Story 4 - Two Fools
As the bedroom door slammed shut, Norio slowly began stirring.
"Huh...?" The boy looked around sleepily.
"It's nothing, Norio; just go back to bed," Larkin whispered.
"Nori, did you know that Larkin has a crush on-"
Larkin quickly smacked him once more.
"You jerk!" Rick cried.
"Enough already, you little brat!" Larkin shouted.
Amid their arguing, the bedroom door creaked open.
"Hah!?" Rick and Larkin shouted in unison.
"What are you doing..." A tiny voice asked.
"Good going, you woke your sister up!" Larkin hissed.
Rick, in return, stuck his tongue out.
Iris Azalea crawled on the bed with Larkin and Rick.
"W-what is it...?" Larkin asked hesitantly.
"Hold me..." She whispered, hugging Larkin.
"F-fine..." Larkin mumbled, scooping up the little girl.
"All three of you should go to sleep soon, though before," he then cut himself off.
"Before...?" Norio asked curiously.
"Never mind...!" Larkin said, clapping his hands together.
"How about I read you guys a bedtime story, then in return, you'll go to bed?" He looked at the children with hope.
"Can't you just tell us what's going on?" Rick asked.
"Fine, alright!" Larkin cried.
"Mikael is having a guest over soon, insisting they be alone." Larkin looked down.
"Mikael is on a date!?" Norio cried.
"N-no!" Larkin blushed.
"I believe it's just a meeting..." He said, looking down.
"Story..." Iris Azalea whispered.
"R-right...!" Larkin said, quickly grabbing a book off the nightstand.
Just as he was about to open the book, the front door opened.
Larkin quickly looked up.
There was distant chatter, followed by laughter as the door then closed.
"Read..." Iris Azalea whispered.
"H-hold on..." Larkin said, putting the book and Iris Azalea down.
"Let me go see if he needs help with anything out there..." He sighed as he closed the bedroom door.
"Book..." Iris Azalea whimpered.
"Hey..." Larkin said, entering the kitchen.
"Oh, Larkin." Mikael looked up.
"I thought you were asleep," he said.
"Nah, the kids woke up so I just...put them back to bed." He laughed.
"Oh!" Larkin looked over at the guest.
"Sorry I didn't see you there!" He laughed.
"Hello." The guest smiled.
Larkin stared for a few more seconds before turning to Mikael.
"Anyway, I just wanted to ask if you needed anything right now?" He asked.
"No, thank you, we're good." Mikael smiled.
"Oh...grand," Larkin said as he shut the door.
As he turned around, he was met by three faces looking up at him.
"What are you three doing out here!?" He cried.
"Larkin?" Mikael called.
"Is there a problem?" He asked.
"None at all...!" Larkin shouted back.
"Go to bed, you three!" He barked.
"But we're not tired..." Rick mumbled.
"Not tired." Iris Azalea repeated.
"Norio, you've always been the reasonable one; please help me out here," Larkin pleaded.
Norio looked at his siblings, then back at Larkin.
"U-uh..." He frantically began.
"Oh, come on!" Larkin cried.
"Go to bed, or you three are getting a time-out."
"You can't do that, I'm ten!" Rick cried.
"Watch me," Larkin said, gritting his teeth.
"Hey, Larkin..." Larkin quickly turned around.
"We're going to go down to the village; we're bored," Mikael said, getting his jacket on.
"You three still aren't in bed...?" He asked.
"I thought you said you put them to sl-"
"Goodnight!" Larkin cried.
"It's been a frustrating evening, why don't I just go to bed myself!" He cried, slamming the door.
"What was that all about...?" Mikael whispered.
"Mikael," Rick began.
"Mm?" Mikael turned to them.
"Are you on a date?" He asked.
"Oh no... this is just my friend, is all." He smiled.
"Oh..." Rick said.
"Anyways, you three really should go to bed," Mikael said, brushing Rick's head.
"Fine..." Rick mumbled.
"C'mon, Iris Azalea, you can sleep with me tonight." He smiled.
"Mm." Iris Azalea nodded as the door shut.
Mikael smiled, then turned around.
"Why would they think I was on a date anyway..." He then turned to his and Larkin's bedroom.
"Larkin, you idiot..." Mikael whispered, smiling as he shut the front door.
Suddenly, their bedroom door creaked open.
"Perhaps I am..." Larkin whispered.