I swing at the lightning bugs zooming around me as I stand on the curb with my family. The street lights illuminate the massive van parked in front of our house. The mysterious atmosphere the whole prayer retreat gives off made me nervous ever since the first one seven years ago when I was only eleven. We have no idea where the retreat is, but by the research I put into it, I know it changes every year.

“Thank you all for being here. I love you guys, don’t get crazy without me,” she says.

We all smile in response, knowing that right when she leaves it’s going to turn into World War 3. We love our mom, but her rules can be kind of unforgiving and constraining even for Demetrius. So every year that she’s gone we as a group turn into animals.

“The latest I’ll be back is this Friday. So if you do something stupid, I can fix it then. Remember I can’t use my phone until then,” she says.

She takes turns hugging us individually and when she reaches my dad, they passionately kiss each other.

“I love you guys again. Thank you so much for everything, I’ll pray for you guys and even though I’m not here, my spirit will always be there for you.” Skye’s eyes well up as she finishes her departing speech.

Skye cries every time she’s about to leave and though I do think it is a little much for not being around for three measly days, the ending speeches usually prod at my feelings a bit. I turn to look at Genesis and sure enough I see a tear run does his face. He’s such a big baby, even if most people think the opposite. We all gather for a group hug and then she enters the car, revealing a group of people. The van then sputters off and we’re left alone, basking in the gleam of the moon.

“So what’s the plan for today,” Levi asks while rubbing his hands.

“Nothing, it’s late as hell, I’ll be busy these days so you guys can go rule-breaking without me, but let me know in advance. Text me,” my dad says.

We all nod and go into the house. I stroll into my room and jump into my bed. I pleasantly smile at myself as I remember the call I made to my job to get the next three days off. My first plan of action tomorrow is spending the night at Florina’s. I love messing with her little siblings.

I opened my drawer and pull out my bible. I open to where my bookmark is placed and surprised how close I am to completing it, I promised myself to read at least a chapter a day and I can’t help but be proud of how fast I’m flying through it. Giddy with excitement, I only get a chapter done without losing focus. I spend the rest of the night picturing how I’m going to spend my three free days until I’m fast asleep.

*

Florina takes my hand and opens her front door. I hear multiple screams and a group of kids suddenly surrounds us. Florina has three younger siblings, from youngest to oldest their names are Flo, Francine, and Fili. I pick up Francine and fling her over my shoulder.

“Wheeee,” Francine says. I continue playing with the little ones as Florina walks into her kitchen to greet her mom and dad.

“I beat Fili in a race just yesterday,” Flo boasts, his eyes looking directly into mine hoping for a reaction. Florina must of told them about my trackstar history recently.

“Woah you must be really fast, tell you what, later on today I’ll race you to see how fast you really are,” I say. His little face lights up as he grabs Fili and pulls him towards the television they have set up in the living room. With Francine still on my shoulder I walk into the kitchen to greet Florina’s parents myself.

“If there's something wrong you can tell us sweetie,” I hear Florina’s mom says as she waves a paper in front of Florina’s face. “This is serious, I think I might have to take you to see your thera..,” her words cut off as she notices me. Florina and her father follow the mom’s gaze until they both spot me.

“Oh welcome Dante,” her father says, walking up to me and giving me a firm handshake. His face seems paler than usual. I look over his shoulder at Florina and find an angry expression plastered onto her face. She scurries over to me, grabs my hand and guides me out the kitchen.

“Dante and I will be in my room, remember he’s staying the night,” Florina says before we exit the room.

“We’ll talk about this tomorrow,” Florina’s mom calls after us, but we’re already bounding up the steps towards Florina’s bedroom.

When we reach our destination I squat down so Francine can hop down onto the floor.

“Can I go in to, I don’t want to play with Fili and Flo, their dumb and gross,” Francine says. I laugh and tell her that Florina and I need our alone time and that we can hang out with her later today. She smiles at me and runs back down the stairs.

Florina shoves open her bedroom door and shuts it behind me as I make my way in. I grab ahold of her before she gets too far.

“What’s wrong,” I ask.

“Nothing, nothing. They were just overreacting to something,” she says. She weaves out of my grip and sits on her bed, her usually bright eyes are as cold as ice. “Anyway, do you want to play some games,” she says.

I let out a sigh, I want to press her more, but whenever I ask her too much she just stops talking. I jump in the middle of the bed and move her in between my legs. I put my lips on the top of her head and give her a kiss.

