Chapter 1 (Finally)

Cold. It enveloped me, peering through my skin, chilling me to a mass of numb. My blankets were nowhere to be seen; they must have fallen off the bed. I gritted my teeth and tugged on my hair.
"Jane, you awake?" I whispered. I heard rustling of linen and a groan.
"Yer, I mean, yes. Whaddya want?" she mumbled.
"I'm cold," I answered back.
"God, Gabe! I am too but you don't me complaining, do ya?"
"Well excuse me! I was wondering if you were."
"Yes, I am, Gabe. But could you shut up and let me sleep?"
"But my blankets..." I started.
"Oh my word, Gabe! Then pick 'em off the floor! It's not that hard," Jane replied.
I was silent. Jane didn't say anything else either. I could hear her soft breathing emit and I sighed. I could see the night slowly pass by as a thin strip of white shone from the frosted window.
"Uh, Jane?" I whispered again.
"What, you imbecile?" she snapped.
"It's almost-"
"I know that Gabe. Please, I need to sleep. You know how grumpy I get."
"Your telling me," I muttered.
Jane finally sat up and looked at me. "What is up with you?"
I shrugged and got out of bed. My blankets were right under it. I wondered why. I stretched and walked to our shared bathroom, Jane's eyes on me.
As I splashed cold water on my face, Jane said, "Are you seriously ok? I mean...About everything that's happening? Cuz look Gabe. Your my younger brother by a few minutes and I still watch over you as if your younger than a few years. Mom can't help it we're poor, moving everywhere. After Dad decided to be a jerk and leave, she's been hurting.And you've obviously been hurting too. So...what's up Gabe?"
I looked at her and dried my face. "Everything. Mom's been so busy about her jobs and her connections she barely has time for us. I mean, she moved us into this hellhole! It doesn't even have a ventilation system!"
"No, no, it isn't like that," Jane said, her eyes watering. "You know Mom can't-"
"Yeah, I know! 'Mom can't help it!' It's too old, Jane. Mom can help whatever she wants, she's just too lazy to. You know that Jane, you know it!"
I angrily threw the towel on the floor and felt tears pour down my face. I sat on the toilet and quietly chanted, "Don't cry Gabe, don't cry. It won't solve anything."
Jane glared at me. "Well so much for helping. Why don't you be jerky somewhere else?"
I looked at her and sighed once again. I brushed my teeth as her cold green eyes penetrated the back of my head. I couldn't stand it anymore.
"Jane, I'm sorry...it's just so annoying that we have to move everywhere, you know? I hate it."
She looked at me and smiled. "At least we don't have to pay a lot of money to travel over the States. We already have." I smiled back and laughed. It wasn't really funny, but Jane always cheered me up. She was just like Mom, serious to the bone with a hint of funny that wasn't really funny. But it cheered me up anyway.
"Ok, get out of this bathroom. I need to shower," Jane announced.
"Gross, you're going to shower in cold, slimy water?"
"Get a life Gabe. It's not like I can help it."