Beneath The Seasons

[2]Unexpected Encounters

It's one of those mornings where everything feels slightly off. The sky's a dreary gray, my coffee was too bitter, and I'm running late. Again. I rush down the stairs, nearly tripping over Ella's toy unicorn that's somehow found its way to the bottom step.

"Ella! How many times do I have to tell you not to leave your stuff lying around?" I yell, shoving the unicorn to the side with my foot.

"Sorry!" Ella's voice chirps from the kitchen, where she's probably trying to convince Nick to make her pancakes. He's a sucker for her big brown eyes, so she'll win. She always does.

I push open the kitchen door, ready to scold her some more, but the sight before me makes me stop. Nick, the oldest at nineteen, is standing at the stove, flipping pancakes with an intense focus, as if he's crafting some gourmet dish. His sandy-blond hair falls into his eyes as he works, and there's that proud, slightly goofy smile on his face.

Ella, the youngest at seven, is perched on the counter beside him, her legs swinging back and forth as she grins from ear to ear. Her brown curls bounce with every movement, and her eyes sparkle with delight.

"Morning, Liv!" Nick greets me with a spatula salute.

"Morning," I grumble, grabbing a banana from the counter. "You're spoiling her, you know."

Nick shrugs, his easygoing grin never fading. "She's got me wrapped around her little finger. Besides, who can say no to this face?"

Ella bats her lashes at me, and I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't leave a mess for me to clean up."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Nick replies, though I know he totally will.

I'm halfway out the door when I remember something important-something that makes me groan inwardly. "By the way, I'm having the group over today for that stupid project. So, try not to embarrass me."

Nick raises an eyebrow. "A group project? Sounds... fun."

"Yeah, if by fun you mean awkward and filled with unnecessary drama," I mutter, heading out before he can ask any more questions.

The school day flies by in a blur of half-listened-to lectures and stolen glances at the clock. My mind keeps drifting to the group meeting later. I'm not exactly thrilled about having everyone over, especially since it means dealing with Axel in my own house. But it's not like I had a choice.

When the final bell rings, I grab my stuff and head out to meet Rory and Abby by the lockers.

"Ready for the shitshow?" I ask as I approach, trying to hide the nervous edge in my voice.

"Can't wait," Abby replies, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Rory gives me a sympathetic smile. "It'll be fine, Liv. We'll just get through it as quickly as possible."

"Yeah, sure," I sigh. "Let's just hope Axel doesn't kill the vibe completely."

We head to my place, the walk filled with our usual banter. I try to distract myself with their chatter, but the knot of unease in my stomach refuses to go away.

The moment we step inside, the familiar sounds of Ella and Nick arguing greet us. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. There's no way I'm letting Axel-or anyone else-see how much this is throwing me off.

"Liv, is that you?" Nick calls from the living room.

"Yeah, and I brought friends," I reply, leading Rory and Abby into the chaos.