Small Town Sumner's

Chapter Two: Punishment Decided

~ Arien ~

I wasn't hungry but dad got a whole buffet so I felt bad if I missed out on it. It would have been a waste of money, but thankfully it wasn't, besides Lars laughing about Layla's now teary-eyed appearance and mine almost identical.

Most of the time it was just awkward silence between us two with mom filling dad in on the news, and dad becoming even more redder by the second, the nose flare and everything, no wonder I get told I look like him, we even get angry the way or at least express it. Every so often dad would take a glance at me then Layla finally letting out a fat sigh.

After all of us finished eating, Lars ran to his room to grab something, whilst Layla and I went to the living room to sit on the couch, growing impatient to receive the final blow of 'I'm disappointed in you' from dad and mom.

They've been in the kitchen speaking in hushed tones for quite some time now, I wonder what's gonna happen.

. . . . . .

They've finished talking.

They're walking toward us.

"Girls . . ." dad starts

"We've agreed what your punishment will be." Mom finishes

Both of them look serious.

Oh

Great

Just

Great.

~Layla~

Spending my whole summer break in Baldwin with grandpa, helping out with the shop and stuff is what I'm pretty sure dad just said, I turn to see Ari's reaction, it's the same as mine.

"What?!" I go frantic

"Your mom and I had been thinking since you two have caused this much trouble grounding you girls seems too easy" Dad goes on

"Um, not that easy" I roll my eyes

"For being jumped and having three fights in one school year, yes very easy" Mom flashes a side eye to Ari, this time Ari rolls her eyes

"Well does grandpa even need our help?" I ask

"Yes in fact, he's needed it for quite some time now" Dad's expression saddens a little

"Actually I was supposed to go down there later this summer for a couple days but with my job it's a little hard, but since you two need a real punishment the timing seemed almost perfect for you two to go" he explains further

"Great." Ari mumbles, which made Mom fed up

"LOOK, you two shouldn't get punished because of it, it's unfair yes but at the same time I know you girls, shoot I was your age once!" she points furiously at the two of us

"It seems unfair, and yes it is in some ways, but they live here too, it's not like they're gonna stop hating you two girls! In fact I'm pretty sure they're plotting their next scheme to get you two in trouble and since both of you are on summer break instead of going to the principal's office you'll be going to the county sheriff's!" Mom inhales a breath then goes on

"Maybe they're not planning on your demise this summer, maybe they are! I don't know but right now I know one thing for sure, for the past three or four years have been leading you two in a very dark direction, and I've finally taken the time to realize that you TWO . . ." She takes her time looking us, up and down

"Need some time away, somewhere safe that we know will be okay, and this is the only good idea your father and I have at the moment, which is giving you guys some space and time in an environment that isn't harsh but still away from home to help you girls get over this and prepared for the next year because guess what? Those haters are gonna keep coming around, we're not leaving this town anytime soon, haters come and go, and you two need to learn how to control your tempers, avoid situations, trust me over time you'll learn how to, especially when comes to figuring who's actually there for you." That last part Mom was saying while looking at me which gave chicken skin, geez this must be how Ari feels whenever Mom glares at her.

She was right, what happened earlier today wasn't the only thing for us, we both had a tough school year, individually speaking, I'd been burnt out from studying for AP courses alongside with applying to colleges, but that wasn't what stung me.

It was the part where Mom said she'd notice from years ago that we were drifting apart and going in a direction she didn't like. It may not have seemed like it, but I was having a hard time not doing bad things this year amongst others, maybe it was because I was just growing distant.

At times; I'd start feeling like going frantic as if stressing out, putting on a fake smile was enough, I'd feel tired maybe not physically but mentally and guilty for being tired, I needed to keep up that profile of Miss happy do it all prodigy feels nothing but joy never stress or anything bad! Or so that's what I thought. Not anymore, I'm tired, and I need a break, and I needed time, time with my sister. I concede into the thought.

"Alright Fine, if you say so."

🏵End of Chapter Two🏵

~Author's Note~

HI PJ03 here!
Thanks for reading another chapter of Small town summers! Please leave a vote, your support is much appreciated 💛

Hope you stick around for chapter three!