Robbie POV
BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP—
OW!
BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP BWAP—
…
Thank god I found it.
Stupid alarm.
"Uhhhh…" I hear Cat groan. "Are you up?"
"I'm not sure."
Then she suddenly kicked my thigh.
"OW! Cat!"
"Please make sure they're up and ready to go…" She said.
The sound of her rolling the other way met me.
Then silence.
I swing myself to the side of the bed and rub my eyes.
This is the not so fun part about being a parent.
Since Cat is the primary breadwinner, I usually let her sleep in longer; while I make sure the kids are ready for school.
It's usually not too bad.
When I want to do it.
I usually wake Corey up.
Sydney and Kevin are using alarms now.
Kevin's goes off at 6:30 like mine does.
Syd gets up at 5:45 to do her hair and other stuff.
Not exactly sure what all she does, but I guess it's important.
I walk to the door and slip into the living room.
BWAP BWAP BWA—
…
That was Kevin's alarm.
Glancing up towards the second floor balcony, I can see that Sydney's light is on.
And Kevin is presumably up.
My main job is to cook breakfast or to be sociable. That's usually up to me.
Since today is the first day of the spring semester for the kids, I'm going to be nice and cook some of the cinnamon rolls they love.
Cat and I don't let them have them often, since the sugar gets them hopped up and all. But since today is the toughest day to wake up every year, I'm gonna try and make it bearable.
I hated getting up on the first day after Christmas Break.
The worst one was senior year at Hollywood Arts.
I just remember that my parents were in Montreal for some reason, and I decided that I was going to sleep one more day away.
So that's exactly what I did.
Walking to the pantry, I take out a container of double shot espresso and walk to the coffee maker.
Syd is definitely up.
She has Italian Roast Extra Bold cup still in the container.
Usually she's pretty good about throwing it away.
No need to tell her. It's a little thing.
The fact that she opted for the Extra Bold tells me that she's a zombie. She usually duels me for the French Vanilla.
She loves her sweet stuff.
Every time we go buy some refills of the cups we double up on French Vanilla because Sydney and I usually have one each per morning.
I sleepily linger by the coffee machine until the beeping rouses me.
I grab the coffee cup and sip it while walking to the window that shows the backyard.
It's one of those pitch black mornings. The ones that seem darker than it was when you went to sleep.
I put the back of my hand on the glass to judge temperature.
Not bad.
60's. In and around there.
I fumble with my pocket to pull out my phone.
I just set the alarm for those cinnamon rolls.
My weather app…
Is loading.
This thing pisses me off almost on a daily basis. I haven't used you in 8 hours. You should be adjusted and ready to go when I check you in the morning.
Not take like 3 minutes to "update".
…
…
"Oh come on…" I groan, then stick it back into my pocket.
Better get Corey.
My ankles pop on each step, preventing me from sleuthing my way upstairs.
"Whirrrrrr…."
We found Sydney's hairdryer.
…
The rush of water from the boys' bathroom tells me Kevin is up.
I creep into Corey's room.
He's silently curled up into a ball, turned to the right.
I gently crouch by him and shake his shoulder gently.
"Corey…get up bud…Corey…"
He let out a groan and squinted at me.
"Already Daddy?"
"Yeah buddy. C'mon. Your brother is in the shower."
He stood up and hung his head while dutifully following me downstairs.
"OJ?" I ask, as he settles in at the table.
"Yes please." He says.
I smile to myself while getting him a glass.
"Thanks." He mumbles, then sips it.
We settle into silence as we sip our drinks.
I pull out my phone again.
Weather is still loading!
I fiddle around with the news app for a moment, only looking up when I hear footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Good morning Kevin."
"It definitely isn't but thank you anyway." He grumpily said while making his way to me.
He gave me a hug as I said "I'm sure you meant that in the nicest way possible."
He nodded the marched off to the fridge.
"You know what I mean though. Monday mornings are the worst!"
"Agreed."
"Is Mom getting up?" Corey asked.
"I don't think so."
…
"Why not?" Kevin asked, setting his half full glass down after chugging half.
"She was up late last night."
"Why?"
I shrug.
"Can we go say good morning?" Corey asked.
"Sure. Better you than me. She kicked me when my alarm went off." I say.
Both boys smiled and walked towards our bedroom.
I check my phone for the timer.
30 seconds on the rolls.
I walk over to the island in the kitchen and pull out two hot pads.
Beep beep beep.
They're done.
I shut off the alarm and open the oven and take out the baking sheet.
I cooked 15.
2 for everyone. And one extra.
Ellie and Matt are coming to pick up Kevin. Ellie will stay here while Jade takes the boys to school.
It's a nice system we have.
"Smells good."
