I wake uptoo early the next morning, my brain not being able to sleep as I keep thinking over and over of what to do.

I need to make it up to him. Everything else can wait until I've put that cheeky smile back onto his face.

Laying in bed as the sun rises, I stare at my celling, trying to conjure up an idea of what to do..

Letting out a soft groan of frustration, I pull the covers off me swinging my legs out of my bed, sitting up and resting my head in my hands...

Why is it so hard to think of something?! He's only four....there's a lot of possibilities...

I could take him out? Go and buy him some new toy?

No, no....that's just cheap and nasty, not enough thought in it. I would hate it if someone brought a gift for me just to try and get out of the guilt they feel....

That's not the way.....it has to be something more....

Standing up from my bed, I pace up and down, chewing my lip as I force my brain to think of something different, going over each idea I think of to see if it can become more meaningful....

With a sigh I stop walking groaning a little again as my eyes flicker across to the clock.

8:30am

Not everyone will even be up yet, my mum would probably be up, eventually the youngersters too...and then later during miday, everyone else with emerge from their caves they call rooms....

As I run a hand through my hair, debating on whether I should go take a shower now, hoping it would somehow, magically give me an amazing Idea....my phone buzzes from my bed side table, distracting my thoughts...

Padding over to it, I pick it up, the screen lighting up with a new message and I blink my eyes clicking read.

'Your up early. Couldn't sleep? Oo..what's got you pacing back and forth so much? Something wrong?xxx – Noah'

I feel a curve of a smile tug at my lips, the strong feeling of someone caring for you warming my chest, and I snap my head up towards the window as I realise what he's said....

And sure enough, with squinting my eyes, I can see his figure in his room, my fault for not closing the curtains last night....but surprisingly, I don't seem to mind so much knowing he's looking over this way....

I start to type out a reply as make my way over to my draws...

'Yeaaah... urgh,, I'm trying to think of something to make it up to Tom, but nothing comes to mind :/ I need to make it up to him. Xxx – Lexi'

I sigh, opening up my draw in search for some fresh clothes, picking out some black shorts before my phone vibrates again..

'Hmm...something to make it up to Tom....eh?.....Hold on, I'll meet you in my garden at 9! xxx -Noah'

I frown confused at the text on my screen, typing back a quick 'What? Why?' In question, but I get no text back which causes me to feel more curious....but with another sigh, I let it go..grabbing my clothes and heading the bathroom...intending on that shower and hopefully will be able to come up with what I should do....

8:56

I glance at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall as I quietly and quickly walk through it, hearing the slight buzz from the television in the living room that is coming from my mother watching some morning TV, and from also hearing her voice talking, I assume she's in there with a couple of my brothers she's got up and the remains of breakfast littering the kitchen, I take it they've already had some.

Stepping out the pattio door into the gentle breeze of the morning air, the warmth of it showing that it's going to be a warm day and my choice of wearing shorts was a good choice as I can already feel the heat of the sun this early, and my loose fitting top is easy for the gently breeze to keep me cool.

Making my way over to the fenxe at the side of the house, my feet moving quick over the grass as I don't really want to get spotted as that will only cause questions to arise, questions I don't really have answers to...

Reaching the side of the house, a small gap between the end of the house and the fence, which comes to a shorter level...one which I can easily climb over.

Once I'm safetly the otherside, I jump down onto the ground, looking around this small gap between the fence and the house, pretty much the same layout as mine...

Walking slowly up to the end, hoping that he's already there so I don't have to wait around.....and as I step out from the corner of around the house, full view of the large garden, my eyes fix onto a figure sitting on the edge of the pattio steps seeming to be staring down to the blades of grass below his feet....

Good....he's here's...

Sticking my hands into the short pockets of my shorts, I walk across the plain pattio, beside the garden table amd chairs and over towards the steps where the figure is sat..

