Preface

Creek. Silence. Creek.

I slowly open one of my eyes, looking around through the blanket of darkness that covers everything in my room. It has to be at least one in the morning, considering how dark it is and the way the moon is just peaking through the corner of my window.

Creek.

Now both of my eyes pop open and I turn my head trying to get a glimpse of my brother. But I see nothing. I know he's there because he's always up to something and he's probably the noisiest wanker I've ever met. He couldn't be discreet if his life depended on it.

Creek.

I quietly sit up in bed, bending slightly as to not hit my head on the bunk above me. I remove my blankets and sheets carefully, not making any sound. Once out of bed, I tiptoe across the room and head towards the bathroom, avoiding all the floorboards that I know will creek. Robbie has never paid attention to this, so he never can get past me and he always acts a bit surprised when I catch him in the act because he still hasn't figured out how to move under my radar.

I peak around the wooden doorframe into the bathroom. Sure enough, there's Robbie, reaching into the cupboard under the sink. I knew he was up to one of his usual schemes because of the way he was acting tonight. He knew something that I didn't and oh how he loves that feeling. I watch him carefully pull out a bottle of something and tranquilly open the shower door and take out another bottle. He slowly starts removing both caps when I flip on the light and catch sight of the bottles, red hair dye and my shampoo bottle.

"Robbie, what the hell are you doin'?" I say in a whispered shout, my eyebrows knitted together angrily.

For a second he looks up with his big green eyes full of shock, like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. But he soon recovers and seeing my dead serious face, furrowed eyebrows, and angry brown eyes, he bursts our laughing.