16 years later
As I flipped the pages of the newly acquired book, I felt the words sweep me away, forming vivid images in my mind—deep emerald forests shrouded in mystery and whispers of magic. I was deep in the world of the forbidden forest when my mother’s voice sliced through my concentration.
“Kids, I’m off to work! Dinner’s in the fridge!” her voice echoed from the kitchen, but her words barely registered. I begged for just a few more minutes, yearning to dive deeper into the story before reality pulled me back.
Unexpectedly, a crash from Scott’s room jolted me out of my literary reverie. I sighed, wondering what disaster had unfolded now. It was always something with him. Groaning, I pushed myself off the couch and padded toward his room, curiosity piqued.
I found him in the aftermath, standing amidst a pile of shattered lamp pieces and sporting a sheepish grin. A lacrosse ball wedged itself between the curtains, dangling precariously.
“I thought you quit lacrosse,” Mom said, crossing her arms over her sleek blouse, disappointment lacing her tone.
“I didn’t quit; I just never play,” Scott defended, his tone almost defensive. His athletic shorts hung low on his hips, exposing his lanky legs. For someone who claimed to be too busy for the sport, he was clearly still invested.
“Have you thought about quitting?” I asked with a mischievous smile. Teasing him was one of my greatest joys, and my brother was an easy target.
“Mom, tell her something!” he whined, trying to shift the focus onto me.
“She’s not wrong, Scott.” Mom wore an amused smile, evidently enjoying the sibling banter. “I just want you to be happy. High school should be fun! You should get out there and meet some girls.”
Her innocent statement caught even me off guard. I felt my face flush slightly as I glanced at Scott, who adopted a downcast expression, drawing me into the moment of awkwardness.
“But only meeting them, yeah? Just that!” Mom attempted to clarify but faltered mid-sentence.
“Yeah, well, I’m not having much luck with that either,” Scott replied, sadness creeping into his voice, and I couldn’t help but suppress a snicker.
“I wonder why,” I coughed, feigning innocence as laughter threatened to bubble over.
“Nyx, stop it,” he complained, rolling his eyes.
“Your brother is very handsome,” Mom chimed in, desperately trying to champion his cause.
“Yeah, he should model for blinds,” I shot back, and this time, Mom couldn't contain her laughter.
“Mom, seriously?” Scott looked appalled, and I snickered, enjoying the sibling rivalry.
“What? I didn’t say anything bad!” I declared, fighting to keep my smirk.
“You’re adopted, remember?” he retorted with a smirk.
“I know; that’s why I’m prettier!” I burst out laughing, knowing he didn’t mean it. Deep down, I understood how much he loved me, with all our playful jabs.
“Okay, okay, kids,” Mom interjected, trying to bring order. “Nyx, stop teasing your brother, and Scott, don’t worry. Sophomore year is always better, I promise.”
With that, she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs to gather her things. “Kids, I’m leaving! Don’t destroy the house!” she called back, her voice trailing off as she left for work.
As soon as the door clicked shut, silence enveloped us. I looked around, taking in the chaos. Broken glass glittered like a shattered starry night, and Scott kicked the lacrosse ball, sending it bouncing off the wall.
