Some people call this place the middle of nowhere.

You know, one of those places you fly over on your way from somewhere else to somewhere else but wouldn't live there.

Well, look down next time and you'll see us down here in the middle- Orson, Indiana, heart of the heartland, proud home of Little Betty snack cakes, the demolition derby for the homeless, and the world's largest polyurethane cow.

Guess it all started a couple of weeks ago, and no, I'm not an actual superhero. Not unless you count getting my kids up every morning and out the door for school every morning.

~8~

An annoyed scoffed left the lips of Delaeney Emerson-Gale as she looked at her empty bedside table. Well, mostly empty. Her empty container of hand lotion and Chapstick were still there, but the only thing she really needed wasn't. Delaeney swung her legs over the side of her bed, cursing in annoyance as she looked around the blurred room. Everything was a fuzzy outline of shapes, and she was thankful that her vision wasn't any worse or else she would've walked into the door.

"Axl!" Delaeney shrieked, running down the stairs and sliding to a stop in the kitchen. Huffing, she tried to settle the mass of auburn hair the had frizzed up at the sudden halt before glaring at the smirking teen in front of her, "Where are my glasses?"

That's Delaeney.

She's not ours.

Delaeney's parents were our friends but they were no longer capable of taking care of Laynee. So, when she was 4, we took her in. Her parents send us checks in thanks of taking care of her and often send her presents and cards. Laynee gets along great with everyone here, but her relationship with Axl is… special. They are very close but very distant at the same time. She shares a room with Sue but sometimes she has sleepovers with Axl. She happens to call us Mom and Dad, not that we mind.

"Why would I know where your glasses are?" Axl said, not bothering to look at her as he looked through the fridge, a grimace crossing his face as he stared at the bag of salad in front of him.

"Axl," Delaeney's voice was low and warning, "I still need to get ready and, I'm not sure if you can comprehend this, I actually need those glasses to see."

"That doesn't sound like my problem." Axl shrugged as he closed the fridge and leaned against the counter, boredly looking at the girl in front of him. The two teens ignored the rush of people trying to get in and out of the kitchen, their eyes locked and neither of them dared to back down. Delaeney inwardly smirked when Axl's eye gave a twitch and she was quick to blow a gush of air in his face, smiling when he blinked.

"I won! Now give me back my glasses." Delaeney cheered as she held out her hand expectedly. Axl scoffed before reaching behind him and handing her the black, semi-circular glasses. Flashing Axl a bright smile, Delaeney quickly rushed back up the stairs and changed before shoving the rest of her homework in her bag and heading back down the stairs. A look of confusion crossed her face as she stared at the three pages in front of her. They were obviously Brick's, but she had no idea how they ended up in her room. Delaeney scrunched up her nose in thought, didn't he come to her room last night with some questions?

"Mom, where's my homework?" She heard Brick ask as she entered the kitchen and placed her bag down on one of the dining room chairs.

"Here, Brick," Delaeney said, dropping the papers in Brick's lap as she passed the table and made her way into the laundry room. Bending down to grab her shoes, Delaeney turned her head to come face-to-face with Sue, who was holding a pair of ruined leg warmers and was pouting. Delaeney opened her mouth to question why Sue had a pair of leg warmers- and why she had decided to get them in such an ugly, pink color- before changing her mind and leaving the laundry room.

Sliding on her shoes and not bothering to tie them, she grabbed her bag and she left the kitchen. Scratching her nose, Delaeney swiped Axl's jacket from where it rested on the couch and slid it on, ignoring the look of annoyance that Axl gave her.

"Feel free to wear mine," Delaeney teased as Axl, Sue, and Brick joined her by the door. Axl scoffed and rolled his eyes as he opened the door for her. Giving the door a sharp jerk, a smirk graced his lips as he heard Sue cry out annoyance before hearing the bang as she slammed the door open. Sue stormed out of the house and glared at Axl before her eyes widened at the sight of her backpack in his grasp. Delaeney turned when she heard a grunt of frustration, and she couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Sue jumping as she tried to reach her bag.

"Mom." Sue cried when she realized that there was no chance of getting her bag from Axl, and Axl mimicked her cry as he held the bag up even higher. Sue stomper her foot in frustration a few moments later before turning to look at Frankie, "Mom, he's not giving me my backpack. Mom!"

The smile didn't leave Delaeney's face as she let out a sigh of fake annoyance at Sue and Axl's childish behavior. Looking down at Brick, Delaeney held out her hand and, when he grasped it, made her way to the car. The four of them had already missed the bus and Frankie was lucky enough that she didn't have to go to work until later. Glancing back at the two bickering siblings, Delaeney shook her head. There was a chance that Frankie was going to be late to work today.

~8~

Hearing the door slam shut and the shout if 'I made dinner', Delaeney lifted her head from the side of the couch to look at a flustered Frankie as she made rushed into the kitchen, trying her best not to drop any of the food. Not that she would ever tell anybody, but Delaeney was thoroughly impressed that Frankie could carry six bags of food without dropping any. Lifting her body from the couch, Delaeney walked to the kitchen and grabbed her bag, which was easy because she was the only one who liked to get chicken nuggets, before heading back to the couch.

Delaeney watched with a raised eyebrow as Axl snatched his food before he turned to head back to his room. She couldn't be let out a snicker, ignoring the glare that Axl shot her. It seemed that he was still bitter about losing the bet they had made during homeroom.

