Twelve.

Chapter 2.

"Violet Marie Anderson. I've been trying to wake you up for fifteen minutes!" barked my mom.

"Ughhhh," I groaned, "I'm up, I'm up."

Mom crossed her arms and bit at the inside of her cheek, "PMS?" she questioned.

"No, Mom. I just didn't sleep well last night. That's all," I growled.

She threw her hands up defensively, "Okay, okay. I was just asking."

I pushed past her and stomped to the bathroom.

"So weird," I said to myself after I shut and locked the bathroom door, "I've had that creepy dream every night for a month. It's ruining my mood."

After I got completely ready, I marched downstairs to find myself some breakfast, since Mom doesn't cook breakfast on weekends. I searched every cabinet in the kitchen for the Lucy Charms, but only found the knock-off brand of Cheerios.

I sighed at the fact that I had to settle for this kind of breakfast, but then I felt guilty; my mom did a lot for us. The least I could do was make my own breakfast.

"Hey, girlie," exclaimed my over-the-top stepfather, Charles, as he skipped down the steps, "what are you up to, today?'

"Nothing really," I replied, "I might take Tanner out for ice cream or something."

Just as Charles was about to approve, he was cut off by a high-pitched squeal.

"EEEK. Did you just say my name and ice cream in the same sentence?" questioned my bright eyed little sister.

I giggled at her excitement, "Yes ma'am, we can go after lunch."

"Why can't we go now?" She wined.

"Well, Tanner, I don't think it's the best idea to have ice cream for breakfast." I lightly tapped her nose. She giggled and ran to get dressed for the day.

Tanner was twelve years old, four years younger than I am. We'd always been really close. Tanner was a little immature for her age, but it was okay, because so was I.

Just as I was putting my dirty bowl in the sink, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. It was a text from Aaron Carson. Aaron was my best friend, an had been since second grade.

The text read:

"Hey, Violet, wanna hang out today?"

I smiled down at my phone. I have to admit, I was forming a tiny crush on him, but I wasn't going to let that interfere with our friendship.

I walked into the living room and planted my butt on the couch before I texted back:

"Sounds fun. Meet me at our usual spot at noon. (:"

I stood up and slid my phone back into my back pocket.

"Can we go to the mall?" called Tanner from the top of the stairs, "I wanna spend my allowance."

"Sure, as long as we're back by noon, I'm meeting Aaron."

"But.. I thought we were going for ice cream after lunch," she implied.

"We are! We can get it on our way home. I promise," I replied.

"Okay, but you better keep that promise," she warned.

"Oh, what are you going to do, hurt me? What if I get you first?" I smirked.

A wide grin spread across Tanner's face, "Catch me if you can."

She bolted straight out the front door, with me on her heels. She jumped in the passenger seat of my car and quickly strapped herself in.

"Can't do much to me now," she boasted.

"Fine," I laughed. The car door opened with a creak, and I jumped in.