Chapter 2

The car was filled with a heavy silence that made my chest tighten. I was crammed into the back seat, the very last row, with no one beside me, which only made the space feel smaller, more isolated. I could see the tops of my brothers' heads in front of me, but no one was saying anything. The only sounds were the soft tapping of Alex and Miles on their phones, the occasional rustle of Henry turning a page in his book, and the steady hum of the tires on the road.

Miles was right in front of me, slouched in his seat, his face illuminated by the blue light of his phone. He seemed completely absorbed in whatever he was doing, oblivious to everything else. Alex was next to him, in the middle row, his attention also locked onto his screen. Every so often, they'd both smirk or chuckle quietly, but they didn't share whatever was amusing them, and the sound only made me more aware of how disconnected I felt from everyone.

Henry, sitting next to Alex, was in his usual reading mode, eyes fixed on his book as if nothing could pull him out of it. I wished I could lose myself in something like that, but my thoughts were too restless, bouncing around in my head with nowhere to go.

Up front, Easton had his head leaned against the window, his eyes unfocused as he watched the scenery blur by. He looked so calm, like he was a million miles away, thinking about something far more important than this quiet car ride. I wanted to ask him what was on his mind, maybe start a conversation to ease the tension I felt, but the words stuck in my throat. It was hard enough just trying to keep my nerves in check.

Elijah was behind the wheel, driving with the same steady focus he always had. His hands were firm on the steering wheel, his eyes darting between the road and the mirrors, checking on us without saying a word. He was probably trying to make sure everyone was alright, but I couldn't help feeling like he could see right through me whenever our eyes met in the rearview mirror. I quickly looked away each time, afraid he might notice how anxious I was.

I sat there in the back, staring out the window but not really seeing anything, just trying to keep myself together. The quiet wasn't peaceful; it was the kind of silence that made everything feel more intense, like I was waiting for something to happen, even though I didn't know what. I wished someone would say something, anything, to break the tension that seemed to be building up inside me, but no one did.

Instead, we just kept driving, everyone wrapped up in their own world, while I was left alone with my racing thoughts, counting the minutes until we'd finally reach our destination. The silence stretched on, making the car ride feel longer

I wanted to break the silence, but I couldn't think of anything interesting to say. So, without really thinking, I blurted out, "Do fish ever get thirsty?"

The car went quiet for a second, and I immediately regretted it. Miles and Alex looked up from their phones, and even Henry glanced over his book at me.

Elijah shook his head with a smirk, trying to hide his amusement. "That's what you came up with to break the silence?" he asked, clearly trying not to laugh.

Henry didn't miss a beat. "Only when they're in saltwater," he said, deadpan. "Otherwise, they're perfectly hydrated."

I could feel my face heating up, but I tried to play it off. "Just thought I'd ask," I muttered, shrugging.

Easton, who had been looking out of the window, suddenly stopped and turned to Henry, who was sprawled out in the seat of the car, looking as laid-back as ever. "Do you have to be so sarcastic all the time?" Easton asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

I glanced up from my phone, curious to see how Henry would respond. Henry, with his usual smirk, didn't even hesitate.

"When people ask me stupid questions, it's my legal obligation to give a sarcastic remark," he shot back, his tone dripping with mock seriousness.

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. It was classic Henry never missing a chance to make a snarky comment, no matter the situation. Easton just sighed, shaking his head like he couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or amused.

"You know," Easton said, leaning against the side of the car, "not every question is stupid. Sometimes we're just trying to have a normal conversation."

Henry raised an eyebrow, still smirking. "And I'm just trying to make that conversation a little more interesting."

At this point, even Elijah couldn't keep a straight face. He turned around for a second, giving Henry a bemused look. "You mean a little more aggravating?"

"Tomato, tomahto," Henry said with a shrug, clearly enjoying himself.

