Strawberry Lemonade

2

A soft knock on my bedroom door startled me awake. "Go away" I mutter from my bed, I was half asleep but I could tell it was still dark outside.
there's another knock on the door. "Fuck off" I mutter.

"Please, Charlie, open the door, I cant sleep" my little sister martha, aged twelve, whines quietly from outside the room "it's this house, it gives me the creeps".
I begrudgingly drag myself up and open the door for her. She practically jumps into my arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you" she says like ive just saved her life or something.

"Alright, Marthy, calm down" I mumble "come on lets go to bed, whats the time?". I look at the digital alarm clock, numbers glowing red on my nightstand, it was 3:37am. "Fucking hell, couldnt you have come in here a bit earlier" I ask as we get on the bed.

"Sorry" she replies quietly from next to me as we settle.

"Goodnight, martha" I turn over so im facing outwards on the bed and my back is towards her.

"Goodnight, Charlie" she replies with a yawn.
Then a silence falls over us like a warm blanket, I enjoyed my sister's company, although I would never admit that to her. It seemed like forever we quietly laid there trying to sleep. I was just falling asleep when she spoke again.
"Charlie?" She asks in a hushed tone "are you still awake?".

She made me jump slightly where she spoke so suddenly. "Yes I am" I reply.

"Do you think dad will ever come back?" She asks me.

"I dont know, Marth, it seemed pretty serious this time" I reply "come on get to sleep, I have things to do tomorrow".

"Mummy said hes never coming back, but I love him so much what if we never see him again".

"Dont be silly, of course we will" I mutter and feel myself slowly drifting off to sleep.
--------

It was also still dark when I woke up to shouting coming from the Gallagher's room. I muttered some profanity to myself then looked at the time, it was only ten, I had been asleep barely an hour.
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME" I shout, heard by no one.
Eventually after what seems like an eternity I get up and pull a hoodie on over my red plaid pjamas then I leave my room and bang on the door to theirs.

Noel opens the door, looking perplexed. "Morning" he smirks.

"Will you two cunts shut the fuck up, I have a practise wedding to be at tomorrow and I dont need you keeping me awake" I scold him.

He pushes the door so I can see into the room, liam is sitting there, drinking a lager. "Care to join us? We've agreed to disagree now anyway" Noel asks "we've got harder stuff, if larger dont take your fancy". He holds his hand out to me, for some reason I take it and he pulls me in, closing the door.
Liam gets up and opens the mini bar.

"Malibu and coke?" He asks.

"My favourite, how did you know?" I ask sitting on a chair thats next to a desk.

"Thats for me to know" he taps his nose.

"Me an' Rkid were just planning on goin' out somewhere" Noel says, sitting on the desk and rolling a cigarette.

Liam passes me my drink. "I could do with this, Andy stresses me out" I chuckle "how is it you and him know eachother again?".