Of All

Balcony

DANIEL’S POV

I walk up stairs and follow the sounds of laughing and a baby crying. I get over to her open door and I lean on it with my arms folded. Aspen noticed me and smiles. “I hope that thing doesn’t actually poop.” I say laughing as I watch Ben cursing trying to change it’s diaper. “It certainly pee’s so I wouldn’t doubt it does the other one too. I didn’t even know there was water in it.” Aspen says laughing and gets off her bed walking towards me. “I’m assuming food is here and Ash sent you to fetch me?” She says with her hand on her hip and I shake my head. “Nah I wanted to see what this terrace was all about.. But yeah I guess if your hungry I could always eat.” I smile and she laughs shaking her head. “Come on Ben, leave Hunter here on my bed I think he’ll go back to sleep.” She says and we both follow down the stairs.

ASHER POV

“Finally you decide to bless us with your presence.” I say sarcastically looking at Aspen as I see her walk into the kitchen with the other two behind her. “Ha very funny Ash. Hunter wouldn’t stop crying so Ben had to change his diaper and I was finishing up our report for today. We have to document everything. I also can’t hear sh.it considering both our rooms are at the end of the hall. Thank you very much.” She says sarcastically grabbing a slice of pizza. I just laugh. “Wait you had to change a diaper? So it actually pees and poops? Damn I’m in for it.” I say and we all start laughing and making small talk while we continue to eat. We don’t have many seats so Aspen and Ben stood while Danny sat at the table with myself, Sage and Matty. He offered his seat to Asp a few times but she said she wanted to stand. She’s so stubborn but I guess these guys will find that out one way or another.

