When We Freeze

Careful what you wish for

"Aw come on sis," Toby hugs me from the side as he balances a box in his other arm, "aren't you happy! There are no four loud boys you have to fight over the bathroom with, in the house anymore!"

I return his hug pouting, "Jaxon and you are leaving at the same time! I have a reason to be upset."

Jaxon and Toby are the last two to leave. The two inseparable twins. My other two brothers Oscar and Chris are both long gone with families. Oscar left two years ago, and Chris left three years ago. Now Jaxon is engaged and Toby is moving in with his partner. 

They're all leaving me. 

"Come on, you still have mum and dad," he walks to his car as I trail behind him.

I give him an 'are you kidding me' face, "they are in the middle of planning their escape to Hawaii or somewhere far away from here now that everyone's leaving."

"You're not," he places another box in the boot, "they still have you for a year."

"tell them that," I sigh, leaning on the car, "we were sitting in the living room just then talking and mum brought up this place in Maui, completely forgetting I was even there."

"Oh, Iz," He pushes the last box in the boot and comes round to hug me, "you'll survive, just think of all the things you could get away with!" 

I snort, "are you serious? Mr Protective. And you know me."

He chuckles, "so true."

I hug him tighter as he starts to pull away. I feel him vibrate underneath me as he chuckles. 

"Ok, ok," he finally manages to push me away, "I gotta go, Lena is waiting for me."

I sigh, "bye," he hops into the car, "I'll miss you."

He rolls down the window, "I'll miss you too kid."

"Love you," I know my eyes may be glazing over now.

"Love you too kid," and with that, he rides off. 

That's when the tears come. I sniffle into my sleeve and plop down onto the curb. Putting my head in my hands. 

Jaxon left yesterday, Toby is now gone. 

Everyone is moving too fast! I just want it to stop...

I sit on the curb for like 20 minutes. 

Then I hear someone on a skateboard coming down the street. I decided to just keep my head in my hands. Hopefully, whoever they are, move on and don't see me in this emotional state. 

I hear the sound of the wheels become louder, then come to a halt in front of me. 

Shit. 

I hear someone clear their throat, then a familiar deep voice asks, "Um...Izzy are you ok?"

I lift my head to find myself staring at Aiden Lewis. Mr Bady boy himself. The heartbreaker himself. 

My face must be all puffy. I bet you the added red to my eyes will really bring out my black almost brown eyes, sarcasm intended. 

My tan skin doesn't usually go pink unless I'm playing basketball or crying. In this instance, I must be beetroot red. 

"Iz?" He asks again. 

Shit. 

"Um...yeah I'm fine," wait a second...did he call me Iz? What the hell. I didn't even think he knew my name. 

He offers his hand, which I hesitantly take, "well you don't look it."

I give him a look, "thanks."