Chapter 24: XX

𝙰𝙿𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚇𝙸𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙴𝙻𝚈 𝙵𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝚈𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚂 𝙰𝙶𝙾...

"Teddy, you need to go back to sleep, okay?" Xavi says to his younger brother. "C'mon, Ted, be a good boy. Back to bed."

But the three year old doesn't comply. He simply stands there, arms folded across his torso in defiance and a small pout on his face, refusing to move.

The wails of his triplet siblings fill the small room, as his older brothers focus on comforting them.

His older brothers are always tending to the little ones. Especially their sister, who cries much too often and much too loudly for the toddler's liking. When he cries, he either gets made fun of, admonished, or, even worse, punished. So how come this doesn't apply to the babies?

Uvaldo tells him that, because there are three of them, they naturally require extra attention. When one cries, the others follow. And of course, besides baby babble, it is their only form of communication with each other and with those around them (although Vinnie is positive that they communicate with one another telepathically). Sometimes, they even make each other cry. Following tradition, the eldest most commonly terrorises the younger two.

"Mama and Papa..." he gestures towards the doorway. "Fighting again."

His two brothers look at him with sympathy in their eyes and then share a knowing look with one another.

"We know, Ted. Just ignore them," Wyatt tells him, though it is easier said than done. "C'mon, i'll tuck you back in."

Wyatt then picks up the toddler, who instantly clings to his side, and heads into the hallway. Their parent's yelling intensifies, which only provokes the babies further. The noise begins to overwhelm Teddy also, and he starts to cry and writhe in his brother's arms.

He feels safe enough to cry in Wyatt's presence, and only Wyatt's presence, for he is the only person whom Teddy fully trusts.

His favourite, one could say.

"Shh, Teddy Bear," Wyatt's tone is nothing but soft, as he rubs his brother's back in an attempt to comfort him. "It's okay. You're okay."

But the moment their parents come into view, Wyatt knows that his reassurance is of no consolation to his little brother.

Wyatt knows that by the time he has shielded Teddy's eyes, it is far too late.

And so the toddler cries, and cries, and doesn't stop crying, even when his older brother places a hand over his mouth in order to silence him.

The nine year old tucks his brother in, as he said he would, and strokes his hair, as it will be of any help .

And as three year old Teddy lies there, crying himself to sleep, the last image embellished in his mind is of his father's fist colliding with his mother's face.

— VINNIE —

"I could chop off one of his fingers?"

"Zephaniah."

"It was just a suggestion...a joke, even."

"I fail to understand how this situation could possibly entertain you...Yes, even you of all people. How, pray tell?"

"Well, what can i say? I make the best of every situation. How do you think i have lived so long, brother? The answer of course: humour and booze."

"I beg to differ."

"Tell us your take on this then," i address my eldest brother. "What does this situation look like from the eyes of Zephaniah?"

"It looks like Teddy has been giving my sister a hard time, so much so that she finally found it in herself to do something about it," he answers, simply and smug, as if what happened had been his own idea.

I sincerely hope not.

"Yes, but you missed out the part where your sister fractured your brother's nose," says Yakov.

The smug look intensifies.

"Music to my ears, that is."

"Zephaniah."

"Yes, yes, i know my name very well. Thank you all."

"Do you not see a problem here? At all?" i ask him. "And what of Teddy strangling your sister, what do you think of that?"

"I think i'm impressed with the strength he used and the balls on him to react in such a way," he answers, once again in a far too nonchalant manner.

"So you don't see wrong in that either?" Wyatt speaks up, of course in protection of Rori.

"Well, i think that either one of them should've fought harder against the other. Teddy, especially, could've easily immobilised her sooner and thus the situation could've been avoided. I guess he was shocked. I don't blame him. In the end, they both did wrong. I'm sure they'll be fine now. They got what they wanted."

I look at my brother as if he is delirious, which i actually think he must be.

How are we supposed to get through to someone who is so set in their ways? So detached from reality?

But none of us are surprised, at the end of the day. After all, he is the same ol' Zephaniah whom we grew up with. And he will be the same ol' Zephaniah for years to come.

"Oh, don't look at me like i'm crazy," he scoffs, addressing all of us. "These kids are soft compared to what we were back in the day. We used to beat the crap out of each other all the time, and look where we are now."