"AHHHH!" I jump out of my skin.
It's Sydney.
She smiled and giggled.
"Don't…scare me like that!" I yelp.
"Everything ok?" I hear Kevin call out.
"Yeah! Sydney just decided to scare me!" I reply, then kindly glare at her.
She smiled and laughed.
"Sorry."
"…How's the extra bold treating you?" I ask.
"Fine. I'll bring my cup down before we go. Don't worry."
"Good girl." Cat suddenly said, hugging her daughter from behind.
"Hey Mom." Sydney smiled.
"Did you give your dad a heart attack?"
"Just about." I say, as Sydney decided it was a good time to find breakfast.
"What happened?" Cat asked kindly, while giving me a hug.
"I had just put the cinnamon rolls on the counter, and Sydney snuck up behind me and scared the crap out of me."
Sydney smiled, mouth full.
"Quiet feet like you." Cat smiled and poked my stomach.
"yeah tiny dancer." I tease her.
Then I turn to Cat.
"I thought you were supposed to be sleeping?"
"I was, but the boys came to say good morning, then you screamed." She smiled.
"Hah!" Sydney said, mouth full.
"I didn't scream." I say defensively.
"Then you yelped." Cat amended her statement.
"Where's Corey?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Changing into school clothes." Kevin said, sneaking past Cat to grab a cinnamon roll.
Cat blinked multiple times, giving Kevin a odd look.
"Did you…spike your hair?"
Huh?
I turn and look at Kevin.
It's spiked alright.
"Why?" I ask.
"No reason. Just thought I'd try it." He said quickly, then ducked behind the fridge to get more OJ.
Cat and I exchange knowing looks.
He was texting all break.
He never texts people.
He's ALWAYS complaining about how he never has anyone to talk to.
On the phone bill, it's very normal to have him send less than 100 messages in a month.
Last month's bill?
1300+!
Cat suspects a girl at school.
I'm starting to see her logic.
I was originally thinking he was texting his baseball buddies about meeting up at the cages or something.
The fact that he sent more messages than Sydney is…incredible.
It makes me want to double up my insurance on the house.
SOMETHING is going to happen.
"You look great honey." Cat said, snapping me from my thoughts.
Corey has on a red "Surf California" shirt and shorts.
"Thanks Mom. Ooh! Breakfast!" He beamed, and then darted to the food.
"Hello hello!" A familiar voice calls out.
"Jade!" The kids all say, moving towards the doorway that leads into the main hall.
Cat and I hang back, as the throng quickly moves out, and then back into the kitchen.
"Morning Jade." I say, as the kids all surround the cinnamon rolls.
"Hi…any trouble with yours?" She beams at us, coming to a stop at the table.
"Mom!" Ellie and Matt both say quickly and harshly.
"No. eat." She bit back, then shook her head.
"Nah. All ours were good." I say.
"I take it yours not so much?" Cat added.
Ellie gave her mom a dirty look behind her back.
I narrow my eyes at her, and she immediately perked up and turned back to Sydney.
"Nope. I had to wake both of them up." She frowned.
Ellie moved her eyes back to her mom, but I cut off the look.
"Yelling?" Cat asked.
She and Matt usually have one good screaming match a month about getting up.
Like mother like son.
"Not this morning thankfully. Otherwise we might have needed the national guard." She said ominously.
Matt had the guts to look nervous.
Ellie just looked bored.
Ironically, it's Matt that takes after Jade the most. Ellie is pretty chill from what I know.
Sydney is always saying she has a mean side, but I've never seen it really.
Sure you have you back and forths, especially since our families are so intertwined. She can get vindictive, but it's not nearly as bad as the Jade from Hollywood Arts.
The one who was straight from hell.
"How's breakfast?" Cat asked kindly.
"MMPPH!"
"Great! Thank you!" Matt beamed.
The rest of the kids give thumbs up.
"Ok boys, are you ready to go?" Jade turned around.
"…yep!" Kevin said.
Corey nodded, still chewing.
"C'mon then. Let's get you to school."
"Bye!" Cat smiled, as all three boys came for hugs.
I gave Matt a fist pound and waved to Kevin and Corey.
"Have a good day!" Cat smiled.
"We will!" Kevin said.
…
The sound of the door closing echoed around the house.
"It's so quiet." Cat smiled, walking over to get a cinnamon roll.
To my surprise, she hands the first one to me, then gets herself one.
"Thanks." I smile.
"How are you so perky in the mornings?" Ellie smiled.
Cat shrugged, mouth full.
"I'm just happy. It's just another day."
Sydney rolled her eyes and smiled.
I take a bite out of my roll, and check out the girls outfits.
