The next morning I was in no mood to go to school. My body was sore, my head hurt, and overall I was just tired. I rolled over, and looked for my phone. I rubbed my hands up and down the bed until I hit it. I threw the cover off of me, and I put the phone up to my face. The light was to bright so on instinct I moved it away, and wiped my blurry eyes. I pulled the phone back up to my eyes. I went to my dial pad, and dialed my dad's number.

:Hello: He answered in a groggy tone.

:Good Morning dad, sorry to wake you.:

:Is everything alright?: He asks with minimum shuffling in the background.

:Just fine. I called because I'm not feeling well, and I wanted to let you know I'm staying home.: I explained.

:Yeah..: He clears his throat. :That's fine, just make sure Feizon and La'rey leave out.:

:Okay Dad, Love you.:

:Love you too: He says and I hang up.

I sigh deeply, and stand up to stretch from my bed. I start looking around the room to find my pajama bottoms as I walk to the bathroom. After I use the facility, I come out to be startled by Jalonni. "What the hell?" I scream lowly.

"What are you doing up so early?" He asks pushing past me to enter the bathroom.

"Somebody has to wake up Faizon and La'rey." I respond walking away from the door.

"Yeah because I ain't gonna do it." I roll my eyes at his comment because he is full of shit. One minute you love us then you go to treating us like shit.

I wake towards Faizon and La'rey's room to wake them up. I open the door, and they are sound asleep.

I walk over to their beds, and start to shake them lightly. "C'mon guys time to get up..." I say softly.

"Daddy?" La'rey says softly, and I chuckle lowly.

"No little man. It's Hyden." I say as I sit on the bed.

"Good morning." He sits up and gives me a hug.

"Good morning bug." I hug him back.

Faizon opens his eyes, and blinks hard looking around. "Time for school?" He mumbles.

"Yeah, Get up..." I say as he sits up.

You guys find your outfits, and I will walk you to the bus stop. I'm gonna go make breakfast.

"Okay.." They both say as I exit the room to go downstairs.

I walk down the stairs, and I notice the kitchen light is on. I peek over the rail, and it's just Jalonni. I roll my eyes as I continue down the stairs to enter the kitchen. He is sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal, staring at me. I ignore his stares, and walk to the refrigerator. "You know you could be nice one day, and cook breakfast." I say as I pull out the Waffles and Bacon, sitting them on the counter.

"I am nice.." He continues to eat his cereal.

"You're not..." I say as I open the bacon. "You're the oldest. I shouldn't be doing all this if dad left you in charge."

He stands up and walks over to the sink to place his bowl inside. He burps then says "Shut the hell up." He walks out of the kitchen, and Instantly want to take this butter knife and stab him in his sternum. I resist the urge.

I cut on the stove, and oven to prepare my brothers food. Once I do that I walk back upstairs to check my phone. I had one message from Theo telling me good morning. I reply good morning back, and sit my phone back down. I look up in the doorway, and Faizon is standing there. "You looking fresh little man come here." He comes in my room, and I tie his shoe laces. "You're gonna have all the girls crazy over you." I say as I grab the brush to brush his waves.

"I know this.." He smiles big showing his space in between his teeth from losing his baby teeth.

"Have you and La'rey brushed your teeth?" I ask.

"After breakfast." Jalonni says in the doorway.

"Were we talking to Jalonni?" I look at Faizon as he freezes up. "Noooo" I say shaking him a little causing him to smile.

"Faizon go finish helping La'rey get dressed." I say to him.

He nods, and walks out of the room, putting his head down once he gets near Jalonni. "That's a shame." I say standing up to go back downstairs

"What do you mean?" He asks following behind us.

"Can you let me in as to why you treat us the way you do?" I turn around, and lean onto the counter to look at him, crossing my arms.

He shrugs. "I don't know I need help." He says.

"That's an understatement.." I mumble.

"What was that?" He asks.

"Nothing because you're about to start this again..." I turn around to cuts the food off.

"Start what?" He yells as he grabs my shoulder and turns me around. "I'm talking to you.."

I just stare at him, and he punches the wall over me. I flinch and duck. "You need to stop." I say to him because it's too early in the morning for this type of behavior.

"Don't fucking treat me like I'm a child." He says as he mushes my head hard, causing it to bounce off the wall.

Faizon and La'rey come downstairs just as he is about to hit me. He turns around, and looks at them then back at me. I just look at him trying not to show fear, and he walks off. Faizon and La'rey enter the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" La'rey asks.

