#only worry we have sis and i now is our youngest sis coz she lives with mum and she's a scaredy cat 14yo teenage girl

[rapha-reads]

Spending the night at my mother's new house and NOPE. I go to the bathroom, there's two cokroaches chilling near the foor; I decide to use my mom's bathroom. I come back to my sister and mine's bedroom, guess who the fuck is chilling ON my bed? That's right, not on the floor, not on the desk, no, no, ON MY BED. Sis and I hightailed it out of the room and now we're camping out in the living room. I wanna go home. I miss my bed. I miss my spiders and ants and moths. I never have any problems with my spiders and my moths. I hate the city.

[chuffyfan87]

Growing Pains. Part 23d

"Sorry Emily." Tilly repeated.

Emily smiled, “It’s kay sis.”

"She threw a vase at you! You're way too chill." Lottie shook her head.

Emily shrugged, “She needs to find a better way to channel her anger though.”

"I find it works." Tilly retorted.

“Yeah, until you really hurt someone.”

"She can't throw for shit coz she's always skiving PE." Lottie laughed.

Charlie sighed, “Tilly?”

"She's chatting shit!" Tilly retorted.

"Is she now?" Duffy remarked, unconvinced.

“Yeah.” Tilly replied back.

“You might as well just tell the truth.” Lottie answered.

"You're such a grass!" Tilly accused.

“For God sake! I can’t do anything right!” Lottie grumbled, slammed her hands down on the table and got up. “I’m going to my room!”

"Lottie..!" Duffy called after her.

Lottie stopped at the bottom of the stairs, “Yes?”

Duffy followed her youngest daughter into the hall. "Are you sure everything is OK?"

“Uh huh.” Lottie nodded but didn’t seem 100% sure.

"Remember how we talked about how you can tell me anything..?" Duffy prompted Lottie.

Lottie sighed but didn’t say anything.

"Shall we go up to your room?" Duffy suggested.

Lottie shrugged but went up the stairs towards her bedroom.

Duffy followed her up the stairs, not saying anything, just allowing Lottie the space to speak when she was ready to.

When they reached Lottie’s room, Lottie went in and sat down on her bed.

Duffy decided to sit on Tilly's bed. "What's bothering you Lottiepop?"

Lottie sighed and shrugged, “Tilly’s doing my head in.”

"I think she's doing everyone's head in at the moment."

“She’s just so.... Urgh!”

"I'm hoping she'll calm down soon."

“I hate being a twin!” Lottie mumbled.

"Ah we're back to that are we?" Duffy replied. She couldn't help the small smile that graced her features.

“I’m sick of living in her shadow!” Lottie replied as she looked up.

"Oh Lottie! I'm sorry you feel like that, is there anything we can do to help? You're just as important to us as Tilly is."

Lottie laughed sadly, “Nobody notices me! I’m just Tilly’s twin. I’m not even as pretty!”

"You are so much more than Tilly's twin Lottie! You are a beautiful, kind, smart and sweet natured young lady."

Lottie sighed and shrugged, “That’s not how it feels.” She admitted.

"Do you think you and Tilly need some space from each other?"

Lottie shrugged, “Or maybe I should just get used to feeling inadequate?”

"You are not inadequate!"

Lottie sighed, “But I’m not like Tilly.”

"And nor should you try to be."

“I hate being me though!”

"Why do you hate being you?"

“Because I’m not Tilly! Or even Emily!”

"No, you're Lottie."

“But Lottie’s shit!” Lottie burst into tears. “I hate me.”

"Oh Lottie!" Duffy gasped and moved to sit beside her youngest daughter, pulling the teenager into a hug.

Lottie sobbed against her mum’s chest as she clung to her mum's top.

Duffy stroked Lottie's hair and back, letting her get it all out.

“Nobody really notices me.” Lottie whispered sadly.

"Nobody or no boys?"

“Boys.” Lottie mumbled.

"Boys aren't all that, trust me."

“They notice Tilly.”

"That's because Tilly insists on making people notice her." Duffy chuckled softly.

“It’s just... Ugh!” Lottie sighed again “I like being a twin but sometimes I hate it.”

"You've reached an age where you want to assert your individual independence. That's tricky anyway but even more so when there's a carbon copy of you walking around trying to do the same thing."

