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Alex’s POV
Most people would think that having 1 or 4 kids would be enough children for their perfect happy family. But that isn’t the case for my family.
I have 14 brothers and sisters.
How my parents can put up with us all I do not even know.
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I was sat in the car watching it drive down the driveway leading towards my house.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a bit strange coming back to us lot.” Mum said and I looked at her and smiled.
“To be honest I’ve really missed you guys and I can’t wait to get inside.” I said as mum stopped the car as we pulled up the house.
“We’ve missed you too Alex.” Mum said as I looked and saw a welcome home banner across the decking area we had round the front of the house and one of the little ones running inside to tell everyone I was home.
“And here come the troops.” Mum said as we both got out the car and walked towards the house as most of my brothers and sisters ran over to greet me.
I hugged as many as I could before I was pretty much tackled to the floor and everyone was on top of me.
“Get off me guys I need air.” I said as everyone slowly got me and I stood up and picked up my youngest brother Zeke up and balanced him on one hip and then one of my sisters stood close to me and I put my arm over her shoulders and we walked inside where I put Zeke down and I grabbed my bag and went downstairs to the basement and put my clothes in the wash and enjoyed the little peace it brought since none of the little ones was allowed in the basement.
I put my washing in the washing machine and I looked down at my arms which was covered in scars which made me sigh loudly.
“This is where you hide.” A voice said and I jumped as I turned round and saw my older sister Alaska leaning against the work counter.
“I just got bundled by everyone and I thought I would just my washing on just to have a 5 minute break.” I said and Alaska chuckled as she walked over and pulled me into a hug which I returned.
“It’s been so strange not having you here for so long.” Alaska said which made me chuckle as I pulled back and looked at her.
“Yeah but I’m back now and I’m not planning on going back to hospital for a while now.” I said and Alaska smiled.
“Look me, Charlie and a couple of people are going out tonight, you fancy coming with?” Alaska said and I smiled as I nodded.
“Yeah I’m up for that. Can Jasper come too?” I said and Alaska nodded as she walked out the room and I just followed her since my washing was now going round in the washing machine and I just wanted a nap as right now is nap time.
I was stood in my room trying to work out what has changed and they only thing I could work out was that mum had been in here and cleaned my room and I looked at my already made bed which I knew was like this when I left as I never made my bed.
I walked over to my bed and just collapsed onto my bed and took a deep breath and smiled to myself as I have really missed the smell of home.
Someone knocked on the door and I groaned as I rolled onto my back and I saw my twin, Jasper, looking at me.
“May I come in?” Jasper said and I smiled as I moved over in my bed and Jasper came over and lead on the bed facing me.
“You look so much better.” Jasper said quietly and I looked down feeling guilty for everything I’ve put my family though in the last 10 months.
“I’m so sorry Jas.” I said quietly and Jasper looked at me and smiled as we both moved and just hugged each other.
“The main thing is that you are better and I have my twin back because the last 10 months have been awful without you.” Jasper said quietly.
“I’ve missed you too.” I said quietly and Jasper smiled as he moved and I looked at him confused.
“I’m going to play on your Xbox like I have been for the last 10 months.” Jasper said and I chuckled as I crawled under the covers and Jasper pretty much did the same.
“Do what the fuck you want, I’m having a nap.” I said quietly as I got comfy and let myself fall asleep.
In the end I decided I didn’t want to go out as I just want to chill with everyone and sort myself out with my old routine I had before going away.
I was having cuddles with Zeke and my youngest sister Meredith while watching some Disney film.
“Where you been?” Zeke asked and I looked at him.
“I’ve been away, I need to sort my naughty head out.” I said and Zeke smiled as he rested his head against my shoulder and I moved and kissed the side of his head.
“You going to go to bed?” I asked and Zeke nodded as he wrapped his arms round my neck and I smiled as I stood up and put Zeke to bed so that was now 1 down only another 10 to go.
It was about 9pm when the only ones still up was me, mum, dad, my twin sisters Juno and Corrie and my brother Asher was the only ones who was downstairs since everyone was either in their rooms or the older ones was out at a club.
