Unpredictable // Ashton Irwin

Chapter 8.

Courtney

The buzzing in my back pocket made me jump slightly. I hadn't realized I fell asleep while watching the movie. I maneuvered my way out of the pile of blankets lying beside me to grab my phone. Once in hand I slid the slide bar to accept the call.

"Hello?" I muttered sleepily. I didn't catch the name on the screen since the bright light, produced from the phone, was causing my eyes to squeeze shut.

"Will you come open the door?" My eyes snapped open as I took the phone away from my ear to look at the name on the screen. Sure enough it was the name I hadn't expected the phone call to be from.

"Why do I have to unlock the door, aren't you in South Carolina?" I asked my eldest brother Austin. My mind not catching up with what was being asked of me.

"As of eight hours ago we were. Didn't dad tell you that we were coming for a visit?" He spoke, clearly irritated. In the background, I could barely hear Rachael say something about calming down.

"No, I've barely seen him. He gets off work at seven in the morning and I'm up at nine for work. When he leaves for work I am getting off. We don't see each other or anything during the day." I huffed out, annoyed that my brother wouldn't remember this. It's been this way for a while now and I am pretty sure that it won't change.

"It doesn't matter now, just get your ass down stairs and unlock the door. Elliot is getting fussy." He sighed into the receiver. I rolled my eyes at him and told him to give me a second before hanging up the phone.

That was when I remembered that I wasn't at home. I was next door.

"Shit!" I muttered between a yawn. I hated to do this but I have to do it. I pushed myself up off the couch, not caring if any of the boys fell off into the floor. I heard some groans and curse words but I continued into the kitchen. Grabbing my keys and making a beeline for the front door. Before I opened it I listened to hear if any of them were up. When I heard silence I shut the door and made my way down the path to the sidewalk. I could feel eyes upon me as I walked up the four steps and into view of my brother and his wife. No words were said as I unlocked the door and let them inside.

"Rachael, why don't you take Elliot and put him in the guest room for tonight?" Austin said once we were inside and the door was closed. Good lord I could already tell in his voice that he was agitated.  She said a small okay before going upstairs. When she was out of sight Austin turned to me, annoyance radiating off of him.

"How come you weren't home? And at the house next door, no one even lives there!" He nagged at me. I rolled my eyes, feeling just as annoyed at him. Why the hell would I be at an abandoned house at three in the morning? Sometimes I wonder if he even listens to himself when he talks.

"My friend's live there now. We we're watching a movie last night and I feel asleep. Any other questions or are you done treating me like I'm a child?" He eyed me carefully, knowing that I was being a complete bitch but I didn't care.. When he opened his mouth I stood up from the couch, starting towards the steps, annoyed that he was treating me like I was five in my own house. He might be older than me but I've basically lived by myself for two years, he's not going to come into my house and yell at me for not being home. I locked the house up and did everything I should have done before I left. It's not my fault my dad didn't mention the fact that they were coming in.

The next morning, or well afternoon, I sat in a chair at my favorite hair salon. I needed a change before I had this family dinner tonight. I needed to put past things behind me and start anew and changing my hair color up a bit sounding like something great. Plus it would be a different thing for everyone to see at the dinner.