Changed

Chapter 1

The sun glares at my face, tanning my pale skin. I was beginning to doze off; I was lying on an inflatable raft in the middle of the pool, enjoying myself thoroughly. It was relaxing, a rare luxury during the past months.

I sigh deeply, loving the scent of mingling chlorine and blooming tulips. They were in season, blooming big and colourful. Mum was constantly checking them, as if she was expecting a burglar to break in with the sole purpose to rip apart each and every tulip.

I try to imagine somebody doing that, just to entertain my imaginative mind. A burglar creeping into our backyard, glancing around and taking cautious steps towards the flowers. And then, out of the blue, grabbing the nearest one and screaming 'HA. TAKE THAT TULIP!', tearing it to shreds. Mum's beautiful, adoring tulips.

I chuckle quietly to myself. Gosh, I'm so weird.

I flick my dark hair over my shoulder, shifting my position so that I face the house we've been living in for the past few months, already planning the nap I'll be taking straight afterwards.

That's when I see it. A small, almost imperceptible, ripple running across the surface of the water. My eyes widen-I realise what this means too late. A squeal escapes my lips before a high pitched voice screams, "CANNONBALL!"

I don't have time to blink as I'm thrown backwards off the raft and dumped into the icy-cold water of the pool. I resurface moments later, gasping and shivering. "Jack!"

A head pops up near me, the little rascal grinning ear-to-ear. "What? I'm a grown man. I deserve to have a little fun in my life."

I grumble irritably, slowly wading to the pool-stairs. "You're only ten, Jack. That is not nearly a good enough age to be considered a 'grown man.' Besides, you know that I like to be dry when lying on the raft. That means no cannonballs!"

Jack cheekily giggles in response, coming out of the pool with me.

I pinch his cheek affectionately and tickle his stomach. He squeals and tickles me back, making me fall to the ground like the pathetic sixteen-year-old I am, and thrash around as I am left to wrath of my younger brother.

Jack suddenly grins evilly and I am scared for my life. The monster only has the worst for me when he looks at me like that. As I struggle to get up, Jack giggles and begins to roll me slightly to my right. "What the-"

With a final heave, I am dumped back into the pool.

Jack is overcome by a fit of un-manly giggles, laughing even harder when he spots me fuming in the water.

"JACK! I am so getting you back for that! Not cool, dude, not cool!"

I splash over to the side and grab the kid by his shirt. He looks a little scared at that point, but I'm not letting him get away this time. I pull his collar-but not so he chokes, I'm not that mean- and he tumbles into the water with me.

Once he recovers and resurfaces, he's still giggling. I am so annoyed with him.

I hop out and wring out the old baby blue tank top I'm wearing, having not changed into swim clothes, being the lazy butt that I am. My faded shorts are drenched, thanks to one particular younger sibling. I sigh again just because the situation deserves it, still shivering.

Jack follows me onto the porch, the last of his giggles dying into his throat, a look of absolute satisfied glee etched on his face, infuriating me to no end. I lay out on the wood, enjoying the sun shining on my wet clothes. Jack joins me after a moment.

"You will regret that every moment of your sorry life, kiddo."

Jack doesn't look worried. "You have to admit, that was pretty funny, Chells," he tells me in his adorable high pitched voice. "The torture you're gonna do to me can't beat that face you made when you fell off that raft. Or when I shoved you in again." He has the nerve to giggle again.