I went outside to have a cigarette and to have some peace so I walked over to the hammock and sat in it as I had a think about what I was going to do with myself now.
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I was looking at this building I haven’t seen for the last 10 months when someone walked over and placed a hand on my arm which made me look and I saw Jasper who smiled at me which I returned.
“You really want to come back to hell?” Asher asked as he stood next to me.
“Not really but I guess I have to face it one day, might as well be today.” I said as Jasper offered me a cigarette which I took and I watched Asher walk off towards the people he hung around with, while me and Jasper went to the group of people we hung around with.
“Guess who’s back bitches!” Jasper said and everyone looked up and smiled when they saw me.
“Back to who is not who is who out of you two.” Someone called Tyler said and I chuckled as I looked at Jasper.
“Well obviously I’m the better looking twin out of us.” I said and Jasper chuckled.
“Just remember who’s the oldest out of us.” Jasper said as he sat down and I just rolled my eyes.
“We’ve missed you, we have loads to tell you.” Tyler said and I nodded.
“Well spill the beans then.” I said and Tyler literally gave me every single bit of gossip there was going in a space of 5 minutes.
“And now take a deep breath.” I said and Tyler stuck his middle finger up at me just as the bell went.
“I need to go to the head. I’ll see you at break.” I said to Jasper as I got up and walked off to the heads office.
I was sat in the office waiting when a boy came in and it was only 9.30.
“Really Jack, you’ve been in school for less than half an hour and you’re already here.” The woman behind the desk said and the boy scoffed.
“Not my fault that all the teachers hate me in this place.” The boy said bluntly.
“Go and take a seat and I’m sure the head would love to talk to you and your parents.” The woman said and the boy shook his head.
“Well good luck with that since they are both out of town.” The boy said as he turned round and sat on one of the seats next to me.
The boy stayed quiet for a few minutes before he spoke to me.
“You new here? Or you have a twin or something because I swear there is someone here that looks exactly like you.” The boy said and I looked at him.
“I’m not new here and yes I have an identical twin.” I said and the boy smiled as he nodded but I just frowned at him.
“Okay so how come I haven’t seen your face around here.” The boy said and I frowned again at him.
“I’m not saying where I have been.” I said and the boy pouted at me and I chuckled slightly.
“The answer is still no, pout or no pout I’m not answering questions. Also hitting, kicking, crying, screaming or any hissy fit will not work either. Got to many siblings to learn to give in.” I said and the boy raised his eyebrow at me.
“Come on you have to say something. Also when you say many, how many is many?” The boy said.
“I’m not saying anything so just stop while you are ahead of yourself and I have 14 siblings so yeah I know the works.” I said as I looked towards the door and saw Asher walking in.
“Mum is going to blow her top about you being here again.” I said and Asher jumped as he spun round and looked at me.
“How the fuck do you know?” Asher asked.
“Jasper.” I said and Asher groaned loudly as he walked over and looked at the boy.
“Mr Gaskarth.” The woman said and both me and Asher looked.
“Little Gaskarth.” The woman said and Asher sighed loudly as he walked over to the desk just as the head showed.
“Gaskarth.” The head said and again me and Asher looked.
“Big Gaskarth, come with me.” The head said and I got up and walked over to him and followed him to his office.
I was spinning myself round on the chair as the head sat down opposite me.
“So welcome back Alex.” The head said and I smiled slightly.
“Wouldn’t exactly call it a welcome back to be honest.” I said and the head nodded.
“How are you feeling?” The head asked as mum has probably phoned up and explained everything to the head.
“Life is Rosie right now, I mean I’m not going batshit like I was 10 months ago.” I said and the head nodded.
“How are you settling in? I see you have met the newest student in your year.” The head said and I shrugged my shoulders.
“What can I say I haven’t been in any lessons yet but meeting up with friends this morning still felt the same but I don’t know if Jasper had said anything to them about acting normal and as for the the new kid, well he’s just annoying at the moment.” I said and the head chuckled slightly.
“Well since you missed most of the classes this year.” The head started but I had to but in.
