(Normal warnings-ALSO: i couldn't fit it in the instructions-check the inside of project for the order of Wy's sibs! Also check out the Q+A for 48 Hours 3 month anniversary!) Chapter 4: Olivia Summer School Journal: You know that feeling when you screw up, and you try to fix it, but you make it worse and you're in too deep? ...I know that feeling. Tuesday, June 9th Living with the Carter's was a lot of things. Peaceful wasn't one of them. They were loud, rambunctious, not particularly tidy and did I mention LOUD? With all those boys running around, and with acres of farmland around us, it was easy for Wyatt and I to avoid each other. That's how this had to work. My mom was busy filming for...practically all summer, so that meant that I was going to have to see Wyatt Carter at least twice a day. Once at breakfast, once at dinner. I could live with twice a day. I fell into a sort of routine. I hung out in my room a lot. I read, I studied, I listened to music. Sometimes I wandered out in the fields, but only when I knew for sure I wouldn't run into a certain boy. It was almost surreal. I'd never had siblings, and now I was living with six of them. The Carter boys were actually extremely polite. They never bothered me (well, much) never said a rude word, and never even ventured into my area of the house-though I suspected their mother had something to do with that. I could do this. One summer. Ding! I scowled at my phone screen. I had been online shopping for a new sundress when the messages started coming in. All from a certain someone that was most likely the only person on the planet I was avoiding harder than Wyatt right now. Brayden Halder. My ex b0yfr13nd. If you asked June and Annie, my two closest friends, they'd tell you that Brayden and I had an...interesting relationship. Heck, anyone would tell you that. On and off, back and forth, this way that a-way. Rocky at best. T0xic at worst. Brayden wasn't...the total worst. He was just kind of-clingy, I guess. Overprotective. Jealous and controlling. Not NEARLY as bad as some exes I know (Looking at you, Hayzes) but tiring. Somehow, though, we always ended up back together. Not this time though. I'd told myself I was done wasting time with him. He hadn't taken it very well. Brayden had been sp4mming my inbox since I first walked away after the whole 'it's not you it's me' debacle. I frowned. Now, however, he seemed to be taking a different approach. Delusion. He posted a picture on social media. Of us, at the beach last spring. Captioned 'Just me and Liv, soaking up the sun!' I cringed. He never was all that great with words. I replied with a selfie, squinting my eyes and puffing out my cheeks. 'Nope, lazy Tuesday actually. Love summer!!<3' I sent it and then turned to go back to my shopping. "Texting your b0yfr13nd?" I nearly jumped out of my skin, yanking the covers up and over my head. Even though I was perfectly well clothed, in a tank top and pajama pants. I popped my head out to glare at Wyatt. "What the heck are you doing in here?!" He had the decency to look uncomfortable, scratching the back of his neck. "I was supposed to come ask how you like your pancakes...?" Somehow he made it into a question. "Umm...cooked?" "No." He said, looking amused. "Like...blueberries? Strawberries? Chocolate chips?" My stomach growled. "Ooh. That sounds delicious and-strawberries." A pause. "Please." He nodded. "Got it." There was an awkward silence. It was weird not to be snipping at each other. "But next time, just t3*t me." "I don't have your n^mber." He said with a roll of his eyes. I stuck out my tongue. "And you're not getting it. Knock then." "The door was wide open." He muttered exasperatedly. "You get the point!" I called as he left. Then I hopped up and shut the door. Locked it, for good measure. When I jumped back onto my fluffy bed-definitely a perk of staying here, the house was really nice-I noticed a reply from Braydon. 'You got a new bf??!' I did a double take. Then a few more. "What?" I said out loud, because my confusion was kind of legendary. I hadn't. And what on Earth would make Braydon think so? I flipped back to the picture and-oh. Oh. No. I had captured Wyatt Carter in the background of my photo. It wasn't very clear, you could only see the bottom half of him because of my position laying on the bed. But there was definitely someone-a male someone-leaning up against the doorway, watching me. My stomach bottomed out. Wyatt was not my b0yfr13nd! He was not REMOTELY my b0yfr13nd and he could never be my b0yfr13nd. But... A little voice was sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear. Braydon didn't know that was Wyatt. Wyatt didn't know I'd taken that picture- Maybe this was exactly what I needed to get Braydon to give up. If he thought I'd moved on... So, stuffing the insistent 'NO' of my conscience out of my head, I picked up the phone and typed out a reply. 'Yup. Have a good summer, Bray!' And then, with one quick breath, I sent it.
