Time doesn't matter

1. Breakfast with the family

PAIGE POV

When I wake up the next morning, I did so with the worst feeling. Even though I was, I guess you can call it rich, that didn't matter at my school since almost everyone there is rich. My social status is kinda low and I used to not mind it.

The problem is Charlie, he seems to only date popular girls, and I'm about a billion percent sure that he doesn't even know my name even though we've been going to the same school together since the 1st grade.

I have my best friend Lou and he's all I need. At least that's what I tell myself. I also have Wendy, and Taylor, the twins, they're literally the best people ever and I don't understand what they are still doing hanging out with us when they clearly have enough social status to ditch us for Gina and her gang.

It's 5:30 am as I'm getting out of bed to grab the outfit I picked out the night before and head to my bathroom to get ready. I calmly take a shower, considering I have to leave at 8 am. I put one my outfit that I'm actually kind of proud of; a knitted cropped top in a light blue shade, with some faded black mom jeans and a black belt to tie it all together. I leave my hair down and just clip my grown out curtain bangs with light blue clips that match my top.
I also put on some blue ankle socks and my white air forces.

I feel confident with my outfit but just so I can feel a little extra power I decide to put on some basic makeup. Just some eyeliner and mascara. I'm not much of the makeup type, and to be honest I don't even own all of the stuff I'm supposed to have to do a full face of makeup. I pull out one of the two lipglosses I have and put it on.

When I head back to my room I stick the lipgloss in my backpack and double check I have everything. Today it's only a half day since they are just explaining to us the basics and giving us time to find our classes and meet our classmates. Making it that I only have to bring my main binder and none of my notebooks I've prepared for most classes. I only stubbornly brought my huge pencil pouch that fits a billion pens. To be fair I'm the gel pen girl so it's practically my job to bring pens. I'm just doing my job.

I'm dressed and ready by 7 am and I head down to the main dining room where we always eat out back-to-school breakfast.

I sit down in one of the seat next to the head of the table waiting for my family to start making an appearance.

Meanwhile I check my phone while Alice and Mary (our maids) finish setting up the table.

As I'm scrolling through Instagram I see that Charlie posted on his story. I open it and see that he posted about the new year and a shot of his schedule to compare with others. As the responsible student I am, I've already memorized mine and see that we actually have 5 classes together. That's better than last year, that we only had 4. I smile and go straight to Snapchat to see if he posted anything else (not in a creepy way of course) and see he didn't. I feel I little bit disappointed but let it go.

I put my phone away since my family is starting to show up.

My mom stayed with us today since she wanted to see us off for school, but normally she lives I couple of hours away in San Francisco. We visit her sometimes, but our lives are here. She comes down with Mouse (her name is Minnie, but we call her Mouse), my 5 year old sister since it's her first day of kindergarten.

"Hi P, how was your morning?" My mom asks using that awful nickname. Who wants to be called Pee, I swear.

"Good, and please don't call me pee" I say rolling my eyes and getting anxious to start eating.

"Ok, sure I'll stop" my mom says "Have you seen your dad and Bee?" My mom asks, referring to my father and my 9 year old brother, Beau.

"No I haven't, they might still be getting ready." I say

"Good morning Paige!" Mouse says as she sits across from me. She is dressing in her cute private school uniform ready for school. "I go to school today!" She tells me as if I had absolutely no idea.

"Cool, me too" I say with that kind of fake enthusiasm you use when you speak to a child. "Are you excited?" I ask.

"Super!" She says lifting her fork to start eating, right before my mom softly pats her hand reminding her of manners to wait for the rest. She does a little frown and puts down the fork, sits up straight and puts her hands on her lap.

I smile and do the same but relax almost immediately observing how Alice and Mary leave the room and my mom sits down next to Mouse.

Less than a minute later Bee shows up. He looks really cute, also in a private school uniform only that now he wears a suit jacket, since he has graduated to a 4th grade uniform.

My 9 year old brother sits down next to me formally saying "Good morning" as he stretches out his right hand for me to shake.

I repress a laugh and shake his small hand "Good morning" I say "I see that suit has really turned you huh." I continue still smiling.

"Dad says I'm a young man now, so I'm acting like one, and yes I do like it." He says going back to his normal voice and settling onto his chair, waiting for everyone to be seated to start eating.

"Good morning everyone" I hear my dad say as he is just barely stepping into the room. "Good morning Mouse" he says as he goes next to her and and kisses her head. "Good morning Paige" he says as he does the same thing to me on the other said of the table. "Good morning Lisa" he says to my mother, while he takes a seat and politely smiles at her.

My mom returns the smile and moved her gaze to her children. My parents have been divorced for 4 years now, but they have a good relationship for people in their situation. I'm glad they are like that, but I've I'm being honest I hope they don't get back together. It's good the way it is. "Good morning, well, shall be start eating?" My mom asks.

Right as she is reaching for the grabbers to pick up some pancakes, my dad interrupts her. "Actually I wanted to say something before we start" he says reaching for three boxes, they look like the kind where you would put jewelry in "I would like to give each one of you kids a small present for this new school year." He says handing each one of us a box, I get the biggest. That makes me smile. "Go ahead open them."

I wait for Mouse to open hers, a bracelet, it's beautiful. I don't think it's appropriate for a 5 year old but I also know my parents will not let her hear it until she is old enough. I gland next to me and see Bee opening his, some really nice cuffs to go one his new suit. Now it's my turn and I open my box. It's a watch, a very nice watch. I look up at my dad and he is looking at me for my reaction. He smiles when he sees I'm smiling and then winks at me. I'm starting to piece together what this is about. It's about what he told me yesterday. I look at the watch again and see a note.

So you can always have the time if you need it. *wink*
-Dad

I look back at my dad, and smile even bigger. I immediately put it on, and get up to give him a hug, just as my siblings do the same. We all say thank you for our presents and return to devour the amazing back-to-school breakfast Chef Addie prepared.