Bad For Me

The drive wasn't long enough for me to prepare myself for what was about to happen. I was going to meet Kairos's family? The same one who seemed to be a sore topic?

We arrived at an average looking neighbourhood, similar to my old home in London. Glancing at the street name, I realised I used to live only five minutes away.

Kairos was all silent and brooding as he got off the bike and held my hand to help me off. I thought they'd be freezing like mine, but his touch was warm and comforting. His face was a blank mask as we stood in front of the house, with him contemplating.

"I can wait outside, if you want." I offered.

Kairos shook his head. "It's dark, and not the safest neighbourhood."

My shoulders dropped in relief, but still I insisted. "I don't want to make you or your family uncomfortable, or invade your space. We're practically still strangers, to be honest."

He turned to look at me, frowning. "I'm still just a stranger to you?"

My grip on my handbag tightened. "No, that's not what I- I mean, I..."

Kairos eyed me quietly, before nodding to himself. "You can come in, because I don't leave my friends outside at night."

I sucked in a deep breath. "Alright. But just to let you know, this friendship is one-sided."

This made him crack a smile, and I lamely felt a surge of pride. "Just follow me, MG."

In a few steps we arrived at the front door of his house, where he gave three powerful knocks. A minute or so passed when we heard it unlock from the inside, and the door cracked open slightly.

"Kairos?" A little girl's voice asked, two brown eyes peeking at us. Kairos bent down slightly, grinning.

"Who else would it be? Let us in."

His sister opened the door wider, revealing herself. She had long, pin straight black hair, the same tanned skin tone as Kairos and big brown eyes that displayed curiosity when they took us in.

"What happened to your face?" She asked innocently.

"I painted it for fun."

"Were you blindfolded when you painted it?" I held back a snort at the question. Kairos side eyed me.

"Yes. Any more questions, officer?"

"Who is she?" A stubby finger pointed directly at me.

Kairos hesitated. "My friend."

"Are you sure?" His sister regarded me closely. "She looks like a princess. Why would a princess hang out with you?"

I smirked at the compliment and Kairos rolled his eyes.

"Seline, if you don't let us in, we're going to turn into ice cubes. And not the yummy kind." Kairos abruptly cut in impatiently. There's a yummy kind?

She sighed, stepping back. "Fine. But you have to be quiet so Mum doesn't hear, alright?"

"Okay." We entered and he locked the door behind us. There was an uncertain pause before Kairos crouched down and held out his arms. "No hug for me?"

Seline stared up at him for a second, before cracking a smile and running into his arms. He lifted her up and spun her around, and she squealed in delight. I narrowly missed her flying legs.

"I've missed you, Sel." Kairos mumbled, setting her back down with a fond expression. She gave him an unimpressed look.

"Then why haven't you come visit us sooner? We all miss you as well, especially the baby. That's why she cries all the time, Sy says so."

Guilt crossed Kairos's expression for a split second. "Let's not talk about that now, hm? We can catch up later. For now, I need to speak to Mum. Where is she?"

"In her room, but you can't speak to her-"

"Seline, who's there?" The voice of a young boy called out from somewhere in the house. She abruptly turned to look at Kairos and me with wide, guilty eyes.

"Uh oh." She whispered and Kairos made a face.

"I told you not to open the door!" The boy, who I was assuming was Kairo's brother, exclaimed as he entered the hallway where we were.

He was the boy version of his sister, with the exact same colouring of skin and hair, yet everything in his demeanour screamed Kairos. But maybe that was because he was glaring at us murderously.

Simon turned his angry gaze to his twin and whisper-hissed some words I couldn't understand, causing Kairos to let out a sigh.

"I can still understand Greek, Symon." He said and Symon rolled his eyes.

"That's surprising, seeing as you've been away for months."

"You know that wasn't my fault. I cannot be in the same place as... him."

Symon's hands clenched into fists. "But we're supposed to? We have to just suck it up whilst you run around with your fancy friends?"

Kairos sighed again and turned to his sister, his tone softer. "Hey, why don't you show my friend your toys? Or something nice in your room?"

"Don't tell her what to do. We're not going to let a stranger into our room." Symon snapped but his anger was directed at Kairos, who frowned.

"She's not a stranger, she's my friend. And I can tell you want to talk to me, so we can talk one on one, yeah? Seline doesn't need to be around to see that."

Seline was looking between the two uncertainly, so I reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. "What sort of toys do you have?"

"Lots of dolls. One kinda looks like you." She told me quietly and I smiled.

"If you want to show me, I'd love to see it. Only, if that's okay with you and your brother?" I turned to Symon for confirmation. To his credit, his anger had lessened as he eyed me, then turned to Kairos.

"She's your friend?" Kairos nodded and BOY shrugged.

"Whatever. Sel, just make sure mum doesn't see her, or else she'll freak."

She nodded, taking me by the hand and leading me down the hallway. I glanced back at Kairos who nodded at me, but was still tense.

