Charlie
"Please!? Manda!" I growled.
She shook her head, coughing, and looking up at me. "Hun, I know what goes on at those parties. Remember? I was a senior when you were just a little freshy."
"But Manda, come on. It's just a little-"
"I don't like you putting all that crap in your body. And Charlie, I've seen the way the guys at the football games stare at you. I can only imagine- and I don't want to- what they do when they're drunk and you're wearing half a shirt."
"I only own one crop top."
"Charlie, don't lie to the girl doing your laundry."
"Okay. Four."
She chuckled a little. It turned into a cough.
It's just a party! What's the deal!? What, is she mad she was never invited to one? I glared at her.
"I'm sorry. It's for your own good."
"My own- are you kidding!? You're talking about it like it's some huge end-of-the-world action movie ordeal. I just want to go to a party!" I grumbled.
She just shrugged, going back to whatever she'd been doing on her laptop before I'd stormed into her room.
"I don't like you drinking."
"I don't drink all that much! I-"
"Drink that much what?" Willa wandered in.
I glared as Amanda smirked at me; she knew I'd drop the conversation as soon as one of our sisters was in the room. They're young. I don't want them… tainted. And I don't want them to know their amazing older sister has gotten drunk enough to do some pretty embarrassing things. Or drunk at all.
"Sugary soda, babe." I sighed, picking her up and holding her on my hip. "It's not good for you."
"But I like soda!"
"Yeah, but if you drink too much, your adorable little nose will fall off."
Her eyebrows shot up and her hands shot to her nose.
"She's kidding, hun." Manda laughed.
Willa glared at me and grabbed my nose. I laughed, brushing her off.
"Why are you so light, Wills? You're gonna float away one day."
"No! Because gravimy."
"Because what?"
"Gravimy. It stops people from flying. Mean."
Me and Amanda laughed, much to Willa's dismay. She blushed, glaring at me again.
"Hunny, I think you mean gravity."
"Oh."
I chuckled, kissing her cheek and putting her down. I crouched in front of her.
"Really, though, you might want to invest in growing a few inches. You're a bit tiny compared to people your age."
"Uh… Huh?" She mumbled. I laughed. Confusing her was fun.
"You're very small, Willa." Amanda shook her head, looking at me. "And you're evil."
I laughed, winking.
"Oh. Uh." Willa bit her lip. "Um, okay…"
I smiled, and she shrugged, skipping out of the room.
"Alright," I turned to Mandy.
"No, to the party."
"I wasn't going to ask again!"
She raised her eyebrows.
"When's your next date with Disney Dude? Your, like, thirty-second date?"
She rolled her eyes.
"I don't know. Sixth, by the way."
"I like him. Does he treat you well?"
"Yes, Char." She sighed. I smiled.
"I don't want my big sis gettin' hurt."
"Your big sis has to get dressed and ready for work in an hour. You good to watch the rugrats?"
I nodded. "Those little things? Psh. No problem."
Amanda smiled.
On her way out the door, she kissed both Willa and Jess on the top of my head. She stopped at me.
"Thunderstorms tonight."
I shrugged. I could take care of it.
"Charlie, if I find out you went to that party, I will-"
"I'm not going." I whispered.
"You say that every time. Charlie, look at them."
Willa and Jess were in the middle of a Mario Kart game.
"They need you, okay? I need you. Please."
"I know, Manda." I whispered, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sorry."
She nodded, kissing my cheek.
"I'll be back at eleven. Willa's in bed-"
"By eight, Jess by nine. Yada yada."
She smiled.
"Oh be quiet. I'm allowed."
"I know."
…
Can I put them to bed at three in the afternoon? So I don't have to deal with them!?
"But we always play Mario Kart!" Jess grumbled. "I wanna play Sonic!"
"But Mario!" Willa pouted.
"Willa, we've been playing Mario Kart for four hours."
"BUT-"
"Okay. How about we put in a movie and I make you guys lunch? Hm?" I sighed.
"Can we have hot dogs!?" Jess jumped up.
"And Cheesy Mac!?"
"It's mac and cheese, dummy."
"I know you are, but what-uh…!"
"Hey." I said. "No fighting! It can be whatever you want."
"But we can have hot dogs?" Willa said quietly.
"Yes, hun. I'll make hot dogs and mac-n-cheesy-mac. Okay?"
She smiled, nodding.
"Hey Willa, do you know what hot dogs are made of?" Jess laughed.
"Ah!" I said quickly. "She doesn't need to know!" I sent her a threatening glare.
I didn't want her crying over 'some poor piggy' all afternoon.