"In therapy," i remark with sarcastic joy, and Xavi tries — and fails — to muffle a snort.

"Well, that makes one of us," Zephaniah continues, flashing me a mocking smile. "But seriously, i mean, we get along. We actually somewhat tolerate each others presence now. It'll be the same for the five of them when they reach adulthood," he insists.

"I think you're forgetting that most of the time we have to drink in order to be in the same room as one another," Xavi reminds him.

"Well, whatever, so be it. Drinking brings out the best in all of us."

"Hmm, no," Wyatt says, shaking his head. "Let's not go there."

"What Zephaniah means to say is that we have to accept that these children are a product of our parents, and virtually us, in the sense that we were the ones who raised them," Yakov typically swoops in to his brother's defence. "We shouldn't be surprised by what has happened tonight, considering the example we've set over the years."

"So, what? Are we supposed to embrace this new-found violence of our sister's? And what of Teddy?" i press.

"Well, what do you propose? We make them hug it out?" Zephaniah mocks. "And Rori is not violent by nature. She already feels remorse, believe me. Teddy, on the other hand...i don't know, i can't quite figure the kid out."

"No one can," Xavi murmurs.

God knows my little siblings would be  much better off if they were living in another home, surrounded by love, respect, and good structure.

Our older brothers may have been looking after us our whole life, but not one of them is fit for the role of being a parent.

Especially not the eldest.

"You have to start treating Rori with kid gloves if you want to get anywhere. She's extremely sensitive," Wyatt breaks the silence. "What happened tonight might not have affected someone like Seamus, or even Quentin, but she'll be totally crushed," he says. "She's always looked up to Teddy in some unexplainable, twisted way. Always knew he had it out for her, but for some reason she has her heart set on changing that."

"She's a good kid," Xavi muses. "But sometimes, i can't believe we even walk the same earth."

"I told her she cared too much," Zephaniah continues. "She always cared too much as a child, but i hoped she would grow out of it soon enough...She doesn't even know the difference between love and hatred."

"You really can't blame her," i join in. "She's a girl who grew up the same way that we did and in the same world that we did, who was taught only the importance of survival." i turn to face Xavi. "You find it hard to believe that she walks the same earth as us, and i completely agree. What a false sense of reality she must have if she believes that there are actually good, genuine people out there. We're nothing but a bunch of fakes."

"And what of Teddy?" Yakov addresses me.

"Kid went off the rails years ago," i deadpan. "Come to think of it, i don't think he knows the difference between love and hatred either."

"Do any of us?" Xavi muses.

Good question.

"See this, this is a problem. You are exactly correct," Wyatt begins. "If these kids cannot differentiate between what is love and what is hatred — which is really no surprise —how on earth are they supposed to form healthy relationships of any kind?" he pauses. "I truly fear for our siblings' future, i do. But i fear for our sister's the most. What if she finds herself in a relationship like our mother and father's? And what's worse is that someone like Teddy, who seems extremely abusive towards the only female in our family, could find himself in one too."

He exchanges a meaningful glance with Zephaniah, who stares back at him intently. Any amusement our eldest brother once displayed is now gone, and in its place lies a stoic expression that suggests he now understands the severity of the situation.

But did he really need someone to spell it out for him?

Of course not.

Zephaniah is not dumb in any sense of the word. He understands perfectly well that what happened tonight should not have. And no matter what anyone thinks, Zephaniah is not as unbothered as he seems. Not just about this situation, but in general.

Humour is a mask for Zephaniah, and he wears it better than anyone else. But behind the smirks, the mocking tone, and those amused eyes of his, is still a human being who feels. And so each and every time my brother acts in such an ignorant and disrespectful manner, i have to remind myself that he is still the same little boy who undeservingly endured both verbal and physical attacks from our father.

Most of the time, this was a result of him trying to protect his mother. A woman who — even if she did not mean to — had already failed him on numerous occasions.

It is not at all surprising to me that he is infuriated by Rori's caring persona.

— RORI —

Today, instead of Teddy driving us to school, we end up being dropped off by Wyatt.

"Teddy will be staying with me for a while. In Los Angeles. I believe a change of scenery will be beneficial for him," Yakov had told us on Friday morning.

