A/N: I'd like to thank everyone for the advice that was given to me, also
special thanks to Victoria Elizabeth who made me feel better on my stupid
mistakes. Also thanks to Perished hope for the examples!
Lars' jaw could not have dropped to the ground any faster.
"I hope that's okay", continued Ray.
"Uh- yeah, yeah! No moving! No changes, yeah I can definitely live with that!"
And that was it. No more said. The ride home was quiet, and so it should have been. Lars stayed awake with Ray feeling he had a duty to, but as for Twister, well Twister slept. When the three got home the Rocket children had stayed up eagerly awaiting them. Lars carried the sleeping Twister in and quickly went up to their room.
"So Dad", said Otto, "How's Twist?"
"What he means to say", said Reggie, "How are both of them?"
"Who cares about Lars", remarked Otto.
"Hey", snapped Ray, "They are BOTH part of this family now. They are BOTH going to be living here, and they are BOTH going to be treated with the same amount of respect. You two now have an older brother. Take advantage of it, and look for the positive for a change."
"What can be positive about Lars", inquired Otto.
"He can drive you two school."
"Awesome", cried Otto.
"Otto", snapped Reggie, "Could you for once stop thinking about yourself?!"
"Reggie's right Otto", said Ray, "Now back to them. Lars seems to be taking the news like a normal person. Right now he's just grateful to not have to move and is grateful for his brother. Twister however, I don't know and I don't want to make any conclusions before I'm sure."
"Sure about what dad", asked Otto.
"I'm not saying. I don't want you kids to accidentally have whatever I'm worrying about slip. Now off to bed. Oh and there will be no school tomorrow for any of you guys. I want to sort this whole family thing out tomorrow, understood?"
The two nodded and then ran upstairs to their rooms.
Ray slumped down on the couch. He couldn't believe what was happening. He had offered to take on two more kids. TWO! How could he possibly even afford them never less make sure that his family and their family would mix well together? But then he was already worried about Twister like a son, so maybe that was a good sign. And Lars did seem like a good lad that knew right from wrong. But then again he knew Twister for forever and Lars well Lars and he might not exactly mix. Did that still constitute as a family?
So Ray called Tito at 2 in the morning to discuss his problems. Surprisingly enough Tito did not want to talk and told Ray that if he was planning on accomplishing anything that he would need sleep and so he sent Ray off to sleep.
In the morning Lars reminded Twister of their parents deaths and now told him about their custody and new arrangements. Twister said nothing, and showed no sign of concern.
The two of them went down for breakfest to their surprise and the Rocket children the kitchen held all sorts of eggs, bagels, fruits, and other goodies.
"All of you sit", said Ray, "We have many things to discuss. Now as well all know there are now two new members in this family. "Legally" they are now you're step siblings, now I know this is weird for all of you considering the fact that you've been friends for forever. But I expect you all to treat each other like siblings, you know in a nice way. Now Twister and Lars, would you two like to share a room?"
"Whatever works", said Lars.
"Can't Twister live in my room", asked Otto.
"Otto", said Reggie quietly but harshly, "Don't start putting pressure on him again. You'll be together now more than ever so quit it."
"Well I think Twister will go with Lars, if that's okay with you two."
"That's fine with us", said Lars.
"All right", said Ray, "Now as for your home. I am more than perfectly aware that you Lars will be turning eighteen in a couple of months. Then you will be granted full custody of Twister if so desire, which I'm thinking you might want."
"No offense", said Lars, "But yes."
"Well then", said Ray, "We'll just leave your house the way it is, and when you turn eighteen and have a steady job you can move back into it." "Thanks", said Lars.
"Of course", replied Ray, "So we all agree that this is temporary?"
"Yes", said Lars, as if only his vote counted.
"Well then", said Ray, "Until then would you like to move all of your stuff into here?"
"You know", said Lars, "It'll be okay. We'll share the bed, get some of our stuff that we can move with our hands, and that's it. That's all we need."
"That's very accommodating of you."
"No problem."
But there was a problem. A problem that would unfold before all of their eyes. Twister had remained silent through the entire conversation, even though it concerned him as much as it concerned Lars. He just remained silent, taking in and disposing as much as possible.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and then Sunday, and then back to school. Something told Twister that things were going to be different. On Monday his new life was going to start.