"Of course... Don't worry about him. Now, lets get some food in you guys" I guide them over to the table, and begin to set their plates. Once their food is on the plates I place the food and orange juice in front of them as I sit at the table with them.

"Hyden..." Faizon says out of the blue.

"Yes?" I answer back.

"Are you like our mom?" He asks, and takes a bite of his waffles.

"No..." I laugh a little. "I'm your brother. I'm going to take care of you no matter what. Our mom was very pretty, and caring. You only have one mom and one dad. Dad loves you, he just doesn't have time to be around since he's in the army and all. No matter what we will all take care of each other."

He nods and finishes up his food. "Okay, now you two need to finish up so we can go."

This is crazy that my little brother asked me that. I guess I really have taken on the role of mommy dearest. I'm only in 10th grade, and I assume the role of an adult. Sometimes I wonder are there others out there like me?

They finish up their food, and I walk them to the bus stop. Once we get near the stop they immediately run up to their friends, and leave me. I didn't want to intrude so I stood near the stop sign, and just watched over them. The bus came, they turned around and waved then got onto the bus. I walked back towards the house, and instantly smelt weed in the air.

I shook my head as I walked up the stairs. I walked past Jalonni's door, and he was in there with some dude. He looked cute, but had a rough appeal. I rarely date light skinned dudes.

"Wassup." The dude said to me, and I waved.

"Aye bruh, don't talk to that faggot." Jalonni says pissing me off.

"Damn, you gay lil bruh?" I just looked and walked off.

"Sweet ass boy..." Jalonni yelled as I left.

I wanted nothing more than to tell the real tea on him, but I decided to keep my mouth closed. Jalonni insists on embarrassing me every chance he gets, in front of every person I meet. I go into my room, and fell onto the bed. 5 minutes late him, and his friend came into my room.

I turned around and looked both of them up, and down. "It's called knocking..." I said sternly.

"You don't run shit.... I do. Why you not getting dressed for school?" Jalonni asks.

"If it's any of your concern, Dad said I can stay home."

"Why?" He asks.

"Shouldn't you and your...." I looked his friend up and down mugging. "Friend. Be leaving." I said aggravated.

"Hold on, don't mug my homie like that..." Jalonni says.

"Whatever Jalonni just leave already." I said turn back around on my bed to lay down.

"You lucky..... Boy you lucky. Let's go Roy." Him and his friend exit my room not before his friend looks back, and winks at me.

"A mess." I shake my head and laugh. I hear them walk down the stairs, and the front door opens, and I am home alone. I start to lay down, but I immediately jump up to go make sure the door is locker, and the alarm is on. I was about to enjoy this alone time

-----

After my nap, I woke up, and started doing some cleaning. I felt energized, but my back was still in a lot of pain. I also went outside, and cut the grass. I later on cooked me a nice brunch for myself then decided to sit back, and watch movies for the next 6 hours until The boys and Jalonni come home. I had just cut on my favorite movie when I heard the doorbell ring.

"Who could this be?" I asked myself as I stood up, and walked over to the window. I looked out and saw Theo standing there. I quickly opened the door, and pulled him in. "What the hell dude?" I asked confused.

"What I wanted to see you..." He says innocently.

"Not that you idiot. You know I have nosy neighbors they will tell on me." I explain slowly.

"What are you so afraid of? Fuck them" He say throwing his hands up in the air.

"You don't understand..." I say lowly.

"Understand what?.... Hmm?" He lifts my head up to look at him.

I push his hand away. "Nevermind that, You're in 10th grade how did you manage to get out of school?" I ask.

"You forget I'm supposed to be a Junior, and I can do what I want young one" He say walking into my kitchen to ramble in my refrigerator. "What y'all got to eat?" He asks while looking inside.

"Excuse me, but um you don't do that shit here..." I had to regulate.

"Chill." He say grabbing my hand gently to move out of the way. He looks me in eyes, and licks his lips. The lust started to take over as I bit my bottom lip lusciously. He leans in to kiss me, but I sadly decline. "Here you go leading me on again." He says backing away from me, not showing his obvious hurt.

"Theo stop, it's not you. It's other factors that won't let us be together." I explain earnestly.

"Like what Mahyden!" He shouts. "I have tried so long to do right, and finally be that one for you since middle school. You always show an inch of like in me, then draw away. All I want to know is why?" He says and I'm honestly heart.

I try to touch his face but he pulls away. "When you figure out how you feel call me.." He says as he leaves the kitchen, and walks to the front door. Once he opens it he is faced with Jalonni. "Oh shit....." I mumble in shock and fear because he looks directly at me.