I've decided to reboot this story, and to begin this process, I'll be rewriting these few chapters because reading them made me unhappy. I hope nobody minds. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
I woke up to the sound of my brother Kay, getting dressed. I attempted to roll over and pretend I hadn't noticed until he hit his hand on the corner of the dresser we shared. That produced a curse out of him. I snickered under my breath, but not quiet enough apparently.
"What're you laughing about, Koda?" Instead of answering smartly, like I would of on any other day, I stood up and found a motivation to get dressed. It was the knock on the door.
It took me less than a minute to change into my all black button down and slacks and find her downstairs where she quickly rushed into my arms, planting a small kiss on my lips as she did so.
"Happy Reaping Day."
"Happy Reaping Day, Maya," I repeated back to her in a tone as if today were actually a day to celebrate.
A snicker came from behind me and glanced to see that my two older siblings, Aries and Kay were both casually leaning against the wall, mocking us. Kay seemed to notice me watching because he quickly turned his attention to us.
"What would you two do without each other?" Aries asked as she walked across the small kitchen floor to the table where my mother had set out fresh coffee, only used on special occasions like today.
"My bets on Koda crying," said my brother with the same rude tone he'd used every time he spoke to me or about me. I opened my mouth to speak, but Maya was quicker at these things than me, weirdly. Her brother never bothered her the way my siblings did me.
"Like you did last year when your mom took you out after Koda broke his arm." Kay's eyes flashed with anger, but he looked down at the ground, realizing when he was defeated.
The conversation was quickly changed to the upcoming Reaping when my mother decided now was the perfect time to join the conversation after warning Maya from leaving a lipstick mark on my shirt when she went to kiss my shoulder.
"Next year, that'll be me. I'm gonna volunteer." Silence instantly fell upon the group at Kay's words. I felt my heart speed up, wondering what my family were thinking, wondering who would speak first. I eventually took the burden.
"Well, if that's what you want." Maya instantly looked at me, her eyes full of sadness. I knew what she was thinking. Don't encourage him. You know he can't do it. You can't handle another Fade.
The silence stayed. My words doing nothing to break it, until my father arrived from upstairs in his nicest attire, which happened to be his blue button down and white slacks that he wears on Wednesdays at the Mountain.
Suddenly, the conversation became luscious and all over the place like the flood we'd had a couple years ago. The conversation changing as fast as the water level would and everything in it's path getting soaked in it.