“I’m me. I’m a twin. But I’m so much more than just a twin.” Lottie said sadly.

"You are so much more than that."

Lottie sat up and wiped her tears with her hands and sniffed, “It’s hard finding who you are.”

"I'm not sure you ever really do. It's constantly evolving."

“It’s so hard when Tilly attracts all the attention.” Lottie admitted. “Sometimes I’d like to be just like Em.”

"Is there anything me and your dad can do to help? Is there any activities you'd like to try out or places you'd like to experience?"

“I’ve... Erm... Started playing football...”

"Really? Do you need kit? Boots? I'd love to come see you play sometime. If that's OK?"

“Not at the minute. It’s only for fun, with some of the lads. I really like it.” Lottie blushed.

"That's good. I'm glad you've found something you enjoy." Duffy smiled.

Lottie began to fiddle with her hands.

"Is there anything else that's worrying you?"

“A few things.”

"Do you want to talk about them?"

“I feel weird lately.”

"Weird?"

“Uh huh.” Lottie paused, “Happy, sad, stressed. Sometimes all at once, sometimes not for days.”

"Welcome to the joy of hormones and why your dad hides down the pub every few weeks!"

“Ah. That explains it.” Lottie smiled.

"The joys of being a woman I'm afraid."

Lottie groaned, “Boys get it so much easier! All they get is unexpected boners!”

Duffy cracked up laughing. "Do you not remember all the drama of your older brothers' voices breaking?"

Lottie giggled. “That was kinda funny.”

"They didn't think so." Duffy replied but couldn't help giggling still.

“No they didn’t.” Lottie giggled again.

"Do you feel a bit better about things now?"

Lottie blushed smiling shyly. “Yes mama. Sorry for being a brat.”

"Its ok, we can all be brats at times. Even me and your dad."

“Mama?”

"Yes Lottiepop?"

“I think I understand why Emily always liked the peace and quiet. Too much of Tilly gives you a headache.”

"There's a reason she requested to move bedrooms to the loft!" Duffy chuckled softly.

“I don’t blame her.”

"Do you want your own room?"

Lottie shook her head.

"OK, coz we could always renovate Peter's old room if you really wanted us to? Or we could look at partitioning this room somehow."

Lottie shook her head again, “Not at the minute but it’s something to think about.”

"Yeh, just let us know. I was thinking of seeing if you two wanted to redecorate in here anyway."

“That would be nice mama.”

"Make it a bit more grown up looking for you both."

“Thanks mama.”

"We can go shopping in the new year."

Lottie nodded.

"That's two big shopping trips planned now." Duffy smiled, squeezing Lottie's shoulders.

“What’s the first one?” Lottie asked.

"Can you keep a secret?"

“Of course I can.”

"Me and your dad have decided to renew our wedding vows so I need some help picking a dress."

“You and dad are getting married again?” Lottie smiled. “That’s brilliant!”

"It was your dad's idea."

“He’s such a romantic!”

"He really is." Duffy smiled.

Lottie smiled and lay down on the bed, “I’m gonna have a nap. Is that ok?”

"OK, I'll leave you to it. I love you." Duffy moved to kiss her daughter's forehead.

“Love you too mama.” Lottie smiled and kissed her mum's cheek.

Once back downstairs Duffy tentatively reentered the kitchen, unsure if there had been further arguments between the girls whilst she had been upstairs.

There hadn’t. Both girls were talking nicely to each other.

"Oh thank goodness you two have resolved your differences. Though next time it would be better if one of my vases didn't get broken in the process."

“Sorry mum.” Tilly apologised.

"Have you made sure there's no shards left on the floor? We don't want your little brothers hurting themselves."

“We’ve done it together, didn’t we sis?” Tilly smiled.

"Good, now no more fights. You might want to apologise to Lottie later too."

“But I haven’t done anything!” Tilly replied.

"I think she's feeling a little overwhelmed by you recently. She's your sister not your rival."

Tilly sighed, “OK.”

"I know you don't mean to but you need to remember that others are a little more sensitive than you are."

“Sorry.”

"Its ok." Seeing that Tilly looked a little sad Duffy held out her arms. "Come here you." She smiled.