Their Sister, Their Strength (Old)

Chapter 16 - Overthinking

I apologised to Harley as soon as I sat back down in the kitchen and he had kindly comforted me with the fact I was already long forgiven. I knew Blake would be harder to apologise to though, so I concluded that I would wait until he found me. Unfortunately, that time had come far sooner than I had hoped for.

That evening, I was in the cinema room, waiting for Elijah to get us some drinks. I couldn't help but gape in wonder every time I was in the room, it never failed to amaze me. A cinema-sized screen loomed over three rows of four deep crimson red velvet reclinable seats. They had also furnished two speakers on either side so the film's sound would project around the whole room. Despite the potential for a home cinema to look tacky and tasteless, it had been furnished with the same elegance and beauty that defined our home's interior.

Blake wandered in and casually sat on the raised seat behind me. It suddenly felt a lot more difficult to apologise to him, now that he was right here, especially as it reminded me that this actually wasn't my fault.

"So, I heard you have something to say to me?" He asked arrogantly from where he was sat behind me. He wasn't making this any easier for me.

I didn't want to turn around to look at him, as I knew that would convince me even more not to apologise. Still, I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I gulped down any remaining protest or objection I had in my throat and mustered together all the patience and tolerance I had, which wasn't a lot.

"Sorry," I muttered without any remorse.

He lifted his feet up and placed them on my seat in front of him, where my shoulders were. I tried to shove them off but he kept putting them back again.

"Let's try it again, a little more sincere please," he taunted with disapproval. "I heard you have something to say to me?" He repeated.

Yes, I do have a lot of things to say to you, but I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate most of them. When I didn't give him a response immediately, he pressed his heels down on my shoulders.

"Sorry for the attitude earlier," I bit out through gritted teeth, clutching at any sincerity or slight remorse I had left for Blake.

"Now that wasn't too hard, was it?" He responded as if speaking to a toddler. Ironic, really, considering that he's the one using my shoulders as a footrest, like a toddler.

Before I could reply, and say something I would probably regret, Elijah walked in. Thank God. He was carrying a sprite for me, a Budweiser beer for him and popcorn for the both of us.

I stood up, no, I tried to stand up, to help Elijah with what he was carrying but Blake wasn't too impressed. He clucked his tongue in disapproval and dug his feet into my shoulders, "Uh uh, stay." He ordered.

I turned around and scowled at him, "I'm not a dog."

Blake rolled his eyes, apparently not impressed but also unable to come up with a snarky remark in return. I couldn't help but internally celebrate at the small victory.

Instead, he turned to Elijah, "Hey, where's my beer?"

Elijah raised an eyebrow, "Did you ask for one?" He asked rhetorically.

I used this distraction to carefully manoeuvre myself away from Blake and slowly, discreetly, shuffled myself down two seats away from him.

"No. But I'm asking for one now," Blake responded with a deadpan expression cast over his face.

"Then get off your ass and go get one," Elijah countered with a smirk.

"Whatever, bro," Blake rolled his eyes, not making any move to go and get himself a drink. When he turned back around and saw I had moved, "Maddie!" He exclaimed with a scowl, realising he had just lost two battles.