Supposed To Be

t w o.

Once the back of the SUV is no longer visible, the twins make their way back into the house.

"Finally, home alone!" Cameron rejoices, flopping down the black leather sectional and kicking his feet up on the coffee table in front of him; had Alyssa seen his actions, she would have scolded him. "Now, I get to have honeys over and walk around in my boxers?? This is going to be awesome!"

"Negative, little brother," Arielle shakes her head. "We promised Mom best behavior, and that's what we're going to give her."

Cameron groans. "This is why no one invites you to parties, you're always sucking the fun out of things. Can't you just be rebellious for a day?"

Arielle rolls her eyes. "I was rebellious when I threw that party last summer."

"Yeah, last summer, Ari," Cameron points out. "It's been almost a year, and you've turned into a goody-two shoes. Live a little, would you?"

"I do live, everyday actually," Arielle retorts, smiling.

"Well, for the next two weeks, we have no adult supervision," Cameron reminds her. "We can always throw a little-"

"Nope, not gonna happen," Arielle interrupts. "Mama isn't going to kill me because of you."

Cameron rolls his eyes before ruffling his hair. "We can always say it's for our birthday."

"Cam, our birthday is literally at the end of Summer Break. How are we going to pull off that explanation?" Arielle challenges, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Ana," Cameron starts, calling his sister the nickname he gave her when they were younger due to her initials, "Ma already said we could have a birthday party this year. Let's call her bluff."

"Bluff or not, it's not going to happen," Arielle answers, just as the doorbell sounds throughout the house. "I'll get it!" She runs to the door, hoping to see her two best friends, but only sees SJ, her brother's best friend, god brother and 'cousin'.

"'Sup, Arielle?" He questions, smirking as she rolls her eyes; SJ knows Arielle hates being called by her full name unless she's in trouble by her mother.

"Shiloh," Arielle retorts, calling him by his government name. "Cam's in the kitchen. Where's your sister and cousin?"

SJ shrugs his shoulders. "Hell if I know."

Arielle rolls her eyes again and pulls her phone out to call her two best friends when the teenage girls exit SJ's car.

"Full. Of. It," Arielle glares at SJ as he shrugs once more and walks to the kitchen with Cameron. "B, I don't see how you deal with him."

"I stay in my room most of the time," Bailey responds, walking in with Chlöe behind her, so Arielle can close the door. "Plus, he just wanted to come see his boo."

Arielle pretends to gag. "Ew, no. He's like my brother."

Chlöe laughs at this statement. "I'm sorry, Ari, but... no. Everyone can see the crush you have on my cousin from a mile away."

"I am not crushing on him," Arielle counters. "He's crushing on me if anything."

"Only in your dreams, Arielle!" SJ shouts from the kitchen before poking his head back into the foyer. "Also, I would appreciate it very much if the three of you didn't talk about me like I can't hear you."

"We aren't talking about you like you can't hear us, dummy. We know you're in earshot of our conversation," Bailey taunts. "Also, we would appreciate it if you minded your own business and stay out of our mouths."