My brother's car stops in front of us. 'Are you sure your parents are okay with us staying the whole weekend?' Elise asks.

'My father is.' I take a seat in the back.

'And we could use the help decorating', Colin joins the conversation.

'Who is he?' Elise asks confused.

'Renée's best friend, Colin', Sophia explains.

'Okay, cool', Elise says with a nod to Colin sitting in the front.

My brother starts driving.

'Dankjewel om ons te komen halen, Mathieu ', I say.

'Geen probleem, liefste zus .' Mathieu gives me a smile..

'It is so weird', Elise says next to me.

'Now you know how it is when you are talking Norwegian to your mother on the phone', Sophia chuckles.

'But still, so weird', Elise repeats herself.

'We'll talk English from now on', Mathieu says. He doesn't like it when people call our native language weird. But he's kind enough not to make a scene out of it.

'So how old are you?' Elise asks.

'24', my brother answers.

'So, you are an adult and move with your parents to a different country, why?'

'Because our mother made us. And I could've stayed too if I wanted', I answer.

'Is you mother that bad?' Elise asks stunned.

'Yes', Mathieu, Colin and I say as one.

'Oh.'

~~~

Half an hour later, we arrive at our houses. We take our bags and walk to the big wooden front door of my house. 'I'll come in a second', Mathieu says and goes to Colin's house. 'Where is he going?' Elise asks. 'My brother', Colin says when I open the door. 'Are they friends too?' Sophia asks curiously. 'That's one way to name it', I chuckle and shout that we are home.

A few seconds later my mother is standing in front of us. 'What are you doing here?' she asks with her over the top British accent.

'Didn't papa tell you?' I ask a little disappointed.

My father rushes out of the study. 'I forgot. Sarah, les enfants font une fête ce week-end avec leurs amis.'

'Et qu'est-ce qu'on fait?'

'Rendre visite à tes parents?'

'Okay, you can have your party.' My mother looks at me and Colin. 'But clean it up after', she says and walks to my dad to give him a kiss.

We walk upstairs to my bedroom – which is way too big for one person. 'Your mother doesn't seem as bad as you said', Sophia says carefully. I look at her but don't answer. 'Colin and I will search for two matrasses, don't break anything', I say and walk out of my room. 'It is annoying that she is always nice when my father or you are around', I say to my best friend. 'I know', Colin agrees.

~~~

After fifteen minutes Colin and I are each carrying a matrass. 'Need some help?' Our brothers come walking up the stairs. 'No, I'm fine', Colin says and walks into my room. 'For those five meters, I will be fine too', I say and carry the second matrass in my room. I lay it on the ground and look at my brother.

'Can we help you?' I ask.

'I wanted to meet your friends', James – Colin's brother – says.

'That's Sophia and that's Elise.' I point at the person with the right name.

'Nice to meet you! I'm James, that asshole's brother', James says and gives the girls a hand after he pointed at Colin.

'See, your brother agrees', I nudge Colin in his arm.

'Do you want some snacks and drinks? We will help you decorate in a few hours after you are settled', Mathieu asks.

'If you're insisting, then yes, please', Elise smiles.

'Great!' My brother starts to leave.

James is standing there awkwardly in the doorway.

