The Maestro | RusAme |

Six

Friday after school, Natalia drove home in an alright mood. She knew her brother was supposed to pay a visit soon, so it was the one time she had to be happy.

She pulled up into the carport where there was an empty space. Turning the car off and grabbing her backpack, she headed inside and went straight to her work so she would be able to spend the day talking with her family.

Katyusha let herself in, sitting across from Natalia at the dinner table where she was doing her homework.

"Hey Nat, how's it going?" She asked, using her Russian at home.

She shrugged, "It's okay, I had a long day at school and people were making me aggravated... No one cares about school..." She huffed. She was the kind of person that took her work too seriously. She was very tenacious, as Ivan would say, sometimes in a good way and sometimes not. She was always determined to be close to her brother.

Katyusha sometimes thought it was her wanting to get in their brother's pants, but kept this to herself.

At many moments it seemed they both had a thing for him, but it wasn't actually the case. It wasn't always Ivan being the center of attention, especially since he wasn't always very needy compared to his sisters. He used to be very healthy and he could lay low, as the middle child.

-∆

"Oh, come on... You don't want to stay here with me? We could have fun later..." Chun-Yan laid a hand on her boyfriend's chest, her voice low and enticing. Sad they'd only had one night together since they came back from school and whatnot, she wanted to spend another night with him.

Ivan shook his head, as tempting as it was. He had to visit his family, or they'd come over and bother him. "Later... Besides, don't you have work?"

"No... I have to clean anyways, but you promise later? After you're done visiting with your crazy sisters?" She pouted.

"No promises, but I'll try to make it back." He pecked her lips, grabbing his phone from the counter behind her. But Yan persisted, wrapping her arms around him and pressing herself against him as to convince him to stay.

He reluctantly kissed her back, gently pushing her away. "Listen, I haven't seen them in person for a long time, I need to go. I'll always have time to spend with you."

Yan huffed, leaving the room to go find something to clean while Ivan left and made his way to the house. She was surprised he didn't want to stay... She hated having to clean by herself, or in general. She wasn't used to doing by herself, she would stay with Ivan and he was home more often than she was.

-∆-

Ivan couldn't help but feel nostalgic about his time spent in this town, and in his later highschool years.

It was one of the harder times of his life, especially with his health issues and moving overseas... But living in the house here was as close to home as he ever felt. He felt slightly more at ease driving to his parents' house.

It was still light out, around six in the evening when he stepped out of the car and let himself in the house.

"Hey-" he was suddenly interrupted, being knocked over by either a sister or his mother.

Natalia clung to her brother. "Iv!!!" She exclaimed, sobbing dryly into his shirt.

"Nat, it's so wonderful to see you again.." he he hugged her back, laughing. "You're so old now." He joked

"You're one to talk.. I missed you so so much." She kissed both of his cheeks as a 'formal' greeting, helping him up off the floor. His mother walked in, moving his sister out of the way to see her son.

"Oh! You're such a handsome young man now Iv, look at you!" She pinched his cheeks, taking him to the kitchen. "Let me feed you, here." She handed him a plate for him to get food, insisting that he eat. It was funny to his sisters and his dad, who already were hanging out in the dining room waiting to eat.

Dinner was great fun for them, talking about the things that happened while Ivan was at university. His mother couldn't help but point out the fact that he looked exactly like his father. The broad shoulders, the round face, the height. He wasn't as lanky anymore, and wasn't currently wearing his scarf.

Long story short, he was oddly more attractive now.

And his sisters obviously had to tease him about it. As Katyusha started to ruffle his hair and Natalia began to fix his shirt, his phone began to buzz furiously.

He scooted back in his seat. "I have to take this, I was expecting a call." He stood up, walking through the living room into his old room.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Hey, Yeewan." Yan responded.

He sighed. "You're a lifesaver... My sisters were all over me."

Yan laughed. "Haha, well, I'm going to one of my girlfriend's house, I'll be home late. It was an 'emergency'... I'm sorry."

"It's alright," he pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing she wanted to chill when he got back and feeling bad for turning her down now. "I'll see you later, I'll probably be home late too.."

"I guess they're getting on your case about everything, huh? Nothing new. Anyways, I'll let you go..."

She said goodbye, hanging up first. The line went dead, and Ivan lost his excuse to leave the dinner table.

He would have to deal though, because it was his family. So he went back out to the dinner table, and tried to enjoy his meal. He knew his family meant well, but they were so prying, especially after he left to pursue music...

It was comforting to know they cared, and that's what mattered.

AN: I know I strive for quality over quantity, but I haven't had much motivation lately... I hope you guys will like the next chapter though.