Family

"Lie, An! Come on!" Jude called as he walked to sit down on the floor with his back leaning on the couch near his mother, who was curled up with her legs under her and leaning on her husband's arm. "Dad is gunna start it!"

"Coming!" The girls answered, pounding down the steps into the living room to join the rest of the family. Lila, who was the older of the two girls, sat down on the other side of Jude curling up like her mother and leaning against the arm of the couch. Annabel settled down near Nathaniel, the brother closest to her age, on the love seat.

"Everyone ready?" Their mother's gently voice questioned. The was a murmur through the family of yeses and yeahs. "Alright, Sweetie?"

The father nodded and pressed play. A movie began to play and the family watched. They always had their movie nights, every Friday. The four of the kids loved these nights. Even though the oldest, Jude, was almost 18 he kept every Friday night free. Lila had at first dreaded giving up her Friday nights for her family, exspecially since she'd gotten her car. After missing a few movies, however, she missed them and stayed home. Nathaniel and Annabel loved these times together as well. By being the youngest and only a year apart, they were really close. They kept each other occupied while Jude and Lila were out and their homework was all done.

When the movie was done, they all retired to their rooms.

"Lie, keep it down!" Jude called down the hall, annoyed at his sister's loud laughing from something her boyfriend had just said over the phone.

"I'm not even loud!" She answered him, annoyance layering her voice.

Annabel look out her door and across the hall into Nathanial's room and caught his eye. They both smiled and rolled their eyes at the squabling of their siblings.

Soon, everything quieted down. Lights were out and a light snore could be heard coming from somewhere in the house.

Annabel rose slowly from her bed and tiptoed down the hall and down the stairs. As silent as a whisper, she reached the computer and turned it on. Once it was booted up, she logged on her AIM. She smiled to herself when she saw that his screenname was on.