I haven't spoken to the latter since, nor have i interacted with Teddy since our altercation. I was told it would be best if we spent some time apart from one another, not that i wanted to be around him anyway.

Since Zephaniah's lecture, things have started to make sense a little more. And so, as much as i still feel regret for what happened, i am doing my best not dwell on it. As well as this, i can accept that we were both in the wrong in this situation and so i will not pin the blame solely on myself.

Uvaldo told me, that from what Vinnie told him, it seems as though our eldest brother is rather pleased that i for once did not allow Teddy to walk all over me. Hearing the words 'Zephaniah' and 'pleased' in the same sentence is hardly common, let alone when it concerns myself, and so one can imagine that i was taken by surprise.

Yakov had also told us that Teddy will be taking a short break from his schooling, or at least school itself, and so, should he not show up on Monday morning, (today) we are not to be surprised.

I have to say, i was relieved to hear this. If things are tense at home, then school is no different. And unfortunately, since the whole school eats together, it is virtually impossible to avoid my brother.

All in all, my mind was barely focused on Teddy throughout the weekend, for as as soon as i received the CCTV footage in which i committed murder at the age of thirteen, he became the least of my worries. Of course, none of my brothers know about the email and so they were fully convinced that my self-isolation was an outcome of the fight.

I barely spoke a word to anyone for three days straight, and was even apprehensive about coming into school today. I undoubtedly would've stayed off, if it weren't for the fact that Xavi requires physical evidence of you being ill before he allows you to not attend. I even went as far as trying to make myself throw up after breakfast this morning, though thanks to my luck, my gag reflex was not so compliant and so i soon gave up after a few attempts.

All i can do now is wait in anticipation, until i eventually hear back from whoever the fuck has decided to blackmail me.

Though how am i supposed to hang on for much longer?

Every time i hear a phone ring, or a notification sound, i can't help but flinch, and i immediately think the worst.

It's like this person is deliberately trying to torcher me by making me wait so long. And not only that, but i have absolutely no idea what they want from me. I have absolutely no idea how they even got a hold of that footage to begin with, let alone my contact details.

But no matter the outcome, this can't end well for me.

This can't end well for any of us.

And no, it's not a jail sentence i'm worried about. It's about how my brothers would react if they ever found out their sister has done more than just handle a gun.

"...Yeah, i mean my nanny is supposed to be looking after me this weekend but i offered her double of what my parents pay her, so long as she agreed to stay home on Saturday night."

I realise i have been lost in my thoughts for many minutes now, and do my best to tune back into the conversation. The four of us — being me, my twins, and Annalise — are gathered by the entrance of the school.

Class doesn't start for another half hour, and if it means i can avoid being in the school, i am more than happy to wait out here while Seamus has a smoke and Annalise rants to us about her latest ventures.

"What's this?" i ask her.

"I'm having a party at my place this weekend. Jeez, Rori, do you ever listen?"

"Clearly not," i respond, blankly. "Anyway, we can't go. I'm sorry, Anna."

"No! You must come," she insists, and then changes her expression to a pleading one when she notices the look i give her. "Please?"

"Saying please isn't going to change my answer," i say, giving her a pointed look. "We're not going."

"Speak for yourself," Seamus says, throwing me a dirty look. "I've got nothing better to do. So long as there's booze, you can count on my attendance," he tells her, with a faux smile.

"What about studying?" Quentin points out.

"Like i said, nothing better to do," he replies, with a nonchalant shrug.

Quentin and i both roll our eyes at this.

He never learns.

I consider asking him for a cigarette, only refrain from doing so when i realise where we are. Seamus can be careless all he wants but i am not going to risk being caught smoking at school, of all places. Not only would i have to face the Headmaster, but of course, Xavi would be informed.

If he was mad when he discovered i had been drinking at a party i hadn't even informed him i would be attending, there's no telling what he would do if he found out about me smoking.

"Yeah, i'm gonna have to pass on the offer, Anna, but thank you," Quentin tells her.

"Parties are no place for little girls and boys like you, anyway," Seamus addresses the two of us in a mocking tone, and we glare at him in response.

"You guys are exhausting," Annalise groans, and i scoff at her.

