Fresh out of the orphanage

15| A date

No one in particulars POV:
Ed picked his skin nervously as Wednesday slowly crept up on him. What was he going to do? He stared at the mirror at his bags under his eyes having not slept a wink.

"You alright" Alex said startling him as Ed saw Alex's concerned expression through the mirror.

Ed put down his comb that he had been fiddling with and rattled his brain for an excuse.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a little nervous" he said as convincingly as possible.

"Why what's today" Alex asked innocently.
Crap. Why did he have to say nervous?

"Oh err, I didn't know how to tell you guys this, but um.. I have a date. And I've invited her round but was nervous to ask you guys if I could have the house to myself?" He said, not daring to look Alex in the eyes to see if he bought it. Fortunately for him, Alex was not the sharpest tool in the shed.

"Say no more, I'll tell the others" he said. "So who is this mystery girl" Alex grinned at his brother.

"Oh her name is Elaine?" He said although it came out more like a question. And Alex would have asked more questions had Alexa not come bursting in with her face covered in chocolate.

"ALEXA. WHERES THE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM" shouted Josh from downstairs.

"Don't worry, I'll cover for you. We'll be gone as soon as you get ready" Alex said.

"Get ready?"

"For your date" Alex said confused. "Don't tell me your wearing that"

"No, no, sorry. Yeah, I'll go and get ready Alex said to Ed who was bringing a giggling Alexa downstairs.
Ed sighed in relief and went to his room to change for his 'date'
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"Date? He never said anything!" Axl said sceptically eating his cereal with Alexa sitting on his lap.

"Well that's what he said, so he wants us all out so he can have the house to himself" Alex said.

"Why does he want us all out?" Alexa asked.

"So they can have se-

"ALRIGHT, thank you Alex" Simon said, covering his brothers mouth.

And while all the boys were fine with Ed having the house. Axl couldn't help but wonder what his brother wasn't telling them.
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Ed's leg bounced up and down while he stared aimlessly at the ticking clock. All of his siblings were currently out so the house was filled with a deathly pure silence. He dreamt into his own world until his piercing doorbell snapped him out of his trance.

He trudged over to the door and opened it to reveal a short women in her late 40's. She had a black suit on and a stern but somehow caring demeanour.
"You must be Edward, Elaine Jones" she said, sticking out her hand for him to shake. Ed forced a smile and let her in, guiding her to they're living room.

"Nice place you've got here Mr Altham" Elaine said, taking her coat off and sitting down in one of their single sofas. 
Ed couldn't help but crack a smile, usually he would reply to that with, 'oh you should see the bedroom' but Ed thought she wouldn't appreciate that humour. Instead he just smiled.

"Thank you, would you like a drink?"

"Oh no I'm fine thank you"
Elaine set her bag down and took out a long binder with a file wedged in along with a stack of paper work. Times like this, Ed really needed his smarter brother Simon.

"So, Edward, I understand you parents are away at the moment so you are currently looking after Alexa"
"Yes ma'am"
Elaine shuffled some papers taking some notes and signing a few things before continuing.
"Daniel Hurley, Alexa's biological father has applied for full custody of Alexa. Now Mr Hurley has claimed to be fully straight and has proved that he can go through with this appeal to get Alexa back. Now although he can't immediately get full custody, in a few weeks your family and him will be taken to court meaning he could get half and prove he is a capable father. Do you understand where this is going?

Ed was almost speechless, but subtly nodded his head.

"Yes, it means unless we build a case, Daniel could get full custody.

Axl's POV
I KNEW IT

I BLOODY KNEW IT

I KNEW HE WAS HIDING SOMETHING

I KNEW HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE A DATE

AFTER ALL, HE'S NOT ALEX

Why does no one ever listen to me?

Yet all my brothers were dumb enough to actually believe I was going to go to meet my friends.

You see, I got a little suspicious, so when Alex and everyone went to the mall, I said I was going to meet some 'friends'.

I can barely hear though the bannisters of this bloody staircase, but I can hear enough to know that Alexa could be taken away.

I tried inching further, avoiding the dodgy loud floorboard to the left.

But then again, it finally sunk in.

What if Alexa was going to be taken away?

What if her dad wins?

We've only had her a couple of months, would we be considered family?

A bombardment of questions attacked my head until I heard the front door open and then silence.

This 'Elaine' person had left.

Should I show my face?

Or crawl out the window and pretend to be back?

I opted for plan b.

I tiptoed up the stairs and went into Simons room, considering it was facing the back.

I went though his immaculate room and looked out of the window. If I could climb down, run to the bottom of the garden and jump over the fence, I'd be on the street. Then I could walk up the road and to our house.

Perfect.