'Jim! I can't carry drinks and snacks for six people!' my brother shouts from downstairs. 'Ugh, he's the older one in this relationship, but he acts like a baby with no arms', James mutters and leaves. 'They are dating', Colins says when he sees the confused expression on Elise and Sophia's face. 'Oh, how cute', Elise says and jumps on a matrass. 'I pick this one.'

~~~

'So, explain... Why are we decorating with Halloween stuff when it's another two weeks until Halloween?' Mathieu asks. 'Because everyone will throw these parties in two weeks?' I mostly ask than say. 'Ah, good point', James agrees.

Sophia and I are decorating the front door when a car pulls over. 'Does mom know you are doing this to her beautiful house?' Juliette asks and steps out of her car. I sigh and ignore her. 'Is that your sister?' Sophia whispers. I nod. 'Oh, she seems a total twat', Sophia whispers again. 'She is a twat', I say normally. 'I heard that Renée', Juliette says coldly.

'Welcome home sister, please go inside and don't talk to me again today', I say and open the door for her. 'I really don't know why our parents decided to have another child when they had two perfect ones', Juliette mutters. 'To annoy you', I say, but Juliette is already gone. 'Her English is good', Sophia says surprised. 'Fake you mean, like my mother', I mumble.

I take a fake spiderweb and throw it over Sophia's head. 'Hey!'

'That's for complimenting my sister', I laugh. Sophia laughs too.

'I will not say anything nice about your sister ever again.'

'Do you promise?' I ask and hold out my pinkie.

'I promise', she says and hooks her pinkie into mine.

She is the only person who doesn't give a comment about how childish this is. I place a fake pumpkin next to the front door.

'There, all set', I say.

'It looks beautiful.' I can hear the sarcasm.

'Well, who'll notice? It is starting to get dark, and the people will be drunk.' I open the door again. 'All decorated!' James shouts enthusiastically while my brother stands there seriously annoyed with a pumpkin garland twisted around him. 'Yep, all decorated', he repeats sarcastically. I laugh.

~~~

An hour later we are all dressed up, and the music is playing. James and Mathieu are just wearing Luigi and Mario's hats. Elise is some space alien, Sophia is Trinity, Colin is Waldo from Where's Waldo and I'm dressed as a Hufflepuff. 'You should've worn your Ravenclaw cape', Elise says to an uncomfortable Sophia. 'Trinity is way cooler', I say and smile at the cool Sophia. 'Thanks', Sophia mutters with a little blush.

The doorbell rings. 'Come on Waldo, your band is here', I say and open the front door. Kai Nelson, Parker Lewis, and Marc Anderson are dressed as The Powerpuff Girls. 'They made me', Marc says clearly annoyed, rolling his eyes. Colin laughs and greets his friends. I introduce Sophia and Elise to the band. 'Nice to meet you!' Parker says with a big smile. 'Nice to meet you too!' Elise and Sophia agree.

'So, when are the other guests coming?' Kai asks. 'When they arrive', Colin says to his friend. Kai nods and slings an arm around me. 'So, Renée, how's university?'

'University's fine.'

'Good, good. And why aren't you following Music?'

'Because I like art and biology more', I answer them.

'I still can't believe you play two instruments and don't follow Music', they say disappointed. The door opens and other friends – mostly Colin's school friends – enter.

'You play two instruments?' Sophia asks curiously.

'Yeah, the drums and bass', I say and look at my feet a little shy.

'I play the violin.'

'By choice?' I ask surprised.

'Yes, by choice', Sophia laughs.

Elise joins the conversation. 'Who is he again?' Elise asks and nods at Kai. 'Them, they're nonbinary', I correct her.

'Oh, sorry. Who are they?'

'Kai, they're the drummer of Colin's band', I explain.

'Cool', Elise says and walks up to them.

'I think she has a crush', Sophia laughs.

'Ren, where are the drinks?' Marc asks. 'The kitchen', I answer the brown-haired guy. 'K.' Marc leaves the room. 'So, Renée, who's this pretty girl again?' Parker asks.

'Sophia.'

'Hi', Sophia shyly says.

'Hello', Parker smiles.