Ellie has on black skinny jeans, black tank top and a dark jacket.
Syd has on a dark but sparkly tank top and normal jeans.
"I like your hair." Cat smiled at Sydney.
She half curled it. It's curled to a point, then stops.
"Thanks Mom."
"I think it's time to go." Ellie said suddenly, looking down at her phone.
"Have a good day!" Cat smiled at the girls.
"Thanks Mom." Sydney smiled as I walk to the area where we keep the keys.
Both girls fall into line behind me.
I stop momentarily to scoop up the keys.
"Bye Cat."
I freeze and turn to Cat.
ELLIE?
Cat looks as confused as me.
"See you later." I smile.
"Kay Kay." She beamed and waved.
"Drive safe!" She called out as I opened the door.
"I will."
I unlock the door, and we all pile in.
Sydney hopped in the front, which is rare.
Usually when we go to school it's Ellie up front with me.
It's her phone.
She has it plugged into the charger.
As I pull onto the road, Syd gets some music going, and the girls sing the whole drive.
Unfortunately it's all new stuff, which I don't think is very good.
Number one sign you're old.
Number two sign?
Seeing your old teacher walk into your high school as you drop your kids off.
But Sikowitz is right there.
"Have a good day girls." I smile.
"Bye." Ellie said.
"See you after school." Sydney said.
I pull out of the carpool lane and glance in my rearview mirror.
Sydney and Ellie are already chatting it up.
Sydney POV
(3 Hours later)
26…59…4…
I swing my locker open and dump my theory of group behavior book into my locker.
"You know, I think we can just ask your dad about that stupid class. I mean, he is a professional comedian."
I poke my head out and see Ellie popping on her gum.
"Yeahhhh…I told you, he made it look effortless. I think it comes naturally."
"But it's worth a shot! I mean, you said he's good! Plus we're failing the damn class!"
I bite my lip and turn back to Ellie.
"Because he's a jerk!"
"No, because he's an asshole!"
I roll my eyes. "Same thing."
"No, not really!"
"Does it matter?" I flatly ask.
"Everything matters!"
"Ok Ghandi." I snap at her, then slam my locker.
"Whoa! Temper! Did you talk to him?" Ellie lit up and asked.
…
"C'mon Sydney! Did you talk to Austin or not?"
"I did…"
"And…?" She pressed.
I hate this feeling.
"He invited me to the movies."
"YES!" She yelled.
I cringe and immediately scrunch up.
Ellie turned around to see everyone looking at us.
"What? Turn around." She said.
…
"NOW!"
Ellie went for her backpack, which is where she keeps her scissors.
Everybody jumped and immediately went back to what they were doing.
She smiled and turned back around.
"So…all that texting paid off."
"Finally." I grumble.
It took me 3 months to get into Club Austin!
3 MONTHS!
Mom and Dad told me multiple times to slow down on the texting. Maybe go outside sometime. Enjoy some time with my friends.
"Hey…" Ellie tapped my shoulder. "it paid off."
"I think so."
"Oh come on…don't be such a downer! He's going to love you!"
"Are you sure? It took awhile to get to this point!" I bite at her.
"Yesss…you'll do fine. Are you going to be ok next period? He's in Sikowitz's with us!"
Oh crap!
I dive for my bag and immediately check my makeup.
I hear her laugh in the background.
"It's not funny."
"yeah it is." She said.
I give her the nastiest glare I can manage, then go back to my eyeliner.
I'm the only one in this school that can get away with that and not get scissors waved at me.
I like that.
Gives me some sort of power. Which I don't really have otherwise.
I'm not the most popular girl, but that's ok because the guys here seem to not like the popular girls.
Well…some of them at least.
"Sydney!"
"AAHHH!" Ellie and I both yell.
I look up and—
Shit it's him.
"Hey Austin!" I say cheerfully, giving him a nice smile.
"I'll go save us seats in class." Ellie said quickly, winking at me.
"Save me one…please Ellie." Austin sweetly asked.
AWWW!
"Sure Austin. Next to me or Sydney?"
"Uhm…doesn't matter really." He said nervously.
Ellie turned and walked to the black box.
She intimidates him too.
But he's a sweetheart.
Nice hugs.
"Hi." He said, sounding breathless.
"I thought we already said hi?"
"I…uhh…we did! I just…wanted to say hi. And maybe talk about the movie thing…?"
He looks VERY nervous.
\It's hard to fight back my smile.
I've been admiring him from afar for months. Thankfully the Wicked Witch of the West dumped him.
"Sure! When do you want to go?" I smile.
"Uhh…can we walk and talk to class? Bell is about to ring."
"Sure."
I have to crane my neck to look up at him. He's like 5'9.
All muscle from baseball.
