Dad was insane if he thought I was going to live with Elliott Soo.  And what the hell was he thinking - he and Philippa weren't even together.  In fact, I was pretty sure she despised him for some reason.  It didn't make any sense.

I loved Alex and Jack, but if they were going to cause me to move into six-person household, I wasn't up for it.  My parents divorced when I was young so it had always just been me and either parent I was with.  I was the center of attention and I liked it that way.  Call me selfish, but I didn't like the idea of sharing Dad with three other kids.  I liked my world the way it was for the most part.

That Friday, I was babysitting the kids because Dad and Pippa both had plans.  They were at Pippa's for the week, so I had to go over there.  We had a fun evening and they went to bed pretty easily.  I was laying on the couch watching a movie when Elliott came home.  Barf.

He opened up the fridge, shooting me a dirty look.

"Where's my Mountain Dew?" he asked.

"I drank the last one.  Sorry," I told him, though I wasn't really.  He muttered something under his breath.

"Those are mine," he told me shortly.

"I didn't see your name written on them," I countered.

"This isn't your house," he reminded me.  "You shouldn't just be taking stuff without asking."

"Your mom said I could help myself," I countered, picking up the remote.  "Did you hear our parents are thinking about moving in together?"

He spun around.  "No.  What?"

I winced a little.  This would be hard news to hear.  "They're getting overwhelmed with Jack and Alex.  They think it would be easier if they lived together."

"But they're not a couple," he said.

"That's what I said."

"That's a dumb idea," he said, grabbing something else from the fridge.  He disappeared to his room.

Dad arrived home first, thankfully.  It was awkward trying to make small talk with Pippa when it was just us.  He sat with me on the couch and we watched late night TV.  I leaned against his shoulder and eventually fell asleep on him.

I was awoken when he shook me gently to go home.  Pippa had arrived so it was okay to leave the kids.  He hailed us a cab since it was so late.

The next morning, he made pancakes, which was the quickest way to my heart and he knew it.  The smell coaxed me out of bed and I sat at the kitchen island as he served them.

"Good sleep?" he asked.

"Mmmmhmmm," I replied tiredly.

"Good," he said, beginning to clean up the dishes as I ate.  I ate quietly for a few minutes as he washed dishes in front of me.  As he finished, he tossed the towel over his shoulder.

"So..." he began, and I could tell he was up to something.  "Have you thought any more about us shacking up with the Soos?"

"Ughhh," I grumbled.  "Gag me."

"Have you really thought about it?" he asked me.

I sighed.  "Dad...I like things the way they are.  I like Alex and Jack but I don't want to be around them all the time."

Dad leaned back against the counter, his arms crossed.  "Well, the reality is that I'm basically their dad now.  I need to be around them as much as possible."

"But you're not their dad," I pointed out.  "You're my dad."

He nodded and was silent for a moment.  "I'll always be your dad.  But they're my responsibility now too.  We need to think about what's best for them."

"What about what's best for me?" I countered, looking him in the eye.  He looked a little amused or impressed, I wasn't sure which.

"Having siblings could be a good thing for you," he said.  "You've always been the center of attention.  This could help give you some more balance."

I grumbled, not agreeing.  I stabbed another little stack of pancake on my fork and examined it.

"What bothers you the most?" he asked gently.

"Elliott," I told him honestly.  I couldn't stand the kid.  "You'd be asking me to live with my worst enemy."

"Do you think you're being a tad dramatic?" he asked, quirking his eyebrows.

"No," I told him.  "He's always been mean to me."

"And what about you?" he posed.  "Have you been nice to him?"

I didn't answer because we both knew I wasn't.  I had a feeling that no matter how I felt, or how Elliott felt, our parents were going to do what they wanted.  That's why being a kid sucked sometimes.  You were at the mercy of the adults around you.  Dad and Pippa didn't care how we felt.  Having an easier time and saving money was more important.

He walked over and sighed.  "Listen," he said.  "I think this could be a good thing for us.  You and Elliott need to put aside your squabbles for the sake of everyone.  Do you think you can do that?"

I couldn't believe he thought it was that easy.  Squabbles?  His friends had hurt my friends.  I felt a rage inside me.  I pushed away from the island and stormed off to my room, then slammed the door.

