+"Listen carefully, little one. From now on, you do exactly what I say, no questions asked.
The last thing I want to hear in this house is your annoying voice.
Today, you go get your stuff. Jacob's coming with you.
You've got one hour, got it? And from now on, stay out of my sight.
Is that clear?"
-"Y… yeah."
She didn't know what she'd said to set him off like this, but it didn't matter much. She'd gotten what she wanted. She went back to eating.
Absentmindedly, she sipped the same coffee. Her face scrunched up, and without thinking about Matthew's glare, she muttered,
-"Ugh… who drinks this garbage? It tastes like poison!"
She heard Matthew's frustrated huff and looked at him.
He ran his hands through his hair a few times, shoved his chair back with a screech, and stormed out of the kitchen.
Jacob bit the corner of his lip, trying to hold back a laugh.
Loud noises were definitely not Matthew's thing.
Now, someone had shown up who made noise like a rattle.
He glanced at Diana.
She was staring at Matthew's empty chair with wide eyes, not blinking.
After a few seconds, she finally moved and whispered,
-"Okay, that one was totally my fault…"
Jacob couldn't hold it in anymore. He covered his eyes with his hand and laughed quietly, his shoulders shaking.
Diana spoke up louder this time.
-"So, you're less crazy than him, right?"
_ "Alright, girl, let's stop there."
Before his laughter got the better of him, he raised his voice.
He heard Matthew yell from somewhere.
+"Jacob?"
_ "Coming!"
He shouted back.
_ "Finish your food. You're not passing out on me."
-"Uh-huh. Won't happen."
He nodded and headed upstairs.