New Kid

Chapter 13: Anxiety Controls Us All

Everyone is inside. The girls sit on the couch waiting for the moms rath to hit.

She walks in the living room, inhaled sharply, rubs her face. She looks stressed. Then proceeds to say, "I don't even know where to begin. You girls are...smart, funny, sweet girls. What were you thinking?"

Maya was about to speak when Carina cut her off, "Mamà don't be...mad at Maya. She...did nothing wrong," Carina studders trying to speak English but fails, "è stata una mia idea non sua," (it was my idea not hers).

"Carina, I don't care who's idea it was. It was a bad idea. I...I don't even know where to begin to punish you. It's not even noon...ugh," she rubs her face again. There is a thinking expression on her face, "Okay...give me your phones," the girls do as they're told, "you'll get these back in two weeks. Neither of you are allowed to leave the house unless it's to school. No friends at all. Definitely no vaping. If there's anything else I think of, I'll let you know. Don't tell your brothers cause it'll just intrigue them. Go to your room, I'll get the boys, do whatever homework you have and I'll call when dinner's ready,"

The girls walk upstairs hand in hand and immediately close the door, "See, she didn't yell and didn't kick you out,"

Maya exhales, "yeah," The girls lay on the bed cuddled into each other, "now what?"

"I guess we'll do some homework,"

"Ugh...can I sleep,"

"Of course bambina, I'll be right here. Close your eyes," Maya nods and slowly drifts off to sleep while the brunette looks at her peaceful.

~~~

It's about 6pm and getting darker. Maya ended up waking up and doing some homework with her girlfriend. The boys are also home by now. After finishing some out of school homework, the girls cuddle up on the bed again making some small talk and exchanging some gentle kisses. After a little while she notices Maya fell asleep again. Carina now has uncontrollable thoughts running through her head.

*Damn it Carina. You promised Maya was safe. I got her in so much trouble. She's gonna hate me. We're gonna break up. She'll run away. She'll block me. She'll hate me forever. Well Carina, there goes the best relationship you've ever had.*

All these thought were running through her head and couldn't turn them off. The one thing she knew would help was if she stared at the stars. She used to do it in Italy late at night when her dad had or was having an episode. Carina quietly slid herself out from under her girlfriend's grip and heads to the window. She opens it and is immediately hit with the cool air of the quiet dark evening. She steps on the roof just hovering over the front door then climbs on to the actually roof and lays down. Staring at the stars. Thoughts still running through her head.

*What have I done. God Damn It. Why do you have to be like this. Just go back to the innocent girl you were in Italy. Everyone loved that Carina, but I know everyone hates this Carina*

The uncontrollable thoughts still running ramped. She then thought *count the stars and focus on your breathing* as she did this, she became more tame and relaxed just staring at the stars.

Carina was up there for about 30 minutes. Her mom enters the room to find Maya asleep on the bed, alone. She wakes Maya up, "Maya sweetie, dinner's ready,"

Maya says groggily, "Okay,"

"Do you know where Carina is," she shook her head, "Damn it Carina. I'm gonna go see if Andrea knows. Start eating. It's already plated,"

She knocks on Andrew's door, "Andrea, Mason dinner's ready. Also, Andrea do you know where your sister is,"

"Her room,"