar---". Zoe yelled but it was to late.

The 6 year old threw himself through the air to land hard. The kid screamed out, Evan and Zoe raced to his side. Strummer looked worried too, his big brother was hurt!

"Can you feel your arm, Oakley"? Evan asked as he gently tried to move it

Zoe held him in her lap to try to calm the boy.

"It's not broken, but we need to ice it". Evan said

While all the commotion was going on, Strummer walked up to Oakley.

"Bubby hurt! Is he okay"?

Oakley looked up at his baby brother, then a adorable smile appeared on his face.

"I'm okay, Strum. Don't worry! Bubby is tough, remember"?

"I do! Bubby is super duper strong"!

The parents shared a smile to only themselves. Oakley then stood up and within moments, it's like it never happened. Though Evan still iced his arm and Oakley had to make a promise never to jump off a swing again.

END OF FLASHBACK

There were pictures of the boys all over there room. Oakley started to remember all of the fun times with Strummer and wished he could tell him exactly how he was wrong and loves him.

The afternoon turned into night. The dance had started a half and hour ago and Oakley still sat on his top bunk. Suddenly there was a tap on the window.

Oakley cautiously approached the window. He immediately slid it open when he realized it was Strummer. He looked extremely tired and possibly sick.

"Strummer! Where the hell have you been?! You know how worried we all were"! Oakley hissed

"I know, I know. I-I came to apologize. I couldn't just leave without telling you what you mean to me". Strummer frowned

"What do you mean before you leave"?

"Well... I know a friend who is moving to New York City... I decided to go with him".

"What Strummer, that's crazy! You can't leave! I-I won't let you"!

"I thought you wanted a life without me". Strummer asked as his eyes started to get puffy

"I WAS WRONG! Look, it doesn't matter what horrible things I've said or the mistakes you made... what does matter is we're family, best friends... brothers. I don't want to even imagine a life without you in it. You're my baby brother whether you like it or not"!

"Oakley... you have no idea how much that means to me. I missed you too... more then you know".

Oakley pulled Strummer in for a long hug as the two cried. Eventually after they pulled away Strummer said

"Oh no, the dance! We're late! You're King, we have to get you there"!

"Um.. actually.. I didn't win. I'm sorry I didn't believe you... but it turns out that the votes got voted so quickly that they got it wrong... I actually got last place".

Strummer stood silently. He looked sorry.

"What about Rachel. Wasn't she your date"? Oakley questioned

"She was... until her family had to leave on an emergency trip to Florida to be with her Grandpa who's in the hospital".

So there the who brother's were... alone... but together all at the same time.

"We have to tell Mom and Dad you're home". Oakley chuckled

"Not yet. I'm not ready for Mom's wrath".

"Sorry bro... but the police are out looking for you. We have to let them know now".

"Okay.. fine... here comes the dreaded Zoe Hansen scold/crying/make it a teachable moment or whatever. Wish me luck". Strummer smiled lightly

In a moment, there was a small knock on the bedroom door. Oakley awnsered it expecting to see a parent there but instead stood... Emily.

"Em-Emily... what are you doing here"?!

"Strummer called me".

Oakley turned towards his brother with a confused expression.

"Okay so... maybe I already knew about you not winning King...".

"I'd much rather spend my night with you then at that dance". Emily smiled

"But... But you were Queen"!

"I declined it. They took 2nd place. Besides.. who wants to go stand in front of the entire school holding hands with some random guy you don't even know? It lasts for 5 minutes then it's over. Why would I go to a 4 hour event for 5 minutes"?

Oakley smiled and felt his face blush. Strummer brought his arm around his brother

"Well have fun, I'm off to meet my certain doom by our mother".

Now the two were alone....