Huntington Avenue | ✓ [PV REWRITE]

Part II: Chapter 18

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Chapter 18 | ❝ ...You can't be serious. ❞

Saturday, December 15th, 2018 - 10:15 a.m.

DESPITE REMAINING AWAKE until approximately three in the morning, Kelsey was ready for the day ahead of her...or was she?

After arriving home the previous night - and texting Zach like she promised - Kelsey cleaned up the small mess she and Zach had made with their snacks and cuddled with her dog on the couch until the wee hours of the early morning. She ended up finishing the first season of Stranger Things before going to sleep—not on her bed, but once more on the couch with Uno despite the snoring. Kelsey had too much to think about.

Her thoughts were clouded with Zach's confession from the night before. Kelsey had no idea he was suffering from nightmares. The only trace of them was his visible fatigue viewed through the dark circles underneath his bright blue eyes. Then again, even his irises were beginning to fade into oblivion. There was nothing she was able to do to help other than comfort the boy who attempted to be strong despite his mind abusing him.

Even though she sat on the couch with a bowl of Cheerios, she did not feel as optimistic as the name suggested. Kelsey dipped her spoon into the sweet, milky breakfast and slipped a small mouthful of the cereal into her mouth. The morning breath she gained by not brushing her teeth that morning slowly withered away with each bite. Kelsey was too distracted to leave her seat.

The television was on at a low volume for some background noise while Kelsey continued to contemplate on what she was to do about the situation that fell into her lap like a bowling ball. The last thing she wanted to do was to "strike out." She rolled her eyes at the pun she created and went back to eating her breakfast and scrolling through her Instagram feed. Social media was an outlet to her, but not a healthy one.

Was she aware of it? Of course. Did she care? Absolutely not.

Thankfully, a key entered the front door's slot and unlocked it. Kelsey's parents entered the house in the midst of a delightful conversation of which Kelsey decided to ignore. She assumed it was relating to the friend's wedding they had attended, but it did not spark her interest one bit. Instead, she continued watching the television as she finished her cereal.

Mrs. Davis spoke up when they arrived in the living room. "Kelsey, Dear—we're home!" she exclaimed in a cheerful notion that caused an instant smile on her daughter's face.

"Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!" She greeted her parents with the same amount of enthusiasm. "How was the wedding?"

"It was great. Your father cried—you know how he gets at weddings," Mrs. Davis exposed her husband, who spun on his heel and left to unpack his suitcase upstairs.