Alexis Denver stepped off the school bus onto the hard pavement after the rest of her classmates. She took a moment to make sure she had everything with her, and stepped away from the plexiglass doors.
"Really Will, you should know that none of the world we live in would be possible without nature. Plants give us even the air we breathe, the least you can do for them is recycle!"
She turned at the ever-so-familiar voice that had been giving a not-so-uncommon rant throughout the entire bus ride. A cheerful Layla was beaming at the world in front of her with a triumphant grin on her face. Next to her stood a rather harassed-looking Will, who was holding a hand to his head as though suddenly hit with a severe migraine. "It was a Post-It note for Christ's sake," he muttered, still clutching his head in pain. Layla just gave an exasperated sigh and took a large step in order to not disturb a small clover patch in front of her. Alex laughed softly at her friends. Deciding to spare Will any further headache, she looked around at her other classmates for an alternate victim. Hmmm….Zach would work. Yes, he had definitely stolen her hot chocolate at lunch today, and she needed to get back at him.
Seeing that Layla was about to begin an entirely new lecture on the difference a single Post-It note could make in the fight for Mother Nature's preservation, she swiftly interjected. "Oh Layla, I forgot to tell you about what I caught Zach doing today. He was actually going to throw an aluminum soda can in the trash!" Alex watched as her friend quickly adopted a shocked expression at the ungodly prospect. All thoughts of an upcoming lecture for Will were forgotten as Layla marched off to reprimand her new victim.
"Thank the lord! I love her and everything, but I thought my brain was gonna explode! I am unfortunately in your debt."
"Right you are, Stronghold," she replied. "And I think that may be repaid with hot chocolate later, seeing as the egotistical human Night Light over there stole mine today."
Looking over to where Zach was being sternly scolded for his 'dark deed', she continued. "So it all works out. I get my hot chocolate, and he gets to spend the next half hour being environmentally enlightened. Happiness makes the world go round, wouldn't you agree?"
Will just laughed and shook his head at her usual antics, saying, "See ya, Alex."
"Later, Will."
Spotting a very amused Maj and Ethan watching Zach being tortured, she grinned. "Bye guys! Oh, and do enjoy this positively lovely afternoon, Zach!"
She didn't even wait for his response; the look on his face was enough. Giggling uncontrollably, she skipped lightly down the sidewalk. Proud of her accomplishment, Alex quickened her pace a bit and pushed past to home.
Upon reaching her house, she unlocked and opened the door quietly, and checked the coat rack in her daily routine. No coat meant that her father wasn't home. He never was home on weekdays while she was awake, but she still checked to be sure. Today, being Thursday, was no exception. Quickly dropping her bag in her room, she started purposefully toward the kitchen. It was a silent agreement among siblings that Alex was to make a snack everyday for her and her little sister. After eventually laying out some cut up apple and peanut butter she'd managed, she sat and waited for her sister to wake up.
Sure enough, after a few minutes, the door at the far end of the room opened, and a rather messy head of light brown hair appeared at about the height of the door handle. Alex grinned down at her five-year-old sister as the little girl made her way to one of the stools next to her. "Heya Ellie, have a nice nap?" The girl blinked and gave her a lopsided smile. Her given name was Ellen, but she hated being called that, so Alex had in a stroke of brilliance thought up a new name for her. Ellie took her seat and began dipping an apple, while Alex told her all about the wonderful pranks she had pulled at school that day.
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As night fell on the empty streets and many alleyways of the suburb, Alex lay awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling. One thing was haunting her otherwise sleepy thoughts. It ricocheted of the boundaries of her mind, keeping her awake. Tomorrow was Friday.
