October 12th, Kindergarten
Caelyn giggled as she peered at her sister from where she was hanging on the monkey bars. "Betcha can't beat my record!"
"..Not funny!" Demetria muttered, on the opposite side. Caelyn was hanging upside down on the monkey bars in the middle of the playground sets, giggling as she let her hands hang down.
"Get down from there." Demi called.
Caelyn swung her hands upward and gripped the bar above her. The small girl proceeded to swing her way across the rest of the bars and hop on the landing platform next to her sister.
Both girls looked up automatically as a group entered the playground - a tall man with glasses and graying hair accompanied by two boys, both who immediately ran into the park.
The two girls watched them silently, wide eyed and alert. They usually didn't like to play with other kids their age, so as if on cue the girls jumped down from the playground equipment and walked towards where they put their school bags - in a hollowed out climbing wall. Slipping on the baggage, Demi and Caelyn climbed up the climbing wall to seclude themselves.
One of the boys had dark hair and blue eyes. The other was a brunette and bore glasses. Both seemed to be brothers so their father must be the man that accompanied them.
Demi had ducked down in shyness but Caelyn remained curious, glancing at the brothers every so often.
"..Caelyn." Demi warned, pulling her sister back, but the other girl persisted.
"Caelyn, stop, listen to me!" Demi insisted, gripping her sister's shoulder and pulling her back.
"...What?" Caelyn finally gave in, facing her sister. "Why are you so scared?"
"The boy." murmured Demetria, eyes wary."He's from school. He punched a boy so hard, the boy broke his hand. Do you want to be punched?"
"...No." Caelyn automatically flinched back from the side, dropping onto her knees. She gripped her bag and climbed down without a word. Immediately Demi followed, the girl cautiously climbing her way down the wall.
Caelyn started for the exit, gripping her sister's hand and pulling her along. If they got hurt, for no reason..They'd be in for a rough time at home.
Before the girls reached the exit the found the dark haired boy in front of them.
Stopping in her tracks, Caelyn felt Demi bump into her and squeak.
"..Hey." The boy greeted shyly. "My brother and I were wondering if you wanted to play hide n seek with us?"
Caelyn glanced at Demi, lost for words. "Um.." Demi looked absolutely terrified.
The gray haired man noticed the girls and their scared looks. He walked over, addressing the girls. "What's with the scared faces?"
Demi immediately froze, silently curling in on herself. Caelyn looked at the man and tried to think of something.
The boy looked up at the man and smiled toothily. "We were wondering if they want to play hide n seek."
"W-we have to g-go home." Demi whispered, grabbing her sister's hand and pulling her over to the gates leading to the playground.
A block away, they stopped, breathing heavily. Caelyn watched her sister. "What was that for?" she demanded. "Hide n seek coulda been fun."
"You're forgetting." Demi muttered, straightening up. "Besides, we have to get home anyway. Come on."
Back at the park, the little boy looked at his father in sadness and shame. It was the first time he had been judged outside of school.
Immediately his father engulfed the child in a warm hug and whispered encouraging words. "Why not try and befriend them in some other way?" he whispered.