ASPEN’S POV

“So did you make any friends or meet our cousins today sissy?” I ask Sage. She tells us about her day, she hasn’t met the twins yet but that’s understandable it’s only the first day. I’m actually kinda nervous to meet our cousins. We never had blood related family around just coworkers of moms and their kids that we would occasionally get together with. We had each other though and I’m completely okay with that. We all finish up and Ash tells the boys to follow him up to our balcony. I hang out with Sage and Ben downstairs a few more minutes just talking. “So Ben do you have any siblings?” I ask him. “No I don’t unfortunately. Although my parents driver Bruce and his wife have a few younger kids and from time to time I will hangout with them.” He says. “Oh em gee! Your parents have a driver? So your rich then?” Sage says cheerfully and I send her a glare.. Kids never know how insensitive words like that are. “I’m sorry for that. What she means to say is that must be cool to have.. Right Sage?” I say looking at her and she just sticks her tongue out at me before getting up and going upstairs. “It’s alright really. Everyone loves the rich kid.” He says and I kinda hear sadness in his voice. “Hey why don’t we go for a walk out in the yard? It’s not glamorous but it’s peaceful.” I say smiling at him and he nods his head. “Follow me this way!” I say happily. We head out towards the back of the house and into the backyard. “You are right it is peaceful back here.” He says as we walk from the small patio to the grass. “Are you okay? I really am sorry for Sage. She has no filter most of the times.” I say grabbing his arm and he faces me. “It’s okay Aspen. Truly. My parents may be rich but I’m always alone so I tend to always feel alone even in a sea of people.” He says looking at me. I instantly give him a warm hug and it takes him a minute to register before hugging me back. “I’m so sorry you feel that way. No one should ever feel like that but just so you know you are no longer alone. You’ve got me as a friend now.” I say while still hugging him. He releases his arms and I do the same taking a step back. “Thank you Aspen. You don’t understand how much that means to me.” He says softly looking down. “Don’t sweat it. Besides now you can help us clean up this place.” I say giggling and continuing to walk. He laughs and follows again. We talk a bit longer and turn around back to the house. I hear Ash yell down from the balcony and we look up. “You guys coming up here or what?!” I just roll my eyes. “Be right up!” I yell back. “When do you have to be home?” I ask Ben. “It doesn’t matter. Whenever you want me to leave.” He says laughing. “Great.” I roll my eyes at him and his face drops. “Ha! Just kidding! I’ll beat you to the door!” I yell now running away. He laughs again and I can hear him chasing me. I get to the door swing it open and run up the stairs to my room Ben hot on my tail. I get to my door and slow down. “Damn girl your fast! You should join our track team!” He yells running down our hall. “Maybe I will.” I say catching breath. I open my door and we enter my room. We check on baby Hunter and I decide to feed him out on our balcony. I open my old style french doors and we head out to see the other guys. “Wow I see you’ve made it nice. I love it!” I say to Ash, Danny & Matty looking around. It’s swept and they are cleaning up the railing now so we can paint soon. I am too excited. I will be out here all the time. I just need furniture to sit on but mom said we will go sometime this weekend. Hunter starts crying and I forgot I have to give him his bottle of some kinda solution. Makes sense now as to why he pees. Da.mn health class and their weird projects.. All for the good grade I keep reminding myself. Ben walks back in my room for a minute and I see he’s on the phone. I walk in to put Hunter back on my bed now that he’s got his fix. I give Ben some privacy and walk back out to the balcony closing the doors behind me. “Asp what do you want to do for the balcony itself like an example do you want a type of flooring or just a natural stain? The exterior paint we got will work as well but I was thinking painting the railing and putting a waterproof flooring down for more comfort.. Also it’s less work. If I paint the floor I will need to sand it down and..” Asher tells me trying to finish but I cut him off. “Okay too much information just do what you think is best bro! I will love it either way.” I say to him smiling. “Alright I know just the thing!” He says excitingly. “Danny mind giving me a hand with the paint stuff down in our basement?” He asks and Danny agrees. They leave momentarily and Ben is still on the phone. I’m kinda worried about him. After what he told me it doesn’t seem he gets along with his family much.. “So do you have anything planned for out here on your side?” Matty asks smiling at me leaning back into the railing pulling me out of my thoughts. I smile but before I answer Ben walks back out. “Hey I’m sorry about that. I actually have to leave. It’s my grandma so I will see you tomorrow at school? I can take Hunter if you want and do more of the packet.” He says to me and he doesn’t seem too okay but I don’t press him about it. “No don’t worry about it. I can do tonight’s work and tomorrow he can be all yours. I will see you in the morning.” I say and decide to give him a quick hug. “I hope she is okay.” I say to him before letting him go. “Thanks Aspen. You really are one of a kind. I’ll text you in a bit.” Ben says and nods his head towards Matty before heading back into my room and downstairs. “Sorry about that. He’s got some issues going on so I’m trying to be a supportive friend. I’m going to make this my zen space. Something cozy where I can relax, read and enjoy nature. I’m pretty excited for it.” I say to Matty. “That’s okay, hope it’ll be alright. Sounds like pretty cool ideas to me. I do a lot of wood work. I can help you build a table and chairs if you want?” He asks me. “What that is awesome. I would love that. I will check my Pinterest for inspiration. I’m gonna be heading in you guys have a good night if I don’t see you!” I say cheerfully to him and I walk back into my room. “No problem just let me know. Yeah we’re gonna be heading out in a few have a good night Aspen.” He says to me with a smile. I return it and go into my room. I decide to check Hunter. He’s good surprisingly so I definitely feel it will go off while I am sleeping. I am not ready.. I go into the bathroom and lock both doors before taking a long hot shower. I get out and waltz into my room, get some jammies on and work on my assignments. Before I know it it’s night time and I’m all done with my work. I put it away and run down to the kitchen for a snack. I grab some Oreos and head back up stairs I don’t see or hear anyone so Danny and Matty must’ve went home and my siblings are in their rooms. Mom won’t be home until late. I stroll into my room and plop on my bed getting comfy sure enough not long before Hunter starts whining. Oh boy it’s gonna be a long night.. I pick him up and see it’s pee’d again.. How lovely. I change it and it shuts off. I put it on my desk because that’s as close as it can be to me without having to be on my bed. I don’t need it waking anyone up during the middle of the night. I turn my tv on and I watch a movie. I must’ve ended up passing out because I wake up twice throughout the night for Hunter not realizing it’s like two o’clock in the morning right now. Thankfully it’s Ben’s turn tomorrow. I just need to get through the rest of it so I get up, shut my tv off and walk over to my bathroom to wash up before I go to bed for real this time. After brushing my teeth I check on Hunter then make myself comfy in bed and close my eyes falling into a deep sleep.