This is the next part. Its still in 2006.
Im very sorry about the clearly predicatable bit (you'll see) but trust me, it gets better. Really, it does.
'Hey Chlo-bee. Wotcha doin'?' I slump onto the sofa and yawn. I never knew painting was so tiring!
'Look.' She holds up the remote control.
'Chloe, I've seen the remote before.'
'Bam!' She hits about 10 buttons at the same time and the TV flashes onto another channel.
'Chloe, you can't do that. You'll break it.' I take the remote off her but her face screws up and soon she's crying again.
'Alex, please. Not right now.'
'I didn't mean to make her cry. She was gonna break the remote.' I usually get the blame because I'm 12 and she's 2 and I'm meant to know better. I absolutely hated Chloe when she was born because she was noisy, smelly and she was sick so she took up all of their time. But now, when she calls my name or smiles her cheeky smile I can't help but love her. And I'm really looking forward to the new baby.
Yup, that's right. Mom is pregnant again. That's why we had to move- so we had enough space for the baby and any visitors who may come. I don't mind cos I'm closer to Austin's house and school, and I get a bigger room. I swear my old room was meant to be a cupboard, it was definitely small enough.
I hear a key in the door and dad's head appears round the door.
'I'm home. Alex, could you come and help me unload these boxes from the car.' I hide the remote behind a cushion and follow dad to the car. Dad actually isn't my dad, he's my soon-to-be-step-dad but I feel he's more of my dad than my real dad is who visited a few years back but since then he seems to have cleared off. I think he's in Tuscany at the moment.
'I picked up the boxes of clothes from your room, your bike, Chloe's crib and the big mirror from the living room. Leave it and I'll carry it up. If you can take your clothes and come back for Chloe's crib and I can manage the rest. I don't want your mom to move anything heavy so don't leave them in strange places.' I nod and pick up the box of my clothes. It has mostly old stuff but I couldn't fit everything into the suitcase I brought.
Dumping it in my room, I go back down for the crib. Dad's standing talking to someone, and as I get closer I realise it's Carter and Abby. They're friends of mom and dad's; they all work in the same hospital. Abby recently had a baby- Alexa, who's sweet. They also have a son-Charlie- who's nearly 3. Abby is mom's best friend so we kinda see them a lot and I sometimes have to baby sit for Charlie, although I'm not allowed to watch Alexa yet cos she's too young.
'Hi Alex, how are you?' Carter smiles as I walk over.
'I'm fine thanks. You?' I've been taught manners.
'Yeah, tired.' Abby laughs at him.
'You haven't been the one getting up every 3-4 hours for feeds.' She digs him in the ribs and pulls a face. Dad shakes his head and grins.
'Quit acting like kids. You wanna come up for coffee?'
'Sorry Luka, We'd love to but we left the kids with Maggie and we need to get back.' Abby says.
'Okay, but you're still coming tomorrow?' They both nod. Tomorrow night, mom and dad are having a party. It's meant to be a house warming and I'm allowed to invite a few friends, which should make the whole thing a little more bearable!