you should know what you're falling for

three

 "How was school?" asks my twelve-year-old brother, Alex, walking along beside me. He's such an angelic, vulnerable sweetheart to everyone, the complete opposite of me. 

"School was school." I reply plainly, not looking up from my gaze at the sidewalk.
A small noise escapes my foster-sister, Kendall's, mouth. 

"What?" I squeak curiously.

She sashays up beside me, "Oh, nothin'... I just heard rumor that a certain someone already has eyes for you." Alex begins to chuckle slightly, and smirks at me.

I snort, "Yeah, right. He and that Sierra chick have been dating since the dawn of time, or somethin'. Plus, I'm not interested. I, for one, don't have eyes for anyone."

The sheepish grin slides off of my little brother's face. Kendall, who is my age, shifts her weight awkwardly. I tuck my side bangs out from my behind my ear, allowing them to cover my face.
After a few minutes of walking in an uncomfortable silence, the three of us reach the house. 

I swing open the elaborate front door and am greeted by the embrace of my foster mom, Christi. I stiffen immediately, I don't like hugs. recoils sensitively and tries to brush off my rejection, then moves on to hug the others. 

"Hi kids!" she exclaims, leading us into the kitchen, 

"So," Christi leans on the counter, flashing her pearly whites at us, "There's a party tonight at the Tavern tonight, and I think you all should go!"

Kendall claps her hands excitedly, "Of course I'm going to go!" She scurries upstairs to her bedroom in a cascade of giggles. I turn around and notice that Alex has slunk away as well, and I face my foster mom. 

"I really think you should go." she says softly, reaching out to grab my hand. I pull away reflexively. I don't like to be touched.

I sigh and glare out the window.

Christi intercepts my line of sight, "In fact, I'm making you go. Now, go borrow something from Kendall, okay?"