Chapter 5: Wyatt Summer School Journal: If I was an animal, I would be a sponge. No one pays attention to me, yet they're always using me to clean up their messes. Tuesday, June 9th After the awkward interaction with Liv-after PAINSTAKINGLY and successfully avoiding her for the past three days-I bolted out of that room. And told Dad she wanted strawberries on her pancakes. Then slapped on my mud boots and headed for the barn. I fed the chickens. I told Reyon that he was the most annoying being to exist, as usual. Because that stupid thing (and I say this in the most delicate way) never shuts up. Have you ever owned a rooster? Maybe Reyon couldn't breath unless he let it out in an ear-piercing shriek. I fed the goats. I checked on Liliane, who's due in a few days to kid. I made the rounds. Then I ate pancakes. Then I nearly lost my mind because Dylan and Raylen stole all of my shoes. No, I don't know why. Since they are giants, like the rest of my family, they are at least three sizes bigger than me. Maybe that's why. Because they find the difference laughable. I swear, somedays I- I don't have a favorite brother. I hate them all equally. And love them for different reasons. Sigh. The twins and Liam are the most irritating, but I'm not as close with Axel and William. Though for our family, that's still pretty close. We have family games nights every week. Us brothers watch movies together and well... I love them. I don't always LIKE them. But I love them. That night, I was reading the Hunger Games. After June had practically forced the series into my hands and then did the same to Kai, I'd been getting into it. And goodness gracious it was NOT what I'd expected. The entire thing was about k1!!1ng people! Kids! Who knew June was so...vi0l3nt? Actually I'm pretty sure we all knew. She may look sweet and small, but she sure packs a punch. I heard the door slam and practically jumped. Then the sound of someone kicking off their boots and footsteps and another door closing. I closed my own door to muffle the sound. Geez, when would they learn not to slam doors- I heard voices. Arguing maybe? It sounded like Axel and Liam. They shared the room next to mine and the twins. That wasn't unusual. Another door. More voices. Footsteps back and forth. I winced. It would be really nice if they could quiet- Knock, knock, knock. I sighed. "Come in." Liam walked in looking somber. I straightened, tucking my book away. "What's up?" "Axel. He came home all disheveled, looking like a wreck. He won't talk to anybody and he locked me out of the room. I've tried talking to him-everyone has-but he won't even reply..." The look on Liam's face was clear. He was pleading. I hopped off my bed and padded in my sock feet out of my room, Liam following. That was one nice thing about being the youngest. My brother's opened up to me about stuff, most of the time. Maybe it was because there was too much pressure to man up and deal with it with everyone else. I was just the kid, there was no need for show. I walked past Dylan, Raylen and William, who were all watching the door. I knocked. "Hey, Axel? It's Wyatt." Silence. Several moments went by. Finally, the soft click of the lock. I pushed the door open and shut it behind me. Axel walked over and sat on the bottom bunk. He stared at the wall. I sat next to him. He didn't look 'disheveled' exactly. Just...tired. His eyes were red. I watched the wall in silence. Finally, quietly, "Kenzie broke up with me." "I'm sorry." I whispered. It wasn't like I could fix it with words. Axel was silent for a moment, then he shook his head. "I feel so stupid. It shouldn't hurt this much. Clearly she didn't care enough to-" He broke off and pressed his hands to his mouth, shoulders shaking, silent tears sliding down his face. There is a special kind of hurt, in knowing someone you care about is in pain, but not being able to do anything. I scooched next to Axel and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, sympathetic tears on my own cheeks. My mom says I am very empathetic. I understand how people feel and I feel it too. I didn't know Kenzie all that well. I met her maybe once. I don't even remember what she looked like. But it's enough that my brother cared about her enough to cry over her. For a long time, we just sit like that. Both crying, my arms around him, head on his shoulder, his head resting softly on mine. Finally his breathing evens a bit. "Ready to see the others?" I ask after a few minutes. "Odds are they'd be up for violent video games and ice cream. Mom might even make those brownies." Axel laughs softly. "They'd take any excuse to eat. Especially Mom's brownies." "Me too." I admit, nudging his middle. "And don't pretend you didn't have like, five last Christmas." "Guilty." He ruffles my hair, which I hate, but I allow. Special occasion. "Love you Wy." "Love you too, X. Now quick, before Dylan eats all the mint chip-" Next: Not yet Prev: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1352215140