“Jasper was bringing me work to do while I was in hospital, I’m still one of the top students in my year. If anything I haven’t done any of the exams in the last couple of months. But I’m still on target and I don’t have to stay behind another year because I managed to keep up with my work.” I said and the head smiled as he nodded slightly.
“You can’t be thinking about keeping me back?” I asked and the head sighed as he looked at his computer and then back to me.
“Well I was thinking about it, but I can see here that you have still continued to work hard considering what you have been through.” The head said and again I butted in.
“My mental health isn’t going to stop me achieving what I want to achieve in life. Stop sounding like you pity me because I’m a grade A student who has a shit mental health because I don’t want that, yes I haven’t been here for 10 months but that doesn’t mean I can’t get the grades I want. It’s something I don’t want pity over or for everyone to think that I’m brave and all that bullshit. I am still the same sarcastic, hard working person that I was 10 months ago. So am I allowed to rejoin my classes or am I on a watch Incase I go batshit?” I said and the head frowned at me.
“You can rejoin the classes but if you can’t cope you tell me okay.” The head said and I nodded as I stood up.
“Sir yes sir.” I said as I walked out the room and saw Asher talking to the boy but I just made my way towards lessons.
It was lunch and everyone who i hung around with was sat at the sports field having a cigarette.
“So you guys failed to mention that there was a new kid who started in our year.” I said and they all looked at Jasper.
“What, I can’t remember everything.” Jasper said and I chuckled slightly.
“So I need details here.” I said and Jasper rolled his eyes as Asher came over and joined us like he always does.
“His name is Jack and I think he is failing all his classes. Other than that I don’t know much about him.” Tyler said and I rolled my eyes.
“Well your fucking useless aren’t you.” I said and a few people chuckled.
“He is in foster care, he’s a bit of a dick to start off with but he’s cool once you get to know him and I think he’s gay as his eyes never left your ass when you walked over to the head and then he was asking questions.” Asher said and we all looked at him.
“I think he is because you remember that Barney had slept with someone and he said it was Jack.” Tyler said and I just frowned as I was now very confused so I just left them to talk.
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“I’m just saying, what if something like that happens again because yes I know Alex is old enough to do what he wants but I don’t trust him enough not to do so,etching stupid.” Mum said to dad as I stood outside their room after having a shower.
“I’m sure Alex is t going to go back down that hole again, you just need to stop worrying and let Alex find his feet out in this world and not think about what happened while he was in hospital.” Dad said and I smiled slightly as dad always had my back about this.
“How do you know that? How do you know that one day not we’re going to come home and find Alex dead in his room or in the bath.” Mum said and I just walked to my room and pulled some clothes on and went outside for a cigarette.
“It’s freezing out here, come inside.” I heard Jasper say as he walked over to the hammock and stood by it.
“Does everyone here really think I’m going to kill myself?” I asked quietly as I picked at the hammock.
“I know you’re not going to, but probably the ones who understand what has happen and know what is wrong with you are thinking it.” Jasper said truthfully and I sniffed as it really hurt for some reason.
“Don’t cry Lex.” Jasper said softly as he climbed into the hammock and pulled me into his side and hugged me.
“I know you won’t do nothing like you did before, just know if you can’t talk to mum or dad then you can talk to me. I’ll always be here for you.” Jasper said as he kissed the side of my head.
“I heard them talk about me. I heard Mum say she doesn’t trust me anymore and that she going to find me in the bath or in my room dead.” I said quietly.
“They always talk about you Lex, you have to see where they are coming from here. You overdosed and you was almost dead of course their trust in you has gone because you did that. Just give it a couple of weeks and they’ll be back to trusting you again. We’re just worried about you that’s all.” Jasper said and I sighed when we heard the back door open.
“What you both doing out here, you’ll get ill if you don’t come inside.” Mum said and I moved away from Jasper and started to smoke a cigarette.
“After you have that you both come inside.” Mum said as she walked inside.
“When will things get back to normal?” I asked quietly.
“In it’s own time.” Jasper said and I looked at him.
