☞ Luci's Pov ☜

"You have five minutes to get your butts out here and eat this breakfast before I toss it to the dogs," I yell my empty threat from my stool where I'm seated at the ping-pong table that doubles as our dining table. Samuel would be here any minute.

I sip my black coffee and munch on my peanut butter and nutella toast as I flip through the newest edition of Street/Race magazine. Unlike the other inhabitants of my home, I didn't need to spend this morning getting ready for my first day of school. Still in my striped pajama shorts and white oversized sleep shirt, with my thick chestnut hair pulled up into a messy bun, and my wide wired glasses perched on my nose, I made my family three different breakfasts this morning instead.

Jai is the first to step out of his bedroom and into the kitchen. He tosses his backpack at the front door which shakes the whole wall upon contact. Pulling out the foldable chair in front of his plate at the table he digs into his scrambled eggs with ketchup and hot sauce without a single word of acknowledgement.

I look up from my magazine at the grey sweatshirt-clad teen whose cheeks look like they're about to burst. "Gee thank you so much for making me breakfast this morning Luci," I mimic Jai's deep morning voice, "You really are the best sister out there."

Jai stops shoveling food onto his fork and gives me a wicked smile before, with a mouth full of mushed eggs, he opens his jaw as wide as he can and begins to speak. "Thanks Luci! I think these are the-"

"Oh God, stop," I plead holding out my hand to cover my view of his mouth as my stomach turns inside me, "that's disgusting."

Jai chuckles before swallowing his bite and begins scarfing his breakfast down again. I roll my eyes and get up from the seat, walking the few steps to the kitchen to toss the little bit of toast I had left having lost my appetite.

"Hey while you're in there could you grab me a cup of orange juice?"Jai asks now, moving onto shoving half an english muffin down his throat.

I shake my head but grab a cup from the cupboard anyways as well as the Tropicana from the fridge. To others his antics may come across a tad rude, but I knew he meant nothing by them, considering Jai had one of the biggest hearts of anyone around. He just didn't always show off this trait.

Upon first glance you wouldn't assume we were siblings, due partly to the fact he was obviously of Indian descent and myself of Italian, and partly I guess because by blood we weren't related one bit. But his dad, an Air Force veteran and car enthusiast, married my mom, his favorite waitress at his favorite restaurant, when Jai and I were in the second grade. Their marriage lasted a whole seven years, before they divorced and my mom and I moved out of the Wilson's home and into a two bedroom one bath apartment further into the city.

But to Jai's father, Henry, I'd never stop being his daughter, and to Jai, I'd neer stop being his sister.

A year or so after the divorce I moved back into the Wilsons' home due to some unfortunate circumstances. Circumstances I am currently working my butt off to overcome. Circumstances which have caused my junior year, last year, to be my final year of highschool.

When I set Jai's cup down beside him, I glance to the left of his now empty plate at the untouched bowl of oatmeal. As if on cue, Atticus trudges out of the guest room and places his backpack next to Jai's before pulling out the rolling computer chair and plopping into his seat.

"Well good morning sleeping beauty," I comment, taking in the tired teen's appearance. His black hair is styled the same way it's been since eighth grade and his short-sleeved white linen button up shirt, reserved for Mondays, is tucked into his plaid pants, also reserved for Mondays.

"That a new shirt?" I tease as I make my way back to my stool in order to finish my dark drink.

Atticus picks up his spoon and finally meets my eyes. Confusion flashes through them. "No," he states obviously but looks down as if to double check what shirt he's wearing. "This is the shirt I always wear on Mondays."

When he lifts his head up to meet my eyes again, they flick down to the corner of my mouth which is quirked up into a smirk.

"Very funny," he deadpans, digging his spoon into his breakfast.

Jai speaks up now, "I don't know, I thought it was only kinda-"

"Cold," Atticus says with a mouthful of oats, cinnamon sugar, and milk.

"What?" Jai and I ask simultaneously.

Atticus opens his mouth in utter disgust, dips his head, and lets his semi-chewed meal plop back into his bowl. "The oatmeal it's cold," he says between small gags.

Without even a moment of hesitation, Jai stabs his finger into the oatmeal and turns to me with a mischievous smile on his face, "yep definitely cold."

Now it's my turn to gag. "Atticus please don't spit your food out at the table, that's nasty. If you need to, spit it in the trash can. And Jai, don't stick your fingers in other people's food, it's rude, and honestly a little concerning that was your first instinct."