"That's what you get for being friends with me," i tell her. "It's like a buy one, get two free."

"Mhm," she agrees. "I can't escape them."

Seamus laughs at this, throws his arm over her shoulder, and pulls her close towards his side.

"Don't lie, Annie. You know you love us."

— SUCKER PUNCH —

When i walk through the hallways at school, it is impossible for me to go unnoticed.

I can guarantee that the entire student body will know me by name, by face, and will believe almost every single far-fetched rumour they hear involving the word 'Łabanowski' —including the one where Zephaniah was supposedly spotted with a supermodel at an event in New York.

Well, it was true apparently. They have a mutual friend, i was told. And, well, i'm not too surprised. After living in Los Angeles county for almost half of my life, i have already met my fair share of celebrities and know for a fact i also have mutual connections.

Though i have to say, i am for once jealous of my brother for knowing such people. Perhaps i shall need to befriend him and work my way into his inner circle...

Okay, i'm getting ahead of myself now.

Anyway, the point i am trying to make is that you can't escape the limelight when you're the youngest of ten siblings. Especially if you're apart of the Łabanowski clan.

When it comes to Seamus, it's obvious he loves every bit of attention he receives. So long as it makes him look good, that is. Though how being labelled a 'womaniser' at fifteen years old boosts his ego is beyond me.

With Quentin, his attitude is nothing but polite to those who randomly approach him. However, the truth is that he feels extremely shy when anyone so much as looks in his

direction.

In my own experience, for every admirer i have, i gain one more hater.

It is no secret that women are treated lesser than. While my brothers instantly gain their peer's respect, i have to earn it. While they are praised for doing the bare minimum, i am criticised for doing my best.

The cycle never ends.

And it wouldn't matter if i grow up to be more successful than all of my siblings combined, for they would still be men and i would still be a woman.

But that's just life.

Indefinitely, most of the rumours in this school involving the word 'Łabanowski' usually have the word 'Rori' in front of it also. But it isn't all bad.

"Congratulations, Freckles," says a boy of around eighteen, as he approaches me, holding his hand out for a high-five.

"I wasn't aware congratulations are in order," i tell him, my tone lacking enthusiasm. "What, did i win a Nobel prize?"

"Close enough," he answers. "But no, i'm talking about you beating up your big bro." he flashes me a devilish smirk. "I don't know what he did this time, but he clearly deserved it."

"I—"

"Yo, Łabanowski!" a boy from my German class hollers from across the hall. "Will you knock out Mrs Wilkinshaw for me? We got a double period today."

Various laughs can be heard from amongst the crowds, but i pay no mind to them.

Throughout the rest of the morning, more and more people approach me in my classes and in the halls, each of them praising me for what occurred only a few nights ago.

And as lunchtime rolls around, the last thing i want to do is enter a canteen full of bustling teenagers.

Nevertheless, i pack up my stuff as soon as the bell sounds and storm through the crowded corridors. When i reach the canteen, there are already many people seated, and when they notice me standing at the entrance, they immediately follow my gaze to Seamus, who stands at the front of the lunch line.

If looks could kill, he would've turned to stone by now.

"What in God's name were you thinking, Seamus?" i snarl, and deliberately slam my tray down in front of his.

He observes the action with barely hidden displeasure, of course angered by the fact i dared to disrupt the hierarchy. But surprisingly, he does not stop me from taking his place in the line, and instead replaces his hardened expression with that of amusement.

"As each day passes, you seem to greet me with more hostility than the last," he says, in an unfazed tone of voice. "How can i help you, Little Sister?"

"Tell me, Seamus, what the fuck possessed you to tell people that i apparently beat Teddy up?"

He quirks an eyebrow at me.

"There's no 'apparently' about it," he insists. "You fractured the guy's nose, after all."

"And why does the school need to know that?" i seethe, through gritted teeth.

Seamus already holds a reputation of being rather violent towards other members of the school — even members of his own friend group —and i, for one, have no desire to be apart of that. I'm perfectly fine with being known as the top linguist. With the best average the school has ever had, for that matter.

The fact that he thought spreading the news about me fracturing my own brother's nose was a good idea, and that i wouldn't mind others knowing, is beyond me.

