I nearly jumped out of my skin when the doorbell rang. I gritted my teeth as I checked the time… not even 8:30 yet. If that was Robby…
I wasn't even decent to answer the door, having just stepped out of the shower. I took a deep breath, threw a shirt on, wrapped a towel around my waist and headed for the door. I felt my temples throbbing and I didn't even know for sure that it was Robby.
I was barely out of the bathroom when an obnoxious melody was being knocked on the door. Yep. Robby. I yanked at the deadbolt, jerking the door open with a scowl. "Robby! What the hell! We said after 10."
Robby shouldered past with a grin. I took a deep breath as I locked the door behind him.
"You're such a Debby downer! I was awake when you sent the text so decided to leave early in case of traffic. Yeash! So secretive!" Robby complained.
"Shoes off at the door!" I ordered before he could step into the kitchen. "Robby, I told you I had plans this morning. I've been home fifteen minute."
"So, show me around! Dude, not even gonna lie! I thought it was a meth lab from the outside. Or that I was going to get stabbed, but it's nice." Robby said kicking his shoes off then walking into the living room.
I closed my eyes as my shoulders slouched. He wasn't listening. I decided I'd get dressed before I continued.
"Wow… is he… always like this?" Lust asked as she dropped onto my shoulder. Robby was already poking around the living room, opening my table box. He even found the action figures before I closed the bathroom door.
"The hell… he didn't even acknowledge you!" Wrath seethed as his action figure was being upside down by his leg.
I rested my head against the closed bathroom door. "Yes." I gritted out. I should have waited until after I got home to send my address.
Pride was pensively pacing on the sink counter. I sighed, "I need to get dressed guys."
"YOU SAY SOMETHING SCRUB?" Robby bellowed from… somewhere. Right, people could still hear me.
I didn't reply as the sins winked out of existence. Or maybe I just couldn't see them.
When I walked out Robby was sitting on my bed, "Seriously Robby?"
"Oh, stop being such a drama king. If you weren't so secretive, we wouldn't want to know so bad. Not to mention, you didn't say anything when you broke up with Arianna, your car was totaled, you moved, like… this could have all been avoided if you just opened up your mouth and talked to us. Or, sent a text." Robby said glancing around.
"I said I needed some space. I also sent it in the family group chat." I stated blandly.
"You once again, ran off, and we had to look for you. Dude, adulting sucks, but running doesn't fix anything. It's been a month."
I took a deep breath, how could we all look so similar… and be nothing alike. Even back in high school, standing side by side, going to the same house party, people didn't realize we were related. Needless to say, I could scream until I was blue in the face and Robby probably still wouldn't hear a thing I said.
In fact… I had screamed a few times only to now be called a brooding drama king. "Look, I have plans. Just… entertain yourself for two hours."
"I could help, then we could leave sooner."
I was going to have an aneurism… could I have an aneurism at 24? I should ask Larry. If only I had headphones… then I could at least tune him out some.
I turned around… well… I wasn't going to be practicing with Envy or Pride, I couldn't ask Wrath about his suddenly being a full sized human. Mostly full sized. I… laundry. I could still get a load of laundry done.
I thought about eating a real meal… but none of the sins could eat with Robby following me around like this.
"Sooooooo, what's so important that you didn't want me to show up until after 10?"
If the sins were real… was God? God, please give Robby something to do that isn't bothering me for the next two hours of my life. Please. PLEASE.
Robby was always half a step behind, I bumped into him when pulling my laundry, hanging my laundry, grabbing a drink of water, pulling my scripts out.
"Robby! Some space! Go sit down!" I finally snapped after him stepping on my heel again! I wanted to snap that he go clip his toe nails because I was already bleeding from the first time!
"I'm just trying to help. Pretending I'm not here is hella childish dude." Robby snapped back. "We can practice in the car. Those are scripts for work right?"
I wanted to hang myself with a wet noodle. If I didn't get carsick, that might be a good idea. But my entire life, 24 of his 26 years, I have been getting horribly carsick.
Short rides were fine, but I couldn't reed, or look at my phone or I'd get nauseous. More than once I'd been sick in the car. It wasn't even just cars. Planes, boats, even longer bus rides.
"Oh, right, what's your new job anyway? Nothing shady right? What's a confirmation call? Dude… why do you need so much information? Are you a telemarketer?" Robby demanded reaching for my scripts. I turned away.
"No, I work in a call center. For hospitals, clinics, and ERs, okay? No, I can't do this in the car. Seriously Robby, just… play your gatcha game for two hours." I added as I continued to send pleading messages to any deities I could think of. Buddha? Allah? Ra? Uh… Cerberus wasn't a god… the lightning guy… Zeus! Someone!
I didn't practice my scripts… well I tried. But Robby's constant badgering had me throwing in the towel. We left early, I leaned the car seat all the way back and took a nap. At least with a nap I wouldn't be nauseous and annoyed.
When Robby continued to chatter away, I pulled my hoodie hood all the way down so he couldn't see anything but my mouth. Maybe there was a Sin of take a freaking hint. Could I request one for Robby?
Eventually his nagging became tolerable mutters. Mutters that were haunting my dreams. Not safe, talk to us, don't shut us out. You're pushing everyone away. Suck it up, sometimes we don't get what we want. Want a coffee? Coffee? Hey! Coffee!
I groggily glanced up… we were in a drive thru. I gave my order, then rolled onto my side a bit as I went back to half napping, half listing to his muttering. I might have felt bad if we hadn't been doing this song and dance our whole lives.
Dad complaining we had it too good, mom defending his actions. Robby the ever caring older brother who wanted the best for us, Stevie the youngest who made sure to be as blunt as possible.
Nosey, needy extended family who always needed something, money, help around the house, someone to watch their little monsters, or to pet sit. I sighed, secrets… yeah, no secrets in this family. Which sucked because everyone always had their own version of a story…
I sighed; I was just working myself up for a fight that would pointlessly end as soon as we were just trying to help became their justification. There were really only three ways a conversation ended, for a time, in the family. Just trying to help. You knew better. You'll appreciate this when you understand later. It was suffocating.
I closed my eyes, sleep. Sleep was good. Maybe I'd dream of pancake mountains or mutant sharks.