We arrived at her room, small and modest with one side clearly her brothers and the other hers, based off the toys and colours. Seline wringed her hands, glancing up at me.

"It's small, because the baby has a room to herself." She told me quietly, and I nodded.

"What's the baby's name?"

"She doesn't have one yet. Mum wants to give her a Greek name, like the rest of us, but Dad doesn't like that. Here, this is the doll that looks like you!"

I looked at the doll, only to receive a jump scare, but I plastered a smile onto my face. "Wow, she's... something! Where has her clothes gone? And... her hair?" The only thing me and the doll had in common was the permanent plastic smile stuck on our faces.

Seline shrugged, jumping on the bed. "I had to give her a makeover, because she looked so pretty all the time, and it made me jealous." She flopped onto her back with a loud sigh. "I told Mum I wanted a dress like hers and she said no!"

"That sucks." I hesitantly sat on her bed, smoothing out my skirt.

"I bet you have loads of pretty clothes."

I shrugged. "They're alright."

"Even your uniform is pretty, and it's a uniform." Seline looked quite disturbed by that.

I giggled. "Well, I like your pyjamas. Mine are plain and boring."

She gave a little pleased smile which was pretty cute, before rolling onto her stomach and eyeing me. "Are you my brother's girlfriend?"

I snorted. "No." He wishes.

Seline eyed me with uncertainty. "Why not? He's not really around, but when he is, he is great."

"I haven't known him long. Plus, I already have a boyfriend." This caught her attention, until the sound of raised voices entered the room.

Seline bit her lip worryingly. "I hate when they fight."

Don't be nosey, Fallon. Don't ask... "Do they fight often?"

"No, and that's what makes it sad. When Kairos got sent away by Dad, me and Sy begged him to stay but he didn't. And Dad didn't care when we begged him as well."

Interesting. "What about your mum?"

Seline's face screwed up. "She chose Dad, because he said it was him or Kairos. She cried lots, but it was only cos the baby was still in her, not because she was sad-"

Speaking of, the piercing sound of a baby crying reached us. Seline sat up, immediately alert. A split second after, the door opened which made us jump, but it was just the boys.

"Have you guys kissed and made up?" I asked, hopping off the bed and taking in their expressions. They looked more relaxed.

Kairos nodded, ruffling Symon's head. "Mhm, all it took was the promise of a ride on my bike." Symon slapped away his hand but smiled.

"Mum's awake!" Seline exclaimed when they both didn't acknowledge the sound of the baby crying.

"Good, I can speak to her about him." Kairos nodded, before his expression softened. "And maybe finally meet my baby sister."

Seline crossed her arms. "I thought I'm your baby sister?"

Symon smirked. "You should be, since you still act like a baby." Seline glared at him and something seemingly scathing in Greek, and Symon replied in a mocking tone.

Kairos was about to leave when Symon grabbed him, his expression apprehensive. "I don't think you should see her. Dad will find out, and he'll go mad if he finds out you were here."

"Then I'll wait for him to come back, and we can deal with it then."

Seline whimpered and Symon shook his head fervently. "No, Kairos! You'll only get hurt again, and he'll be angrier than usual."

"I'm not the same guy I was three months ago." Kairos argued. "He won't be able to kick me out of my own house again. But if he does, I'm taking all of you with me."

They both perked up, eyes shining. "Really?"

Kairos nodded, his lips tugging upwards as he watched them. "I've been making money to find an apartment for all of us somewhere. Where he can't reach us. So we can all be together again."

Seline squealed in excitement but Symon continued to stand still, asking. "When?"

Kairos let out a breath, glancing at me quickly as if remembering I was there. "Hopefully, before your next birthday."

Seline's face dropped, her brown eyes filling up with tears. "That's next year!"

"I know, but it's hard. If it was only us three, then I'd be able to do it. But we can't leave Mum and the baby. That's what makes it difficult. That's why I need to speak to her."

Symon shook his head. "She'll tell him the moment he comes back, or he'll just sense it then lose it. Don't do it, please, Kairos."

I crossed my arms, watching the three of them. Whilst I had an idea of what was happening, I only had bits and pieces of the information, so it may have been an accurate picture.

Kairos looked like he was about to argue some more, but the cry of the baby got louder. Seline dropped her doll on the bed. "I'm going to help mum." She announced with watery eyes. She quickly hugged Kairos. "Come visit again soon."

He hugged her back tightly, before letting her go and turning to Symon. "Thanks for looking after them. Whenever you see Visar, grab his phone and call me, yeah? I'll tell him and Aria to visit more often."

Symon nodded, looking pained and more like a little boy then the man he'd acted like all night. He glanced at me and I got the clue.

"I'll wait in the hallway." I told them, grabbing my handbag and leaving. A few minutes later Kairos joined me, jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed. We silently left the house, and as we mounted the bike, I watched him watch the house for a moment before turning away.

Then we were off.