He left me be for a while, but then he came in later like he always does.  I felt the mattress dip as he sat on the edge of my bed, then his hand patted my back.

"Sweetheart, I don't want to upset you, but I don't think you're being fair about this," he said softly.

"No, you're not being fair!" I said, turning over to look at him.  "Just because you're the adult you get to decide what happens.  Why are you even asking me?  I know you're just gonna do what you want to do."

He didn't like that I'd said that.  "Sometimes I do have to make decisions that you don't like," he agreed.  "But whatever this beef is you and Elliott have, it's time you set it aside."

I crossed my arms, feeling insolent.  I wasn't going to just concede on this and make it easy for him.

"I'll just live with Mom then," I said, knowing that would hurt him. Honestly, I didn't know if I could manage living with my mom full time.  We fought a lot. Dad looked down and torqued his jaw.

"That's your choice," he admitted.  "But I think you need to give this a chance.  I'll be out in the living room if you want to talk."

He stood up and left, leaving me to sulk.  I grabbed my stuffed bear and hugged it to my chest.  I was in a mood where I just wanted to pout and be grouchy.  For the rest of the day, I just holed up in my room and Dad left me alone.

____

One month later, it happened.  Dad and Pippa found a place a few blocks up with five bedrooms.  I'm not sure how they did it, but they did.  I grudgingly packed up my room and was horribly grumpy towards Dad.

Elliott was the oldest so he got first dibs on bedrooms, and I got second.  The little kids didn't care or know the difference.  I chose a room with a window that faced East, so I could get the morning sunlight.  Once the moving guys had put all the furniture and boxes in my room, I closed the door, put in my earbuds, and started unpacking.

I zoned out, trying to push away the thought that this was my new reality.  I'd gone from living with just Dad, to now having six people in the house.  Two sets of people despised each other.  This was going to be miserable.

I got to the box that held my toiletries and gathered them up.  Sighing, I took them to the hallway bathroom I'd have to share with Elliott, Alex and Jack.  I found Elliott already in there, arranging his own stuff.  We stopped and looked at each other.  He was just as unhappy as I was.

I stepped around him and pulled out a drawer.  "I'll take this drawer if you want that one," I told him.

"Fine," he agreed. 

I set my shampoo and body wash in the shower then left.  I came out to get some pizza and soda later, but took it straight back to my room.  I pulled out my laptop and watched stupid videos on Youtube.

Pippa came in a while later and gave me a timid smile.  I sat up in bed and took out my ear beds.

"Hey, Joey," she began as she sat.

"Hi," I said quietly.  I still felt super awkward around Pippa.  Was I supposed to like her?  For some reason she seemed to hate my dad and my loyalties were obviously to him.

"You look like you're getting settled in," she commented.  I'd gotten most of my room unpacked.  Tomorrow I'd put up more decorations and do more arranging.  I just nodded, wondering what she wanted.

"I just wanted to say I'm glad we're all together," she told me.  "With your dad and I being responsible for Alex and Jack, it's going to be so much easier with us all under the same roof.  I know it's a difficult change for you."

I shrugged, not really having anything to say.  I'd told Dad my opinion and he'd ignored it.

"I want you to know that you can come to me with anything," she went on.  "I know you have your mom, but if you ever want another female adult to talk to, I'm here."

"Okay.  Thanks," I said shortly, hoping to end the conversation quickly.  She cleared her throat a little.

"I also know you and Elliott aren't exactly best friends," she said.  "I've had a talk with Elliott and told him he needs to be civil.  You don't have to like each other, but I know you're both mature enough to get along at home."

I just nodded, not really sure I agreed.  I didn't want to tell her that her son was an ass, but he was.  Hopefully he'd stay at his dad's a lot.

"Great," she said, standing up.  "Your dad and I are pretty tired so we'll probably both go to bed soon."

"Night," I told her, moving my finger over my laptop's touchpad to choose the next video.  She told me goodnight and closed the door after her.  I laid back on my bed, resting my laptop on my tummy.  How many other teenagers had to deal with this situation?  Living with another family without married parents, plus two random extra kids.  It was messed up.  I fell asleep, wondering how my new life was going to work.