Jai rolls his eyes and wipes his finger off as Atticus mumbles a sorry.

I reach across the table to Atticus and motion for him to hand over his bowl, "Here, I'll heat it back up for you."

My friend makes no effort to move. "No thanks."

I sigh and bring my arm back to my side, "why can't I heat it up?"

"Because I know this oatmeal has already gone cold. I need a new batch."

I stare at my friend in silent bewilderment. His eyes dart anywhere but mine.

The thing about Atticus is he has a thing about a lot of things. And one of his things about food is it can't be cold.

Icecream? The devil's dessert.

Frozen fruit? Instruments of torture.

Refreshing glass of chilled lemonade on a sweltering summer's day? Poison.

Refrigerated, iced, or cooled anything? Not an option.

But letting warm food go cold, now that was the cardinal sin. A sin that has elicited greater reactions than the gag-and-spit stunt he pulled this morning.

"You know," Jai speaks up as I rise from my stool for the third time this morning. "In order to make your oatmeal Luci has to pour c-"

I smack him in the back of his head as I pass him and mumble under my breath, "don't even finish that sentence."

Jai laughs, and as I grab Atticus' bowl the front door bursts open.

Sam was never one to knock, or buzz, or really announce his arrival in any way, other than a dramatic and sudden entrance. He stands in the doorway and clutches his heart, before pretending to wipe invisible tears from his eyes. "Look at my babies, all dressed up for their first day of school. And you Luciana, looking as sexy as ever in those pajama shorts."

I roll my eyes before shooting him a brief good morning and a smile, which he quickly returns. Jai stands up to greet Sam once he reaches the table in one of those handshake/bro hugs. When he gets to Atticus, Sam holds out his hand for a down-low, then an up-high, then a final knuckle bump. The force at which the boys carry out these actions seems excessive, but Atticus nor Sam complain.

"Did Luci happen to make me breakfast?" Sam asks no one in particular as he leans against the table swinging his keys around his finger.

Atticus nods and points to the stove where I've wrapped his burrito in tinfoil.

"And she made it to go! You are the best Luci, really. A woman unlike any other." Sam exclaims before walking over and grabbing his food. I laugh at his flattery.

The thing about Sam was you never knew which side of the coin you were gonna get that day. On one side he was the fun, charismatic jock who could win over even the hardest of hearts with his dazzling smile and undeniable charm. It was no secret his presence commanded attention. This was the side of coin that most preferred. It was the side that was most seen fortunately.

Unfortunately, the other side was a little more destructive to himself as well as those around him. It was the side that pained our little misfit family to see, and its face has been showing more often than usual lately.

He's also the kind of guy who wears his letterman in 90 degree heat. That alone speaks for itself.

"Speaking of to-go," I state, spooning the new and exceptionally warm oatmeal into a tupperware container. "You guys need to leave now if you're gonna make it to school on time."

Upon hearing this the sound of two chairs sliding across the wooden floor echoes in the dining room. I walk over to the front door where all three of the boys are now standing and hand Atticus his oatmeal to which he adds his spoon from earlier.

"You heard the lady," Jai jokes in his best military voice, "time to move out."

I shake my head as they turn to walk out the door and then I remember, "wait! Let me get a picture of you guys for my mom." I quickly run into my room, grab my phone, and by the time I'm back at the front door the boys have already lined up for the photo.

Samuel and Jai stand with their arms slung over each other's shoulders while Atticus stands in front between the two, with his hands in his pockets.

"Say cheese," I sing as I watch my family give me their biggest grins.

I giggle at their actions, something I don't do often anymore, but I couldn't help it this time. Not when three out of the four people I love most in this world were trying their best to make me happy. Even if it was something this small that brought me joy.

"Perfect," I state, bringing my phone to my side. "Now get going before you're late. I'll see you at lunch."

I watch as they scurry out the door throwing around "bye Lucis" and "see you laters." The last thing I hear before the door closes is a serious, "you better not spill that oatmeal in my car," from Sam.

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A/N:

Hey y'all! Hope you enjoyed this second sort of introductory chapter!

What do you think of these four new characters? Do you have a favorite? Is there someone you want to learn more about? Let me know in the comments :)

As always, thanks you for every read, vote, and comment!

<3 Anne