Thirteen Summers

twenty-nine

THIRD PERSON

Previous Week

The car door slammed harshly as the youngest St. Claire entered, later than usual.

She instantly regretted doing so as she winced at the noise that it made, the girl had a pounding headache.

"Hey, don't slam my car doors." Kai scolded her. "She's delicate."

"It's a car." Josie sighed, frustratedly.

She was worn out and done with the day, all she wanted to do was get home and sleep.

Caleb eyed his sister warily.

As did the other two, though Kai's was more of annoyance as he scoffed.

This newfound attitude of hers, while it was still new to them, was something they were becoming used to.

It started after the second day of school and since then, it has never left.

Except for the mornings when she was back to regular old Josie.

"So grumpy." Kai muttered, shaking his head. "I don't know where she learns this from."

"I wonder." Caleb commented, cheekily.

Yeah, she was grumpy.

Who could blame her? It was school.

Everyone got a little like that sometimes, her brothers understood.

It was only Nick who thought it could be something more.

His little sister, though reserved at times, had a bubbly personality when you got to know her.

This change in her behaviour made him wonder if something was going on at school, so he planned to sit her down and talk to her.

"I made popcorn and I have those strawberry laces you like." Nick leaned his head on the frame of her bedroom door. "It'll be fun."

"No, thank you, Nick." Josie's muffled voice came from underneath the covers.

Nick sighed, he didn't want to just bombard her but rather, ask her casually, he didn't want her to overthink the question but now he had no choice.

He walked over to her bedside but he still couldn't see her as she completely submerged beneath her comforter.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes." She mumbled in response.

"You sure?" Nick questioned. "It's just that you've been acting a bit off lately, that's all."

Josie responded with something unintelligible that puzzled Nick.

"I can't hear you." He told her. "Can I see your face? I feel like I'm talking to a piece of bedding."

His little joke wasn't enough to lighten the mood as Josie reluctantly pulled the comforter down only revealing the now messy top of her head, and the weary eyes she wore, no amusement present on her face.

"I said, I'm just tired."

Nick frowned, he wasn't convinced it was the truth. "Are you sure that nothing's going on?"

Josie closed her eyes for a moment before speaking. "I guess I'm kinda worried about tryouts tomorrow."

Technically, it was the truth.

However, it wasn't the reason for this mood.

She just needed to say something to get Nick off her back.