Another Timeline Without You

Chapter 7

7

French Vanilla latte for Nancy! Lyn called out. It was unusually quiet today, even as Nancy was running up to get her order, and as she took it, she looked at Lyn and smiled before leaving for work.

Lyn was attention-starved sometimes, but her heart couldn't stop fluttering whenever people smiled at her. It didn't matter whether it was a guy or gal, whether it was someone's grandma or grandpa, or even children. There was something about people's genuine smiles that gave her joy.

Penny, on the other hand, doesn't really appreciate others' smiles as much. She didn't think much of it when a few guys were smiling at her back in middle school. She had only realized most of them were smirks-as Lyn put it.

You're always too serious. You don't even know when someone is flirting with you! Lyn would be right-she didn't know. Her mind was always filled with Von's memories, poems, and songs.

Back to the present, Lyn and Penny were in charge of the counter today, but Lyn had to take a quick bathroom break. When Penny looked up at the door that chimed when swung open, her eyes lit up.

Bri! She had called out. Her favorite little cousin was here. Of course, she wasn't so little anymore-I don't think a fifteen year old would be considered 'young' nowadays, no?

Bri had red and puffy eyes, insinuating that she had been crying, either last night or just a few minutes before coming in here. Penny immediately left the counter and rushed to Bri's side. Penny led her over to one of the tables and asked what had happened-what situation was so bad that her younger cousin was going through this?

It's just...school, I guess. Our teachers are giving us performance tasks a week. Were her first words. It's so draining, but I couldn't possibly bother mom and dad with my rants. They have problems of their own, and I don't want to add to that...Were her last, before slowly breaking down into tears. Penny put both her arms around Bri, and offered the most comforting hug she could give.

She remembered those days when she would cry over a sixty percent on a quiz as well. Of course, Penny had a childhood in all of her past (and present) lives, so she did focus on herself more during her younger years.

Hey, hey, it'll be okay. Well, no, it wouldn't be okay right away, but you'll get through this. Tenth grade isn't so bad. Believe me, math is going to be pretty cool.

Penny continued to share an embrace with Bri, which was later on shared by Lyn as well who-had a snack break and saw them-didn't know what was going on. Nevertheless, Bri enjoyed both their companies.

As an honor student, Bri-or Brianna Nicole Reyes-it's expected for her to do well. To never have a failing grade, to be the person other students look up to, and to have time management. But the truth is, she's none of those things, or at least, that's what she thinks of herself.

She puts herself down so that others could use her as a stepping stone. Did she want to? Absolutely...not. I worked so hard to get here...but all of my teachers expect me to be a "good student" and help the others get better grades as well. It's exhausting.

It saddened Penny...she couldn't do anything to help her poor cousin. All she could offer was 'you'll be okay' or 'do you want a hug?' and 'they should learn to respect your boundaries'. But was that it? Was that all she could offer to the cousin who was obviously having problems with her school life?

You know what? Tell them. Tell your teachers that you don't want to play "tutor" for your classmates who need to figure their lives out on their own, she said with the best 'non-cringe- main character voice she could possibly give. And as for your projects-take your time. Besides, none of this stuff will matter in the long run. It'll all be in the past.

And though what she said seemed to make Bri gain a little bit of her much needed confidence, it didn't resonate with Penny as much. She knew it'd be pretty much impossible to forget her past, and she accepted that fully, but her cousin just needs a little bit of help right now.

Thanks cuz...I guess I really should just take it slow, and with a slightly heavy heart, with even heavier eyes, Bri took Penny for another warm embrace and shed the last of her tears.

Penny warmly reciprocated this and once they were done, they looked each other in the eyes and smiled. Nothing beats being close with your favorite cousin.