I feel odd, that Parker is talking to Sophia. It's weird, I've only known her for like two weeks. I'm probably concerned that Parker takes away a new friend I've made.

~~~

After thirty minutes it's crowded and Parker leaves to talk to someone she knows. 'Wow, she is a talker', Sophia says relieved she's gone. 'She is a big talker', I laugh. Sophia smiles.

'She's bi', I say when I notice Sophia looking at her.

'Oh err, I don't know her.' She awkwardly looks at her feet.

'But you can get to know her?' I suggest.

'She's too much for me. I need someone who's less talkative.' Sophia nervously fidgets with her hands.

'It's okay. You don't have to explain why you would or wouldn't like someone', I say and stop her hands from shaking nervously.

'Thanks.'

'Do you want a drink?' Sophia looks from our hands to me.

'That would be nice', she says.

We walk to the kitchen and take a look at the drinks my brother bought. 'You didn't tell me you were rich', Sophia comments looking at the kitchen. 'I think it's not worth mentioning. Besides, I don't like having a big house like this.'

'You don't?'

'No. If I ever have my own house, I want it to be small – but not too small – and cosy. Like Kate Winslet's cottage in The Holiday.' Ipick up a beer. Sophia takes a coke and walks with me back to the living room.

'There you are.' Colin smiles big. 'Thanks', he says and takes the beer out of my hand to take a sip. I sigh and look at him disappointed. 'That was your drink?' he asks surprised.

'No, it was the Queen's drink.'

'Is the Queen here?' Colin asks drunk.

I hate that he gets drunk almost immediately after a party starts. 'Yes, she is. You should find her and bring her drink', I mock the situation.

'I definitely should', he agrees and walks away with the beer.

'Now you don't have a drink anymore.' Sophia looks at my empty hands.

'It's okay', I say and dance a little on the beat. Sophia matches my energy after a few minutes. 'Girls!' Elise shouts in our ears. 'I found the best person in the world who is okay with me being asexual', she says happily. 'Congratulations', I say with a smile. 'Thank you! Sophia, you should've become friends with her sooner.' Elise points at me.

Sophia looks at her friend with a serious stare. 'Oh right, you had a crush on her and were too scared to talk to her', Elise says with a double tongue. 'You can't tell Renée', Elise says to me. 'I won't', I mumble. 'Good', Elise smiles and walks away. Sophia looks at the ground, ashamed.

'Are you okay?' I ask.

'No.' I can hear the crack in her voice.

'Do you want to go somewhere quieter?' She nods.

I take her to a bench in the garden where we sit down. 'She always does that when she's drunk', Sophia sobs. I want to comfort her, but it seems that she needs her space. 'Is it true? What she said?' My questions are almost a whisper. It probably is, otherwise, she wouldn't be crying.

'Do you want it to be true?' she asks.

'I don't know? Do you want it to be?' I really don't know. Sophia chuckles.

'I don't want it to be true, because then it wouldn't be awkward.'

'Then it's not true.' I smile softly at her. 'I don't want you to feel awkward', I continue silently.

We sit there for a moment in silence, the music on the background. 'Can I ask you something?' Sophia asks. I nod. 'Are you like straight? Or not?' she carefully asks.

'I don't know.'

'You don't know?'

'No, I never really thought about it. I mean, I've liked boys before, but also girls, I think. I have dated Kai two years ago and in the middle of our relationship they came out, so I have dated a nonbinary person too. And honestly, I don't really want to put labels on it. I just want to be me. And I don't really care with whom I fall in love with.'

Sophia doesn't say anything for a while. 'It's called pansexual', she says carefully.

'It's called being human.' I force a smile on my face.

'I want your brain.'

'You want my brain?' I laugh.

'Yes! You seem so carefree and it's like you don't care what people think', Sophia explains. I give her a small smile. 'I do care what people think, I just pretend I don't.'

'See, you should've taken Acting as a class', Sophia laughs.

'That's totally different.' We both laugh.

'Renée! I can't find the Queen!' Colin suddenly shouts.

'Did he really search for her?' Sophia asks surprised.

'He would jump off a bridge if I told him to', I say and stand up. I support the unstable and drunk Colin. Sophia takes his other side. 'I'm tired, Ren', Colin says. 'We'll get you to bed.'

Sophia and I both support Colin while helping him inside and up the stairs. The three of us stumble into my room and lay him on Sophia's matrass. 'I'm going to die!' Colin shouts when his head lands on the pillow. 'No, you're not. You're just drunk', I say firmly and lay him on his side. 'Renée, I love you', he whispers taking my hand. 'I know. Just try to sleep, okay?' He nods when he closes his eyes.

I stand up and walk out of the room. Sophia looks at me silently. 'He says that every time when he's drunk.' 'I didn't ask.' It sounded cool because of her sunglasses and long leather jacket, otherwise it would've sounded rude.

