FEEL SO HIGH SCHOOL (WinRina)

1

My beloved niece- Ella greeted me with the biggest, happiest hug as soon as she saw me. "Aunt Winter!" she squealed, her little arms wrapping around my neck. I scooped her up in a flash, spinning her around and showered her with kisses until she was giggling uncontrollably. "I love your hair" she said in between her giggles.

"And I love you too!" we've only been apart for a year and it felt like an eternity and I missed this little ball of sunshine more than anything.

As I twirled Ella in the air I noticed my older sister Rosie and her wife, Jennie watching us from a distance, smiles on their faces. I stopped and whispered in Ella's ear, "I brought you a special gift, but you have to keep it secret with your moms, okay?" her eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically, her giggles muffled against my shoulder.

When I finally put Ella down, Rosie walked over and greeted me by gently tugging my newly dyed red hair. "Why did you dye your hair again?" she asked, her voice half-exasperated and half-amused. I groaned in response and flicked one of her blonde curls. "Oh, please Rosie. I've actually lost track of how long you've been keeping up this blonde hair of yours. People who haven't known you for long think you're a natural blonde"

Jennie couldn't help but laugh. "She's not wrong, babe" she said and Rosie rolled her eyes. Before Rosie could say anything back, Ella looked up at her mom with wide curious eyes. "Mom.... you're not a real blonde?" she asked, her innocence making us all burst into laughter.

Jennie bent down, smoothing Ella's hair and explained why her other Mom have blonde hair. Ella's eyes lit up and she turned back at me and pointed at me, "Mom, can I dye my hair like Auntie's, too?" she asked, her voice full of excitement.

"See? You're being a bad influence to my five year old daughter!" Rosie said. I smirked and shrugged. "Says the blonde hypocrite" I muttered. Rosie was about to give me a playful swat when Jennie interjected.

"Alright, both of you stop acting like a child. It feels like I have three kids instead of one"

Ella still lost in the idea of dying her hair asked, "Mom, can I dye my hair rainbow colors instead of red?"

Rosie and I struggled to keep straight faces as Jennie replied to her daughter, "Uhm baby, we'll think about it when you're older"

As we walked towards the exit of the airport, Rosie grabbed my luggage and her tone softened as she leaned closer to me. "We're going to have a talk later at home. About you resigning from your job and coming back here" I sighed deeply knowing this was a conversation I wouldn't be able to dodge. There was genuine worry in her voice, and I couldn't help but feel guilty for making her worry.

---

Once we got to their house, Ella practically dragged me up the stairs to one of their spare rooms. She stopped at the door, bouncing on her toes, her face lit up with so much excitement. "Look, Auntie Winter! I helped Mom clean this room just for you!" she announced proudly.

My heart melted at how sweet she was but before I could shower her again with kisses Jennie called her up, "Okay, Ella let Auntie Winter rest"

I closed the door halfway and was just about to flop onto the bed when Rosie's foot stopped the door. She stepped in, her arms crossed, and watched me with that classic big-sister look-part concern, part angry and part interrogation.

I sighed dramatically, throwing myself onto the bed in the most theatrical way possible.

"Mom's furious, you know" Rosie said, her voice quieter now. "And I bet she is more furious when you talk to her on the phone" I groaned, covering my face with a pillow as I remember the time I told my Mom the news.