Chapter 1: "A last minute solution"
I slowly opened my eyes as I listened to voices that came from downstairs. I got up and I recognised the voices. My parents were fighting again. Sigh... They couldn't stop fighting not even for two damn days! Then, I heard steps.
"Riley..." said my younger sister Emily, coming in. She seemed hurt and I knew shed had heard the fight too.
" Come here." I told her, as she followed my instructions and put her head on my pillow.
"What do you think it is this time?" she asked, in a low voice.
"I don't know... But it doesn't matter anyway... They use every excuse to fight." I admitted, not thinking about how that would affect Emily. She raised her head and stared at me, with a sad expression on her face. "Sorry, I didn't think that through... They're going to make up, you'll see."
"It's no use. They make up, then they fight again and then they make up again... It's no good..."
"IF THAT'S HOW YOU THINK, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD GET A DIVORCE!" my mom's voice echoed in the top floor. I heard Emily crying and I pulled her closer. Why did they always have to do that? Did they not know how much they were hurting us? Emily kept on crying and I just got angrier and angrier.
"Get dressed." I said, getting out of my bed. She stared at me, clearly surprised. "Just do that. Please."
"I... Okay..." she agreed, leaving my room. I quickly got dressed and I picked up a small panphlet from my desk. That would have to do. At least, for now...
I went down to the kitchen and I found Emily eating in silence, trying to ignore the deadly looks our parents were sending to each other. As I entered the room, I threw the panphlet on the table.
"What do you think?" I asked. My voice showed that I wasn't interested at all in their opinion.
"A camp?" said my mom, surprised.
"It's not a bad ideia, actually." my dad mumbled.
"Are you insane, Jack?! Are you really going to leave them alone all Summer?!"
"Grace, they're not little kids. They can take care of themselves."
"I don't care! They're-"
"Hey!" I interrupted, caughting their attention. "You're not supposed to fight again! Can't you just try to agree on this?"
"That's easy: you're not going!" my mom said. My dad looked at her, mad, and Emily left the kitchen running, heading for her room.
"Great! All you needed to do was make a little effort to get along and you couldn't even do that!" I yelled, following her. I knocked gently at Emily's room door and I got in "Hey... Do you mind if I stay here with you?"
"Whatever..." she mumbled, sinking her head in her pillow.
"Ems, come on... Don't be like that." I begged, sitting next to her.
"I really wanted to go to that camp, you know...? That way, I could escape all this..."
"Yeah, I know. I feel the same..." I confessed, forming a sad smile.
"Girls, your dad and I talked and we decided you can go. We'll call the camp and your dad will take you the train station this afternoon." our mom warned, as she walked by the room. Emily and I just stared at each other, surprised. Did that really just happen?
"We're going!!" she yelled, hugging me. I hugged her back and smiled.
We spent the next hour packing and we put everyting in the car.
"You girls ready?" our dad asked, waiting for us near the car.
"We just need to say goodbye to mom" said Emily, running to the kitchen and hugging our mom. "Bye."
"Behave, Emily. And do everything Riley tells you to."
"I will." she assured, going to the car. I watched her leave the kitchen and I turned around to face my mom, who looked sad.
"I know you're not exactly happy with me, but it's not just my fault." my mom said.
"You're both to blame. You don't really know how that's affecting us, do you?"
"Things haven't been well... Maybe a divorce is the best option."
"What about us?"
"I don't know, dear. That's why camp might be a good ideia. That way, we can all think this through. I promise that, when you two get back, we'll have a soluition."
"Is divorce a solution?" I asked, fearing the answer.
"I can't tell you right now, Riley. Go on, your father's waiting. Be good and try not to make any messes." she begged, hugging me. I sighed and hugged her back.
"I'll try to control myself. Bye, mom." I said, smiling.
I went to the car, where we spent the most of our ride in silence. As we arrived to the train station, we just stared at everything around us.
"Remember: if you need anything, call us." reminded our dad, hugging us.
"Okay. Bye, dad." said Emily getting in the train.
"Take care of her, okay, Ri?" he said, kissing my forehead.
"Don't worry, I will." I assured, going to the train as well.
The truth is we didn't say much on the train ride either... Emily looked too nervous too talk and I just didn't know what to say. We arrived quickly and we headed to the adress in the panphlet. In front of us was a big wooden house.
"We're going to be fine, right, Ri?" Emily asked. I looked at her, struggling to find the right words.
"Of course we are" I smiled, not really believing my own words. She smiled too, what cheered me up. I shouldn't have said that, but oh well... The damage was done... I just hoped camp was good enough to keep Emily happy. If that would happen, I'd be happy.