The Youngest Of Five (COMPLETED)

one

Meal times as a family are supposed to be happy and calm; the time in the day where everyone sits down and speaks about their days. However; in our family, things arent always as smooth as the expectations....

I just sat silently next to Corey, opposite Luke and Elliott, looking at mum, and then at Elliott, and then Mum, and then Elliott...once again they were arguing.

Elliott was fighting his point about the news mum had just delivered - she was going on holiday for three weeks, all the way to Toronto for a "nice calm short break away", not sure why the choice was Toronto, but us siblings are used to her going away on holidays, its not the first time we have had this told to us before.

The last few holidays have been to Germany, Italy and Spain, they were over the course of a few months.

I find myself questioning "why can't we come?" or "why do you go away all the time?" Personally, I think it's because Mum has had enough of being a single parent and wants to start living her life again.

Corey and Luke say its the stress of her job, but I argue that every job is stressful, and you can't just leave your kids at home!

"I leave for Toronto in two days!" mum beamed, flicking her long, blonde hair out of her face

Elliott grunted and rolled his eyes

"Ell, youre in charge of everyone!" she added, taking a sip of water

"They're all old enough to take care of themselves" he muttered under his breath

Mum glared at him, giving him "the look", as if to say be quiet!

"Corey and Luke are legal adults. They can look after themselves, and so can Alexa, I mean look at her! When you go out, shes the one making dinner! She's a weirdo, shes like a mini adult" he explained

"I don't know why you're making a fuss" mum snapped, hitting her hand on the table

"Because you go on far too many breaks away; its only May and you've been away quite a bit this year. But you don't take us do you? Oh no, you never take us. The last family holiday we had was when I was 15, and I'm 19 now! Its unfair and wrong" argued Elliott

"You know I have a stressful job! As a writer its demanding of you! I need new ideas constantly and the travelling gives me ideas and experiences. My new book is about a girl who moves to Toronto with her family-" mum was cut off by Elliott

"Ok. Whatever" he muttered, storming up to his room

See what I mean? Our family isn't normal, by any means, yet Elliott is usually the one to cause the arguments first, followed closely by Corey or Luke. I just stay silent really, not wanting to get involved

I picked up my empty plate and stood up, Corey tapped my arm

"Take mine please" he smiled

"Mm" I replied, picking up the two empty plates and putting them into the dishwasher

Making my own way upstairs and to my room, I heard Elliott's TV on in his room. I knocked on his door and waited patiently

"Yeah? What do you want?" he snapped

"Please can I come in?" I asked

He grunted "If you must!"

I tiptoed into his room and closed the door behind me, sitting on the edge of his bed

"Ell, whats up?"

Elliott ran his fingers through his hair "Its nothing, dont worry"

I can tell when he's lying, and this is one of those times

Getting up from his bed, he paced up and down his room

"Do you really want to know?" he asked, and I nodded, as he stopped in the middle of his room

"I'm 19, right? I want to be going on nights out on weekends, not staying in and having to baby sit! Its so frustrating, I just want my own place without being watched over constantly!" he vented

I stood up and put my arms round him "If you moved out though...I'd miss you" I admitted

He pushed me off "Don't be sad, weirdo"

I gulped "You dont mean that, do you?"

He shrugged "Stop being strange. Just leave it, okay?"

I raised an eyebrow, shook my head and walked out of his room and down the hall to Corey and Luke's room.

"Hey guys. Ell's in a mood so I thought I'd come annoy you!" I laughed, sitting on the desk chair

"How do you feel though, that Mum always goes abroad and stuff?" Luke asked "Just because its getting regular now"

I thought about my answer. Truthfully, it upsets me. Mum has gone on so many holidays and trips that my brothers have always looked after me, but as I've grown up, I've started to care for myself

"It upsets me, yeah. She goes away in the school holidays, but never takes us" I admitted "When I'm on summer holidays from school, we never get taken away"

Corey spoke up "I think Mum doesn't take us because of costs and shit. But we're a family and should do things together - thats what she always says! Pretty hypocritical if you ask me"

I jumped up "Imma go speak about this!"

"No you're not" Luke stated "It will cause issues"

I shook my head "No it won't. I think Mum is in need to hear the truth"

"Luke's right. It will" Corey added "You're not doing it and thats an order"

I sighed "Well, then its always gonna be like this and nothing will change. If nobody speaks up, nothing gets done. You said yourselves that its annoying, but yet you dont do anything about it?"

Luke stood up and opened his bedroom door "Well, you do what you want Alexa, but there's no point"

I left their room and went to my own room for the night, where I reamined until the following morning