As I get closer, noticing that he either hasn't heard me or is delibratley not turning around, I clear my throat, stopping a few meters away from him, making my pressence known.

Slowly lifting his head, locks of his dark brown hair falling over his forehead so he shakes his head to clear it and tilts his head back to look to me, my eyes meeting his and I can see the sparkle in his brown orbs that's created from the shinning sun, causing me to stare a little longer than I probably should..

A grin spreads across his face, causing me to blink, realising I've been staring and I feel a churning in my stomach, not knowing if it's a good way or bad...

“Morning!” a small chuckle is evident in his voice as he stands up from the stony step, turning around to face me while I have noticed what he's wearing, perfectly suitable for this weather with wearing a thin white shirt, with beige shorts...and with his hair lazily tosseled, something about it just somehow makes him look cute...

“Hi....” I mumble, quickly shaking my thoughts away, shifting uncertaintly on my feet “So um....what's...this all about?” I ask, my eyes looking to the groud by the tuffs of grass by his feet...

When I'm met with silence, a frown tugs at my eyebrows and hesitantly I raise my head, my gaze following up to meet his own gaze which causes me to swallow, near gulp as my eyes lock with his....a grin still plastered on his face...

And when I'm about to speak again, wanting to know why I'm here...he beats me to it..

“I have an idea” The grin on his face, curving to half a smirk with a twinkle in his eye hat causes the same feeling in my stomach again...