"What, you aren't proud of it?" he searches my eyes in genuine disbelief.

"No!" i exclaim. "Of course i'm not proud of it, Seamus. What is there to be proud of when i inflicted harm upon my own brother?"

His shoulders shake, as he responds to me with an amused laughter. The lunch lady — whom i forgot has been nearby the entire time — finally begins to serve me, confusedly glancing between the two of us when she notices i have taken Seamus's place at the front of the line, and then even more so when i meet her gaze with hostility.

What can i say? My brothers really do bring out the worst of me.

"It often baffles me how we came out of the same egg," he continues. "But then i remember that you're also Quentin's twin, and it all makes sense."

"Oh, it baffles us too." i scoff. "You have no sensibility. Just wait until Teddy gets his hands on you," i taunt. "Just wait."

Seamus, clearly not threatened by my words, simply smirks at me before directing his attention to the lunch lady. I huff in defeat but walk away nevertheless, my head held high.

Trust Seamus not to take me seriously.

Rather than making my way towards my own table, which is stationed in the right corner of the canteen and has just the right amount of privacy, i head towards my brother's table, which is bang in the centre. While my table is small, reserved for only four people at most, my brother's table, or rather the Łabanowski brothers' table, is home to Teddy, Seamus, Quentin, and all of their closest friends.

When Xavi first joined our high school as a senior, alongside Wyatt, who was a junior, and Vinnie a freshman, they very quickly took reign of the school, just like they had in Russia. This table is one of many things that has been untouched by outsiders ever since, as cliché as it is. And the same applies to my table as well, ever since freshman year. It's kind of an obligation for my brothers to sit at their table if they want to keep up appearances, but of course, i am not one of them and so that's why i choose to have my own little table far away from the rest, where i can finally have some peace and quiet.

So as i walk past Quentin and his group, and then Teddy's — who's spot in the centre remains vacant — i sure as hell get a lot of curious looks sent my way. Even more so when i make my way to the end of the table and sit on the space that is reserved for Seamus.

Well, if he won't take me seriously, i guess i'll have to take his spot. It did work in the lunch line, after all.

"Well, well, well," i hear the familiar sound of Christian's voice say. "Aren't you a little knockout?"

I turn to my right and find him staring at me with an amused smirk, and then i look around the canteen and notice that just about every head is turned in my direction. Annalise and Mikey are already seated at my table, and when they catch my gaze, the former shakes her head in bemusement.

"Why must they all stare at me?" i ask him. "Seamus is hardly the Pope, what does it matter that i'm sitting in his spot?"

Christian's eyebrows raise, as he gives me a look that says "Are you serious?"

"Well of course Seamus is not the Pope. Only similarly, he carries the legacy of the men who inhabited his throne before him," he says with a teasing grin, and i hum in response.

I glance around the canteen once more, and still there are many eyes on me. Some are more discreet than others, of course, or try to be: like the members of the table who now only look at me through their peripheral vision. Nevertheless, the surprise is still evident in their expression.

In fact, the only person who is treating me as if i belong here is Christian. Seamus's right hand. And as if to prove my point, he flashes me another friendly smile when i look his way.

"He didn't do it to embarrass you, Rori. I promise," he tells me, quietly, as if he knows it has something to do with me sitting here. "He was just trying to show your brother up for the sake of what he put you through."

"You know about our disagreements?" i query, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"I know as much as Seamus has told me," he answers. "Which, to summarise, is that Teddy has been 'super dickish' ever since the return of your brothers."

"Oh," i say, and nod in agreement.

"But anyway, now everyone thinks you're this total badass," he continues. "Well, plenty of the girls are, as always, bitchy, but the guys are completely head over heels in love with you for it."

"Is that their words, or your own?" i tease him, and his eyes light up at the implication.

"Put it this way..." he begins, his voice barely above a whisper, not once breaking eye contact as leans closer to my ear. "I think the message has been received, loud and clear. Don't mess with Rori Czesława Łabanowski."

As his eyes linger on mine for longer than necessary, i desperately push away the unwelcome feeling of butterflies now settling in my stomach.

Since the beginning of the school year, my previous dislike for my brother's best friend has fizzled into a mere academic rivalry. One in which we both thrive off of.

