HOME BETWEEN US

CHAPTER5

Muriel could hear the muffled sound of Pirates of the Caribbean playing as she followed Sebastian down the hallway, her sneakers scuffing softly against the wooden floor. She felt unease, not knowing what to expect or what reaction put on. She played a different scenario of how the conversation between her and the boys would ensue but as she approached, holding a bowl of freshly popped popcorn, she was unsure of what to expect next.

Sebastian, his small frame practically bouncing with energy, tugged at her hand impatiently. “Come on, hurry up! I want to see the part with Captain Jack!”

Muriel let out a soft laugh, following him into the movie room, which was a large, cozy space filled with mismatched bean bags, piles of blankets, and dimly lit lamps. The movie had already started, but she could tell by the way the boys were sitting, sprawled across the floor and lounging lazily on the couches that this wasn’t about actually watching a film. It was more like an event, where everyone made their own version of it.

The eldest Hamilton, Sinclair, was sprawled on one of the couches with a gaming controller in hand, his eyes barely leaving the screen. Alex, the second oldest, was leaning against the wall, not seeming to care much about the movie but more about the fact that his brothers were here. And then there was Jeremy, the third in line. He was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room, staring intently at the screen, his eyes wide with excitement as Captain Jack Sparrow appeared on the screen. His face lit up, and Muriel couldn’t help but smile a little. She had forgotten how much she used to love the movies when they first came out.

"Popcorn everyone!" Sebastian yelled excitedly"

Sebastian tries to make good popcorn, Muriel." Alex motioned with his head to the bowl in her hand, urging her to have a taste, "Let me have some, Seb."

Sebastian skipped to a spot near Alex and dropped onto the floor with an exaggerated plop, the popcorn bowl in his lap. "Here," He said, "I'm the best brother in the whole wide world!"

Every one giggled with smiles on their faces, non of them attempting to deny what Sebastian had just said. Even Muriel had a smile on her face.

Muriel stood there for a moment, hesitating, before Sinclair glanced over at her and offered her a spot on the couch. “You can sit here if you want.”

“Thanks,” she replied, quietly taking a seat beside him .She settled into the couch, the familiar sound of the movie filling the room—the heart buckling scenes, the soundtrack that had once been everywhere in her middle school years. Muriel glanced at Sinclair, who was scrolling through his phone without much interest in the film. The younger boys seemed more invested in the antics of Captain Jack and his crew, but she found herself lost in thought for a moment. This was weird, she thought. But kind of nice? was she supposed to say somethin? Should she dip her hand into the bowl of popcorn that was now sitting on her laps? would that draw attention her way?It had been a long time since she’d felt like she was just… in a place, not having to worry about her next move or whether she was going to do something wrong.

The Hamilton boys—despite their noise and constant movement—didn’t seem to care that she was still a bit of an outsider in this house. She wasn’t part of their chaos, but she was at least included in it.And there was something strange about being the only girl in the room with four boys. She wasn’t used to it. She felt the kind of pressure that comes with trying to keep up but not wanting to overdo it, especially in front of people she barely knew. But Sebastian’s enthusiasm was infectious, and the way the others seemed completely comfortable around her helped ease the tension in her chest.

As the movie continued, Muriel found herself laughing at some of the jokes, even though she didn’t particularly care for the film. It wasn’t so much the movie that kept her engaged; it was the feeling of being surrounded by people who didn’t need her to be anything other than just… there. She hadn’t had that in a long time.

“Hey, Muriel,” Sebastian called out between handfuls of popcorn, eyes wide. “Do you think Captain Jack’s cool?”

She raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the question “What do you mean?”

“You know, like… would you want to hang out with him?”

Muriel laughed lightly, thinking for a moment. “I don’t know… I think he’d be fun for a little bit. But probably way too much for me in the long run.”

Sebastian giggled, bouncing a little in his seat. “Yeah, I don’t think I’d last with him for long either. But he’d probably give you a bunch of cool stuff.”

“That’s true,” Muriel agreed, smiling at the boy’s obvious adoration for the character. It was hard not to be swept up by his enthusiasm, his childlike wonder at the world of pirates and treasure.

Jeremy, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly turned to her. “What about you? What’s your favorite movie?”

Muriel hesitated for a moment. The question felt like it came out of nowhere, and she wasn’t quite sure how to answer. “I don’t know. I guess… I like a lot of different kinds of movies. Maybe some old classics, like The Breakfast Club or something?”

Jeremy nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a good one, but I wouldn't watch that.” Then, as if realizing the weirdness of his comment, he added, “It’s just funny how you can watch a movie over and over and still like it, right?”

Muriel smiled at him, finding herself more and more at ease in this weird, unexpected situation. “Yeah. That’s the best kind of movie.”

The room quieted for a moment as everyone refocused on the screen, but Muriel’s mind was still racing. Funny, she thought. I didn’t expect this at all.The movie continued to roll, the wild adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew sweeping across the screen, but Muriel’s attention was slowly fading. She was no longer fully focused on the swashbuckling action; instead, her thoughts wandered as the quiet chatter of the boys filled the space around her.

