"Elliot!! Come on! You're gonna be late!!"

"MMMMMMMM WHATEVER!" I groan and shout back at whoever was yelling at me.

"Don't give me attitude!" My mother, I now know, yells back. I roll my eyes.

"I'll be done in 5 minutes!!" I holler at her in a softer tone. I don't hate my mom but I don't love her.

Hi. I'm Elliot. I go to Kwantlen Polytechnic University or KPU for short and I'm working on getting a degree for music and a certificate for being a vocalist. I'm gonna be famous! But first I gotta get through schooling. I sigh and roll out of bed. I go to the shared bathroom I have with my brother and see him on his side brushing his teeth, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Why does mom make us get up before god does?" My brother sleepily mumbles around his toothbrush. I smirk.

"What god? Didn't know you were a freak." I grumble and wet my toothbrush before squeezing some Crest onto my brush before shoving it into my mouth. My brother turns and glares at me, flicking water in my direction.

"Come on Elliot! You know I don't believe in that shit! It's just a saying!" My brother hollers in protest. I give him my shit eating grin and spit before rinsing my mouth and booking it to my room before he can further attack me with water. I quickly undress and throw on some loose jeans and a crop top with a plain grey hoodie. I race downstairs and into the kitchen to see my mom finishing up with some French Toast. She turns and notices me and smiles.

"Morning Elliot! How was your sleep?"

"Shitty as usual. Mom, I told you I need a refill of those pills." I say while grabbing a plate and snagging 2 slices of cooked toast and some bacon.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"Language in the kitchen Elliot," my mother scolds as she continues, "and I told you the doctor has yet to give the pharmacy a refill so you have to wait a little longer but I'll make sure you have them with your next ADHD med refill okay?"

"Okay, thanks mom, and don't forget Deryck's meds either this time." I say, reminding her.

"I know hun, I'll get them on the next med run okay?" She reassures me just as my brother walks into the kitchen.

"Mom, Elliot called me a freak while I was brushing my teeth." He said loudly while grabbing some toast. I whip my head around and glare at him and he looks at me with a cocky grin.

"You little shit!!" I say with smile, knowing it was all just jokes because our mom wouldn't actually do anything about it.

"Elliot! Language! And stop calling your brother names. What was the reason this time?" She inquired my brother.

"I mentioned the word 'god' while just asking him a question, which he still hasn't answered." Deryck spoke with sass dripping over every word.

"What was the question? Elliot can answer now." Mom says and Deryck and I look at each other almost with horror while she's cleaning some dishes. I shake my head. Deryck nods in understanding.

"It doesn't matter anymore mom. Are you driving me to school or can I get a ride with Elliot today?" My brother asks my mom while shoveling toast into his mouth.

We know not to question why our mom does certain things like wake us up so early or disappears every weekend for hours on end and doesn't tell us where she goes. I just know not to question my mom, not since our dad disappeared.

"You can get a ride with Elliot if he allows it, otherwise, you'll have to catch the bus." My mom says as my brother glances at me, hope shinning in his eyes. I grin and nod my head. He hollers happily and jumps up to grab his bag for school. I go back to my room to retrieve my school bags and paperwork. Snatch my car keys from the hook near my bedroom door then I go back downstairs.

"Come on bro, let's get you to school." I say and ruffle his head as we leave the house. Deryck hops into the front seat on my car, a black Honda Civic, as I open the drivers side and sling my bags into the back seat.

"Ice cream?" Deryck says with hope and I grin and nod.

"Of course kiddo, let's go." I say as he bounces in his chair while working on his seat belt. I start the car and seatbelt before pulling out of the driveway and driving to the McDonalds near our place.