Stand up

Chapter 1

"What the hell James!?"
Skye exclaimed stumbling slightly in an attempt to regain her balance,
"I could've fallen and been injured and then, you my friend, would be screwed."

"Yeah, right. And when you tripped me earlier I could've broke my neck and died. Then where would you be without me"
James replied voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Enjoying life with less experience with food poisoning."
she replied without missing a beat, as she shrugged and her lips curled up into a smirk.

"Okay, now that hurt"
James whispered clutching his heart dramatically.
"I mean insulting me is one thing but insulting my cooking is really crossing a line."

The pair grinned briefly at each other before turning and heading towards the shack at the end of the street. The sky was painted black and hazy, the smog seeming to choke the city even more than usual tonight. They continued on in silence, concentrating on clambering over the rubble sprawled across the street as glass crunches like snow under their feet.

"You know, all we need is a garden gnome or something, maybe a touch of paint"
Skye deadpanned as the two stared at the shack with its murky brown front, boarded up windows and rusted roof.

"Oh shut up"
James chuckled as he ducked into the shack, tripping over the step at the entrance as always. Skye let out a snort and opened her mouth to make a scathing comment when James caught her eye and gave her a look which clearly said 'don't even fucking think about it'. In submission she put her hands up in mock surrender and stepped in after him.

"We're home"
He called his voice muffled by the cloth covering his mouth.

"Great, cause we're starving"
James' sister, Jesse, replied walking nonchalantly to her brother and snatching at the bag in his hands. "What are we having anyway?" She asked

"What no, how was your day James?, how are the kids James, what did you teach today James?" He mocked snatching the bag back and heading over to the sink.

"Nope, those questions are reserved for people who aren't 2 goddamm hours late bringing the dinner home!" She stated smiling sarcastically and retrieving the bag from his hands yet again.

"I'll tell you Jesse," Skye said putting on a voice of one of the well groomed men seen on the ginormous screens in the city centre "we are having, drumroll please, potato and onion soup"

"Oh yay!" grumbled Jesse sarcastically plonking the bag back on the counter.

"Well at least it's not one of James' concoctions" crowed a cheerful voice as a flurry of blonde hair flew gracefully into the room and immediately engulfed both James and Skye in hugs.
"Hey Zoe, I thought you said you liked the last meal I made, you know the stew" pouted James indignantly at the the blonde.

"I believe that I said it wasn't quite as disgusting as I'd expected it to be."
said Zoe tying up her blonde hair with the string she'd been fidiling with, then prancing towards Skye to begin making the soup.
"But it was a good effort" she comforted before glancing over at james and smiling sweetly.
At this Jesse, her twin, scoffed and grumbled "yeah, a good effort at giving us all food poisoning'. Before grabbing a peeler and getting to work on the potatoes.

Hi, this is my first time attempting to write anything so, if anyone is reading this, I would love if you could give me any tips or advice on writing.