The popcorn was long gone, and now she was just there, absorbed by the flickering light of the TV and the rhythmic hum of a family that felt strangely comfortable despite the chaos. When the credits finally began to roll, Sebastian groaned dramatically, throwing himself back onto the floor.

“Noo! It’s over already?!”

“I told you it would be,” Sinclair muttered without looking up from his phone, not even acknowledging the movie's end. His thumbs moved quickly, probably texting or playing a game, but his voice was soft, laced with that kind of older-brother indifference.

“Ah, whatever,” Sebastian said with a huff, standing up and stretching dramatically. “We should start it again!”

“That’s a great idea, Seb,” Alex said with a grin. “Let’s watch the second one now!”

“I’m out,” Jeremy said from his spot on the couch, tossing his controller onto the armrest. “I’m already dead inside from watching this for the thousandth time.”

"Dead inside?” Sebastian snorted. “You wish you were a pirate.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes, clearly too exhausted to keep arguing. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, loser. Goodnight Muriel."

Sebastian stuck his tongue out at his older brother’s retreating figure, then turned to Muriel with a grin. “Do you wanna watch the next one, Muriel?”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head and waving Jeremy goodnight. “Not tonight, Sebastian. Maybe next time.”She had caught herself dozing off severally but didn't know how to ask politely and in-between their movie session how to find her room. She had been too scared to speak. Grateful to Jeremy for bringing it up, she turned down Sebastian's request.

The younger boy groaned in exaggerated disappointment but didn’t push the issue. Instead, he turned to the others, his energy never running out. The last of the credits finished, and as the room quieted down, a voice called from the doorway.

“Boys, time for bed.”

Muriel turned toward the sound, finding Mrs. Hamilton standing there in a soft, cream-colored night robe, her hair pulled back in a loose, messy bun. She looked every bit the warm, kind mother figure, with a gentle smile that softened the lines of her face.

Her presence was as comfortable as the room itself, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of noise and energy the boys had created.

“Mom, do we have to?” Sebastian whined, still sprawled across the floor with no intention of moving.

“Yes, sweetie,” Mrs. Hamilton said, her voice tender but firm. “Everyone’s got school tomorrow, and you’ll all be cranky if you don’t get some sleep.”

Muriel couldn’t help but smile at the way the family moved in such sync with each other. It felt like a real family, the kind she had always wished for but never truly had. She glanced toward the boys, who were slowly but surely picking themselves up off the floor and heading toward the hallway, dragging their feet like they could hardly bear to leave.

“Muriel,” Mrs. Hamilton said, shifting her gaze to the young girl sitting on the couch. “Would you like me to show you to your room?”

Muriel blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the offer. “Oh, sure,” she said with a soft smile. “I don’t want to be any trouble.”

Mrs. Hamilton shook her head, smiling warmly. “You’re no trouble, dear. Come on, I’ll show you.”

Muriel stood up and followed Mrs. Hamilton as she led the way down a quiet hallway, past a few open doors where the sound of shuffling and quiet murmurs could be heard. They stopped at a door near the end of the hall.

Mrs. Hamilton opened it with a gentle push. “This is your room,” she said, stepping aside to let Muriel enter. Muriel stepped in, feeling a wave of warmth rush over her. The room was soft and girly, but not overly extravagant. The bed was covered with a delicate, white duvet, its simplicity elevated by a few blush pink throw pillows arranged just so. The walls were painted a subtle lavender, with light cream curtains draping from the windows. The floors were hardwood, polished to a gleam, and a soft area rug in shades of pale pink and gray lay in front of the bed. There was a small wooden desk against one wall, neatly arranged with books and a lamp, and across from it, a vanity with a few framed pictures of her and some beauty products neatly set out. A delicate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting soft, golden light. It was a room that wasn’t too much, just enough to make it feel elegant yet lived-in. Muriel’s breath caught for a moment. Her pictures, framed and sitting there prettily had gotten her emotional. They had gone this far to make her feel welcomed?

She ran her fingers over the smooth wood of the desk, the weight of her thoughts shifting.“This is… perfect,” she said quietly, turning to Mrs. Hamilton, who smiled at her warmly. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Hamilton nodded. “I’m glad you like it. You’re welcome here, anytime, Muriel.” She paused, her expression softening. “If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Muriel felt a lump form in her throat at the kindness, but she smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Hamilton gave her one last kind look before she turned to leave. “Sleep well, dear. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Muriel echoed, watching as the door clicked softly shut behind her. For a long moment, Muriel stood there in the room, taking it all in—the quiet, the soft lighting, the sense of belonging she had been searching for.

She sank down onto the edge of the bed, letting the weight of the day fall off her shoulders. Her gaze lingered on the small details of the room—the framed photos, the soft hues, the way everything felt gently thought-out. It wasn’t extravagant. It wasn’t perfect. But it felt right.