On Monday Twister found himself being avoided by everyone in school. None of his friends talked to him, the teachers let him off easily, and kids in the hall quieted when he passed. Even Reggie, Otto, and Sammy were quiet at lunch and had no particular topic in mind, and said nothing.
Twister told Lars about it, and Lars surprisingly enough to Twister told him it was just because people felt bad and didn't know what to say. In response Twister said that he wasn't so sure if he liked it. And in response to that Lars replied with, "Take advantage of it, and enjoy if you can." And from that led, to Lars wanting to talk to his brother about everything that had been happening. That was it before Twister drastically changed the subject.
Lars found it odd that his brother showed no emotion or concern towards the topic especially when Lars had cried a bit himself. Yet Twister had shown no depression, or anger towards the situation. Even Lars had cursed and was ready to kill the people who had killed his parents. However Twister thought nothing of it, or so it seemed.
Ray brought up the problem with Lars, but only once in fear of not wanting the teen to reminisce and feel more saddened by his missing parents. However the conversation was not one Lars wished to blow off. In fact he contributed to the conversation many new attributes that he had communicated with his brother about the topic and every time Twister acted as nothing had happened. However he did not act as if everything was fine. Sure, when talking to him there was no doubt in anyone's mind that anything as tragic as the death of two parents had occurred. Yet in his behavior there were many symptoms. Withdrawal from everything; no surfing, skateboarding, and especially no video taking. He came home from school, went to the room he shared with his brother, did his homework, (wanting to reason to cause trouble), studied hard, and avoided everyone. However the pleasant break of Lars intruding, was invited.
It was quite obvious that he longed to be near his brother, and it was also apparent that he was more comfortable when with his brother. But by him being with his brother, Lars noticed more things. Shakiness, sleep deprivation, clinginess to objects, head aches, stomach aches, and more than normal amounts of zoning out.
It had become quite clear to both Ray, Lars, and hell everyone that Twister needed to be sat down and talked to. However what proved the everyone that this "chat" was more than needed when Twister had come home with a bloody lip, swollen eye, broken wrist, stitches needed, and two weeks suspension from school.
Lars' jaw could not have dropped to the ground any faster.
"I hope that's okay", continued Ray.
"Uh- yeah, yeah! No moving! No changes, yeah I can definitely live with that!"
And that was it. No more said. The ride home was quiet, and so it should have been. Lars stayed awake with Ray feeling he had a duty to, but as for Twister, well Twister slept. When the three got home the Rocket children had stayed up eagerly awaiting them. Lars carried the sleeping Twister in and quickly went up to their room.
"So Dad", said Otto, "How's Twist?"
"What he means to say", said Reggie, "How are both of them?"
"Who cares about Lars", remarked Otto.
"Hey", snapped Ray, "They are BOTH part of this family now. They are BOTH going to be living here, and they are BOTH going to be treated with the same amount of respect. You two now have an older brother. Take advantage of it, and look for the positive for a change."
"What can be positive about Lars", inquired Otto.
"He can drive you two school."
"Awesome", cried Otto.
"Otto", snapped Reggie, "Could you for once stop thinking about yourself?!"
"Reggie's right Otto", said Ray, "Now back to them. Lars seems to be taking the news like a normal person. Right now he's just grateful to not have to move and is grateful for his brother. Twister however, I don't know and I don't want to make any conclusions before I'm sure."
"Sure about what dad", asked Otto.
"I'm not saying. I don't want you kids to accidentally have whatever I'm worrying about slip. Now off to bed. Oh and there will be no school tomorrow for any of you guys. I want to sort this whole family thing out tomorrow, understood?"
The two nodded and then ran upstairs to their rooms.
Ray slumped down on the couch. He couldn't believe what was happening. He had offered to take on two more kids. TWO! How could he possibly even afford them never less make sure that his family and their family would mix well together? But then he was already worried about Twister like a son, so maybe that was a good sign. And Lars did seem like a good lad that knew right from wrong. But then again he knew Twister for forever and Lars well Lars and he might not exactly mix. Did that still constitute as a family?