Causing me to feel a little anxious of what this idea is.....

~~~~

“This is your idea?”

“Yep!”

I blink...staring at this boy as he grins proudly, surrounded by...what's better to call it....junk.

“And it's going to be a pretty damn good one at that” He smirks, moving a box out of the way with his foot, a pretty damn cocky grin on his face ans I just know he's going to use this whole idea against me in weeks to come.

Chewing my lip as my eyes scan over all the things litering the bottom half of Noah's garden, from an old leather swivel chair, to cardboard and plastic boxes, some either empty or full, and I even spot some old pipeing and some coat hangers....

How on earth we can use all this.....turning it into something good...I don't know....

“Okay.....” I breath out in a slight huff, “where do we start?”

And with that, the grin back on Noah's face, he picks up a small empty cardboard box, his lips curving up into a smirk...

“We use our imagination....”

~

With one last tired breathe, I stand up straight, my back aching slightly from all thisbending over and I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead using my arm, caused by the burning sun that has been on me constantly for all these hours....

Holding the paint brush in my hand, I look to my last, and final coloured surface of the cardboard box, taking a step back and a small smile tugs at my lips as I take in what is before me, the whole bottom of Noah's garden completely changed, and is now light up with fairy lights and old camping lanterns dotting around the grass...my eyes casting over everything that we have done today.....

Wow....I can't actually believe it worked....

Not being able to stop the smile spreading across my face, my gaze goes across from me, towards Noah who's just finished hanging up some fairy lights upon the bushes running along the fence of the garden and he catches my gaze, mimicking my smile....

Biting my lip, I feel a swirl of pride, achievement and a little excitement bubbling up as I once again look at all these things....if I do say myself...we've done a pretty amazing job.

“All done eh?” Noah grins, making his way over towards me, noding pass the objects in his way

I smile and nod, still marvelled by the sight before me.....

Releasing a chuckle noah comes closer, “Well...I say we did pretty damn good..” He grins “and from going by your reaction....I am very positive that Tom will love this..” he beams, my eyes flickering up to his for a moment before looking away with a small smile...before I sigh a little.

“I hope he does...” I bite my lip, small nerves starting to appear as I come to think that we've done all this for that little boy, and if he doesn't like it...or won't even come out to see.....then I have no idea what else I could do....

A hand is placed on my shoulder, my eyes snapping up to be met with a pair of warm ones as Noah gives me a reasuring smile “He will...” he says, turning to walk away, his hand on my shoulder for a few seconds more, leaving me staring after it....

“Alright...well....I think you should go and get cleaned up...” Noah says bending down to pick up the tray of paints we used and eyeing me with a small smirk, my head looking down to see that my bare legs are covered in splashes and swipes of coloured paint, along with my hads and I won't be surprised if I have some smears on my face...

I let out sheepish chuckle and nod my head agreeing, starting to walk..

“I'll meet you outside yours in...what? an hour? That long enough?” He arches an eyebrow amusement in his voice and I roll my eyes but nod, wavering my hand a little as I try to think of how long it will take to wash all this paint off

“Alright...make it two...” Noah chuckles “And make sure you have the little fella with you too!” He adds with a grin, taking the tray and heading up towards his house as I walk back over to the fence I climbed over hours ago...

With a smile I trace my steps of earlier today...hardly believing it's been basicaly a whole day since I first came out here.....we spent at least ten hours doing all this....luckily just stopping briefly for some quick food, and also sending a quick text to my mum explaining things breifly instead of bothering with any of the others....

Once back over into my garden, I make a bee line to the pattio doors, quickly entering and hear numerous voices echoing from rooms around the house and can hear the distant screams and laughter from somewhere in the garden, my guess it's the twins running around somwhere....

Thankfully without bumping into anyone, I make my way to the stairs, running up the quickly and manage to get to my room without seeing anyone, as that would just cause questions and possible conversations I don't want to take part in....and plus...I need all the time I can get to wash all this paint from my body.

Jumping straight in the shower once I've rushed straight into the bathroom, stripping from my clothes and already apply soap to my skin to scrub at the coloured paint.

Stepping out of the hot shower, steam misting up the room, I wrap my towel around me, slightly huffing as I still have a few small streaks of paint smeared on my legs as I was just imppoisble to get off.

But at least my hands are paint free!

I grab some clean clothes, drying myself and pulling on the essentials you wear everyday, and then another pair of dark coloured shorts, a dark navy colour this time and also a white, loose fitting, baggy top, that really has no shape to it, but it's comfy and with the warm evening weather will do just fine.

Leaving my hair in it's damp ringlets knowing it'll dry soon....and with glancing at the clock, not wuite believeing it actually took over an hour....I make my way out my room, turning and heading towards the stairs....

“Lexi!?”

My shoulders tense as I hear my name being called from behind me, down the corridor as I pause on top of the stairs, already knowing the person the voice belongs to.

I bite my lip, I haven't faced anyone for the whole day, being kept busy and none of them coming out next door, I didn't have to.

