"Rise and shine, my little butterfly! Momma's back!" My mom, Lia, exclaimed as she flung open my bedroom door, startling both me and Moxxie.
"Mom! Did you and Dad come home last night?"
"Yep! Now get ready, you haven't had breakfast yet."
"Okay, okay."
I head downstairs, leaving Moxxie snuggled up on my bed. Poor thing was so scared he ended up perched on my head. I'll have to remind Mom to be less abrupt next time.
"Good morning, my twinkle toes," Dad, Jack, greeted from the living room, sipping his coffee.
"Morning, Dad. I'm good." I made my way to the kitchen where Mom had prepared breakfast.
"Gosh, Mom, this is amazing, but you really didn't have to."
"Hush now, sit and eat. All of it."
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"Where's Moxxie?"
"He's still sleeping on your bed. And I'm glad you like the breakfast."
"Oh, Mom, it's delicious. Thank you."
"Of course, butterfly. Enjoy it."
"He really loves your bed, twinkle toes," Dad chuckled.
"He sure does!"
"By the way, butterfly, did you hear about the news?" Mom's tone shifted to something more serious.
"No, what happened?" I asked, puzzled.
"It's all over the news," Dad called from the living room.
"Dad, I don't watch the news. It's so dull."
"Well, if you did, you'd know that last night, Cassie Baker and Steve Orth were brutally murdered," Mom said matter-of-factly, leaving me in shock.
"What? I saw them just yesterday in the school hallway. They're dead?" I was bewildered. Mom and Dad usually don't concern themselves with people outside our immediate circle. I wasn't close with Cassie or Steve, but this was unsettling.
"Finish your breakfast, butterfly. I won't let you leave until you do," Mom insisted, her stern tone brooking no argument. I quickly polished off my meal.
"We were so relieved nothing happened to you. But, honestly, if anyone tried anything, you'd probably just befriend them, given your lack of awareness," Dad added with a wry smile.
"Wha-Dad!... Yeah, you're right." I had never been close to Cassie or Steve, and aside from my friends, I didn't socialize much. I needed to change my clothes to match the somber mood of the day.