I'm starting to understand baseball from Kevin's videogames.
He doesn't understand why, but he doesn't know anything.
Nobody does outside of Jade.
Mom and Dad have suspicions I'm sure, but they have no idea.
"What kind of movies do you want to see?" he asked, voice still nervous.
"Uhm…I like funny movies. Romantic ones…stuff like that. What about you?"
Riiiiiiiiiinnnnggggggg!
We both sprint to the door, and get there right before Sikowitz shuts it.
He gives us a kind smile, then shuts it.
"Okay young people! Phones stowed away and on silent…you know the drill!"
Up front Ellie is glaring at Sinjin.
"I. SAID. MOVE!"
"No. Nobody ever sits here." He said, then took a bite out of his apple.
Austin and I approach our seats.
I can feel him half cringe since Sinjin is a FREAK.
His dad does all kinds of weird crap like collect teeth and old bottle caps.
Sinjin never wears deodorant and always is eating. I don't get why he isn't fat.
"Well I am today. Move it Sinjin." Austin suddenly stepped up, voice and posture totally different.
"Make me pretty boy."
I hear the sound of Ellie unsheathing her scissors, but Austin beat him to it and lifted him up.
"LET ME GO!" He yelped.
I turn back to Ellie, and she looks shocked.
Sikowitz is just sitting on the steps of the stage.
Smiling and waiting.
Austin dropped him in front of his seat, then went to the hand sanitizer station and pumped like 5 squirts.
Then he sat next to me.
"Ok! Now that our entertainment is over, somebody tell us about their break." Sikowitz said, reaching for his coconut.
His crazy trippy coconut.
…
"Nobody?"
Please don't pick me.
I didn't do anything, and I won't be able to perform something in front of Austin!
"I'm going to give you one second to volunteer before we go to acting challenges for a test grade." Sikowitz said.
"You can't test all of us." Ellie said.
"Eleanor Oliver! Thanks for volunteering!" Sikowitz lit up.
"WHAT?" She yelled.
I have to hold back a laugh, and beside me I can tell Austin is trying not to laugh.
I look up at him, and he's not having much luck.
"Yeah. Get up here. You and…Robert."
Oh.
Puppet boy.
He's another one of the weirdos.
Mommy said after orientation that his mom went to school with Daddy and her. Apparently Dad also used a puppet named Rex, but at least he grew out of it."
I'm not sure Robert and Albert (Puppet's name) will ever be separate.
Mom thought that his mom had a crush on Daddy, but never said anything.
Creepy that she names her child after somebody else's husband.
Ellie and Robert get up on stage and look to Sikowitz.
"You are a couple, stranded on a island and you're talking about ways to acquire food. GO!"
"Aww man! The ship didn't see us." Robert began.
LAME.
"I know Alfredo! What a shame!" Ellie said, in her Scarlett O' Hara voice.
I let out a snort of laughter, and I feel Austin's chest laugh.
"My name isn't Alfred! It's Alfred!"
"Oh. Well sorry Alfredo! I guess that'll have to do!"
Robert looks furious, but dropped it.
"Whatever…what about food. Or water? Or do you plan on just sitting there and looking all beautiful."
BEAUTIFUL?
I look up, and find myself in Austin's arms.
No wonder I was so comfy.
"Beautiful?" I hiss to Austin.
He looked down and smiled.
"Snap!"
Austin and I jump, and see Sikowitz subtly shake his head.
No talking.
Austin simply turned back to the stage and rubbed my left arm, which he had wrapped his arm around.
He's warm.
"I already found food! It's over here!" Ellie said, and then marched over to the corner of the stage.
"Oh…WOW!" Robert exclaimed. "Where'd you get all of this?"
"It's a secret." Ellie said, sitting down.
Robert began sitting, but Ellie exclaimed "NO!"
He scrambled away.
"What?"
"This is a no Alfredo zone. Find your own food."
Then Ellie actually pulled a banana out from somewhere and sat it in her lap.
"That's not fair!" I hear Sinjin yell.
Austin and I turn to see him standing, then snap back to Ellie.
She's gonna do something.
Sikowitz got up as soon as he could, but Ellie chucked the banana at Sinjin
SPLAT!
I turn and see it somehow exploded all over him
Everyone busted out laughing.
I simply collapse into Austin's chest and laugh.
He's so hot and muscular!
"Ok everyone, settle down. Sinjin, I know you have extra clothes. Go get changed. Ellie and Robert, you're done…" Sikowitz said.
"Oh thank god…" Robert said, then sprinting off stage.
When I sat back down, Ellie fixed me with a knowing grin.
I turn away from her and scoot closer to Austin.
Hopefully he doesn't see my smile.