SomeWhere On... (BXB)

...Monroe Avenue

Murph's room is actually really dark for a room with windows on three sides. I mean, it's bigger than my room at my flat by a long shot, but it's still somehow darker than it should be.

There's just nothing to do. Murph's working until close to eleven. And it's just his aunt downstairs, so I don't know what to do with myself. I look at his architecture drawings he does in his free time, and while I don't get them, they're literally better than anything I can do. Hell, even his modeling skills're more intense than I imagined.

He's built, like, seven of those big wooden ships with the sails on them.

Thankfully, the WiFi's faster than anywhere I've ever been. So I go on YouTube.

"Toumas?" His aunt comes in, pushing the wood of the door as she does. "Are you okai?"

I can understand her accent a little more. I've been fortunate enough to hear her talk when I call Murph.

It's actually become my favourite part of our calls. When I hear her accent. Because I can mock it.

"Yeah, I'm a'right." I sigh.

"Are ya lonely?"

"There's not really a lot to do without Murph around."

"Let me see him!" someone shouts. A girl pushes his aunt out of the way and stares at me with wide eyes. "Is this Murph's...?"

I swing my legs out of bed. "Who're you?"

She squeals, hands on her face and everything. "Ohmigod, the accent! I'm dying!"

I see dimples. And I'm confused.

My gaze switches to Murph's aunt, who's shaking her head at me. "You'll havta excuse Lizzie. She's heard about you - "

"Uh, Auntie, I've heard nothing." She clomps over to me and stares. "God, you're cute." Then she squats on the floor and glares at me. I can already tell she and Murph are related because they have the same glare. And the dimples. "Who are you? What's your name? Are you in love with my brother? How long have you been dating Murph?"

"Hold on, hold on." I stand. "Who the f - " I look at his aunt, who's giving me the death stare. Murph wasn't kidding when he said she doesn't like swearing. "Who are you?"

She stands, hand pressed on her chest like she's posing for an 18th Century portrait. "I am Elizabeth Laurie O'Donoghue, older sister extraordinaire to the dummy currently know as Murph." She squats back down. "Now who are you, what's your name, are you in love with Murph, how long have you been dating him, have you - "

"Hold on." I stand up and walk toward his aunt. "Who is she?"

"Uh, did you not hear me?" she asks, indignant. She's still posing so I don't pay attention to her.

I also don't get to use the word "indignant" enough.

"Ugh," I hear. I look down the hall and Murph's little sister is standing at her bedroom door, glaring. "Lizzie, you wrecked my Mario game."

"It's. Elizabeth." And then she opens her arms and wraps Murph's little sister up in a tight hug. "Little one! I missed you so much!"

Little sister groans and pushes her away.

I feel the same way towards her right now.

Also, I don't know Murph's little sister's name. I feel like I should.

"This is Lizzie, Murph's olduh sistuh," his aunt explains. "She's very..." His aunt's eyes dart between me and her for a moment. "...passionate."