Dancing With The Devil

calm before the storm.

Today was the day of the gala. The days leading up to today were pretty boisterous. Turns out reuniting with three older brothers isn't like it would be in the movies. As for myself, my insomnia continued and I spent most nights going on runs because it helped ease my nightmares. My demons weren't remotely tackled, they were just mildly concussed.

"This was my mom's recipe. What do you think?" Izzy asked, holding a wooden spoon with some soup she made. With one hand hovering beneath the spoon to prevent dripping, she fed me.

"Oh shit! I didn't know you could cook!" I sat atop the white granite counter, sipping on a margarita that Izzy had also made me.

"I used to work at a restaurant so I picked up a few things"

"Yeah I never picked up any cooking or cleaning capabilities in my lifetime"

"Well you've had your hands tied with other things" she reassured, continuing to mix the soup around. The back patio door opened with a click and with that came an aggressively friendly chatter from the lumps I call brothers.

"I can't believe I'm taking advice from someone who thought Forrest Gump was a true story" Sehun shook his head.

"Ok fine. Keep being the way you are and see how far that gets you" Jaehyun exclaimed.

"Probably farther than you" he retaliated.

"What are you guys arguing about?" I asked.

"I just think that Sehun's a scrawny twig who has no game. No hard feelings" Jaehyun shrugged, picking at the charcuterie board on the kitchen island.

"Hard feelings indeed!" Sehun argued, grease staining his shirt, probably from fixing those stupid cars in the back garage.

"Hyung, tell me I'm not wrong" Jaehyun laughed, opening his hand to Joonho.

"You're not" Joonho said, adding fuel to the fire. He came to Izzy's side, planting a kiss on her cheek before sticking his tongue out for her to give him a taste of the soup.

"You make fun of me yet you're making me fix your car?" Sehun scoffed.

"I'm not making you. You offered. Different meanings, little brother" Jaehyun came over to take a sip of my drink.

"Ew you smell bad" I flicked him away, taking my margarita back.

"I didn't offer. You peer pressured me" Sehun continued.

"You're making it so easy to bully you. I'm convinced you never even went to school"

"I wouldn't have to defend myself if you didn't make me your victim every time"

"Remember when that kid was beating you up-" Jaehyun began, but was shortly interrupted by Joonho, "which time? There were so many". They both laughed.

"The time I defended you and then got banished by Dad" he laughed, "I was deported for helping you, so you owe me now"

"You were deported because you have temper problems" Sehun argued.

"I was naturally born to be a fighter"

"No you were naturally born to be a douchebag!"

"Stop it" I warned, trying to cool the fire between the two, but that attempt was very quickly ignored.

"Later on tonight, you're gonna be laying down, there's gonna be something squishy in your pillowcase. And you're gonna be like, "what's this?", and it's gonna be because I put a turd in there!" Sehun continued. Boys

"You put your shit in my bed and I'll have Izzy cook you"

"Oh, it won't be my shit. It'll be Joonho hyung's"