But i can't deny that i get a little giddy every time i see his face now. And God, it makes me feel so stupid.

Christian has always been beautiful, and i have always acknowledged this fact, although i most certainly have never made it known to him.

But it's the little things about him that really catch my attention, such as the fact he can be both boastful and humble, or that he is be both flirtatious and respectful.

And not to mention the way he handles my snarky attitude with the patience of a saint.

And so as i sit here, compelled by his gaze, i have to force myself out of the trance i seem to have fallen in.

Because Christian is my brother's best friend and the guy who, just last week, managed to surpass me in our English test.

And therefore, i simply cannot allow myself to develop any sort of feelings for him. Not after years of him being just another guy who manages to get on my nerves.

And that's it: i do not have feelings for Christian. I am simply being delusional because i am deprived of such a caring male figure in my life.

Et voila, this is nothing but the fault of my Daddy issues.

I'm kidding, by the way...I do not have Daddy issues...I'm perfectly fine!

"Okay, it was cute and all when you skipped me in the line but if you think you can get away with sitting there, you're kidding yourself on, Sweetheart."

I flinch at the sound of my brother's voice, much to my embarrassment. But what's worse is that i hadn't even realised he is leaning over me like a Hawk, his right hand protectively placed on the table in-between where Christian and i are sitting.

Gosh, i sincerely hope that he hasn't witnessed whatever just happened between Christian and i.

"Seamus..." i say, and force a smile onto my face. "Fancy seeing you here."

Christian shakes his head, barely containing his amusement, and, mentally, i face palm.

Fancy seeing you here.

Couldn't i have come up with something more original?

"I'm serious, Rori," he tells me. "Run along to your little corner now, this table's no place for you."

I scoff at his words.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, my friends and i are going to discuss things that are for our ears only," he answers, flashing me a bitter smile, and i raise an eyebrow at Christian, in question.

The latter simply shrugs and i realise that he is useless in this situation because, well, he is Seamus's right hand. Not mine.

Oh, how this takes me back to our childhood.

"Well, what if i don't want to leave the table?" i retort, and this time even those sitting at said table pause their conversations and pay attention to us.

Seamus's eyebrows shoot up upon hearing this and he laughs at me in disbelief, only to be silenced when he notices my unwavering expression.

"Oh, you're serious?" he asks me.

"Does it seem otherwise?" i continue, and i can tell he is somewhat taken aback.

For a moment, he just stands there and analyses me, and then he shares a glance with Christian — one that i cannot decipher. As soon as his eyes return to me, i am even more confused at the sight of him nodding in understanding.

"Very well," he says. "If you don't want to leave the table, don't leave the table. After all, you have every right to sit here," he continues. "However, you can't sit in my spot."

I look at him with bemusement and then once again turn to Christian, who doesn't shrug this time but instead gives me a telling look. And when i extend my gaze past him, i know exactly where this is going.

For all but one spot is left for me to take.

And so, gathering my belongings, i make sure to take my sweet time before i stand up. I lock eyes with my twin once more, him looking down at me with a small but prideful smirk on his face. I return the gesture by giving him a smirk of my own, and walk away.

Still at the same leisurely pace, i travel past his friend group once again. Only when i reach the centre of the table do i stop in my tracks and settle myself comfortably.

This time, all eyes really are on me. This of course includes the members of the table, who now stare at me with the same shell-shocked expression. Regardless, i remain unbothered and pay no mind to their gawking, simply taking a large bite out of my apple —which is such a deep red that it looks as if it has been coated in the blood of my enemies — and then another.

I glance to my right for the first time and notice Quentin narrowing his eyes at me in amazement. I turn to my left and barely make out Annalise mouthing the words 'Are you crazy?' at me from across the canteen. And finally, i steal one last glance from Seamus and Christian, the latter sending me a knowing wink when our eyes meet.

For the rest of the afternoon, i am the main attraction. Even the teachers give me curious glances as i walk to and from each class. And pretty soon, the murmurs about me beating up my brother are no more, because by the end of the day, all anyone cares to talk about is how, during the first day of Teddy's absence, i dared to take over his precious throne.

(Edited)

A/N: And so, history repeats itself. What did you all make of this chapter?