But I knew it would be a different story once I get back in here.....and with slowly turning around to see my twin standing outside the door of his room a few rooms up, I know that I'm glad it's only Seth and not one of the others...

I stare to him, waiting for him to continue....

“Where....where you going?” He asks curiously, stepping away from his room and pulling up close the door as he steps away, causing my eyes to flicker over to it curiously as he doesn't normally close his door when he leaves it....

“what?” I frown looking back to my brother as he gradually takes steps down the corridor towards me, “Why? It doesn't concern you” I fold my arms, not feeling much anger towards him as I thought I would, but still the annoyance is there...

“Lex....” Seth sighs, stopping halfway to me, his hands slipping into the pocket of his jeans “I just haven't seen you all day...”He shrugs, looking down at his feet briefly, “I was just wondering what you were doing....”

I chew my lip as I look at my brother...I know that I can't stay mad forever, he actually already has apologized....that night infact. And I know he ment it, he wouldn't do something intended to hurt me, infact none of my brothers would. We're family. You don't hurt your family if you can help it.

I let out a sigh, shaking my head as I shuffle my feet, “I was next door...”I mumble “....I needed something to do something to make it up with Tom..” I sigh lifting my head to look in his direction, “So Noah and I-..”

“Noah?”

I blink, looking to Seth as he cut off my sentence, and see his eyes slightly narrow..

“Yea...Noah...” I frown at him “He was helping me-”

Hearing Seth scoff, once again cutting off my sentence he shakes his head “I bet he was...” He grunts, looking back to me, this time a different glint in his eye...

“What were you doing with him? I thought you were going to keep away after yesterday!” his voice raises a bit causes me take a small step back.

I narrow my eyes, “I told you, he was helping me! And no...why would I stay away from him?..he's our neighbour incase you forgot, also a friend.”

The words just roll off of my tongue, not even acknowledging what I was saying, but Seth seems to have a dislike to my words as he rolls his eyes.

“Friend?” He huffs “Come of it...you and I both know your aren't just 'friends” He rolls his eyes “ Friends don't kiss” His voice lowers, eyes narrowing slightly and I feely my own ones widen.

He saw us. I had forgotten this.....Seth did see...

I gulp, shaking my head to clear my thoughts “N-no...” I stumble over my words “No...Seth I already told you it's not like that!” I groan, feeling a flush rush to my cheeks as even I know to myself that I don't even now what 'it' is...

And from the look on Seth's face, he doesn't believe me either...

“Right....somehow I just don't believe that Lex” He removes his hands from his pockets “I just don't get it....I thought you hated him! ...how you go from that...to...to..to this!” he exclaims, shaking his head with confusion “From hating him to now...'friends'?...well..whatever it is...I don't understand Lex...”

Yeah...you aren't the only one there Bro...

I groan to myself, backing up to the stairs again as I don't want to do this right now with him, “Look...Seth....I have to go..” I sigh “We'll talk later if you want....but right now, I need to find this little boy and hopefully take him to his surprise...” I say, before turning and heading down the stairs....hearing Seth call after me but I ignore him and carry on my way down to the next level, making a turn and heading to Tom's bedroom door...hoping I will find him in here...

Stopping at his door, I take a breath in to calm and clear my head...only wanting to think of one thing and that's what I am going to do...

Raising my fist, I knock lightly on the closed door, moving down to the handle where I push down, oppening up the door quietly and with hearing the buzz of the TV, I already know now tht Tom is in here...

“Tommy?” I whisper into the dully lite room, his red coloured curtains pulled creating the glow of dull red through the room, and the light of the TV playing some cartoon programme also adding some light, but none of it being the beautiful evening sunlight outside...

My eyes dart to the bed, spotting a small figure curled up laying on their side with eyes glued to the TV screen, already dressed in navy coloured pyjamas with little moons and starts dotted on the T shirt, I can't help but smile at the little four year old.

“Tom?” I speak quietly again, stepping further into his rooma nd pushing the door up behind me, I bite my lip as his gaze doesn't move from the TV like it normaly would when I enter the room.

I feel a stabbing of guilt hit me again as I soon realise that what I did yesterday this small boy still remembers, and still hates me for it I bet.

“Tom....” I sigh walking towards the end of the bed, watching is figure hoping he would turn his head to me....

Crouching down to the level of the bed, I drop to my knees, scooting along a little to reach by his head more, but his eyes don't move from the Tv and I definatley know now that he's deliberatley avoiding looking at me.

I reach my hand up, touching his small hand with mine as I speak again..

“Tommy, I'm so sorry..” I whisper, biting my lip harder as he moves his hand away from my touch, a frown tugging at his face and moving his hand to tuck it under his head, still staring at the screen...

I sigh, looking down to my lap, I was afraid of this happening...afraid I wouldn't be able to get him to come with me, I mean why would he?...I sure wouldn't if someone did something like I did...

I hate myself for letting this little boy down..

“Tom...” I start again lifting my head to look at him, “Tom...I am so, so, so sorry. I know...I'm such a horrible person Tommy, and if I could, I would have taken a private jet, or even a million helium balloons just to get back here in time! I was really looking forward to going with you Tom...” I mumble, hoping my extreme choices of travel would make him giggle at all...but all I get is a blink...