Big Bros & Teenage Twins

FREEDOM

Luke and Darcy - 28 & 16.

L U C Y

Beep. Beep. Beep.

That's my alarm.

Still barely awake I slam my hand onto my alarm clock on my bedside table and I look at the time through my groggy, sleep filled eyes to see two a.m.

"Darcy, get up," I hiss in haste, as I realise we're going to the airport to take Luke and Leo to Australia.

"I'm - I'm getting up. That alarm was too fucking loud not to have woken up," she yawns and we both get dressed in the dark not bothering to turn on the light.

Someone knocks on our door, "you two up?"

"Yep, coming," Darcy grumbles and the door is opened bringing light from the hall.

"Sure you wanna come with us to the airport?" Leo walks in.

"Positive," I smile and throw on a hoodie and grab my phone.

"You two are not allowed to grow anymore okay?" Leo grins as I reach up to hug him.

We're soon rushing to the car as we realise they only have one hour until check in and the airport is forty five minutes away on a good run.

"Where the hell is the Luke?" Tom grumbles at the driver's seat.

"Not here," Darcy helpfully replies.

"I can see that," Tom sarcastically snaps.

"Definitely convincing me that you three will be just fine and won't tear eachothers heads off," Leo shakes his head as he checks he has everything in his carry on.

"Don't worry Leo, I'll make sure the children behave," I sweetly smile and Leo chuckles while Tom shoots me a glare before resting his head on the wheel.

—/—

"You be good," Luke wraps me in his arms, one of his classic bear hugs.

"Always am," I breathe in his scent, always so comforting even at sixteen years old. "Look after yourself."

"Always do," he chuckles, and kisses my head before standing to his full height, towering over me once again.

He looks at me and brushes my ringlets out of my face, "love you lots. Have a great time with Tom, and be the sensible one, okay?"

I nod, not trusting myself to speak before hugging him one more time.

"Have a good first week of eleventh grade, I'm sorry I can't be there to take pictures and pick you up and go out to dinner."

Luke reminds me that him and Leo will miss our first day of eleventh grade.

"I'll miss you," barely distinguishable, my voice muffled by his jumper.

"I'll be back before you know it, just hopefully on the scheduled date. Not like when you were barely eleven and had appendicitis," he gently presses my head into his chest.

"I know, my timing sucked."

"Please kindly stay away from the hospital and incurring any injuries," Luke finally pulls away and smiles down at me and I nod, half-heartedly returning the smile.