So Ray called Tito at 2 in the morning to discuss his problems. Surprisingly enough Tito did not want to talk and told Ray that if he was planning on accomplishing anything that he would need sleep and so he sent Ray off to sleep.
In the morning Lars reminded Twister of their parents deaths and now told him about their custody and new arrangements. Twister said nothing, and showed no sign of concern.
The two of them went down for breakfest to their surprise and the Rocket children the kitchen held all sorts of eggs, bagels, fruits, and other goodies.
"All of you sit", said Ray, "We have many things to discuss. Now as well all know there are now two new members in this family. "Legally" they are now you're step siblings, now I know this is weird for all of you considering the fact that you've been friends for forever. But I expect you all to treat each other like siblings, you know in a nice way. Now Twister and Lars, would you two like to share a room?"
"Whatever works", said Lars.
"Can't Twister live in my room", asked Otto.
"Otto", said Reggie quietly but harshly, "Don't start putting pressure on him again. You'll be together now more than ever so quit it."
"Well I think Twister will go with Lars, if that's okay with you two."
"That's fine with us", said Lars.
"All right", said Ray, "Now as for your home. I am more than perfectly aware that you Lars will be turning eighteen in a couple of months. Then you will be granted full custody of Twister if so desire, which I'm thinking you might want."
"No offense", said Lars, "But yes."
"Well then", said Ray, "We'll just leave your house the way it is, and when you turn eighteen and have a steady job you can move back into it." "Thanks", said Lars.
"Of course", replied Ray, "So we all agree that this is temporary?"
"Yes", said Lars, as if only his vote counted.
"Well then", said Ray, "Until then would you like to move all of your stuff into here?"
"You know", said Lars, "It'll be okay. We'll share the bed, get some of our stuff that we can move with our hands, and that's it. That's all we need."
"That's very accommodating of you."
"No problem."
But there was a problem. A problem that would unfold before all of their eyes. Twister had remained silent through the entire conversation, even though it concerned him as much as it concerned Lars. He just remained silent, taking in and disposing as much as possible.
Tomorrow was Saturday, and then Sunday, and then back to school. Something told Twister that things were going to be different. On Monday his new life was going to start.
On Monday Twister found himself being avoided by everyone in school. None of his friends talked to him, the teachers let him off easily, and kids in the hall quieted when he passed. Even Reggie, Otto, and Sammy were quiet at lunch and had no particular topic in mind, and said nothing.
Twister told Lars about it, and Lars surprisingly enough to Twister told him it was just because people felt bad and didn't know what to say. In response Twister said that he wasn't so sure if he liked it. And in response to that Lars replied with, "Take advantage of it, and enjoy if you can." And from that led, to Lars wanting to talk to his brother about everything that had been happening. That was it before Twister drastically changed the subject.
Lars found it odd that his brother showed no emotion or concern towards the topic especially when Lars had cried a bit himself. Yet Twister had shown no depression, or anger towards the situation. Even Lars had cursed and was ready to kill the people who had killed his parents. However Twister thought nothing of it, or so it seemed.
Ray brought up the problem with Lars, but only once in fear of not wanting the teen to reminisce and feel more saddened by his missing parents. However the conversation was not one Lars wished to blow off. In fact he contributed to the conversation many new attributes that he had communicated with his brother about the topic and every time Twister acted as nothing had happened. However he did not act as if everything was fine. Sure, when talking to him there was no doubt in anyone's mind that anything as tragic as the death of two parents had occurred. Yet in his behavior there were many symptoms. Withdrawal from everything; no surfing, skateboarding, and especially no video taking. He came home from school, went to the room he shared with his brother, did his homework, (wanting to reason to cause trouble), studied hard, and avoided everyone. However the pleasant break of Lars intruding, was invited.
It was quite obvious that he longed to be near his brother, and it was also apparent that he was more comfortable when with his brother. But by him being with his brother, Lars noticed more things. Shakiness, sleep deprivation, clinginess to objects, head aches, stomach aches, and more than normal amounts of zoning out.
It had become quite clear to both Ray, Lars, and hell everyone that Twister needed to be sat down and talked to. However what proved the everyone that this "chat" was more than needed when Twister had come home with a bloody lip, swollen eye, broken wrist, stitches needed, and two weeks suspension from school.