SUNSHINE - COLE WALTER

003.

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Navigating the maze of desks, Jamie found her place at the back of the classroom for her final period. A girl to her left disrupted her settling process with a friendly inquiry.

"Hey, you're Jamie right?" the girl asked.

"Yeah," Jamie replied, meeting the girl's gaze.

"I'm Maddy, by the way," Maddy introduced herself, offering a warm smile. "So what's it like living with the Walter boys?"

Jamie, intrigued by the directness, replied with a playful smile, "Is that the only reason you're being nice to me?"

Maddy, not missing a beat, responded with a compliment, "No. You've also got a killer fashion sense," causing Jamie to burst into laughter. Their banter continued, delving into Jamie's experience in the new town, prompting Maddy to suggest, "Listen, I could be like your personal tour guide. Show you around the town after school if you want?"

"Yeah, that would be great. Thank you," Jamie agreed, grateful for the offered friendship.

After class, Jamie and Maddy strolled towards Maddy's car, engaged in light-hearted chatter, only to be intercepted by an irritating blonde-haired boy named Cole.

"Hey, Sunshine, where are you off to?" Cole inquired.

"Out," Jamie replied tersely.

"Where?" Cole pressed.

"Why do you care?" Jamie retorted, irritation creeping into her tone.

"I don't. I was just wondering," he replied, unfazed.

"Great, so you can leave me alone now," Jamie snapped, grabbing Maddy's arm and leading her to the car, leaving Cole glaring at her retreating figure.

"Urgh. Why does everyone like him," Jamie vented her frustration.

"It's called the Cole effect. Everyone likes him," Maddy explained as they settled into the car.

"Yeah, well, I don't," Jamie declared, staring out of the window with a determined expression.

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"Hey, Jackie," Jamie beamed as she descended the stairs to greet her sister.

"Hey," Jackie replied, offering a small smile that hinted at something amiss.

"Are you okay?" Jamie inquired, concern evident in her voice.

"Yeah, it's just Cole didn't give me a lift home," Jackie admitted, her disappointment palpable.

"Wait, seriously?" Jamie questioned, surprised by the revelation.

"You weren't in the car?" Jackie asked, seeking confirmation.

"No, I went out with a friends I met today. If I had known that, I would have waited for you," Jamie explained, a tinge of regret in her voice.

"No, it's okay. Just Cole being Cole," Jackie dismissed with a resigned smile, accepting the quirks that seemed to define Cole's behavior. The two sisters exchanged understanding glances, silently acknowledging the unpredictability that came with dealing with someone like Cole.

George's hearty shout for food echoed through the air, acting as a dinner bell that set off a chaotic symphony of movement. The kitchen suddenly became a bustling hub of activity as hungry guests hurriedly converged. Amidst the hustle, Jamie and Jackie, the newcomers to the lively gathering, found themselves momentarily adrift in the sea of eager appetites. Uncertain about where to position themselves in the flurry of activity, the sisters tactfully stepped aside, observing the culinary frenzy unfolding around them with a blend of curiosity and amusement. Their hesitation painted a brief tableau of the newcomers navigating the spirited chaos of a gathering in full swing.

As Katherine directed the girls to have a seat, they maneuvered through the lively crowd toward the crowded table. Eager to settle in, Jackie approached an open chair only to be swiftly halted by Parker.

"That's my seat," Parker declared, prompting Jackie to shift with a bemused smile. Meanwhile, Jamie stood to the side, patiently waiting for the seating shuffle to conclude before claiming her own spot.

Once settled, Jackie received a plate of spaghetti from Katherine. However, her attempt to indulge in the feast took an unexpected turn as she accidentally spilled the pasta all over herself. A surprised yelp escaped her lips when she realized she was holding a snake, sending shockwaves through the room and triggering laughter from the amused guests.

Amidst the laughter, Katherine, attempting to restore order, raised her voice, "You guys, stop. Stop it! Please!"

"I'm going to go help Jackie," Jamie declared, rising from her seat, a protective instinct kicking in.

"Jamie, can you tell Jackie that I'm sorry?" Katherine requested as Jamie prepared to leave.

"It's fine. It's not your fault," Jamie reassured Katherine, shooting a pointed glare towards the chuckling family members before making her way to assist her sister.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jamie asked her sister, concern etched on her face as she observed Jackie in the aftermath of the spaghetti mishap.

"Yeah, I'm just going to go wash this off," Jackie replied, her gaze lowered to the spaghetti-stained attire.

"Okay, well, I'll see if I can get the pasta sauce out of this jumper for you," Jamie offered with a reassuring smile, already planning to tackle the aftermath of the dinner debacle.

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After meticulously cleaning Jackie's jumper, Jamie made her way back upstairs to their shared room, damp cloth in hand. Expecting to find her sister there, she was surprised to discover that Jackie was nowhere in sight. The room, usually shared in animated conversation or laughter, was unusually silent.

Perplexed, Jamie's eyes scanned the room until they landed on Jackie's wash bag neatly placed on the bed. The telltale sign indicated that Jackie had finished her shower. A sense of curiosity mingled with concern as Jamie wondered where her sister might have wandered off to in the interim.

Turning around to search for Jackie, Jamie spotted Isaac walking by.

"Oh, hey, Isaac. Have you seen Jackie anywhere?" Jamie inquired, only to be met with a nonchalant shrug.

"Thanks, real helpful," she retorted with a playful eye roll before deciding to investigate further.

Jamie made her way downstairs and outside the door. To her surprise, she discovered Cole and Jackie by a horse, the two engrossed in conversation and standing unusually close together. The scene prompted a mix of curiosity and concern to flicker across Jamie's face as she observed the unexpected connection between her sister and Cole.

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