~~~ 

After another 2 hours of dancing – if you can really call it dancing – and some drinks, people start going home. 'Thank you for inviting us!' Parker says a little too loud. 'Park, other people in the street are sleeping', Kai shushes Parker and guides their friend to the car. 'Thank you for coming', I thank them before they leave.

Elise is sitting on the stairs. 'I think we need to carry her too', Sophia sighs and so we do. We lay Elise on her matrass, also on her side. Colin is sleeping like a rock – and snoring as if he needs to cut down every tree on earth. 'You can sleep in my bed, I'll go to my brother's room', I say and close the door behind me after taking my pyjamas.

I knock on Mathieu's door. 'Don't come in!' he shouts. Oh, great. 'I don't have a bed to sleep in', I say. 'I can't do anything about that', he says. 'Couldn't you have gone to James's house?' 'No', James says. I sigh and go to the Juliette's room.

I knock. 'What?!' 'Can I sleep here?' The door flies open. 'Why?' 'Colin is sleeping on Sophia's matrass and Sophia is sleeping in my bed.' 'So?' My sister looks me up and down. 'It would make her feel uncomfortable if I would sleep next to her and I don't want her to feel uncomfortable.' She looks at my face questioning but eventually nods. 'But be quiet.'

I close the door behind me and go to the bathroom so I can change. I enter the room again and see Juliette lying in her bed watching the Kardashians and eating crisps. 'Why are you still here?' I ask when I sit next to her. 'I told you to be quiet', she hisses.

I make myself comfortable. 'Ugh, fine, I'll tell you', she grunts and pauses the tv. 'Patrick and I got into a fight', she pouts. 'You really don't have to tell me', I say to her both confused and surprised. 'Ugh, just be my sister for once and listen. I can't tell mom this', she sighs. 'Okay, I'll listen.'

'We went out shopping for a dress that I could wear to this dinner party with his boss. His ex was in the same store, and they started talking to each other. She was totally flirting with him, and he eventually started flirting back, while I was standing next to him.

'He kept staring into her eyes and breasts – I mean, they were huge - and he acted like I wasn't even there. Then I got angry and started telling him off in the middle of the store and he called me a jealous bitch.'

I look at my seven-year older sister with a raised eyebrow. 'And what do you want me to say now?'

'I don't know? Say I'm not crazy and he's a jerk?'

'Okay. You are not crazy, and Patrick is a jerk', I say.

'Thank you.' She looks at me with a satisfying smile.

'You know you aren't so bad', Juliette says after a few moments.

'Is this a trick?'

'No', she says and starts hugging me.

'Could you stop that?' I say with my arms stretched out, not knowing what to do.

'Just hug me back.' I hug her back eventually.

'Why did we become archenemies?'

'You know why', I sigh.

'No, I don't.' She releases me from the hug and looks me in the eye.

'Mama manipulated you to hate me because I am not the perfect daughter like you. And it was easier for me to hate my perfect example than to be disappointed I would never be like you', I explain.

'I didn't know you feel that way', Juliette mutters sadly.

'Because mother wouldn't let you.'

'She isn't all bad', Juliette tries to comfort me.

'I don't care.' I press on play.

'Do you really want to watch Keeping up with the Kardashians?' Juliette asks surprised.

'No, I just wanted for the conversation to end.'

'What do you want to watch?'

'Anything without that drama level', I giggle.

The translations in order:

'Thank you for driving us, Mathieu.'

'No problem, dear sister.'

'Sarah, the kids are having a party this weekend with their friends.'

'And what are we going to do?'

'Visit your parents?'

Wordcount: 2986