“You know I’m here if you need anything, you can talk to me,” I say.

“I know, I know, I promise everything is fine. What’s not fine is you kissing me on the head like I’m some sort of baby,” she says, grinning, as she turns her head and presses her lips against mine. We continue making out and I reach towards her stomach in an attempt to lift up her shirt, her hands reach out to mine and stops them from pulling her shirt up any further.

“No, you promise we’d take things slow,” she says as she pulls away from me. I look down at the floor, ashamed. It’s getting harder and harder to take control of my teen hormones and though I agreed to take things slow, sometimes I find myself subconsciously going against her wishes.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she says as she reaches over my lap and grabs the two controller and a remote from under her pillow. She hands me one and turns on the TV. “I’m in the mood for the game Cuphead today,” she says.

As she sets everything up I check on my phone and text Levi and Genesis to see what they’re up to. With Skye not here, I just think it’s normal as the older brother to be put in charge of taking care of them and checking if their going too crazy. I start off with Levi.

Yo Levi, what are your plans for this week

Dinner with Nina’s family and I was planning with going with Ally to an amusement park, but she had a vacation with her mom and one of her boyfriends to go too. So I’ll probably just work.

Ok bro, if you need anything, let me know.

Now it’s Genesis’s turn.

Yo G, what are you doing this week besides making absolute bangers in the studio

Lmao, stop it, but Kian and I are deciding to go on a road trip.

You sure you can afford missing school bro?

Hey Skye’s gone, doesn't mean you have to be Skye 2.0. Besides my grades are fine, I’ll be good.

Ok, text me and keep me informed.

yEs siR.

I put away my phone and let my eyes rest of Florina’s back. She moves quickly attaching cords to other cords, her radiant brown hair flinging all around her. Once she’s done her body springs up and she takes her position next to me. Her TV lights up and we start to play the game. Due to our competitive nature, a lot of screaming and shouting occurs as we try to one up each other. Laughter also fills the air as the hours roll one after another.

When we got to the level we both agreed to stop on I look around and take into account how dark it is. I glance to the right and a dark night sky stares back at me. Before I can wonder where the time went, a rasp of knocks on Florina’s bedroom door startles me.

“I’ll get it,” I say while I shift myself into position to leave the bed. She responds by giving me a playful look and scrambles out of the bed.

“Not if I get it first,” she shrieks. However, before she moves even an inch I grab a hold of her small frame and pulled her towards the bed. She kicks and squirms and we end up wrestling off the bed. She ends up on top of me, her wild eyes and unkempt hair dance as she makes another attempt for the door and this time finds her destination.

“You promised you’d play with me and it’s almost my bedtime,” I hear a small voice, obviously belonging to Francine, say. Fiorina's response is a loud sigh.

I get up and brush the dust off myself. I crawl in a doglike position towards both of them, trying to make as little noise as possible. When they notice me I lunge forward and lift both of them in the air. I hear screams and giggles as I march deeper into Florina’s room, but I can’t make it two steps before I fall over due to the weight.

Francine sinks her chubby little arms around my neck. This cues me to stagger to my two feet and jog around the room. I feel her body thrust up and down as I continue around the room and when I make it to the door, I find her parents smiling at each other, they seemed to be watching the whole time. My face burns with embarrassment.

“It’s time for bed, Francine,” her mother says as she walks closer to me, arms outstretched.

It contest to the reluctant Hmph coming from Francine, I grab a hold of her and place her into her mother’s waiting arms. She takes Francine and exits the room.

“Don’t be too loud, kids are sleeping, but have a good night you two,” Florina’s mom says before closing the door after her.

Florina lets out a sigh as I lift her up from the floor. I felt her slightly panting body on my fingertips, by her eye flutter I could tell she was tired.

“We should go to bed,” I say already preparing for some sort of resistance. To my surprise, all she does is nods and slides into bed. I hover over her and use the back of my hand to feel her forehead, she was blazing hot.

“You seem sick, you want me to go get you some water,” I say. She faintly shakes her head and grabs my shirt. I can feel her pulling me towards her with the strength comparable to a sick mouse.

Even though I felt bad, I relished the thought of how weak she was right now. Florina as always been a bit more independent and seeing her so needy fills me with joy. I let her pull me towards her and wrap myself behind her. I gently kiss her forehead as we both fall asleep to the nights rhythmic hum.