Chapter One: My Brother From Hell
Sora
I crossed my arms as I waited in the hospital lobby. Mom was having a baby, and I wasn't too keen on having a little sister- girls whined and I know I should be happy to be entrusted with a whole lifetime of protecting someone, but I'm not someone to protect people... I mean, I could, but I was to weak for a hit the asphalt all out knuckle brawl with some guy twice as big as me just because he kissed her. I waited for a long time, then heard a bloodcurdling scream from my mom. I ran towards the delivery room and threw open the doors. Despite the queasiness I was feeling at the sight of all that blood, I ran to her side as she shouted: "MY BABY! NOOOOOO!"

That was three years ago when I was twelve. My mom had a stillbirth, and has been depressed since. She had wanted the second child so badly... Now, she still wanted another kid, but closer to my age so she could manage both of us... My little sister, though sort of destroyed that wish. But my dad wanted to make her feel better, because she's been depressed for three years now. So here I am with my dad as he signed a sheet to adopt a child. My dad got a folder from the woman and flipped through it. He smiled at one bit.
"I think I'll take this one," he said. "Where do I sign?"
"Well, it's a long process, but we can let you have him stay a night with you to make double sure. We'll set an appointment tomorrow morning. Here's the details. I'll go get him," the woman said and disappeared behind the corner.
"Sora, you can go wait in the car. He's going to be a minute. And watch what you say around him- he had a rough childhood. Treat him like you would your own brother."
"I understand... I'm gonna wait in the car. Or, we could drop the whole thing...?" I asked. I didn't want a sibling. I never really had. When my future baby sister had died in the womb, I hated that it hurt my mom but I was GLAD. Siblings are a pain. I know that from the kids at school who complain about theirs.
"Sora," my dad said, bright blue eyes flashing, "don't start this- I already told you, I'm doing this for your mother. Maybe she can give the new kid the love she wanted to give to your baby sister. And this is a child that needs love, so please understand that, okay?"
"Sure... Fine... But I'm still going to the car," I said, hopping off my chair and holding my hand out. My dad reluctantly dropped the keys in my hand and flicked his blonde hair habitually as he went on.
"Don't try to drive anywhere, 'kay?"
"Deal," I said and left. The last thing I needed was a sibling. I mean, if I wanted one I would've wished for it and asked, right? I know it was childish to think this, but I sort of think I have special powers sometimes. Like when I really want something, it kind of happens. Like this summer when I wanted some ice cream and had no money- what do you know, there's a huge power outage and the Ice Cream Shop starts giving away free ice cream so it won't all melt in the freezer. And when I hadn't wanted a little sister and she gets thrown into this world... Dead.
I unlocked the car door and got into the passenger's side. He told me not to DRIVE anywhere... So I turned the key in the ignition and started the car. Funny- normally it just turned over and it took like, five tries to get it to start. I turned on the radio and turned the music up full blast. I didn't care if I went deaf- a disability meant less things for me to hear my parents getting onto me about. I leaned the seat back and closed my eyes. I never wanted to be here- usually I wasn't so negative. But when I got upset about something, (usually something I didn't want to do,) I got mad about it and took it out on everyone who irritated me. I was a little emotional, mood swinging like the crown shaped charm on my chain. I cracked my eye open and flicked at a bug on my knee. I hated this car. And to think I'm gonna be stuck driving it when he gets a new one... Or finishes his payments on it, at least. Yes- be bought a brand new sportscar, just for him, and I can't drive it. Ever. There was a tapping on the window and I opened my eyes to my dad, a little angry looking and a teenage boy in tow behind him. The kid looked close to my age, and was wearing a rugged, baggy, and torn pair of pale blue jeans that had grass stains present around the huge slashes in the knees, a grey, old t-shirt that was faded to the point where it could've once been black, and a black hoodie with frayed sleeves. Over his shoulder he had an old, dirty backpack that looks like it was once green, and draped locks of shoulder-length soft-to-the-touch looking (despite tangles) silvery hair that had a bit of a soft lavender tint. My eyes finally came to rest on his bangs, or rather, what was hiding behind them. He had striking aquamarine eyes that looked like they could burn a hole in my skull. I turned the music down and tilted my seat up, unlocking the doors as I did. Dad moved his finger in a come here motion with a look on his face that said he was a little irritated. I got out of the car and leaned over the top of it on my elbows with my arms crossed.
"What's up, Pops?" I asked, smiling a half smile.
"Don't 'Pops' me. You know better than to have that stereo blaring outside a building like this- it's insensitive to the people nearby," my dad said. "Come here," he added, pointing to the ground beside him. I groaned and slumped off the car and dragged my feet around the back to stand next to Dad without passing that weirdo. To think I have to share a house with this kid...!
"What... I wanna go home and forget about this!" I whined. That just got me a smack on the back of my head from Dad.
"Sora, don't be a jerk. I'm sorry, son- he's a little hardheaded," he added, apologizing to this kid a few steps away from me. He called him 'son' already!?
"I'll say," the boy said, with a fairly deep voice. The kind you might hear trying to lure you into an alley so they can stab you and steal your wallet.
"Heh-heh," my dad chuckled and patted the kid's shoulder. "That's rich," he said, then pretending to wipe a tear away. "Sora, want to introduce yourself to your future big brother?"
"What! BIG brother?" I asked.
"He's only a year older than you, so play nice and say hi," he said, talking to me as if I was five and that boy wasn't even there. And like a five year old I just got a pouty look and kicked the ground shyly before looking up enough to glare at him without Dad seeing. The boy adjusted the bag on his shoulder and held his hand out to me politely.
"Well, I'm Riku," he said, seemingly friendly. Dad kicked my foot really hard so I took Riku's hand.
"Sora," I muttered. He tightened his grasp to the point that it hurt.
"Nice to meet you, Sora... I really look forward to being your big brother," he said, an undertone of malice in his voice that shown plainly in his eyes as he squeezed tighter. My fingers turned purple.
"Ow!" I yelled and jerked my hand away.
"God, Sora- learn to take a firm handshake!" my dad complained.
"I apologize, 'brother'," Riku said. He was so fake!
"Okay, Sora- get in," my dad said, nodding to the car. I went to the passenger's side.
"Manners, Sora! Let Riku sit in front, today- after all, he's our guest tonight and he's older."
"What?!" I protested as Riku nudged me over to get in. He stood there until I glared at him and went to the backseat door on the passenger's side. Dad got into the car, the thing sort of bouncing when he threw his weight in like that. Then Riku stuck his tongue out at me before getting in. I grimaced and got in. This was going to be the start of the worst time of my life... All because of this brother from Hell.