I tried to hide my grin as I watched the exchange. It was moments like these that made life with my brothers both entertaining and exhausting. Henry's sarcasm was practically an art form at this point, and as much as Easton pretended to be annoyed, I knew he secretly enjoyed the back-and-forth.

"You're impossible," Easton finally said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

"Thank you," Henry replied, grinning as if he'd just won a prize.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the smile that tugged at my lips. It was the same routine every time, but somehow it never got old. And as much as Henry's sarcasm could be a bit much, it was just part of who he was and, if I was being honest, part of what made our family dynamics work.

Easton chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, at least it got us talking."

Henry leaned back in his chair, grinning. "See? Stupid questions have their uses."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The car slowed down as we pulled into the mall parking lot, and my stomach did a nervous flip. Even from inside the car, I could tell the place was packed. Cars were lined up in every direction, and people were everywhere walking in and out of the stores, talking in groups, pushing strollers, and just generally being loud. The noise seeped in through the windows, a dull roar of activity that made me feel even more on edge.

Elijah navigated through the crowded lot, looking for a parking space. His grip on the steering wheel was steady, like he was totally unfazed by the chaos around us. Meanwhile, I was trying to keep my breathing calm, but it was hard not to get overwhelmed by how busy it was. I could already feel the weight of all those eyes that would inevitably turn our way the moment we stepped out of the car.

"Looks packed today," Easton muttered from the front seat, his gaze sweeping over the sea of people outside. I could hear the unease in his voice as he knew that all of the people would freak me out.

"Yeah, Saturdays are always like this," Elijah replied, his tone calm as ever. He finally spotted an open space near the back of the lot and smoothly pulled in. The engine went quiet as he turned off the car, and suddenly the only sound was the muffled noise of the crowd outside.

I sat there for a second, frozen, while my brothers started to unbuckle their seatbelts and get ready to go. I could see Alex and Miles already glancing at their phones again, probably planning to head straight to their favorite stores. Henry marked his place in his book before setting it aside, and Easton was checking his wallet, making sure he had everything.

"Alright, let's do this," Elijah said as he opened the driver's side door, his voice snapping me out of my thoughts.

I fumbled with my seatbelt, my hands suddenly clumsy, as I tried to shake off the nerves. Everyone else seemed so casual about it, like this was just another Saturday, but for me, it felt like stepping into a battlefield. The second I opened my door, the noise hit me full force: the chatter of people, the sound of car doors slamming, the distant rumble of engines.

I hesitated, still sitting in the back while my brothers were already getting out. Miles and Alex were the first to step onto the pavement, barely looking up from their phones as they started talking about which stores to hit first. Henry followed, stretching his arms and glancing around like he was already planning out his bookstore visit. Easton was last to leave the front, giving me a quick look as he shut the door behind him.

"You coming, Bunny?" Elijah asked, leaning down to peer into the car, his expression patient but expectant.

"Yeah, just... getting my stuff," I mumbled, finally stepping out of the car. The air outside was warm, the sun bright, and I squinted against the light, wishing I could just melt into the background. But with five older brothers around me, that was never an option.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to keep my head down as we started walking toward the mall entrance. The crowd seemed even bigger now that we were in the middle of it, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. People were moving in every direction, and I tried not to bump into anyone as I stuck close to my brothers.

Elijah led the way, calm and confident, while Miles and Alex walked ahead, still absorbed in their own conversation. Henry was next to them, already eyeing the stores we were passing, and Easton hung back a bit, making sure I wasn't getting lost in the shuffle.

As we approached the entrance, the automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and the noise of the mall washed over us. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the overwhelming buzz of the crowded mall, and followed my brothers inside, hoping I could just get through this trip without losing my nerve.

.......................................................................................

Word count:1718

Hey Guys Thanks for reading this story so please be nice and kind. I am sorry if there are any spelling mistakes or bad grammar.

Thanks for reading my second chapter and please vote and leave a comment.

More chapters will be coming out soon.

*EMMA HETHRON*