I sighed, put on the Disney Channel, and put two pots of boiling water on the stove. I was about to dump the macaroni in when the doorbell rang.
"Oh, boy." I whispered, running to answer it. Willa's hand was already on the door. "Hey! What did I say about that, Wills?"
She looked at me blankly.
"We don't answer the door for strangers, right?"
"Oh. Um yeah."
I opened the door, only to be met with piercing green eyes.
"Is Amanda home?"
"It's three-thirty in the afternoon. You must think she has no life." I mumbled, rolling my eyes. But Willa ran past me to hug his legs.
"Finn!" She laughed. I facepalmed.
"Sorry." I mumbled, going to pick her up.
"Nah, it's fine." He laughed, picking her up and putting her on his hip. She smiled at him. "So, how are you, Wills?"
"I'm okay."
"Just okay?"
"Jessie is yelling at me."
From inside the house, I heard: "For the fiftieth time, you call me Jess or you call me nothing!"
"Alright, Nothing." I yelled back. I could hear her frustrated growl.
"Where's your older sister?" Finn asked Willa. She pointed to me, confused.
Sometimes I question the 'seven-year-old genius' thing.
I sighed. "Willa, he means Amanda."
"She's at work though."
I rolled my eyes.
"I don't know." I mumbled to Finn. He just laughed.
"Okay, so Amanda's working. Just figured I'd stop by 'cause I had a day off. You guys all alright here?"
I nodded. "Yeah. A little 'about to rip their heads off', but just peachy."
"Hey," Finn whispered, putting Willa down. "Be good to your sister. Kay?"
Willa nodded, smiling and waving to him, before disappearing into the living room.
"Everything okay?" He said, a little more serious this time.
"Yeah, why?"
"There's an ambulance across the street, I saw it when I was driving home from work. Just wanted to make sure."
I peered over him. "Yeah, that just takes old Mrs. Crabapple to dialysis every day. Are you stalking my sister? We might have a problem."
"No! I was just checking up on you!" He said quickly. I rolled my eyes. "And- How's your sister?"
"I have three."
"Amanda." He mumbled. "She hasn't been feeling good. Running a fever, on and off."
I cocked my head. "How did you.."
"I've seen her every day for the past week."
I nodded.
"Do you go eat at the diner?"
"Every day for lunch. I have lunch with her." He smiles.
I nod. "I'll check up on her. And Finn," I mumbled.
"Yeah."
"Thanks for being so sweet to her. I know. I'm the younger one. Not my place to be looking after her. It's just.. She's been… so… Isolated, since our parents died. She needed this. Thank you."
He smirked.
"She deserves someone. She's a great girl."
I laughed.
"Uh-huh. Wait until you smell her morning breath. Gag."
He laughed.
"I'll seeya later, Charlie."
I nodded, and shut the door.
…
"You didn't tell me you were sick."
"Well hello to you, too. Where are the girls?"
"Bed."
"Why are you curled on the couch in the dark?"
I shrugged. She put her stuff down and sat next to me.
"How's everything?" She whispered.
"Alright."
"Yeah? And school?"
"It's okay."
"Okay, huh?"
I nodded.
"So. New Years is soon." She smiled.
"Yeah."
"What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"On New Year's? Oh, come on, I know there's a party somewhere."
What!?
"Seriously!?"
"Char, keep your phone on and be careful."
"Of course!" I beamed.
She nodded. "I figure, one benefit to a college student raising you is maybe… a little... fun."
I smiled. "You're always fun, Mand."
A tiny smile spread on her lips. I felt her forehead.
"You're burning up."
She sighed. "I know. I have to go to work, though, Char."
I frowned. "No. You're taking a sick day. I'm going to take care of you."
"Char, the money-"
"I'll babysit and tutor next week. It's just one day. Amanda, you can't work yourself into the ground."
She sighed, closing her eyes and putting her head back.
"Alright."
I smiled a little.
"Good. Your boyfriend stopped by to check on us, by the way. Nice kid."
She chuckled.
"I'm gonna go make soup. Go get in your jammies!" I laughed.
"Oooh, and then can we watch Disney movies?"
"Course. And I'll make tea, too."
She smiled.
"Alright. Sounds like a plan."
I gave her a kiss on the forehead, pulling her into a tight hug.
"We're making this work, Manda." I whispered. "We'll get by. Jess and Wills… We're doing a damn fine job of raising them."
She just nods, hugging me back.
….
Eh… short chap, sorry.
Sorry it's taking so long between updates. Keep getting distracted.
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