"Hey, underpants," Frankie called, stopping Axl in his tracks. Delaeney shoved a handful of fries in her mouth as she watched the interaction between the two. She could practically feel the annoyance roll off Axl, "We are a family and we are going to eat together as a family.

"Come sit here, honey." Delaeney cooed, patting the seat which her legs occupied, and she couldn't stop the laugh that left her mouth. Axl was such a sore loser. Shoving Delaeney's legs off the cushion, Axl plopped himself down and snatched a handful of Delaeney's fries, ignoring her cry of irritation.

"This is okay. Quick," Frankie turned from the TV to face her family and took a sip of her soda, "Let's hear about everybody's day."

"Mine sucked," Axl stated.

"Next."

"You know, mine was actually pretty great," Delaeney said, giving Axl a bright smiled before wincing when he shoved her shoulders.

"Great."

"Well, ahem, I'm trying to decide what number I should do for my show choir audition," Sue announced as she sat up straight and stared at her family, a smile on her face.

"Really?" Delaeney asked as her eyebrows shot to her forehead in disbelief, sharply elbowing Axl in the side of his mutter of 'Oh my God'.

"What?" Axl gave Delaeney a bemused look before turning to look at Sue, "Does it really matter what song you pick? Cause there's no way you're gonna make it."

"Mom," Sue cried, hurt filling her eyes and Frankie sighed.

"Mike." Frankie gave a warning look to her husband, who sighed and placed down his burger.

"Axl."

Delaeney lazily shoved the rest of her fries in her mouth and got up, shoving Axl's legs off her. Honestly, the consistency of arguments that went on at dinner time were as annoying as they were amusing. Delaeney inwardly winced as she remembered the hurt that filled Sue's eyes at Axl's words. It bothered her how much the sibling's relationship had changed once they both hit middle school. Even though she understood that Sue could be seen as embarrassing, that didn't mean that Axl had to shoot her down every time she wanted to do something.

~8~

If glares could kill people, Axl would've been dead by now.

Delaeney could practically see the steam pouring out of Mike's ears as he scolded the two teens in front of him, but neither of them cared enough to take their glares off one another. If Axl knew when to shut his mouth, Delaeney wouldn't be in this predicament. But, no, Axl had to open his big mouth and get in trouble and, like the good friend she was, ended up getting her into trouble.

"Now you're suspended for three games?" Mike exploded, "What the hell is the matter with you? You should be glad that Delaeney was able to shorten it to three games, but now you've given her three detentions."

Delaeney didn't even blink at the sound of the door slamming. Making sure that Axl had her full attention, she pointed to him before slowly dragging her finger across her neck, ignoring the gesture Axl made the moment she put her hand down.

"What did they do?" Frankie's exasperated voice entered the room and Mike turned to face his wife, shaking his head in disbelief.

"He called his coach a moron, and when Laynee tried reasoning with the coach, he gave her three detentions!"

Axl tore his gaze off Delaeney as he scowled at his dad, "You always call him a moron."

"He called for a bombon fourth and one." Delaeney quoted Axl, looking at Frankie and Mike innocently.

Mike's face was practically red from anger, "You think you're some sort of big shot just cause you to play ball? Well, the smart-mouth attitude foes away today."

"Whatever," Axl scoffed as he rolled his eyes. Now, Delaeney didn't always like to see Axl get in trouble, but lately, he's been a pain in the ass and she felt like he deserved to get yelled at or something. Leaning back in the chair, Delaeney shot Axl a smug look as she crossed her arms.

"That's it. Go to your room."

Axl huffed and got up, grasping Delaeney's arm and pulling her up with him before dragging her behind him. Delaeney didn't bother to resist. It's not like she had anything better to do.

"No, wait." Mike said, and the two teens froze, "You like your room. Go to Sue's room."

Axl groaned in irritation as he slid his hand down Delaeney's so that he could grasp her hand. With a gentle tug, he began to lead Delaeney to her and Sue's shared room only for Mike to yell,

"Delaeney, got to Axl's room."

Delaeney groaned before releasing Axl's hand and heading down the hall, passing Brick's room and her room. Looking at Axl, she gripped his doorknob tightly as he gave her a sharp nod, both of them slamming the doors at the same time. Pursing her lips, Delaeney turned to look around the room. Although she had been in here many, many times before, she wasn't quite sure what there was to do around here.

With a groan, she flopped face first onto the bed.

~8~

Delaeney watched in awe as the show choir performed, her eyes landing on the pregnant teen. Delaeney couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, impressed that the dress somehow made her look thin. Seeing Sue actually accomplish something in her life, it was… it was amazing. If she were honest, the show choir was quite a cringe-worthy show, but she was here for Sue and to see what she had been working so hard on.

Speaking of Sue, Delaeney leaned over and whispered in Axl's ear, "I don't see Sue."

Axl's brows furrowed as he straightened his shoulders and his eyes roamed the stage. Delaeney watched his expression carefully, hoping that he would be able to see something with his height.

"What-no way. Sue's on stage crew." Axl managed to get out before a cackle escaped his lips, "That's the only thing lamer than the actual show choir."

Delaeney nodded her head and turned her attention back on the stage. Watching with wide eyes as Sue raced on stage, Delaeney's heart began to race as she slipped and… let's just say that the night ended with Sue getting kicked off the squad.

~8~

Now, I know this is my life. It's not gonna be in People Magazine or in anything, but you know what, I got it good.